We’ve all heard and made these excuses before: “I don’t have the time to take my car in for a service”, “I don’t have the money to get it fixed”, or “My car doesn’t need a service, I’ve hardly used it”. Whatever the reason, many people believe that it doesn’t hurt to stretch the time between car services and when car repairs are carried out. In the long run, however, ignoring your car’s servicing requirements can be costly and even dangerous.
Let’s dive into more detail about vehicle servicing and the risks of not getting your vehicle serviced regularly.
Why should a vehicle be serviced regularly?
Regular servicing helps ensure your car operates reliably and efficiently. Key actions during servicing include engine oil and filter changes, which are both vital for your car’s health.
When a vehicle is serviced regularly, attention is paid to its many components and systems. This means problems are identified early on and repairs can be carried out before they become a significant issue that could cause inconvenient and potentially costly breakdowns.
It can also ensure the safety and performance of your vehicle, as well as increase its fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.
How regularly should a car be serviced?
You should consult your owner’s handbook for the manufacturer’s service schedule. This can vary from 15,000 to 30,000 km service intervals.
The general rule of thumb is to take your vehicle in for a service every twelve months, or 10,000km – whichever comes first. If you’re a high mileage driver, you should aim to have your vehicle serviced every six months or 5,000 km.
What are the risks of not regularly servicing a vehicle?
One of the main benefits of regularly servicing your vehicle is identifying and solving potential problems early on – before they become a bigger issue. You can’t catch problems early if your vehicle isn’t getting checked regularly.
The list of issues is exhaustive, but here are some things that could happen if you don’t get your vehicle serviced regularly:
- Excess oil sludge in your engine. Built-up oil sludge can affect your vehicle by inhibiting the flow of oil throughout the engine, polluting it and causing damage
- Compromised safety and protection. There’s nothing scarier than a mechanical failure while you’re out on the road. Braking, steering, and suspension are critical to a car’s performance and safety. If these systems aren’t attended to during regular servicing, you can’t have confidence your car is safe.
- Accelerated and unnecessary wear and tear. Failing to service your car regularly can put undue pressure on your vehicle and increase its wear and tear. This could turn into expensive and inconvenient breakdowns, which can be frustrating. Increased wear and tear can also impact the value of your vehicle over time.
- Poor fuel economy. Fuel is far from cheap these days and we all want to get as much mileage as possible from the fuel we buy. If there are delays to its standard service tasks, your car’s fuel consumption is likely to increase over time.
Do you want motoring peace of mind
The reality is that – whether you choose to regularly service your car or not – you may still face motoring issues while on the road. Protect your car and your wallet from expensive repair costs with Autolife’s Mechanical Breakdown Insurance. It covers mechanical faults and repairs, like steering problems, engine repairs, battery replacements or auto-electrical issues. You’ll also have access to 24-hour roadside assistance and free WOF inspection.
Find out more about Autolife’s Mechanical Breakdown Insurance.