How to service your car?
Read our recommendation regarding the method to service your car
Foreword
Many car owners spend little or no time preparing for a scheduled maintenance visit to the dealership. They merely drive in and agree to the recommendation of the service advisor. This can be a costly error. This article will tell you how, when and where to have your car serviced.
Many car owners spend little or no time preparing for a scheduled maintenance visit to the dealership. They merely drive in and agree to the recommendation of the service advisor. This can be a costly error. This article will tell you how, when and where to have your car serviced.
Car service checklist
It’s essential to regularly check some important parts of your car. Use the car service tool checklist below:
- Oil filter wrench/removal tool
- Spark plug removal tool
- Socket set or spanner for removing the sump plug for oil drainage
- Screwdriver for unscrewing air filter case if applicable. Clips may be the case alternatively
- Car jack and axle stands
- Antifreeze tester
- Oil catch pan
It’s essential to regularly check some important parts of your car. Use the car service tool checklist below:
- Oil filter wrench/removal tool
- Spark plug removal tool
- Socket set or spanner for removing the sump plug for oil drainage
- Screwdriver for unscrewing air filter case if applicable. Clips may be the case alternatively
- Car jack and axle stands
- Antifreeze tester
- Oil catch pan
Get to know your car's service manual
Your car’s service manual is the key to keeping your vehicle in good repair. Written by the people who designed and built your car, it should show:
- How often you’ll need to get your car serviced
- How often regular maintenance tasks need to be carried out – for example, oil changes, or
- When the car’s replaceable parts might need to be changed
It’s also a good idea to use the service manual to plan ahead for the cost of your car’s maintenance and repair bills.
To avoid spending money on your car unnecessarily, always follow the schedule in the service manual. For example, many dealerships and quick oil change chains will typically recommend an oil change twice as often as your car needs.
Your car’s service manual is the key to keeping your vehicle in good repair. Written by the people who designed and built your car, it should show:
- How often you’ll need to get your car serviced
- How often regular maintenance tasks need to be carried out – for example, oil changes, or
- When the car’s replaceable parts might need to be changed
It’s also a good idea to use the service manual to plan ahead for the cost of your car’s maintenance and repair bills.
To avoid spending money on your car unnecessarily, always follow the schedule in the service manual. For example, many dealerships and quick oil change chains will typically recommend an oil change twice as often as your car needs.
Watch out for dashboard messages
Most cars now have dashboard-warning messages about a wide range of topics, including issues with the braking system, engine, oil and coolant levels, and tire pressure. Your car owner’s manual will explain what each lit-up warning message means and what you need to do.
A few of the messages are particularly urgent – they mean you need to pull off the road and stop the engine immediately.
So if you see a lit-up warning message, always check it out straight away. It could save you hefty repair costs at a later point or even prevent you being a danger to other motorists and pedestrians.
Most cars now have dashboard-warning messages about a wide range of topics, including issues with the braking system, engine, oil and coolant levels, and tire pressure. Your car owner’s manual will explain what each lit-up warning message means and what you need to do.A few of the messages are particularly urgent – they mean you need to pull off the road and stop the engine immediately.
So if you see a lit-up warning message, always check it out straight away. It could save you hefty repair costs at a later point or even prevent you being a danger to other motorists and pedestrians.
Car service manual VS Local dealership
The car's service manual is the best way to learn how to maintain your car. The factory representatives who designed and built the car wrote it. It stands to reason that they should also know how best to keep everything running smoothly.
Now consider the role of the service advisor at your local dealership. This person is certainly knowledgeable about your car. However, the service advisor also gets a commission for all work done on your car.
In another instance, the car's manual may say that the automatic transmission fluid doesn't have to be changed until 80,000 miles, but the service advisor says it's best to change it at 30,000 miles. Who's right? Consider this: The service advisor gets a commission for all the parts and services he sells. So his opinion isn't exactly unbiased.
Regarding new vehicles under warranty
If your car is less than three years old and has fewer than 36,000 miles (or whatever the terms of your warranty are), mechanical problems will be fixed under the bumper-to-bumper warranty for no charge. However, this doesn't cover wear items like brake pads, and your car will still need "routine maintenance" for which you will have to pay. Routine maintenance is most often oil and filter changes, tire rotations and various inspections. After about the length of your warranty, the routine maintenance often becomes more involved and more expensive.
The car's service manual is the best way to learn how to maintain your car. The factory representatives who designed and built the car wrote it. It stands to reason that they should also know how best to keep everything running smoothly.Now consider the role of the service advisor at your local dealership. This person is certainly knowledgeable about your car. However, the service advisor also gets a commission for all work done on your car.
In another instance, the car's manual may say that the automatic transmission fluid doesn't have to be changed until 80,000 miles, but the service advisor says it's best to change it at 30,000 miles. Who's right? Consider this: The service advisor gets a commission for all the parts and services he sells. So his opinion isn't exactly unbiased.
Regarding new vehicles under warranty
If your car is less than three years old and has fewer than 36,000 miles (or whatever the terms of your warranty are), mechanical problems will be fixed under the bumper-to-bumper warranty for no charge. However, this doesn't cover wear items like brake pads, and your car will still need "routine maintenance" for which you will have to pay. Routine maintenance is most often oil and filter changes, tire rotations and various inspections. After about the length of your warranty, the routine maintenance often becomes more involved and more expensive.
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