How Often Should You Service Your Car? Keeping your car in good, working condition is very important. We know that dangers can lie ahead when driving on the roads, but maintaining our cars properly means a lower risk of accidents caused by failures or problems with the vehicle. Any car owner is sure to know of the value of a car’s service. There are recommendations of when this should happen, usually given by the car’s manufacturer – usually between every three to six months to check the car. Some modern cars even have a display for this in the car, giving a reminder when the next service date is due. There are a number of common tasks carried out during a service, including changing the oil, checking the brake fluid and power steering fluid, replacing filters and checking the condition of the tyres. It is unlikely that all of these will need changing at the same time, with some components being able to go for around 24 months, or 48,000km. Services are also useful for spotting more potentially hazardous problems, noting and advising on anything that could prove unsafe out on the roads.
Although, as mentioned, there is a recommended time frame for when services should be carried out, often it can depend on other factors. Clearly if you use your car a great deal, parts will be become more worn and in need of repairs. Long distance driving will certainly have an impact, but conversely using your car for very regular short trips can also have a detrimental effect. Things such
as cold starts, letting the car idle a lot, and driving in extreme conditions can all speed up the wear and tear of vehicle parts. If you know that you put your car through such then you may want to consider more frequent trips to get it serviced. While common things are looked at and changed during the service, you should be aware of any problems that occur between checks. If you have had your car for a while you will no doubt be more aware if anything changes or seems worrying. Sometimes the car will alert you if something is wrong – such as the check engine light, which isn’t always an immediate cause for panic as it could just be something small and manageable – and newer cars have even more detailed reports of vehicular problems. Also remember the outside of the car. Tyres are important to safety and again the need to change them depends more on how much they are used. Tyres that are looking worn, with the tread eroded down, or look bowed or warped should be replaced. Depending on the brand of tyres, an average set should take you around 50,000 miles before needing to be replaced. As tyres can wear unevenly, based on their position, it is a good idea to rotate them to even it out at around every 6,000 – 8,000 miles. The windshield often only needs attention when there is something noticeably wrong with it. They can be prone to chips, which we have no doubt all heard can turn into large cracks if left unattended. However it this does not automatically mean replacement, as the car glass repair can come in the form of a resin that fills the chip and prevents cracking. Windshield wipers, however, are perhaps some of the most commonly overlooked car components, which actually may need replacing every six months due to rubber degradation, drying and cracking. Overall, it is very important that a vehicle goes through a regular service, to ensure thorough maintenance and inevitably the safety of yourself and other road users.