[car0800]

Bought my new 2017 3GT in Jan and it currently has only 4,500 miles. I don't drive much as my commute to work is only 4.5 miles each way and I don't put that many miles on the weekends. In addition I alternate weeks between my 3GT and a second vehicle I have which means I probably am putting only around 300 miles/month on the 3 now.

I've serviced the vehicle twice now each at the 4 month mark following the severe driving intervals. My next service is due in Jan but i'll probably have 5k miles by then. Do you think increasing the service interval to every 6 months is reasonable?

I don't want to unnecessarily change fluids that are hardly used and contribute to environmental damage.

 

[gruuvin]

... I probably am putting only around 300 miles/month on the 3 now ... following the severe driving intervals.

At 4500 miles you have barely anything to be worried about yet. Check all your fluids, tires, belts (just make sure clean and tight; feel the inside), brake disks (just feel them for grooves) .... mainly at this point fluids and tires is all that might need attention. But you won't have much to worry about until you approach 10,000 miles, when you'll keep doing all the above and rotate your tires.

https://www.mymazda.com/MusaWeb/pdf/maint_schedules/Mazda3H_View_Full_Maintenance_Schedule.pdf

Follow the regular service intervals (Schedule 1); not the severe driving ones. Assuming you are using a good synthetic engine oil, do the flexible oil schedule. These engines are broken in at the factory, so you don't have to worry about very frequent oil/filter changes in the beginning, but your first change by 5000 miles isn't a bad idea. I did my first at 1000mi (oil only) then 5000mi (oil and filter), and next will be every 7500mi thereafter (and, if I can help it, this car will NEVER see a dealer garage; I trust my own work much more). You can set your intervals via the dash computer.

You're barely ever warming the car up!!! Go take her out for a long date!

 

[oscargamer]

Service it as your book requires you to. Else warranty could be an issue.

What is reasonable and/or environmentally right has nothing to do with what the manufacturer requires you to do.

 

[CerealKiller]

Based on your driving habits... a 6 mos interval would be fine.

You need to get out there and drive that car though. I go for small trips in my car for fun all the time.
CK

 

[car0800]

Thanks for the inputs guys, yeah, I do need to drive it more... I have a bike as well and do some riding on the weekends so don't have that much time, I will have to try to fit it in to take my 3 to the mountains instead of my bike sometimes

 

[Road Trip]

If you choose to do the work yourself, good idea to save your receipts for both your oil and filter, and take a picture of your speedometer at that time.