Feb 1, 2021
Keeping on top of car servicing can be a bit of an inconvenience for some drivers, especially when you depend so much on your car to get on with your day to day life. However, if you keep on top of it, it will extend the life of your car’s engine, reduce fuel consumption and increase the safety of your vehicle.
The frequency between servicing will vary depending on the make and model of your car, and one of the most reliable resources for your car’s regular service timing can be found in the owner’s manual and logbook. Many cars will benefit from servicing at least once a year or 15,000 miles after the last service, whichever comes first.
In order to understand which service your car may need, it’s essential to know the difference between a major and minor service.
What’s a major car service?
Generally, a major car service will involve all the things a minor inspection covers and will go into more depth looking at your engine, lights, air conditioner, brakes, wheel alignment, suspension and more.
Your local garage may even offer spark plug or windscreen wiper replacements and a coolant flush.
Your car has high-wearing components such as the battery, lights, brakes and tyres which can all fail between your services so it’s important regular safety checks are carried out once a month. You will also want to keep on top of your fluid levels for coolant, washer fluid and brake fluid, as well as tyre pressure to stop them wearing out too quickly.
What’s a minor car service?
Generally, minor services will include battery checks, engine oil and oil filter changes, air and fuel filter checks, tyre check and rotation and even a general inspection of fluids, belts, brakes etc to make you aware of any potential issues arising.
How do I know which one my car needs?
This is where some may become confused as servicing schedules can be made up of minor and major services depending on the amount of driving a person is doing. In most cases, those who do a lot of miles throughout the year will opt for a minor service around 6 months after the major service to keep on top of any fluid changes etc. A major service tends to be carried out every 15k miles or year, depending on which one comes first.
If you’re unsure as to whether your car needs a major or minor service, you can find a local garage in your area today to assess your needs with MyCarNeedsA.com, get your quotes today!
