What is a Car Service? Car Service Checklist

What exactly is a car service?
A car service is a routine maintenance and health check for your vehicle. It assesses everything, from the fluid levels of your engine to general wear and tear.

A mechanic usually performs a service. The most complex ones involve 50 or more component and system checks, adjustments, and parts replacement.

Why do I need to use a car service?
Regular servicing will ensure your car runs as safely and efficiently as possible. It may also save you money over the long-term.

Regular service will result in improved fuel efficiency, smoother handling, and a more efficient engine. You’ll also feel better knowing that your vehicle is performing at its best. Regular service will also reduce the chance of your car crashing on the roadside or at home.

This can help you avoid costly repairs by catching any potential problems early. If you decide to sell your car, a complete service history will help maintain its market value.

Regular servicing of your vehicle will almost always extend its life.

A service plan can help you keep track of your car’s maintenance costs by spreading the cost over two-years. You can split your MOT and service with ours to ensure that your car is well looked after.

Is a car service equivalent to an MOT?
It is not. Many motorists believe that they don’t have to take their car to the service because it has just passed its MOT. However, routine and MOT are two different things and you should do both.

An MOT (annual inspection) is required for nearly all vehicles on UK roads. It is an annual inspection that verifies the vehicle’s safety and environmental impact. Find out more about MOT’s in our guide.

An MOT does check a vehicle’s roadworthiness but it doesn’t go any further. A service will check that all parts of your vehicle are operating safely and efficiently.

What is a car service?

The type of service you choose will determine what is included. However, a complete service will likely include an oil change and filter change, a full brake check and checks on more than 50 key components, including safety-related ones.

The more extensive (and costly) service will replace and check a greater number of components. This could include changing spark plugs and other important filters as well as checking for factors such as wheel alignment and suspension.

What type of service should you choose?
Your annual mileage should be equal to the service level. It also depends on how much you use your vehicle.

Service Type Interval
Regular maintenance Oil and filter replacements are necessary
Interim Service Every 6 Months or 6,000 Miles (whichever comes first).
Full Service every 12 months or 12,000 mi (whichever comes first).
Manufacturer Service Refer to your vehicle manual for details.

What is the cost of a complete car service?
A full service should cost around PS140. It will include an oil change and filter change, a full brake check and checks on more than 50 key components including safety-related ones.

What is the average frequency I need to have my car serviced?
Manufacturers recommend that you take your car in for service at least once per year or every 12,000 mile, depending on how often your car is driven. High quality lubricants are now available for vehicles that can travel longer distances between service visits.

A complete service history is a great way to increase the value of your vehicle. Buyers will feel more confident when buying it.

Can I service my car myself?
It can be costly to own a car. If the thought of paying for service once or twice per year makes you feel anxious, then it might be worth considering servicing your car yourself.

You will need to feel confident under the bonnet. Whether you hire a mechanic or do it yourself, it is important to service your car regularly to ensure safety for other road users and efficient operation of your vehicle.

You don’t want to make a trip into the garage. A mobile mechanic could service your vehicle for you. You can also have most repairs done at your place of work or home.

Is it possible to service my car myself?
You should have the technical knowledge to be able complete basic car services yourself.

However, we do not recommend that you attempt to maintain your vehicle on your own unless you are knowledgeable and have the proper tools and equipment. Inexperienced people can cause serious injury if they attempt to maintain vehicles.

Only garages that offer exceptional customer service and quality work are included in this network. This gives you confidence that you will get a service you can rely on.

If you think you have the skills, keep reading.

What tools are needed to service my car?

It’s important to have the right tools and equipment when servicing your car. Otherwise, you could endanger your car, your family, and other road users.

These tools come with a basic set if spanners and screws (and lots of old rags):

Set of sockets (includes a socket to remove spark plugs)
Axle stands & car jack
Funnel
Nitrile gloves
Oil filter remover
Oil drain tray (or bucket).
Torque wrench
Car service checklist
These are the components you need to inspect if you want to perform a basic car service brisbane.

Oil change
You will need to get your car up and running.

Next, clean the oil filter using the oil filter remover. Wait for the oil to drain. Once you are ready, place the new oil filters in the same location. To give the rubber seal a stronger seal, lightly moisten it with oil.

Replace or renew the washer surrounding the sump pump before you replace the sump plug. Use a funnel to slowly pour the oil. Make sure to check the dipstick often to make sure you don’t fill it too high.

Allow the oil to circulate for 10 minutes. After that, check that the sump plug and oil filter are not leaking. After letting the oil settle for 10 minutes, turn off the engine.

Tire pressure/condition
Incorrect tire pressures can lead to loss of performance, wear and poor road handling. The basic service should include the proper pressure. For more information, see our tyre pressure guide.

Also, make sure you check the condition and tread depth of your tyres. Check out our guide on tyre safety for more information and how a 20p per piece can help.

Replace car Fluids
A basic service should include checking all fluid levels, including engine oil, brake fluid, and engine coolant. Fill them up if they are too low.

It will also test your anti-freeze level.

How to check the coolant in your engine
7 things that won’t make your MOT fail
How to spot liquid dripping from your vehicle
Replace Spark plugs
However, there may be other recommendations depending upon the manufacturer or engine type. Refer to your vehicle’s service literature.

You may need to replace your spark plugs sooner if your car struggles to start or vibrates too much.

Before you remove the HT leads, make sure to clean the area. Then place the plugs into the socket. Next, tighten the plugs by hand. Finally, use a torque wrench until the right setting.

Replace air filter
This is usually one of the easiest checks you can perform. To reveal the dirty filter, simply unclip the box. Before re-fastening your airbox, remove the old filter and replace it with a clean one.

What can I do to recycle my oil?
The used oil is one of the most difficult things to deal with when you are servicing your car yourself. After use, engine oil should be refilled and not mixed with other substances.

For more information about oil recycling, visit the Oil Bank Line website.

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