Car maintenance schedule by kilometres
Routine maintenance is a set of items, each with its own interval: some every few thousand kilometres, some every year or two, and some around 100,000 km. This schedule brings the common intervals together, and your car's owner's manual always comes first.
The common schedule
Figures are approximate and vary by brand and engine. Go by distance or time, whichever comes first.
| Item | Common interval | Gulf note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil and filter | 5,000 to 10,000 km depending on oil type, or 6 to 12 months | Heat and traffic bring it forward |
| Tyre rotation and pressure check | Rotate about every 10,000 km; check pressure monthly | Check pressure with tyres cold |
| Engine air filter | 15,000 to 30,000 km | Much sooner with dust and sandy roads |
| AC (cabin) filter | 15,000 to 20,000 km or once a year | The AC runs most of the year, so check it sooner |
| Brake inspection (pads and discs) | At almost every service | Replace by wear, not at a fixed distance |
| Brake fluid | About every 2 years | Usually time-based, not distance-based |
| Battery | Yearly check after the first 2 years | Heat usually shortens battery life |
| Coolant (radiator) | Check level regularly; replace per owner's manual | The key item in summer heat |
| Transmission (gearbox) fluid | Varies widely, often 40,000 to 100,000 km | Some brands shorten it for severe conditions |
| Spark plugs | Standard plugs often 30,000 to 50,000 km; platinum and iridium last much longer | Check which type your car uses |
| Timing belt (if fitted) | Often 90,000 to 160,000 km | Some cars use a chain instead of a belt |
The 100,000 km service
Around 100,000 km several items come due at once: spark plugs, coolant, transmission fluid on many cars, and the timing belt if your car has one. Ask the garage for a written list of what they plan to replace and why, and compare it with your owner's manual before you agree. This is also what used-car buyers ask about most.
Dealer or independent garage?
During the warranty period, follow the dealer's terms and keep every receipt. After the warranty, what matters is that the garage uses the specifications in your owner's manual (oil type and parts) and gives you an invoice with the date and odometer reading.
How to keep track of all these intervals
The hard part isn't knowing the schedule, it's remembering which item is due. In the Motorak app, your maintenance plan is built from your odometer readings, and you get an alert when each item with an interval falls due. Every service you log stays in your history with its date, workshop and cost.
FAQ
Does a car that's rarely driven still need servicing?
Yes. Items like oil, brake fluid and the battery have a time limit even if you drive very little.
Should I follow the normal or the severe schedule?
In Gulf heat, traffic and dust, the severe-conditions schedule is usually the better fit if your car's manual has one.
Where can I find my car's exact schedule?
In the owner's manual or service booklet, and many manufacturers publish it on their official websites.
Related
About the author
Mohannad Alali
Founder and CEO of Motorak. He writes Motorak's guides on keeping track of a car's maintenance, expenses and documents.
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