The big question that motorists all over the world ask when their car performs quite well, and they are pretty good at taking care of it themselves, “How often?” Not how often they should drive it or how often they must clean it but how often should they get car service. If you have got your hands on a new car recently you must have noticed a manual that came with it. Usually, this manual also contains time and distance limits when you get to have free servicing for your four-wheeler. If it is so clear, why does the big question arise?
According to the Book
Many car owners are not so adept with the technical and mechanical skills that could enable them to fix their cars up themselves. They completely rely on professional mechanics who not only have the knowledge but the proper equipment to perform the job. Obviously, these experts know the best about how often you must perform car service. It is them who put down the following guidelines to help you understand when it is time.
Engine Oil and Filter - Every 6 months or 6,000 km.
Cabin Air Filter- Every 24 months or 48,000 km.
Fuel Tank Air Filter- Every 24 months or 48,000 km.
Coolant Fluid Change- Every 24 months or 48,000 km.
Transfer Case Service- Every 100,000 km.
Automatic Transmission Fluid- Every 84 months or 168,000 km.
Understanding Your Car
As a general rule, you should get a complete car service done every year, especially if you drive it regularly on city roads and occasional long distances. Your engine oil, as you can see, is important as it elongates the life of your engine. However, the above list does not dictate a rigid rule about how often you should take your car for servicing. There are many factors that could affect your decision of either taking it more and less frequently. The best way to know is to understand your car better. Check for the following things to make a good decision.
Does the car start as smoothly as it used to do when it was new?
Is the extreme temperature of the region you live in affecting its performance?
Are you using your car for frequent short distance traveling?
Do you leave your car idle for a long time at a stretch, sometimes even weeks before you take it for a drive?
If you answered positively to most of these questions, you should consider taking your vehicle for frequent car service. In the conditions mentioned above, it gets strenuous on the car to perform at the level it should and leads to great fall in its performance if you don’t maintain it.
How Often?
When it is new, and you get free car service every 6 months or so, it’s not much trouble to take your car to an authorized service station. As you drive it more and more and get sued to it, it is possible that you begin to lax on its maintenance. Just because it still starts and moves, you don’t pay much attention to its regular servicing needs. Engine oils, coolants, brake fluids and other crucial components are prone to moisture decay. Replacing them regularly is the only way to save your car from an early death.
As there is no fixed rule that you should follow religiously when it comes to the question of how often you should carry out car service, you should stick to the manual as far as you can. Ask your car manufacturer or dealer for advice on what small things you can do to keep your car in top shape. Understand your car and the rest comes naturally to you.
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