How Often Should I Service My Car?
Published Thu Jul 03 2025
How Often Should I Service My Car?
As a car owner, one of the most important things you can do to ensure the longevity and reliability of your vehicle is to keep up with regular servicing. But with so many different recommendations out there, it's easy to wonder: "How often should I service my car?"
The simple answer is, it depends! Several factors influence the ideal service schedule for your vehicle, but let's break down the key points.
The most crucial piece of advice comes directly from the people who built your car: the manufacturer. Every vehicle comes with an owner's manual, and within those pages, you'll find a detailed service schedule specific to your make and model. This schedule usually outlines services at specific mileage intervals (e.g., every 10,000 km) or time intervals (e.g., every 12 months), whichever comes first.
Why is the manufacturer's recommendation so important?
They've designed your car's components to work together and have determined the optimal intervals for fluid changes, inspections, and part replacements to prevent wear and tear and maintain performance. Straying too far from this can lead to accelerated wear, reduced fuel efficiency, and potentially costly repairs down the line.
Beyond the Basics: Factors That Influence Your Service Schedule
While the manufacturer's guide is your baseline, certain factors might necessitate more frequent servicing:
- Driving Conditions:
- Heavy City Driving: Stop-and-go traffic, short trips, and frequent idling can put more stress on your engine and braking system.
- Off-Road Driving or Towing: These activities place significant demands on your vehicle's engine, transmission, and suspension, often requiring more frequent inspections and fluid changes.
- Extreme Temperatures: Driving in very hot or very cold climates can impact fluid performance and battery life.
- Driving Habits: Aggressive driving, such as rapid acceleration and hard braking, can increase wear on your tyres, brakes, and engine components.
- Age of the Vehicle: Older cars, even with low kilometres, may benefit from more frequent checks as parts can degrade over time, regardless of usage.
- Vehicle History: If you've recently purchased a used car and its service history is unclear, it's always a good idea to get a comprehensive service early on to establish a baseline.
A standard car service typically involves much more than just an oil change. Depending on the type of service (minor or major), it can include:
- Oil and Filter Replacement: Essential for engine lubrication and cooling.
- Fluid Checks and Top-ups: Including brake fluid, coolant, power steering fluid, and transmission fluid.
- Tyre Inspection and Rotation: Checking tread depth, pressure, and rotating tyres for even wear.
- Brake System Inspection: Checking pads, rotors, and fluid levels.
- Battery Check: Ensuring your battery is in good condition, especially important in fluctuating Queensland weather.
- Light and Wiper Check: Ensuring all safety features are functioning correctly.
- General Inspection: Looking for any leaks, unusual noises, or signs of wear on belts, hoses, and other components.
- Diagnostic Scan: Checking for any electronic fault codes.
At Big Box Cars, we understand that regular servicing is key to a healthy car and your peace of mind. Our experienced technicians are trained to service all makes and models, using quality parts and the latest diagnostic tools. We'll always provide you with a transparent assessment of your vehicle's condition and recommend only the necessary work.
Don't wait for a warning light to appear! If you're unsure when your car is due for its next service, check your owner's manual or give our friendly team at Big Box Cars a call today. Investing in regular maintenance now can save you from bigger headaches and expenses down the track, keeping you safely on the roads of Brisbane and beyond.
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