Annual Servicing - to service or not?
 

I have a 2009 XC90 2.4D which I've had since new and have happily travelled over 160k miles in it. It's due for servicing this month but I'm loathed to have it serviced as it's only done 3,000 miles during the last year for obvious reasons. The miles it has done have been longer journeys via motorways.

I'm thinking of hanging on for a few more months and maybe get it done in January as it will have been used a bit more. I was last serviced in Sept 2020 at my local main dealer.

I'd be interested in people's views on this strategy. Had it been a newer car I would definitely get it done at the 12 month interval but given it's age and relatively little use, I think I could stretch it out for a while longer.

Oil and filter change, then pick up the service next year?

Or if you like the Volvo stamps, get them to do an “essential service” which is pretty much just the above.

Annual servicing
 

I tend to your opinion. It won't have any real impact on resale value at this stage, and I think everybody knows there was a pandemic that reduced usage, so I would probably leave it as you suggest.

It needs the service.

The low mileage is detrimental to the efficiency of the filters, who do not get up to temperature so often.

Similarly, the oil will have a higher moisture content. This comes mainly from ambient humidity, which interacts with the oil over time. The more modern the oil, the more comprehensive the additive package, the greater the hygroscopic properties. As such more expensive oils are, somewhat ironically, worse for this sort of use.

As the oil is not getting as hot for as long there is the greater scope for problems with dissolved, emulsified, and free moisture. An engine that is in use for a low mileage actually has a harder time than one that does average mileage, and this is why most manufacturers class low mileage as "arduous use" and place them on a different service regime.

In addition, many items can degrade as much with time as they do with mileage, particularly seals, bushes and rubbers, and the only way to identify this is to get the car in the air during a service and eyeball/pry at them.

I'd be inclined to service it.

As an aside, we have just traded in Mrs Familyman's 2012 XC90 and got £2000 more for it because it had a full Volvo history. The dealer told us that if it did not they would have offered bottom book for it and not a penny more, regardless of the condition, so depending on your car's eventual fate it can very significantly impact on the value. Who wants a large, very complex vehicle with evidence of penny pinching in its history? Not new car dealers, it seems.

It's been said already but Volvo offer an E service (or essentials) which is an oil and filter change plus safety check - this is intended at very low mileage cars.

However I'm in the place of I really wouldn't bother - whilst age is also a factor in deterioration, you've done one sixth of the interval mileage. That's assuming you have an MOT pass with no service related advisories.

Probably what it really needs is a good motorway run.

I’d leave as is. The oil used by the main dealer will be fully synthetic & is more than adequate to be left for a few more months. After all, these cars have a 12 month or 18,000 mile service interval. Servicing it after 3,000 miles is just a waste of money in my opinion. Its a 12 year old car… leaving the service for a while longer won’t drastically affect the resale value.

I wouldnt bother until next year. You say you have done 3000 motorway miles so its been up to full temp. Can't see why you should have any issues with oil on that mileage

I'd do it if it was mine.
They say "xxx miles or 1 year, whichever comes 1st".

My xc60 is on 30k km/1 year, and I never do 30k. Heck, I don't do 15k either. But 1 year is 1 year.

So does the oil turn to water at 13 months then ? A few months ( on a well maintained car ) won't make a jot of difference

I'd guess the build-up of condensation in the engine will always have an impact on its internals, not being brought up to temperature nor run often to clear any moisture will take its toll, and will degrade any oil .... in this case the car does seem to have had some motorway miles in the year ... is that enough? the risk and any mitigation is obviously a call for the owner.

However as its a discussion, if it were me I'd do at least an oil and filter change.