Car Servicing & Maintenance: A Complete Checklist For You

Car servicing and proper maintenance can help to extend the life of your car. There are many things that may need to be serviced within your car, so before you take your vehicle for an MOT and service, here are the things they will cover. If you can stay on top of your car maintenance throughout the year, you can prolong the life of your car and make your car servicing cheaper.

Here is your complete checklist for a full-car service.

Car servicing 

You should get your vehicle serviced at regular intervals, around every 10,000km or every 12 months - whichever comes first. However, this does vary depending on the vehicle so check your manufacturer’s recommendation. There are a few signs to look out for such as increased fuel or oil consumption, rough running or unusual noises while driving. If you notice any of these things, it would be smart to get them checked over by a technician.

During a service, the technician will check the following things when you take your car in for a service. However, you should check these things regularly yourself.

Cooling system

• Check the radiator coolant level when your vehicle is cold.
• Check the operation of the expansion tank. The coolant level needs to be high when your vehicle is hot but low when the vehicle is cold.
• Check the seal of the radiator cap for any sign of sludge build-up underneath the cap or in the neck of the radiator.
• Check the radiator core and tanks for leaks and see if there is any water or water staining.
• Check the radiator and heater hoses for any signs of deterioration, leakage, softening and loose clamps.

Engine oil

• Check the engine oil level using the dipstick.
• Check for signs of oil or coolant leakage on the driveway.
• Check your oil on long journeys as well as water indicators and warning lights.

Fan belt/drive belt

• Check your fan belt for fraying, cracks or other signs of deterioration.
• Check if the belt feels loose. It should have the right amount of tension which can be adjusted by a technician.

Tyres

• Check your tyre pressure often including the spare. Usually, space-saver spare tyres should be inflated to 420 kps / 60 PSI.
• Check for abnormal tyre wear which may indicate incorrect pressure or a wheel alignment problem.
• Check tread depth is good. A tread depth of less than a match-head is unsafe and illegal.

For car servicing and a full car service you can trust, call Acorn Tyres today.