Why you shouldn’t put off that car service

Don’t be tempted to ignore your car service schedule

Too often a car service is postponed or forgotten, to the detriment of your vehicle, your driving convenience and even, your safety. For some motorists it’s like putting off that visit to the doctor or the dentist.  For others, life is just too busy, and they go with the ‘if it’s not broken, why fix it’ maxim.  However, a regular car service can keep your vehicle running safely and smoothy, pro-long its life and ensure a better resale price, when you choose to upgrade. It can also save you from unexpected nasty car problems as potential issues are diagnosed and parts replaced before they start to interfere with your smooth driving experience.

Oil and Filter changes

One of the most important aspect of any car service is the oil and oil filter being checked and then changed if it is necessary.  These are part the vital inner workings of the car.  Oil regulates the temperature of your car and keep all the metal engine parts lubricated and operating smoothly. It also reduces the damage to the car engine from constant friction. The oil itself passes from the top of the engine to the sump and back up again, passing through the filter.  A dirty filter will fail to catch any debris and stop it from being distributed through the oil. Small particles of dust and dirt can then get caught in the engine and cause major damage. So, it is really important to keep the oil and filter clean to prevent engine damage.  Replacing an engine is expensive and troublesome business at nobody wants.

Air filter change

Combustion engines need air to function properly.  That air needs to be as clean as can be. Clogged up filters won’t clean the air and that will allow dirt particles to get into the engine, which can cause poor performance and shorten the life of the car. An air filter cleaning is of the regular car service. 

Choose a service that suits you

Also included in most car services are the Lights, tyres, bodywork and exhausts, brakes and steering, fluid and coolant levels, suspension, and a look at the health of your battery. The extent of the car servicing often depends on the option that you choose. A full car service is recommended every 12 months, but an interim service at every six months may not be so comprehensive. Talk to you mechanic and follow the manufacturers recommendations to organise that car service and keep all working well.

Electric Car Servicing

Electric vehicles need less maintenance than the combustion engines.  The main points we check in an EV are the electric motor(s) itself, battery pack, high-voltage electric cabling, charging port, suspension, brakes, steering, wheels, tyres, and lights. There are fewer fluids, like engine oil, and the brake wear is significantly reduced due to regenerative braking.  At Sandyford Motor Centre, we recommend following the manufacturers schedule for servicing on all cars, including EV’s

An NCT is not a service   

The NCT is no replacement for a thorough car service.  The NCT is a visual car inspection, making sure that your car has all its lights working, brakes, that the tread on the tyres are compliant and that it passes an emissions test and suspension test.  The NCT is a check of basic requirements at the time of the test.  It is not a replacement for a scheduled car service.  Of course, our trained mechanics are more than happy to see your car through a pre-NCT test to ease its way to a positive test but the NCT or the pre-NCT car service in the garage, is not a car service.

It assesses components which are visible and accessible. It does not replace or purport to replace your responsibility to ensure your car is roadworthy at all times or the regular maintenance that a mechanic needs to carry out on your car. Defects found must be repaired and the car must pass a re-test before the car owner will be issued with an NCT Certificate. 

The main purpose of a service is to ensure that your car is running at its peak performance. Without a regular service, you risk the chance of unknown damage occurring to your car, whether it be wear and tear or an engine fault.  Our skilled technicians here at Sandyford Motor Centre are adept at picking up on damage to the car which may be easily repaired.  This will save you money and unwanted stress in the long run.

Just like us, our vehicles need their routine health check-ups. Taking yours to professional mechanics for a regular scheduled car service makes complete sense.