Regular car servicing is required to ensure that your car works efficiently and safely. Regular servicing and maintenance will assist to extend the life of your vehicle as well as ensuring fuel efficiency. A regular car service helps prevent dangerous potential failures in your braking and steering system. As rule of thumb, every six months or every 10,000 kms your vehicle should be serviced and inspected for potential issues. At different intervals you will need to change transmission oil, diff oil, replace air and fuel filters and spark plugs. Your vehicle logbook and handbook contains details of the recommended service schedule and replacement parts.

Six Month Car Service or every 10,000 kilometers

-Engine oil and oil filter change. Engine oil loses its effectiveness over time; it needs to be replaced to extend engine life. Older cars often need natural oils rather than synthetic oils

-Check and adjust drive belt tension. Drive belts operate alternators, fans, power steering and air conditioning. Loose or slipping drive belts can result in loud squealing and can fail or may indicate another problem

-Check spark plugs. Spark plugs need to be checked for excessive carbon deposits, oil and oxidation, which can highlight other problems in the engine

-Check and top up automatic transmission & manual transmission fluid level
-Check and top-up power steering fluid

-Check wear on brake pads and replace if necessary. Obtain brake padsthat are appropriate for your vehicle and follow the manufacturer’srecommendations

-Inspect brake hydraulic system hoses and pipes for leakages and corrosion

-Check fuel filter. A common problem in cars occurs when the sediment atthe bottom of the fuel tank flows through the fuel lines and clogs the fuel filter

-Inspect tyres for tread wear and damage

-Take note of the pattern of wear on your tyres, as this can also indicateother problems in the vehicle such as suspension, steering and wheelbalancing

-Visual check of vehicles lights, windscreen wipers, battery condition,charging system, exhaust condition, coolant and anti-freeze levels and windscreen washer levels.