• View:
  • List View List
  • Map View Map
  • Articles View Articles
Home > Motor Engineers & Repairers > What is involved in a 'general' / regular car service?

What is involved in a 'general' / regular car service?

Sarah Shields
03 October 2011

Regular car servicing is required to ensure that your car works efficiently and safely. Regular services will extend the life of your car. A regular car service helps prevent dangerous potential failures in your braking and steering system. The amount of work required in regular services will depend upon the number of kilometres travelled. Some services are required every 6 months or 10,000 kilometres, however other components will require a checkup every 20,000 or 50,000 kilometres. Your vehicle logbook and handbook often contains a detailed list of the work and tasks involved for each level of service. As a general rule, a regular service will contain the following:

Mechanic servicing a car engine.

Six Monthly Car Service or every 10,000 kilometers

  • Engine oil and oil filter change. Engine oil loses its effectiveness over time; it needs to be replaced to extend engine life. Older cars often need natural oils rather than synthetic oils.
  • Check and adjust drive belt tension. Drive belts operate alternators, fans, power steering and air conditioning. Loose or slipping drive belts can result in loud squealing and engine failure.
  • Check and clean spark plugs. Spark plugs need to be checked for excessive carbon deposits, oil and oxidation, which can highlight other problems in the engine.
  • Check and top up automatic transmission fluid level. Excessive reductions in transmission fluid can mean other elements of the transmission system may need examination and replacement.
  • Check and top-up power steering fluid,
  • Check wear on brake pads and replace if necessary. Obtain brake pads that are appropriate for your vehicle and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
  • Inspect brake hydraulic system hoses and pipes for leakages and corrosion,
  • Renew fuel line filter. A common problem in old cars occurs when the sediment at the bottom of the fuel tank flows through the fuel lines and clogs the fuel filter.
  • Inspect tyres for tread wear and damage. Extend the life of your car’s tyres by regular rotation of the tyres.
  • Take note of the pattern of wear on your tyres, as this can also indicate other problems in the vehicle such as suspension, steering and wheel balancing.
  • Visual check of windscreen wipers, battery condition, charging system, exhaust condition, coolant and anti-freeze levels and windscreen washer levels.

Annual Car Service or every 20,000 kilometers

A 12 monthly service will include everything in the six monthly service plus: cleaning the air filter element, renewing the spark plugs, changing the manual transmission fluid, checking rear axle lubricant level and re-greasing front wheel bearings, adjusting park brake, wheel alignment and steering angles checked and headlight beams aligned.

Regular car services are important to keep your car road worthy and ensure your safety when on the road. Find a reliable mechanic in your area who can service your car on a regular basis.

< Back to articles for Motor Engineers & Repairers
Find Motor Engineers & Repairers by city: