What is Car Servicing?
Keeping your car roadworthy and safe is your responsibility as a vehicle owner but while MOT’s are a legal requirement, what about car servicing? Drivers are not required to get their car serviced but doing so comes with a range of benefits like ensuring that your motor is well maintained all year round.
Here’s all you need to know about car servicing.
What is car servicing?
Car servicing is a way of keeping your car in good condition in between your MOT’s. Servicing and MOT’s are two services that are often used interchangeably, however, they are two different things.
A car service is not a legal requirement but it’s a small investment that can make a big difference in the overall upkeep and safety of your vehicle.
It’s recommended that you organise a car service yearly as a way of maintaining the condition and roadworthiness of your vehicle. An MOT is essentially an inspection to ensure your vehicle meets safety standards, a service checks your vehicle against manufacturer's guidelines.
When should you book a car service?
A lot can go wrong during the time between your MOT inspections so it’s important to keep your vehicle running smoothly. There are two main types of services: an interim service and a full service. The interim service is recommended every 6 months or 6,000 miles which consists of basic checks across the vehicle and a full service is recommended every 12 months or 12,000 miles and this includes everything that an interim service covers and more. You will usually see a service light appear on your dashboard around the time when your service is due.
What does car servicing involve?
An interim service generally checks levels of the fluids, the condition of the engine as well as testing the batteries, lights and tyres. If you generally take shorter trips then an interim service may be sufficient but for an in-depth look at your vehicle, a full service is best.
Below, are some of the checks included in a car service, such as:
- An engine oil change and/or filter replacement
- Checking lights, tyres, exhaust and operations of brakes and steering
- Ensuring your engine is ‘tuned’ to run in its peak condition
- Checking hydraulic fluid and coolant levels
- Checking the cooling system (from radiators in your car to pumps and hoses)
- Suspension checks
- Steering alignment
- Testing the car’s battery condition
Why is car servicing important?
Servicing is a practical way of keeping your vehicle roadworthy. If you want to save money and maintain vehicle reliability, ensure that you’re booking your service appointments.
- Servicing will spot ongoing problems before they escalate.
- Your vehicle will be at less risk of breakdowns.
- You can save money on repairs.
- Regular servicing keeps your car safe.
Looking for a reliable car servicing point in Ayrshire? At Caledonia Vehicles, our professional team will service your vehicle and keep it running smoothly. Get in touch with us today.