Types of Car Servicing: Walkthrough Guide for New Car Owners
The joyous feeling of owning a new car takes you to the seventh sky, with the fresh smell of leather seats and ultimate exterior shine; it almost feels like we wish we could preserve the beauty and performance. Car care servicing is an indispensable part of owning a car that lengthens the lifespan and performance.
The schedule of car maintenance is specified by the manufacturer, and missing the service can cause several performance issues that could put a huge hole in your pocket.
Basically we have three types of car servicing that are decided based on the inspection and number of miles the car has traveled. When you take your car for scheduled servicing, one of the technicians would take the vehicle for a test drive. Based on that, your car would be deemed under basic servicing, minor car servicing, and full car servicing.
Let's understand the differentiation between them and how we personally know which one is required.
Basic Service
Basic car servicing is carried out usually after every 6 months or maybe even 4 months if you are frequently using your personal vehicle for traveling. Whenever your car hits 7,000 kilometers, it's time to get it checked and go for basic servicing, which includes:
- Oil change
- Car wash
- Parts check
- Air filters check
- Oil filter replacement
- Visual inspection
- Addressing various other software issues with the car system.
These are the simple mandatory checks that need to be cleared within the timeframe of the first 6 months; if ignored, this could lead to engine-related issues. Keeping it checked is one of the best ways to increase car mileage and performance.
In some cases mechanics may include lubrication in the package depending upon the usage of the car. Moving on, let's understand what minor servicing includes.
Minor Car Service
Minor car servicing is all about taking the inspection stage to the next level and extensively monitoring the overall functioning. It includes:
- Battery check
- Wheel alignment inspection
- Wiring
- Brake shoe inspection
- Steering
- Fuel tank inspection and checking out whether there is any rust on catalytic converter
Such servicing is done after every 10,000-15,000 kilometers. Chances are many of the parts, including the suspension and bearings, will get replaced as they take up a lot of load. It can also be deemed the primary service where, in actuality, a lot of work is done, and once the servicing is completed, you would get the restored, showroom-like feel.
Up next we have the last level of servicing, which is full car service. Let's understand when your vehicle requires it.
Full Car Service
A full car service is essentially required when it has been more than a year or the vehicle has crossed the 20,000-kilometer mark. In such scenarios it is always beneficial to book an appointment and get a thorough inspection.
Usually, full car service requires you to:
- Get the fuel system checked
- Engine run test
- Spark plug replacement
- Exterior inspection to determine rust.
- Replacement of wipers
- Wheel bearing replacement
- Radiant and cooler inspection
All these checks and replacements, combined with the other two levels of servicing, are part of the full car servicing. Nevertheless, you can even add a complete car wash and polishing of both the interior and exterior to the service package, allowing you to get comprehensive coverage.
Conclusion
This was your entire guide on car service and what type of service you should go for based on your kilometers of coverage. By being aware of the types of services and the parts that are required to be replaced, you can lengthen the showroom-like condition and prolong the performance.
Always double check on the suspension system and bearings, as they are the first to get worn out quickly and may hamper your driving experience
FAQs
Q1. What is the most basic car servicing?
Ans. The most basic car servicing includes oil replacement, car wash, air pressure check, and brake inspection.
Q2. How much does full car servicing cost?
Ans. The costing varies depending upon the model of the car and the condition it is in. However, the estimated cost for full servicing can loosen your pocket anywhere between $600 and $1,200.
Q3. What if I ignore the car servicing?
Ans. The performance of the car is interlinked between various components. For example, if you neglect basic servicing where the replacement of the air filter is required, the engine air system will get clogged, affecting the efficiency of the engine. This would result in a drop in car mileage and performance.
Q4. When should I replace my car tires?
Ans. The best way to determine whether you need tire replacement or not is to check the depth of the grooves. There is a small bar engraved within the grooves that helps you determine when it's time to replace them.