Recommended service intervals

[WhiteJLY]

Hi,

I am from Malaysia and bought version 4 of Honda PCX 150 last August 2018.

From the user manual, these are the recommended service intervals -

engine oil = every 6,000 km / 3,728 miles

spark plug = every 12,000 km / 7,456 miles

air filter = every 18,000 km / 11,184 miles

driving belt = 24,000 km / 14,912 miles

final gear oil & brake oil = every 2 years

coolant = every 3 years

The warranty given by Honda Malaysia is 2 years or 20,000 km. Thus, from my calculation 1 year is within 10,000 km range.

I am facing this dilemma. The authorised service dealers are telling me that the engine oil need to be changed every 2,000 km while the final gear oil needs changing every 6,000 km. They have been trained to tell the customers that the service intervals recommendation in the user manual are not applicable to Malaysia because Malaysia are hot and humid in climate. I have sent an email to Honda, Japan but yet to hear from them. Thank God for Skype that I can contact Honda Japan for free to get the respective email address.

I would like to hear what experience do you get from other countries. Were you told to ignore the recommended service intervals and service your PCX more frequently? Please share yours.

Thanks.

[Jge64]

I doubt you'll hear from Japan. However the distributor in Malaysia should be able to answer. Get on the phone and work your way up the tree, or send them a registered letter. Also, call another authorized Honda Center in that area.

Personally I think it sounds like total crap the dealer is giving you. No dealer that I know of should be telling you anything different than what's in the manual for that country. If it was different, the distributor would change the owners manual or add an addendum sheet in the delivery package. If you want to see the dealer squirm , ask him to put that in writing that that is absolutely the policy change when in Malaysia. I doubt you'll ever get that letter.

[WhiteJLY]

I have been to 3 authorised service centre including one of which is run by Malaysia's Honda official distributor and verbally told the same thing.

I will try sending a registered letter.

[GeorgeSK]

If you are worried about warranty and you follow the manual they gave you, I can't see how they can wiggle out of an issue (although I have full confidence that they would try). That said, these scoots are tough, and I really don't expect that any warranty issue will rear its head in two years.

As for the actual situation, changing the oil in either the engine or final drive is pretty easy. If the consensus is that your environment is extra-hard on the oils, I guess I would just do the engine oil myself at 2 or 3K, and the final drive every other time. Since the engine does not take a full quart, you can easily do the final drive with the remainder of two engine oil changes.

Happy riding!

[fish]

I have been to 3 authorised service centre including one of which is run by Malaysia's Honda official distributor and verbally told the same thing.

I will try sending a registered letter.

3 HONDA serv. centers telling you the same thing..
You see this as a conspiracy?
Your free red ball cap is in the mail!
Fish

[easyrider]

Is there a severe service schedule for motorcycles?.If you are leaving the scoot outside and never garaged I would personally increase my oil changes.Its cheap ,easy, and will keep your scoot in good shape.Maybe those dealerships are considering that as a normal environment and considering it as harsh or severe service.It should not void any warranty if you follow Honda service manual requirements however.

[alx123]

I live in Thailand which is closely similar to Malaysia's weather. I follow the manual. Heck, I haven't changed my brake fluids yet, scoot's almost 3 years now.

[Mel46]

Honda makes these scooters for the Asian market, so I am guessing that it was tested there as well. Your choice of service intervals would depend on your riding habits, but I suspect that Honda took into consideration worse environments than yours when they wrote the book on that bike.

Are you saying that the dealer who will service your bike is dictating the service intervals? You could change your own oil after the first service and I doubt that the dealer could fault you for it, just as if you had another shop do it they couldn't. It is your bike, and if you chose to follow the schedule recommended in the book you would still be correct, unless Honda put out an addendum IN WRITING.

[WhiteJLY]

I live in Thailand which is closely similar to Malaysia's weather. I follow the manual. Heck, I haven't changed my brake fluids yet, scoot's almost 3 years now.

Thanks for sharing!

I doubt you'll hear from Japan. However the distributor in Malaysia should be able to answer. Get on the phone and work your way up the tree, or send them a registered letter. Also, call another authorized Honda Center in that area.

Personally I think it sounds like total crap the dealer is giving you. No dealer that I know of should be telling you anything different than what's in the manual for that country. If it was different, the distributor would change the owners manual or add an addendum sheet in the delivery package. If you want to see the dealer squirm , ask him to put that in writing that that is absolutely the policy change when in Malaysia. I doubt you'll ever get that letter.

Yup, I think they are making it out for better income for them.

Honda makes these scooters for the Asian market, so I am guessing that it was tested there as well. Your choice of service intervals would depend on your riding habits, but I suspect that Honda took into consideration worse environments than yours when they wrote the book on that bike.

Are you saying that the dealer who will service your bike is dictating the service intervals? You could change your own oil after the first service and I doubt that the dealer could fault you for it, just as if you had another shop do it they couldn't. It is your bike, and if you chose to follow the schedule recommended in the book you would still be correct, unless Honda put out an addendum IN WRITING.

If I am Honda, yes, I'll make sure to test the scooter at its worse condition when writing the manual.

Is there a severe service schedule for motorcycles?.If you are leaving the scoot outside and never garaged I would personally increase my oil changes.Its cheap ,easy, and will keep your scoot in good shape.Maybe those dealerships are considering that as a normal environment and considering it as harsh or severe service.It should not void any warranty if you follow Honda service manual requirements however.

My bike is stored in a garage, I plan to follow the manual strictly.

I have been to 3 authorised service centre including one of which is run by Malaysia's Honda official distributor and verbally told the same thing.

I will try sending a registered letter.

3 HONDA serv. centers telling you the same thing..
You see this as a conspiracy?
Your free red ball cap is in the mail!
Fish

Yes, I think this is a conspiracy so that moped remains the choice of many Malaysians because that is more beneficial for their business.

If you are worried about warranty and you follow the manual they gave you, I can't see how they can wiggle out of an issue (although I have full confidence that they would try). That said, these scoots are tough, and I really don't expect that any warranty issue will rear its head in two years.

As for the actual situation, changing the oil in either the engine or final drive is pretty easy. If the consensus is that your environment is extra-hard on the oils, I guess I would just do the engine oil myself at 2 or 3K, and the final drive every other time. Since the engine does not take a full quart, you can easily do the final drive with the remainder of two engine oil changes.

Happy riding!

I am new to motorcycling, been driving cars for more than 20 years now. Thanks for letting me know how well made this scooter was made.