Servicing Your Car The Best Practices

1. Servicing Your Car: The Best Practices Servicing your car is mandatory if you own one. But, many car owners undermine the need to service their cars as per the schedule. As a result, they eventually have to incur significant expenditures resulting from severe damages. You are most likely to ignore your car servicing schedule because you might find everything alright. It can so happen that your untrained eye can see everything alright because your car is not making any strange noises or conking out in the middle of the road. But, there can be things that can go wrong. So, if you forget to service your car on time, it can be a costly mistake. Eventually, you may have to spend a significant amount of money repairing your car for substantial damages. Car Maintenance Schedule Although there is nothing such as a specific car maintenance schedule, you can carry out professional service every six months or 10,000km, whichever comes first. Remember, every car is different, and the manufacturer’s recommendations on service schedules are not similar. But, you will find the vehicle maintenance schedule in your car’s logbook or owner’s manual. Therefore, make it a point to refer to it. You can also refer to the relevant online sources for some handy maintenance tips you can do yourself and how often parts should be replaced. As a general rule, you should service your car at least once or twice a year. And, you should alternate the servicing schedule between a minor service and a major service. However, the latter type of servicing will cost more than the former. Modern cars have longer servicing intervals, of 15,000km or 12 months, whichever is earlier. Although the modern engines are complex, negligence in servicing might make them inefficient. Many car owners want to service their cars through the dealer to maintain their warranty, but that is not mandatory. Under Australian law, a vehicle manufacturer cannot compel you to have your car serviced through an authorised dealership. It means you can take it to a suitably qualified, registered mechanic of your choice. And that can be your local garage, a national chain or mobile mechanic. But, you should ensure that the servicing is carried out following the manufacturer’s specifications.

2. But, you cannot carry out all the servicing tasks by yourself. You also need to hire a trusted mechanic for the job. Servicing through a Mechanic You can also allow your mechanic to use good quality non-genuine parts that can save you money. But, remember that you can lose the car warranty if the non-genuine parts cause damage to your car. So, be careful while allowing your mechanic to use non-genuine parts. It can be a good idea to deploy a mechanic who specialises in your make of vehicle, mainly if it is a luxury brand. Servicing through Dealer Alternately, you can get your car serviced by a dealer. Often, you will get to see dealers offering discounts on servicing to attract car owners to service their cars. Again, it helps them to make money. Dealers generate revenue from the profits of the cars they sell and the money from car servicing. And that is why dealers usually provide incentives such as capped-price scheduled servicing and loan cars. Moreover, there are additional benefits in servicing your car through a dealer. Mechanics are more familiar with new models and latest technology, have all the correct diagnostic equipment and have direct access to the spare parts network. Conclusion The fact is that you cannot escape servicing your car. But, the schedule can be different depending on the model of your car. Whatever the schedule can be, you should try to adhere to the schedule. But, again, it is your choice whether to service your car through a mechanic or dealer. Both have their advantages and disadvantages.