With finances tight these days, many people may think that skipping a service on their car is financially prudent. However, while the cost of a regular service may save cash in the short term, it may cost you more down the road. In this article, we answer the question, “Why is regular servicing important?”
In short, regular servicing is important for the safety, fuel efficiency, long life, and cost savings for your vehicle.
Prevents Breakdowns and Helps Ensure a Longer Life
Cars are systems made up of many moving parts that work simultaneously. If one part fails, it may cause problems to other parts of the system. During a service, your technician will examine the condition of the visible moving parts, such as belts and tensioners, to ensure they are in good condition. For example, if a drive belt is cracked, they’ll recommend it be replaced before it breaks, causing a full breakdown while you’re on the road.
Another goal of a service is to change certain parts to reduce wear and tear. For petrol and diesel engines, it is important to change oil regularly, so that the moving parts within the engine are well lubricated. Over time, the additives in engine oil break down and the oil gets dirty so does not lubricate the moving parts as well as it should. This causes moving parts inside the engine to become worn and damaged. Changing oil and oil filters regularly helps to minimise this wear and extends the life of your engine.
Improves Fuel Efficiency
There are several issues that can be noticed during a service that can affect the fuel efficiency of your car. For example:
- Flat or improperly aligned tyres will wear tyres unevenly, creating additional drag on the car.
- Engine idling problems and worn spark plugs cause the engine to use more fuel and burn more oil.
- Rubbing brake callipers create drag and not only uses more fuel, but also wears brake pads prematurely.
- Changing dirty oil, fuel, and air filters ensure that the engine components operate at the correct efficiencies.
Saves Money on Unnecessary Repairs
When you regularly take your car to one garage, that garage becomes familiar with and keeps records on your car. For CB Motors customers who return each year, we look at the past mileage and records, and pay attention to issues they may have been identified on previous visits. This information is adjusted for each customer’s needs. For example, an issue may require an immediate repair for a customer who drives 10,000 miles a year, but it may be something to watch for a customer who drives only 3,000 miles a year. We will discuss with you the pros and cons of the repair, making sure your needs are met.
Maximises Vehicles Value
A car’s service history lets future owners know that you have taken care of the car while you have owned it. A car with a full-service history will be both easier to sell and will sell for more money than a car with a partial service history or no service history. The less information you have on the service history of your car, the fewer potential buyers your car will have.
Also, if you buy a car with a new or used car with existing warranty, having the car serviced at the correct intervals with approved parts, it will ensure that your warranty stays valid.
Safety
Arguably the most important reason to have your car serviced regularly is safety. Regular servicing will make sure that essential components, such as brakes, tyres and suspension won’t let you down when you need them the most.
Many modern vehicles calculate service due dates based upon time elapsed or mileage covered, so if you get a message on your dash stating service due, don’t worry about it, but also don’t ignore it.
Call CB Motors at 020-8455-3373 and book a service today, to help ensure that small problems don’t become big ones.