Key Parts to Car Servicing

It’s recommended that you service your car regularly. Most people would send their car in every six months or follow a servicing schedule from their car manufacturer. This is a pre-emptive way to keep your car working efficiently and safely – you wouldn’t want to drive a car that could break down anytime, right?

But what does a car servicing consist of? Here are 9 key procedures that you should know!

1. Changing Engine Oil

Engine oil serves as a lubricant for your engine parts to run smoothly. There are 2 types of engine oil – synthetic oil and non-synthetic oil. Synthetic oil usually lasts longer, about 10,000 km before you need to change it. While non-synthetic oil lasts about 5,000 km.

Synthetic oil can probably last an additional 3,000km before the oil quality starts to drop. However, don’t take a risk with it, change it once it hits 5,500 km.

In our opinion, “higher” quality synthetic oil doesn’t make much of a difference and we’d stick with the usual normal quality.

2. Oil Filter

The filter removes dirt and dust particles from the engine. This filter has to be changed whenever you change the engine oil is changed. This is absolutely essential to prevent gunk from accumulating in your car.

3. Spark Plugs

The purpose of the spark plug is to ignite compressed fuels and create the combustion of the car. Different cars have a different number of spark plugs and different spark plugs have a different lifespan. The better quality ones tend to last longer distances of up to 40,000 km while those of poorer quality usually last only up to 20,000 km.

4. Auto Transmission Fluid (ATF)

ATF is the lubricant for the auto gearbox and this lubricant needs to be changed every 25,000 km to 30,000 km. Flushing is where you use ATF oil to clean the gearbox and flushing is recommended after every 50,000 km of driving.

A machine is used to pump out 80% of the oil ATF and new ATF is circulated in the car. The machine will cause the ATF to continue flowing throughout the vehicle and the dirt in the gearbox will dissolve in it. It is extremely important to flush the gearbox to make your car smoother when changing gear or picking up speed.

5. Power Steering Fluid

The power steering fluid needs to be changed every 30,000 km and flushed every 50,000 km. The power steering fluid helps to reduce the weight of the wheel when turning.

If you hear weird noises from the steering wheel when you turn, it is likely that you need to change the fluid. Either that, or there isn’t sufficient fluid.

6. Brake Pads and Brake Fluids

When should you change the brake pad? When you start hearing noises while braking, this indicates that your car has about 20% of the brake pad left. Roughly, each brake pad should last about 35,000 km but if you are a safe and slow driver, it is possible to last up until 100,000 km.

The compatible one is noisier upon braking even it is brand new. In terms of braking distance, both original and compatibility are comparable.

7. Tyre rotation, balancing and wheel alignment

The tyres on the braking wheel tend to wear out a lot faster, thus you should rotate them earlier, at every 10,000 km. By rotating the tyres, all 4 tyres will wear out evenly so that you do not have to change different tyres at different points in time. Each set of tyres usually last up until 30,000 km to 40,000 km.

It is also necessary to align your set of wheels every 20,000 or 30,000 km. This is because if the wheel alignment is off, one side of your car tyre will wear out faster. You know that your wheel alignment is off when you let go of your steering wheel on a straight road and the car swerves to one side immediately.

8. Air Filter

The air filter is used to remove dust particles from the air that enters the engine for combustion. Thus, cleaner air will result in more complete combustion. Remember to also change your air filter frequently.

9. Others

Some of the few key things to note would be to change your wipers when they are faulty and to top up your air-con gas if the air-con is malfunctioning. This will save you the hassle of having to drive in a heated car, especially in humid Singapore.

Need to send your car for servicing? Visit our very own Carro Care Workshop and make an appointment today! Our workshop offers reliable repairs by experienced mechanics with over 20 years of experience. When you visit our workshop, you’re guaranteed an easy and convenient experience with full pricing transparency throughout.

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