Car Servicing Information

Since an MOT test is legally required for every vehicle every twelve months, servicing is vital to ensure that your car passes the safety and emissions tests. It also ensures that your car is running properly which will help prevent unnecessary damage to the engine and other parts of the car. Prevention is both safer and more economical that fixing the problem after it has occurred. It is generally accepted that a car should have a complete service every twelve months or 12,000 miles if the distance is reached before the time frame arrives. Some car manufacturers do recommend more frequent attention and it benefits the owner to adhere to a manufacturer’s recommendation since vehicles are idiosyncratic. Cars used more often, especially in heavy traffic, will also benefit from more regular servicing. Apart for the standard legal requirements and common sense of yearly services, there are other occasions when a vehicle might require an additional service. In preparation for a long trip it is a good idea for a simple oil service in order to make sure the engine is running optimally. If the vehicle hasn’t been serviced in a while a light service might be a more sensible option, where most of the fundamental aspects of the automotive system will be carefully tested by qualified professionals. On a trip, no one wants to endure a faulty car and a light service will determine the functioning of the basic components including brakes and brake fluid, coolant, windscreen wipers, battery efficiency, exhaust condition, shock absorbers, suspension and tyre pressure and condition. A full service will included all the elements of the light version, but will include other aspects to make sure that every part of the vehicle is in the appropriate condition for the MOT requirements as well as functioning optimally. Wheel balancing and bearings will be checked, as will the spark plugs and every other detail which in inherent in the complete and safe functioning of any car. The Good Garage Scheme has some excellent information on car servicing. Download their sample Industry Standard Service Checklist.