Car Servicing - Why Regular Maintenance is Important.

Car Servicing - Why Regular Maintenance is Important

As you learn to drive a car, the majority of what you are taught is related to road safety and driving skill rather than how your car actually works. In fact the show me, tell me section of the test is the closest you will get to learning about the car itself i.e. where to top up engine oil, how to check brake fluid levels, how to check tyre tread depth, etc.

Understanding how your car works on a basic level will help to maximise its lifespan. For example, oil plays an important role in the operation and well-being of your car. It needs to be regularly serviced and maintained either by yourself, if you’re a keen mechanic/ engineer, or by a professional service centre to ensure the engine and other moving components perform as the manufacturer intended.

Why should I service my car?

When your car first rolled off the production line it was a clean, well-oiled piece of engineering. As it is driven, these oiled parts move as they were intended to and can begin to create friction between parts from dirt and general usage.

Booking a service for your car will allow its oil to be replaced by new, cleaner oil and for parts that need lubrication to be re-greased to stop the effects of friction i.e. deterioration of components and increased heat.

Service centres are also able to provide an overall check of your vehicle to see if any parts are in need of repair, replacement, or adjusting. An MOT will of course carry out checks to see if your car is road legal, however, a service will be far more in depth with tests made on the car’s wiring as well as a closer inspection of mechanical components.

By providing your car with this routine maintenance on a regular basis you will benefit from a longer lasting car and even help to retain its market value - essential if you intend on getting a decent return when you sell or part-exchange it.

What procedures are involved in a car service?

There are many different types of servicing procedures and checks which vary from garage to garage and can be offered in different packages, such as interim, full or even condition-based.

One of the most popular procedures carried out however is the oil change. It is the most important because it directly affects the performance of the engine e.g. the crankshaft inside of a combustion engine rotates to raise and lower the piston which in turn ignites fuel with compressed air to create the energy that moves your car.

You might not understand what any of that previous example meant, however, the one thing you should know is that the engine parts are made of various metals and are kept lubricated by your engine oil to stop them from rubbing and creating friction. Clean oil allows them to continue moving with little/ no impurities being caught in between parts.

A regular oil change will allow the engine to benefit from fresh, clean oil and is recommended every 7,000 to 8,000 miles or once a year if that comes first (read your car’s manual for the manufacturer’s recommendation).

Other procedures include a close inspection of the braking systems, the replacement of various filters, and rigorous checks to identify any components that need repairs or adjustments which could have an impact on the car’s performance, safety and well-being.

For newer cars with computer management systems, specialist diagnostics equipment is also used during a service in well-equipped garages to identify any faults that need attention which a standard MOT will not advise.

How often should I service my car?

Your car’s manual will instruct you on how often certain checks need to be made e.g. Jaguar X-Types require a brake fluid flush every couple of years and an oil change every 7,500 miles. As a rule of thumb it is best to service your car based on how often the engine oil needs changing because the other checks can be carried out at the same time.

Some recommend timing your service so that the MOT is 6 months before, giving you a chance to address any advisories at the later time of servicing.

Who should service my car?

Some motorists prefer to take their cars to main dealers as they believe the manufacturer will know what is best for their brand of car and they are concerned about their warranties being void if they choose to service it at an independent garage. The problem here is price as main dealers are well-known for their higher servicing costs.

On the other hand, some motorists prefer to use their local independent garages. They can often charge considerably lower prices and provide an equally brilliant service. Those that comply with EU block exemption laws are also able to service newer cars under warranty at a much lower cost without invalidating the warranty agreement, e.g. a new BMW owner in Milton Keynes could service their car with Service4Service, an independent BMW specialist in MK, at a much lower cost than the main dealer and protect their warranty because the company complies with this EU law.

In other instances, some motorists prefer to maintain their cars themselves which is acceptable if you are a mechanic or engineer that can identify and solve faults, however, if you are not familiar with the way a car works or lack confidence in doing it yourself then leave it to the experts and take it to your local garage.

This informative article on car maintenance and servicing was contributed by the local independent BMW specialists in Milton Keynes, Service4Service.