See all Motoring AdviceRegular servicing is absolutely essential in order to keep your car in the best condition and running as it should. Not only is a well-maintained car less likely to break down, fail an NCT and leave you stranded, if it has a detailed service record, it’ll hold its value much better come resale time.
How often should I get my car serviced?
Your owner’s handbook will give you the best advice on service intervals. As a very general rule though, a car should be serviced at least every twelve months or every 20,000km, whichever comes first. If you drive an electric car, because there are fewer moving parts, the de facto service interval can be up to two years, as is the case with Tesla and BMW models, though this may vary, so check your handbook.
What is involved in a car service?
Although servicing is no substitute for owners paying attention to the condition of their car, a mechanic will likely spot things and be able to carry out jobs that most motorists won’t, which is why servicing is so important.
As part of a regular service of an internal combustion engined car, a technician will almost always change the oil and oil filter as well as checking the vehicle thoroughly for worn brake and suspension components, worn belts and low fluid levels, nipping any issues in the bud before they can get worse. If there are any parts that need to be replaced as per the manufacturer’s schedule, the mechanic will also likely do that. Swapping the wheels around to even-up the tyre wear and replacing the wiper blades may also be required.
Every couple of years or 40,000km, a car should undergo a more comprehensive service that includes all of the above as well as bigger jobs such as timing belts, water pumps, bearings, fuel filters and spark/glow plugs or anything else that needs to be done according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. That’s not to say, of course, that, for instance, if your water pump is found to be leaking during an interim service, that the mechanic will just ignore it.
What is involved in an electric car service?
Just because an electric car has fewer moving parts than a petrol- or diesel-powered car doesn’t mean that they don’t need servicing. During an EV service, the technician will hook the car up to a diagnostic computer, checking the condition of the battery as well as inspecting the condition of the cabling and the battery coolant system. Beyond that, EV servicing is much the same as with any other car with brakes needing to be checked along with suspension parts, tyres, air conditioning systems and wipers.
How long does a car service take?
A yearly, 20,000km service often only takes an hour or two. A 40,000km full service usually takes longer depending on the amount of work that needs to be done, possibly three to four hours, though if a major issue is discovered, it may take even longer.
Can I service my own car?
If you have the technical know-how and tools, then there’s no reason why not. There are a few things to bear in mind though. The more modern the car, the likelier it is to need a more comprehensive diagnostic computer, especially for checking the condition of battery packs, for example. If you’re changing the oil, make sure you have a container and plan in place for getting rid of the used oil as it needs to be taken to an approved facility for disposal. Servicing your own car will likely take you longer than a professional with experience and a well kitted-out workshop, and someone who is used to working on cars every day will usually spot something that amateur eyes won’t.
Be sure that if you are tackling the job to take all appropriate safety precautions such as using gloves and goggles to prevent the harmful splashing of fluids, jacking the car up on solid, even ground and, if you’re going underneath, using axle stands for in the event of your jack suddenly collapsing.
When topping up, make sure that the approved quality graded oil is used. Wrong oil in an engine can invalidate any warranty. If in doubt, contact your local dealer.
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