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Car Servicing
Do I need to annually service my car if my mileage is very low?
Despite whether your vehicle covers a considerably lower number of kilometres than average, it’s recommended that you nonetheless have your vehicle serviced annually. This is because some items on your vehicle’s service schedule require attention based on time rather than the distance the car has been driven, such as changing the oil, coolant and brake fluid as well as checks of tyres, brakes, lights and drivebelts.
Should I service my car more regularly if it’s older?
While you don’t need to have your vehicle serviced more regularly as it gets older, you will start to see more maintenance requirements as the car ages. These items will be outside the normal service schedule of the vehicle. Items that may require attention include the suspension, braking and exhaust systems. Deteriorating performance may be a result of problems with your ignition, or as simple as incorrect tyre pressures.
Is it better to service my car through the dealership or a local mechanic?
Providing a licensed independent vehicle workshop is able to carry out the servicing for your vehicle as outlined in the service logbook, you do not have to have your car serviced at a dealer to maintain its factory warranty.
Should all coolant hoses be replaced every four years?
You are correct regarding the rubber hoses failing internally. They will degrade over time and harden. Modern quality coolants are designed to not affect rubber hoses; however old coolant will become caustic and degrade the internal rubber surface of the hose. If you maintain a regular service interval of your coolant including reverse flushing the system every 24 months you will lengthen the serviceable life of your hoses. It would be fair to assume that a well-cared for cooling system should be reliable for at least five to eight years.
Will finding parts become difficult if I keep my vehicle for 10 years?
Manufacturers will generally keep commonly required parts for their vehicles beyond a 10-year period. When the vehicle becomes older than 10 years, parts may become more difficult to obtain for low production models.
For a car that isn’t used often, what sort of service maintenance does it require?
Vehicle servicing can be expensive, particularly at intervals where major work is required. While this can seem excessive where only low kilometres are covered, servicing typically covers items that are susceptible to both usage and age, and the manufacturer’s servicing recommendations should be adhered to. However, you are not obliged to service your vehicle at a dealer and more affordable servicing may be available from qualified independent workshops that can carry out the work as recommended by the manufacturer.
Do I need to have the engine flushed every service?
If you are in doubt, we would advise you to always follow manufacturer log book servicing requirements. If an engine flush is not specified here, then provided your vehicle has been serviced regularly, generally speaking an engine oil flush would not be required.
