For the last year I've had 3 scheduled service appointments spaced 6 months apart. Based on the maintenance schedule of the car, I should do a scheduled service appointment every 6 months or every so many miles. I think I've only driven 8,000 miles in the last year, but I've gotten the 40k, 45k, and 50k equivalent services. However, if more time has passed than miles, does it make sense to keep doing the 6-month services? Or should I just wait until the mileage has "caught up" to the appropriate service interval? I'm a bit worried that I should really be doing the service based on mileage, and not solely time-based.

 

This is a good question. You can do the maintenance on any schedule you wish. It is your car. You could also follow the service schedule in your owners manual. If you wish to have related warranty issue addressed you need to stick pretty close to the maintenance schedule. You can get into some deep discussions on this matter. The fact remains if you drive short distances and don't put many mile on, the factory maintenance schedule addresses this in detail. This generally falls under an abbreviated service schedule for severe service.

 

I would and have treated it as miles or time driven an changed accordingly.

 

I drive mine about 5k/year, so I do an annual service and I think it'll be fine. I believe that most of the items on the scheduled maintenance list deplete with usage more than with time.

 

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Mine is certified (4 free services) and I had two services done, 30k and 35k miles, even though my car has 28k miles. I am using the 6 month interval since all included free services should be done within two years. After that I will use a Lexus master mechanic to do annual services or 5 thousand miles whichever comes first. I trust the Lexus Master Mechanic more than the dealer as he currently services my other 2017 LX 570.

 

what is a "Master Mechanic".

 

Yes keep it up. Oil is less sensitive to time but brake fluid, coolant, differential, and transmission fluid should all be time based as they might take on water given prolonged durations.

 

I would do the oil based on mileage. Only other fluids I would worry about in time is brake fluid and coolant, with coolant at the lower end of worries. Even the brake fluid I would not worry about unless you are in a very damp environment and a very long time has gone by without that service. When I say long time, I mean years. I've always felt the brake fluid service need has been way over played. Unless you are tracking the car and straining the fluids, I would not worry about it. Others may disagree, but after working on cars for over 50 years I've had the chance to see both long and short term effects of service or lack of service.

 

Master Technician = Master Mechanic or someone who worked in Lexus dealership for years and achieved this title.
Did you get it?