How often should YOU maintain your vehicle?

We have always advised our customers to follow the automobile's manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule to improve reliability and longevity of their vehicles, not just simply take the assumption that all car/oil are the same (common assumption - semi synthetic can use for 5000 km and fully synthetic can use for 10000-15000 km).  Do YOU know that your owner's manual contain two different maintenance schedules? One for normal service and one for severe service, depending on how the vehicle is driven.  In a recent study, it was found that more than half of all motorists follow the wrong maintenance schedule. 

When polled, approximately only 6% of motorists felt they did most of their driving under severe service conditions.  But when asked about the actual driving behaviors that create severe operating conditions, approx. 62% admitted they drive their vehicle that way all or most of the time.

Vehicle manufacturers vary slightly on how they identify severe service driving, but we asked our customers if they frequently:

1. Drives less than 8 km per trip in normal temperature per trip.

2. Driving in hot (32° C) conditions.

3. Extensive idling or long periods of stop and go driving.

Manufacturers provide differing sets of recommendations for severe conditions because of the increased stress and causing pre-mature wear they put on vehicle components and lubricants.  With increased traffic congestion and longer commute becoming more common, many motorists do not realize what they think of as normal driving is actually severe when it comes to wear and tear on their vehicle.

Maintenance schedules for severe driving conditions typically recommend having the vehicle's fluids and filters changed on a more frequent basis, and more frequent inspections of some components.

We advises motorists they should:

Read their owner's manual and/or maintenance booklet.

Learn what the manufacturer considers normal and severe service driving conditions for their vehicles.

Make an honest assessment of their driving habits.

Schedule service in accordance with the appropriate maintenance schedule.

Golden rules of car maintenance simplified:

1. Replace engine oil & filter every 5000 km or 3 months (whichever come first) even if you are using FULLY SYNTHETIC Engine oil as we live in tropical climate where our temperature are near 40° C during noon. Fully synthetic engine oil is still recommended as it provide much more PROTECTION compare to conventional engine oil & help to improve FUEL ECONOMY.

How does FULLY SYNTHETIC Engine Oil Helps in Fuel Economy?

2.  Replace conventional spark plug (Nickel-1455 °C) every 20 000 km using NGK G-Power Platinum (Platinum- melting point 1,768 °C), electrical resistance of  Spark plug for better performance & fuel economy.  We recommend the use of NGK Iridium IX (Iridium- melting point 2466 ° C) spark plug for even better performance, longevity (up to 60 000 km) and fuel economy. 

3. Replace automatic transmission fluid (ATF) every 40 000 km using synthetic ATF.  Synthetic ATF gives silky smooth gear shifting & high heat resistance.  Giving you better fuel economy, better acceleration and longer transmission life.  INSIST on FULLY Synthetic ATF.