Car Servicing: How Often Should You Service Your Car?

Your vehicle is precious and complicated machinery that needs regular attention and check-ups to function efficiently. Similar to the human body, the many intricate parts of the car work in harmony to push things ahead with the help of a carefully designed system. While all the parts work in unison, there is always the chance of a part running their time, or going through wear and tear. Therein comes the concept of car servicing.

We often have people asking us the same questions, ‘How often should you service your car?’. While there is a timeline that most car garages follow when it comes to servicing and maintenance of cars, however, it all depends on how you treat the car. In this article, we will be explaining the different types of car servicing, the benefits of going through the service hassle, and of course, how often should you service your car.

What is Car Servicing?

Let’s start with the very basic; definition of Car Servicing.

To put it simply, Car Servicing is a series of health checks and changes carried out by a professional person to ensure that everything is working according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. The Car Service includes everything from a necessary fluid level check to addressing the bigger issues at hand. Your tyres, alignment, battery level, engine health, gearbox, exhaust system, brakes, and everything other components of the car are checked.

The number of checks is simply dependent on the type of service you avail from the local car garage. Some might entail a list of 50+ checks whereas the nominal ones would only have 20 checks. This depends on the amount of miles your car has run, and also the condition of the vehicle at the present. With regular service, you would curb the problem at its roots before it becomes a bigger problem and leaves you stranded in the middle of the road.

The importance and need for car servicing are not up for debate. If you fail to follow the regular servicing timeline, it could have an effect on your warranty and face issues with the vehicle. And let’s be real; we all love a smooth, functioning vehicle.

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What are the Different Types of Car Service?

You don’t always have to opt for the most extensive servicing, especially if you’re a careful driver who ensures their car stays in top-notch condition. There are different types of Car Servicing ranging from a regular one to the most comprehensive ones to ensure you don’t have to go further than is needed.

Before we move on to the question of how often should you service your car, let’s take a look at the different types of Car Servicing. 

1. Regular Servicing

This type of service, as the name suggests, is a pretty common one. It is not bound by the number of months or the miles run but simply works on the foundation that you should service your car when you see the fluid level dipping.

Checking the engine oil and other fluids of the car is a very simple job. If you see any of them going below the recommended level, you should come in for regular servicing at the local garage, asking them to top-up the fluids.

Regular Servicing might also include filter change if needed. This entirely depends on the efficiency of the vehicle and your usage.

2. Interim Car Service

The Interim Car Service is designed for cars that have run 6,000 miles or for 6 months, whichever comes first. At Acton Service Centre, the interim service entails a 25 Point Check.

The 25 Point Checklist includes the top-ups like brake fluid, coolant, power-steering fluid, engine oil, windscreen additive, etc. The service also covers general checks like lights, horns, windscreen, wipers along with a few components of the engine. Apart from this, the Interim Car Service also includes a visual inspection of the brake pads, tyre pressure and condition check, steering condition check, and exhaust check.

You also get the MOT service at a 50% off with the Interim Car Service at ASC.

| Read More: [CHECKLIST] Car Servicing: What All Does A Car Service Include? |

3. Major Car Service

The Major Car Service is targeted for vehicles that have run for 12,000 miles or 12 months, whichever arrives earliest. A year is more than enough for most of the car parts and components to wear and tear, while some may even be nearing their time.

The Major Service entails an extensive checklist of 40 Points that include everything mentioned in the interim car service, followed by a much deeper analysis in every spectrum.

For example, instead of just inspecting the brake pads, the major car service also includes brake checks related to the brake fluid condition, brake disks, all the pipes and hoses, hand brake operation, and the brake callipers. You get it; it is much more extensive.

You can avail an MOT for £10 with this service. 

4. Full Car Service

As the name suggests, full car service is a complete and comprehensive one that doesn’t leave a stone unturned with your car servicing. It involves a 50 Point Check and offers an MOT free with the service.

The Full Car Service includes everything that we have mentioned in the previous types of service, along with extra ones that keep your car in the best condition with every part and component shining. 

5. Manufacturer Service

The Manufacturer Service is the schedule decided by the manufacturer. You can find the dates in the car’s manual, and some manufacturers may even assign a specific service centre for the service.

| Read More: Car Service Dealership vs Independent Garage: Which is best? |

How often Should you Service your Car?

The consensus among the public and manufacturers is that you need to get your car services every 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. However, this is subject to change as per the condition of the car and the make and model.

This is the average time and mileage at which most of the cars will demand a professional look at things. It can vary from car to car – with some high-performance cars needing servicing more frequency while the diesel-powered car won’t be serviced as often.

The other way to decide how often you should service your car is to have a look at the car’s service manual. It usually includes a schedule that tells you the timeline of your car servicing. It also includes when you should change the parts and how often the services like oil change should be carried out.

Thanks to modern technology, most of the car’s designed today have a self-diagnostic system that alerts you of the issues that need to be addressed. This can range from a simple oil change or top-up to bigger issues in more prominent parts. It is advised to never ignore any warning lights, even if you have not covered the miles mentioned above.

This brings us to the end of our article of car servicing. Hope you found this informative and interesting. For more such articles, keep watching this space.