Tucson Drivers Severe Service Maintenance Schedules

Since driving requirements and lifestyles differ among Tucson drivers, your vehicle manufacturer publishes two auto maintenance schedules: the regular schedule and the severe service schedule. Which schedule should Tucson drivers follow? Here are some questions to ask yourself:

Are most of your trips less than four miles/six kilometers around Tucson?
Are most of your trips less than 10 miles/16 kilometers in below-zero AZ temps?
Are most of your trips off-highway in AZ?
Do you drive often in dusty Tucson areas?
Do you regularly tow a trailer or carry heavy loads around Tucson?
Do you drive in very hot or very cold AZ weather?

Think about your typical week. Do you live by your nearest Tucson on-ramp and enjoy a non-stop commute? Or, do you drive the neighborhood car pool in stop-and-go traffic on Tucson surface streets?

Let’s suppose your owner’s manual says the severe service oil change recommendation is 3,000 miles/5,000 kilometers and the standard recommendation is 5,000 miles/8,000 kilometers. You know that you need to change the oil somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 miles/5,000 and 8,000 kilometers. Analyze your driving patterns and Tucson weather and road conditions to determine which end of the spectrum you’re closer to.

Why should Tucson residents care about this? Normal condensation causes moisture accumulation in the engine oil. Short trips around Tucson or winter driving means that the engine doesn’t heat up enough for the moisture to evaporate. The water in the oil turns to oil sludge that clogs up your engine and doesn’t let the oil protect it adequately. That’s why AZ residents need to change their oil more often – to clean the sludge out before it causes problems.