AN INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL
MAINTENANCE PRACTICES
So how often should you change your oil and filter and perform any other
maintenance services? Again, the answer lies in your owner’s manual in the
maintenance schedule. Carmakers outline two service intervals, one for severe
service and one for normal service applications. Let’s take a look at these two
applications in depth.
Severe vs. Normal Service Applications
When you are trying to determine what service schedule applies to your driving
experience, consult the owner’s manual for severe and normal service
maintenance intervals. To illustrate the difference between severe and normal
intervals, let’s look at the definition of each service description as outlined by
GM.
Below is the severe service description for a 2000 Chevy Cavalier with a 2.2-
liter four-cylinder engine: