How to service a car

It's difficult to know for sure whether it's due to a lack of servicing. It could be any number of reasons - so best to get it checked out. There's no guarantee that having it serviced will solve the problem. 

What is certain is that having your car regularly serviced is important. A car service will typically include the replacement of oil, under bonnet fluids (such anti-freeze, screen wash) and filters. These are used heavily throughout a cars life, so it's vital that they are replaced frequently. During a service all sorts of checks will be completed, both inside the car, outside and underneath. This includes both mechanical parts, such as the exhaust, and electrics, like lighting and the car battery. 

Car servicing helps spot any problems early and fixing them before they develop into something more serious. Just like having your teeth regularly checked by the dentist will help keep fillings away, having your often car serviced should prolong it's performance.

A motor vehicle service is a series of maintenance procedures carried out at a set time interval or after the vehicle has travelled a certain distance. The service intervals are specified by the vehicle manufacturer in a service schedule and some modern cars display the due date for the next service electronically on the instrument panel.

The completed services are usually recorded in a service book which is rubber stamped by the service centre upon completion of each service. A complete service history usually adds to the resale value of a vehicle.

Maintenance tasks commonly carried out during a motor vehicle service include:

1) Change the engine oil
2) Replace the oil filter
3) Replace the air filter
4) Replace the fuel filter
5) Replace the spark plugs
6) Tune the engine
7) Check level and refill brake fluid
8) Check level and refill power steering fluid
9) Check level and refill Automatic Transmission Fluid
10) Grease and lubricate components
11) Inspect and replace the timing belt if needed
12) Check condition of the tires