If you are not mechanically minded, you probably have little idea what goes on when your car is serviced, yet you will be aware that the service intervals are important for the well-being of the car. The frequency of the servicing would be stipulated by the manufacturer, and would typically occur every 5-8,000 miles.

The Engine

Very much the power house of the vehicle, the engine oil must be replaced at every service, along with the oil and air filters, which both get clogged up. The engine oil should be of the recommended grade, and any garage that offers car service in Canberra would automatically use the correct grade of oil, so there’s no need to worry. Other things the mechanic would check is the tension of the various belts, while also checking brake fluid and power steering fluid reservoirs, and topping up where necessary.

Gearbox Oil

While the gearbox oil is not changed at every service interval, it does need replacing at some point, and again, this is something the owner’s manual would tell you.

Spark Plugs

If the engine is petrol powered, the spark plugs should be inspected and re-gapped using a special tool, and if they have seen better days, the spark plugs should be replaced. A diesel engine uses injectors and the combustion is caused by compression, not by ignition, and in a diesel-powered car, the injectors would be inspected at regular intervals.

Brakes

Typically, the brakes are tested on a rolling road, and the owner’s manual would stipulate the mileage for changing the brake pads, usually every 30-50,000 miles, which should always be replaced with genuine parts. If the brakes are spongy, it might be due to air in the system, and the mechanic will bleed out the air from one of the wheel locations, while also checking the brake fluid level.

Specified Tasks

Each service interval would have its own list of things to be done, and once a service is completed, the details are logged into the rear section of the owner’s manual, which is great for future reference. By recording the entire service history in the owner’s manual, the new owner can be sure that the vehicle has, in fact, been properly serviced, and with the garage’s stamp, there is recorded evidence of this.

Detailed Vehicle Inspection

Aside from the items listed in the owner’s manual, the car mechanic would inspect the car thoroughly, looking for any minor issues, and that would include inspecting the underside of the car, looking for signs of rust and corrosion. Tyres would also be checked for bulges and general wear and tear on the tread, and once the bodywork examination is over, the car is ready for another few thousand miles of use.

If you want your car to be reliable and never let you down, then it should be serviced regularly, which will ensure that the car is always in a roadworthy condition. You should always let the dealer service your car, as they know exactly what needs to be done and only use genuine parts.