How Often Should You Really Service Your Car?

Manufacturer service intervals are usually written for ideal conditions — smooth highways, mild climates, light traffic. Nairobi’s stop-start traffic, dust, and pothole-dodging are not ideal conditions, so most cars on our roads need attention more often than the manual suggests.

Oil changes

Most manuals say every 10,000–15,000 km. In heavy city driving, we recommend closer to 5,000–7,000 km — short trips and constant idling are harder on engine oil than steady highway cruising.

Brake fluid and pads

Stop-start traffic wears brake pads faster than open-road driving. Have pads checked every 10,000 km, and brake fluid replaced every two years regardless of mileage — it absorbs moisture over time even if the car barely moves.

Air filters

Dust is the silent killer of engine performance here. An air filter that would last 20,000 km on a clean highway might need replacing at half that in dusty conditions.

Suspension and bushings

Potholes take a toll. If you’re hearing knocks over bumps or feeling the car wander slightly at speed, get the suspension bushings and shock absorbers checked sooner rather than later — small issues here become expensive alignment and tyre problems if ignored.

A simple rule of thumb

If most of your driving is city traffic rather than highway, halve the manufacturer’s recommended service interval. It costs a little more in servicing but saves considerably more in avoided repairs.

Every car we sell comes with a full condition report, and we’re happy to recommend a service schedule suited to how you’ll actually be driving it.