How do I know when my car needs a service ?

[DustyLee123]

Stupid question I know, it used to be after so many miles. But my car is flashing up that the oil needs changing, so do I put it in for that or a service ?
I don’t know if you service after so many months now, or so many miles.

Not being funny, but if you dont know the basics of car maintenance, then you really ought not to be driving.

Based on what you're saying OP, you are very likely to be that broken down car that has suffered oil starvation/severe engine damage and then clueless about why its happened!

i have never owned a car that has broken down. If you read my thread you’ll see that it’s not a low oil warning, it’s an oil service warning.

Yep every 12 months. It's much more convenient than leaving it without and eventually getting the inevitable expensive breakdown.

I referred holistically about vehicle servicing, not your specific case of oil service light/indicator.

As said, if you dont know the basics....🙄

Oil is one of those things that you need to change it regularly, (usually once a year) even if you don't drive the car much. It's not something that you leave because your car does low miles.

TBF the OP is aware that her car needs an oil change.

For me, your post was very much telling the OP she shouldn't be driving as she can't change out the clutch herself or change all 4 tires inside 5mins (i jest)

Most breakdowns are due to tires, battery or electrical, engine failure due to running out of oil is way down the list, on mine (i suspect on most modern cars too) the car will shut down if oil is too low for safe operation/before engine damage and it wont restart even if oil topped up, it requires a software reset by a garage.

I service and MOT mine at the same time every year, it's easier to keep track of then

OPs thread is titled: "How do I know when my car needs a service ?"

So clearly, by OP's admission, she doesnt know (or didnt know at athe time of posting).

Regardless of the item(s) that need servicing/replacing etc, anyone that doesnt know their cars service regime is rather worrying.

Clutches are not a serviceable item unless worn to the point of needing a replacement but thats just semantics.

https://www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover/advice/top-ten-breakdown-causes

The AA lists oil as #6 on their list of 10 common breakdown causes - so fairly serious in the grand scheme of things and not as "way down on the list" as you may think👌