Car Servicing Guide 101

Regular car maintenance is an essential part of vehicle upkeep and can improve its performance while keeping it road-ready. Neglecting this aspect of vehicle upkeep can prove costly in the long run. You can avoid this by following a car servicing guide and gaining a better understanding of service intervals and what a car service should include.

A car servicing guide can help you improve your vehicle’s reliability by boosting its performance. This includes improving its fuel efficiency with regular oil changes and replacing essential car parts like spark plugs, air filters, brake pads, transmission fluids etc.

Following a car servicing guide can ensure your vehicle is functioning at optimal levels and avoid common car maintenance mistakes. It’s a great way to prevent minor issues from escalating into major ones. This is because regular servicing allows you to catch car engine problems and other issues early on.

In this article, we discuss how car servicing guides can be helpful in vehicle maintenance.

1. Why Regular Car Servicing Matters

You may be tempted to skip your car’s service, especially if your car is fairly new. However, even if it’s fresh out of the showroom, it’s important to adhere to regular service intervals. These are often included in your manufacturer’s car servicing guide and can help you understand what a car service should include. 

Referring to such a guide can also help new vehicle owners learn all they need to know about servicing a brand-new car. This is a crucial step in ensuring your vehicle’s safety and smooth on-road performance, often saving you time and money. If you’re asking yourself, ‘How do I know when my car needs a service?’, then a car servicing guide can answer that and more. 

It can play a vital role in your vehicle’s overall health by helping you troubleshoot basic car problems. For example, changing your coolant and engine oil regularly as per service intervals can prevent vehicular damage arising from car overheating. 

2. Understanding Different Types of Car Services

Car services vary depending on the condition of your car, frequency of use and your vehicle’s age. If you’ve ever wondered how often your car should be serviced, a good rule of thumb is to refer to a trusted car servicing guide (aka the Owners Manual). Generally speaking though, servicing your car annually or once every 12000 miles is standard practice for all vehicles. 

Regular vehicle servicing is important for your vehicle’s safety and is a prerequisite for maintaining your car’s warranty. It’s also important from a resale perspective, as annual car service records are proof of maintenance.

Wondering what service your car needs? This can be tricky to determine as services vary across mileage and can differ from vehicle to vehicle. For example, vehicles used for travelling long distances, having crossed 6000 miles, may benefit from an interim service.

3. How Often Should You Service Your Car

‘How do I know when my car needs service?’ To answer this question, you need to consider referring to your manufacturer’s recommendations. These often contain detailed guidelines about service intervals appropriate for your car’s model, mileage and age.

While a car servicing guide is sufficient for the maintenance and upkeep of your vehicle, you may also need to consider the climate conditions of where you live. This is because harsh weather like extreme heat, cold or humidity may hamper vehicle efficiency and make your car more susceptible to car battery issues.

Consider checking out any warning signs your car exhibits, like blinking lights on your dashboard, cranky noises or unusual leaks. These warrant immediate attention and could indicate hidden car issues. Although servicing intervals serve as a good guideline, consider promptly addressing these issues to avoid these problems from worsening.

At In Town Automotive’s award-winning garage, we offer professional vehicle services to address a wide range of car problems using modern vehicle diagnostic tools. To learn more, get in touch or call us on 01604 666 700. 

4. Professional Service vs DIY

DIY service checks are a great way to save time and money. Doing basic maintenance checks at home can help your vehicle stay in good condition in between car servicing periods. Using a car servicing guide for your DIY service at home can be useful as they outline a variety of checks you can go through to spot early signs of wear and tear.

For example, simple checks like an oil check, engine oil leaks, checking for tyre pressure, wipers and light functions can be done at home with minimal hassle. With a few nifty tools and basic knowledge, you can fix minor car issues and save money on basic maintenance.

However, it’s important to recognise when your car needs professional servicing as complex or safety-critical repairs are best left to mechanics. Persistent car issues like car starting trouble, brake problems or component replacements require more than just DIY car maintenance checks. 

For Professional Full Car Servicing, Contact In Town Automotive Today! 

Understanding what a car service should include can help you stay better informed about common car problems. A car servicing guide can also help troubleshoot basic issues and maintain your car in optimal condition. 

Now that you know how a car servicing guide can help, why not consider booking a professional full vehicle service at our award-winning garage?

At In Town Automotive, we use top-of-the-line vehicle diagnostic tools and conduct full-service scans. Our technicians are well-equipped to tackle various car issues, leading to quicker resolutions and better car health. 

To ensure your vehicle’s safety, efficiency, and performance, get an all-inclusive health check for your car. We have years of experience in fixing air conditioning, cambelts, exhausts, wheel alignment and much more.

Consider visiting our services page or contact us to book an appointment today.