What is a Service?
Have you ever driven past, or been into a garage and saw that they were offering a deal on vehicle servicing?
The chances are pretty high that you have. But maybe you’ve wondered what a Vehicle Service actually is.
A vehicle service can be likened to a regular health check that you have from your doctor.
It’s a chance to have your vehicle inspected by a professional. The garage will usually perform a general health check over the whole vehicle and assess it for any potential problems that may arise.
In this article, we will go through exactly what to expect when you send your vehicle in to get serviced. We will explain what a service involves, why it’s important, the different types of services available and we will help you to determine whether or not your vehicle needs a service.
What does a Service involve?
So, what exactly does a service involve?
Each garage will likely have it’s own model of what is involved on their service checklist. Overall however, they will all follow some fundamentals.
General Health Check - During this health check, the vehicle technician will give your vehicle a check over. This usually involves checking your battery, tyres, brakes, exhaust, exterior lights, suspension and items such as these. It’s a chance to have a thorough examination done to let you know if anything needs fixing, or is likely to fail in the future.
Filter Change - Depending on the level of service that you have chosen (more on this later), the technician will replace filters that are due to be replaced. These filters usually include; oil, fuel, air and pollen. IF your vehicle is petrol, then it’s worth finding out if your spark plugs need replacing at the same time.
Fluid Level Check - During your service, the technician will inspect and likely top up your fluid levels on the vehicle. The levels that are checked will likely vary depending on the garage but they often include, screen wash, coolant, power steering fluid, gearbox oil, transfer box oil and DPF (diesel particulate filter) fluid if applicable.
Why is Servicing important?
Many people underestimate the importance of getting their vehicle serviced regularly. The list of reasons of why you should get it done is endless, but here’s our top ones;
● Ensures that your vehicle is safe to drive - Servicing is a great way to keep your mind at rest when you’re driving. Once it’s been inspected by a professional technician and you know that it’s safe to drive, you can drive with peace of mind and the satisfaction of knowing that your car is safe.
● Flags potential problems - Once you start getting your vehicle serviced on a regular basis, you’ll find that you’re no longer being caught out by unexpected breakdowns. A service allows the technician to make you aware of any potential problems that are going to arise in the near future, and fix them before they cause you any issues.
● Designed to be Serviced - Believe it or not, your vehicle was actually designed to have a regular check over and filter change. Just think about all of the moving components on your vehicle, from the turning wheels to the internals of your engine. All of these need regular maintenance if they are to continue to work in the way they were designed to.
● Money Saving - Many people also don’t realise that paying for a regular service will actually save you A LOT of money in the long run. Your vehicle will last longer and the regular filter changes will help prevent the increase in fuel consumption as the vehicle ages. By having a service, you’ll be given the chance to fix problems early on. This prevents problems from progressively getting worse, potentially costing you more.
● Insurance policies - Some insurance policies will become invalid if you’re not getting your vehicle serviced on a regular basis. So, if you were involved in an accident which could have been prevented if you had gotten your vehicle serviced, then you might not be covered. It’s always best to check what your policy says regarding this.
Different types of Services
When it comes to Servicing, there’s a lot of options. Most vehicle handbooks however, can provide specialist information on the service needs of your specific make and model. For most manufacturers, the service schedule will be yearly, alternating between a major service one year, and a minor service the next. What should be involved within these particular services will also be listed in the vehicle's handbook.
If you’re looking to service the vehicle yourself, then it’s crucial that you fit the correct parts and use the oil that is specified for your car. By using the wrong oil and fitting the wrong parts, you can actually damage your engine and cause some major problems. So, if you're unsure about what oil to use, consult the vehicle’s handbook or you could contact the manufacturer directly to find out.
Does my car need a Service?
Different vehicle’s have different service schedules. So it’s always best, once again, to consult the owner’s handbook. The handbook should be able to tell you exactly how often you should be having your vehicle serviced.
A helpful tip is that you can’t be “too regular” with your vehicle servicing, so don’t worry if you want to have a service carried out before it’s due.
Most cars will have an electronic service reminder to help remind you that your car is due for a service soon.
Inside the vehicle’s handbook you should also have a “service booklet”. Inside this booklet there should be a list of previous services that your vehicle has had. With the date and odometer reading attached, you should be able to see when your vehicle was last serviced, this allows you to determine when the next one should take place.
Finally, make sure that you find a garage that you trust. Even though you may need to pay more money for their services, an honest and trustworthy garage will save you money in the long run. A good way of finding one of these is to look at customer reviews and then try them out for yourself.
We hope that you’ve found this information helpful, and we hope that it’s answered some of your questions. If you have any further questions regarding your vehicle’s servicing needs, then please feel free to get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you.