Identifying issues early on has many benefits, including saving your life and keeping the car performing optimally, which makes car maintenance a vital task to be followed regularly. According to a widespread opinion, changing the oil and air filters is all that is needed to ensure the proper functioning of the car and keep the engine in optimal condition.

Prevention, as we know, is the best weapon, and the logic of these planned interventions is precisely to act even before malfunctions or mechanical problems occur. The make and model manufacturer usually sets a maintenance schedule and mostly covers the engine’s related fluids. But, there is much more to look after, such as:

• check brakes;
• check battery and lights;
• check and replace the glow or spark plugs if needed;
• check the condition of the tyres, tyre rotation, and tyre pressure;
• check steering and suspensions;
• check the belts;
• re-gas air-con;
• replace oil filter, air filter(when existing fuel filter);
• leaks, whether engine oil, transmission oil or coolant.

Many expensive car repair bills can be avoided, by having the vehicle regularly serviced!
It is proven that many of the issues are being discovered and taken care of during such a visit, which, if left unattended, can lead to other components getting damaged, increasing the chances of dealing with higher repair bills.
The frequency of such routine visits is not a one size fits all approach and is highly impacted by the type of roads driven on, the environment – whether it is a dusty or clean one, the climate and type of driving, age of the vehicle.

• Servicing the battery can help you prevent the possibility of not being able to start the vehicle even after replacing the battery. Take, for example, Nissan Micra 2002-2010. If you own this vehicle, when the battery goes flat, and you attempt to start the car, the IMM(immobiliser module) and ECU(engine control module) will de-synchronise. For this particular model, the re-synchronisation has to occur in a garage, as the job is more comprehensive and requires more sophisticated equipment and time. Read more about the importance of servicing the battery.
• Another important aspect of why a regular maintenance schedule needs to become a routine is because it can save the engine and/or the transmission should any oil or coolant leaks go unnoticed, or it can increase the lifespan of the engine and the transmission. Oil or coolant leaks are not environmentally friendly. It can also lead to the engine and/or the transmission running dry at some point, which may require a complete engine and transmission rebuild or replacement-nonetheless, a much higher repair cost.
• ADAS, or Advanced Driver Assist Systems, is one overlooked part of the vehicle that needs to be discussed more, as this also requires attention. You can read more about ADAS and the importance of recalibration on the ADAS Services page.