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Car Servicing Guide

One of the most common questions we get asked is “ How often should I service my car? Is it really such a big deal if I miss a car service or delay it a couple of months?”. Yes!

We all skip our six-monthly trip to the dentist on occasion. The difference with our cars is that the engine oil inside is a key component of lubricating its insides. Not many people realise, but that engine oil has a use-by-date. After about 7,000km, or 12 months, engine oil will start to break down and deteriorate, becoming less and less effective. Parts in your car start to deteriorate and the inevitable result is unnecessary car repairs, breakdowns and even a blown engine. And that’s just the engine oil, don’t even get me started on the coolant!

Servicing your car is the most important thing you can do for your car’s well being and yet, it’s also the most neglected. One of the main reasons for this is because most people aren’t really sure of what needs servicing and when.

So, how often should you service your car? We’re all told to refer to our car’s logbook for the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule. However, most people don’t even look at it… let alone understand it! While I’m an advocate for empowering yourself by reviewing your logbook and becoming familiar with your service requirements, I acknowledge that they can be confusing.

To simplify it right down to the “need to know”, we’ve put together an overview of what needs to be serviced and when that will suit most cars.

CAR SERVICES FOR EVERY 10,000KM OR 6 MONTHS (whichever comes first)

– Engine oil – Oil Filter *Some new cars under warranty 15,000km/ 12 months

CAR SERVICES FOR EVERY 40,000KM OR 2 YEARS

– A/C cabin filter – Air filter – Brake fluid – Brakes – Coolant flush – Diff oil – Spark plugs – Transmission service (manual) – Tyres & wheel alignment

CAR SERVICES FOR EVERY 60,000-80,000KM OR 3-4 YEARS

– Battery – Fuel filter – Transmission service (auto)

CAR SERVICES FOR EVERY 80,000-120,000KM OR 4-6 YEARS

– Clutch (manual) – Platinum spark plugs – Timing belt & water pump – Wiper rubbers

CAR SERVICES FOR EVERY 120,000KM OR 6 YEARS

– Shock absorbers

>> Download the print-friendly “How Often Should You Service Your Car” Guide here

There are also the ‘big-ticket’ service items. They’re the major car services that hit you around the 80,000 – 120,000km mark (or four to six years). The table below gives you a guide of what parts to replace and when.

CAR PART	WHEN TO REPLACE IT (WHICHEVER COMES FIRST)	$: <$150 $$: $151-600 $$$: >$601
Air-conditioning cabin filter	40,000km/ 2 years	$
Air filter	40,000km/ 2 years	$
Battery	60,000 – 80,000km/ 3-4 years (engine mounted battery) 120,000 – 160,000km/ 6-8 years (boot mounted battery)	$$
Brakes (front)	40,000km/ 2 years	$$
Brakes (rear)	60,000km/ 3 years	$$
Clutch (manual transmission)	80,000km – 120,000km/ 4-6 years	$$$
Coolant flush	40,000km/ 2 years	$$
Differential oil	40,000km/ 2 years	$$
Fuel filter	60,000km/ 3 years	$$
Shock absorbers (or struts)	120,000km/ 6 years	$$
Spark plugs	40,000km/ 2 years (platinum spark plugs 100,000km/ 5 years)	$$
Timing belt and water pump	100,000km/ 5 years	$$$
Transmission service (auto)	60,000 – 80,000km/ 3-4 years	$$
Transmission service (manual)	40,000km/ 2 years	$$
Tyres	30,000 – 50,000km/ 5 years max (for well maintained tyres kept at the correct pressure)	$$
Wheel alignment	When replacing tyres	$
Wiper rubbers	100,000km/ 5 years	$

 

If your local mechanic tells you something different to the guide above, ask why. Ask them to refer to your logbook and ensure you haven’t had major parts replaced at the last service.

An important, yet often overlooked consideration to how often you should service your car is your driving style. This affects how soon your engine oil degrades, the likely wear and tear on your brakes, timing belt and so on.

A driver who lives in a high-density area, drives a lot of short trips but also takes long drives to visit family and on weekends and never drives in extreme conditions can safely stick to their car’s recommended service schedule. As a result, the car would run like clockwork, only require minor car repairs, and save hundreds of dollars a year on fuel.

By contrast, a driver who does a lot of short city trips and rarely drives on a highway, zips through traffic and often leaves heavy things like gym gear in the boot would need to service their car at least every six months or more frequently. If they don’t, they’ll find their car often makes strange noises, the vehicle will be more likely to break down and the result will be heavy expenses.

Servicing your car is a big deal and needs to be done regularly. If you don’t, your car is more likely to encounter problems that could have been caught early or avoided entirely. The result; you’re more likely to end up with a big bill down the track rather than saving money. So, keep your services up to date and, if in doubt, refer to your print-friendly “How Often Should You Service Your Car” Guide.

To find a reliable mechanic in your area, head to our Find Your Local Mechanic page.