Servicing.

[Slinwagh]

First of all I would like to point out that I know absolutely nothing about cars, I can put petrol in it and check the oil level.

I want to book my car in for a service but as it is something that I have never done before I have no idea what a "service" includes.

Also how can you be sure that everything that should be done has been done when like me you have absolutely no car knowledge!

[kaiowas]

A basic service usually consists of changing the oil and oil filter plus 'checking' lots of things. A more major service might include changing such stuff as coolant, brake fluid, fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs or pollen filters if your car is new enough to have one. A proper major service will include pretty much all of the above plus a cambelt change.

Your owners handbook (will probably be in the glovebox) should have a section that includes your service intervals and what should be done at each service.

On top of this as part of the the general checks they may find other things which they'll recommend need doing.

[phykell]

Also, even if your car is supposed to have an oil/filter change at 20K or even 15K, best to do an additional change at 10K or 7.5K respectively.

One thing to do before a service at a garage you don't necessarily trust, is to mark all the serviceable items with an invisible (e.g. UV) marker.

[Slinwagh]

Originally Posted by phykell

Also, even if your car is supposed to have an oil/filter change at 20K or even 15K, best to do an additional change at 10K or 7.5K respectively.

One thing to do before a service at a garage you don't necessarily trust, is to mark all the serviceable items with an invisible (e.g. UV) marker.

Serviceable items being !? I told you I knew nothing!!!

[phykell]

Air filter, oil filter, fuel filter, spark/glow plugs, etc.

As has been said, your car handbook should list the details of the service intervals and items or alternatively, buy a suitable Haynes manual - their servicing schedules and detail are usually far more realistic than the manufacturers.

[AboveTheSalt]

In my experience, garages seem always to change the spark plugs - God only knows why, probably because they are quick and easy to change and they have a huge markup? I recently took one of mine out before a service and it was absolutely fine.

As to marking "replacable" parts, all the garage will do is swap parts with another similar car being serviced at the same time

I have also found that when you take a car in to be MOT'd, garages will sometimes needlessly swap wiper blades and even light bulbs which they claim were faulty.

I make a point of having and temporarily fitting brand new (cheap) wiper blades and always topping up the coolant and washer reservoirs before a service. I restore the original original wiper blades when I get the car back.

Personally, I think that oil should be changed every 12 months, regardless of the mileage.

In the good old days, whenever anything was replaced during the service, the old parts would be placed in a plastic bag in the passenger footwell.


Having said all that, most garages do seem to be honest nowadays, they just do "recommended" work that really is not essential.