So here is my dilema my 2008 Outlander is around the 2,500km mark, less than 3 months old and I am already getting the "Periodic maintenace" warning sign come up on the display. Should I worry about it? should I run to the dealership? or will it last to the 6,000km the maintenace book talks about?

Nothing seems to be wrong...

 

If its just periodic maintenance and not a service required message, its possiblethe months indicator was reset some time before youbought your outtieand is showing the message because the number of monthsto your next maintenancehas expired. Check with your dealer on when it was last reset.

 

you can set that warning anywhere from 3 months/2500kms to 1 year 15000kms depending the market that it was sold in. Apparently driving in Japan allows you to go 15000kms before you need service in exactly the same vehicle. BTW: you can turn that completely off as well.

 

I have a question about maintenance schedule as well. Do you guys normally use time or miles as the guideline? My current outie has 13,500 miles on it, and I believe I just passed the 12 months mark (my guess, since I bought the car used). So I'm debating whether I need to do the service now or just wait until I hit the 15,000 miles mark? In all of my previous car, maintenance has always been using mileage as recommended by the manufacturer. I have never seen a manufacturer suggesting using time as the guideline. Any pro/cons with either?

 

The answer to your question really depends on your driving habits. If your in stop and go traffic on a daily basis for 13,000 miles your car will need maintenance sooner than if
that same mileage was clocked while driving on an open highway everyday.

 

Interesting enough the mitsu warranty manual which shows their maintenance schedules specifically lists mileage or months. For example; 6,000 miles or at 6 months.The one exception to that is tire rotation which is done at 7,500 miles regardless of months. The maintenance brochure my dealer publishes says being here in Phoenix with the heat you should follow mitsu's "severeconditions" maintenance schedule rather than their "regular" schedule.