Owning a prestige car is like a dream come true for many. And to ensure your car has a longer lifespan, regular car service is vital. With so many ‘terms’ related to car servicing, such as minor service, log book service, major or full service, it’s confusing to determine which one you should go for.
Having a basic understanding of car servicing will help you decide what’s best for your vehicle at a particular time. The article discusses everything you need to know about a major car service – what a full car service includes when you should go for it, and how much it costs.
Why Is Car Servicing Important?
Simply put, servicing your car regularly will undoubtedly improve its life span. With regular servicing, you can learn about potential problems in advance and prevent them from becoming the real ones. It also ensures that critical vehicle component checks are carried out promptly.
Most importantly, regular servicing gives you peace of mind ensuring your vehicle is in road-worthy condition. Moreover, a consistent and regular servicing history will likely attract more potential buyers and a higher resale value whenever you want to sell it.
How Often Should I Have My Car Serviced?
Certain factors help you decide how often you should get your car serviced, including:
● How old is your car?
● The make and model of your car
● Where it is driven the most by motorway driving, rural roads, etc.)
● Distance/kilometres covered.
If you aren’t still sure, your car’s manual will tell you how often the manufacturer recommends servicing. It’s recommended to consult your Honda service centres Melbourne about your car serving regime.
Minor Service vs Major Service
Often car owners get confused about what a minor vs. full car service includes.
A typical minor car service includes a detailed vehicle inspection and diagnostic checks, filter replacement, engine oil, tyre rotation, and vehicle greasing by an expert factory-trained technician.
A minor service can be a part of the logbook service. Sometimes, it can also be referred to as a basic or general service. A minor car service is generally required every 10,000 km or every year.
On the other hand, a major car service includes replacing differential oils and transmission. These lubricate the pinion gears and rings that transfer power from the driveshaft to the wheel axles.
A full car service will also include checking and replacing clutch and brake fluid and adjusting tappet clearance. This is usually done to ensure your essential car engine parts keep running in optimal condition. During major car services in Melbourne, a mechanic will also check and replace wheel bearing grease and a few additional items.
You should get a full car service after two minor ones depending on the manufacturer, vehicle requirements and engine type. You should get a full car service every three years or 30,000 km.
Full Car Service Checklist
So what does a full car service include? Well, a few things need to be replaced, inspected, or flushed when you book in for a major service. This include:
- Engine Oil: The old, black dirty oil in your car is replaced with new, clean oil. This makes your engine run more smoothly and efficiently.
- Spark Plugs: the mechanic will replace the spark plugs to maximise the fuel economy of your car.
- Filters: The air, oil, fuel and pollen filters are all replaced to make your car run more effectively.
- Brakes: The technician during major service will inspect, clean and adjust your car’s brakes if necessary.
- Road Test: All full car services include a road test to detect any problems that can’t be picked up easily by inspecting the engine. This might need to be fixed now or later.
- Flush and Change: The clutch, transmission, power steering, brake, and coolant fluids are all flushed and replaced. Doing this increases the car’s efficiency.
- Safety Inspection: The mechanic will perform a full safety inspection so that you can have complete confidence in your car.
- Checks: The gearbox, diffuser oil, transfer case, wiper blades, and all of your bulbs are all checked.
- Battery Test: On top of all this, a full service will also cover a comprehensive battery check. This ensures that your car’s battery is charging correctly and doesn’t need to be replaced anytime soon.
How Much Does a Full Car Service Cost?
Giving a fixed price for a full car service is difficult since it depends on your car model and makes. Also, every car mechanic has set their own prices, which is another crucial factor here. Further, determining how much you will be charged for a car service also depends on how many miles your car has driven.
To get a price estimation for a full car service, it is best to make a list of reliable car auto repair shops near you and get some quotes to compare. Based on this, you can choose a car mechanic whose price and services you find the most suitable.
How Long Does A Full Car Service Take?
To get a price estimation for a full car service, it is best to make a list of reliable car auto repair shops near you and get some quotes to compare. You can choose a car mechanic whose price and services you find the most suitable.
Conclusion
Getting your car services regularly is crucial to ensure its longevity and safety. It can save you money and stress in the long run. Knowing what a full service includes, the cost and time it takes and the ideal time to get it done can make your car maintenance job easy.
However, you should always find a reliable and trusted car mechanic to hand over your vehicle. Not every mechanic can deal with your make and model. Hiring a specialised mechanic can help you avoid repetitive repairs and investments.
