Established in 1914, Maserati is one of the brands responsible for placing Italy on top of the luxury vehicle and supercars world.
Owning a Maserati is a symbol of wealth, so everything associated with the brand is expensive – including an oil change.
Maserati oil changes are so expensive because these cars use premium synthetic oil. This is the most expensive type of engine oil. The model of your car, its oil tank capacity, recommended service mileage, the parts, and labor also drive costs up. While changing your Maserati’s oil is expensive, the company includes an oil change in the scheduled annual maintenance.
Owning a luxury vehicle comes with high maintenance costs. This article explores why Maserati oil changes are so expensive and whether you can bypass some steps to save some cash.
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Topics
1. Synthetic Engine Oil Costs
Like most luxury cars, Maserati vehicles come equipped with high-performance engines. Suffice to say that some models even feature engines manufactured by supercar leader Ferrari.
Aside from being expensive, high-performance engines require the use of premium quality synthetic engine oil.
Synthetic oils offer a lower viscosity compared to the mineral and semi-synthetic types. They flow easily around the engine’s moving parts, keeping everything lubricated.
These oils improve the engine’s performance and also last longer than mineral and hybrid kinds. However, they are more expensive.
On average, synthetic oil can cost over two times more than mineral oil. And if that’s not enough, Maserati uses a special type of oil co-branded with Shell that is even more expensive.
However, you should know that Maserati and Shell have been collaborating since 2007; if you have a model from a previous year, your car might need a different fluid.
2. Maserati Model
The model of your car also influences the oil change cost. While the only oil Maserati currently recommends for its engines is Shell Helix Ultra, there are different versions of this fluid.
Prices vary slightly depending on viscosity and engine type. Two of these oils work with diesel and gasoline engines, whereas a newer type was developed for Maserati’s hybrid engines.
It is hard to tell how much a quart actually costs since you can only buy these fluids from your Maserati dealer or official service center.
However, considering the cost of other Shell Helix Ultra oils, you can expect to pay $40 or more per quart.
3. Oil Tank Capacity
It goes without saying that paying for a quart of oil isn’t going to make much of a difference. Depending on the model you drive, and the release year, your car might need anywhere between 7.5 and 9.5 quarts.
Maserati Ghibli, for instance, takes between 7.2 and 8.8 quarts, depending on its release year. Similarly, a Levante takes between 8.3 and 8.8 quarts. However, all Maserati Gran Turismo have an oil tank capacity of nine quarts.
Depending on the actual type of oil your engine needs and the tank capacity, you could pay over $350 for the fluid alone.
If you want to reduce costs, you can use a compatible oil as long as it’s synthetic and of premium quality.
As a rule of thumb, your diesel or gasoline car needs either 5W-40 or 10W-60 oil. Hybrid Maserati models take 0W-30 lubricant.
Check your vehicle’s manual or call a local dealer to make sure you’re using the correct fluid type for your engine.
4. Recommended Oil Change Mileage
While the mileage doesn’t affect the cost of Maserati engine lubricant– nor the service cost – it does affect how much you have to spend annually.
Generally, synthetic oil can last for up to 25,000 miles. However, carmakers recommend changing it earlier.
Maserati recommends changing the oil annually or every 12,000 miles. Depending on how much you drive, your car might need two or even more oil changes per year. This could cut a hole in your budget.
5. Oil Filter Costs
In addition to the actual cost of the oil, you must also think about any parts that need changing. Typically, your mechanic will also replace the oil filter.
Oil filters aren’t particularly expensive – even for a Maserati – but they can add up between $30 and $50 to the bill.
6. Expertise
When it comes to vehicle oil changes, many people argue that you can just do it yourself. Or that you can take the vehicle to your local mechanic to save some money.
The truth is that Maserati is a luxury vehicle manufactured in Europe. These cars can be differently constructed from American-made vehicles, and they generally require specialized servicing.
By taking your car to an official service center or dealership, you know that all of the people working on it are trained and highly specialized in performing the required task.
Not only can they change the oil and replace the filter without damaging anything, but trained Maserati specialists can also spot other troubles and fix them before they get worse.
Those who want to become a Maserati technician or mechanic must complete an automotive training program at an accredited college or training center, then complete a factory training course.
Since Maserati makes its cars in Italy, service technicians have to invest a lot of money into their education.
It is only fair to ask for compensation once their training is complete, and these costs are reflected in the costs of maintenance and repair services.
Typically, you can expect to pay around $1,175 for the one-year oil change and overall maintenance. Scheduled maintenance costs vary from year to year, depending on what needs to be done based on the vehicle’s mileage.
If you only need an oil change, the cost of fluids and parts generally starts at $400, including labor.
Conclusion
Maserati oil changes are expensive because these vehicles require the use of special synthetic oil. The brand recommends Shell Helix Ultra engine lubricants, which are co-branded and developed specifically for these cars. Hence, they are more expensive than generic synthetic oil.
The final bill also includes the technician’s expertise and the cost of any required parts. Your car’s model and oil tank size also affect the price.
While changing the oil yourself isn’t particularly difficult, keep in mind that Maserati is a European automaker and these cars generally need specialized servicing.
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