You should service your car once every 6 months or 10,000 kilometres travelled. This way, your car will stay in top condition and also detect problems early on (before they get worse or a lot more expensive).
If you have an old car though, you might need to service your car more often (such as once every three months). It’s good to ask a reputable mechanic about this so you can better protect your car and help ensure your road safety.
How long does a car service take?
- Minor servicing (1.5 hours)
- Major or full servicing (3 to 6 hours)
Minor servicing might only involve testing the following (could just take 1.5 hours):
- Vehicle’s oil and oil filter
- Brake and brake fluid
- Steering and suspension
- Lights and wipers
- Air conditioning
- Spark plugs
On the other hand, major car servicing often involves the following (rough estimate is 3 to 6 hours):
- All of the minor servicing tasks mentioned above
- Carrying out an engine oil change (depends on the schedule set in the owner’s manual)
- Inspecting the entire vehicle for safety issues
- Repacking the wheel bearings
- Inspecting all engine belts and hoses
Note here that you don’t have to strictly follow the schedule. If you suspect there’s a problem or something’s bothering you (e.g. unusual squeaks and noises, car doesn’t start right away), you should contact a mechanic right away and set an appointment.
Why car servicing is important
Aside from protecting your engine and vehicle, other benefits of timely car servicing are:
- Prevents emergency breakdowns
- Helps ensure your safety and that of the passengers
- Helps you avoid costly repairs before existing problems get worse
- Prolongs performance and lifetime of your vehicle
If you miss a scheduled car service, you should bring your vehicle to the mechanic as soon as possible. This way, hidden issues and problems can still be prevented early on (or stop them from getting worse). This will also let you know if your vehicle is still safe to drive because of the inspection.
If something worries you about your car, you can contact us here at CMR Automotive. We can run a full diagnostics on your vehicle and perform the repair or servicing if necessary.
