Do cars really need servicing every year?

jimjames

TeamPlum wrote: »

The OP was talking about taking to a service centre. I was not. So in this instance, no.

Between paying for a service, and doing it myself at a fraction of the cost, I know which I'd prefer.

The OP specifically said "does a car need servicing every year"?

I thought I was pretty clear I thought the answer was yes regardless of mileage intervals. It doesn't matter to me where that service is done, but for longevity it does need to be done by someone.

TeamPlum wrote: »

Yes I'm well aware of the hygroscopic properties of oil thanks. .

You may be aware but the OP may well not be, by the fact they are asking the question in the first place.

My car is meant to be long life intervals but I don't trust that and would prefer to do 10,000 miles or yearly. Supposedly a common camshaft failure on this model could be due to the longlife intervals so I'd prefer not to take that risk even if the official line is that 20,000 is acceptable.

jimjames

iolanthe07 wrote: »

wife hadn't changed the oil in their motor in 4 years!

I pity the poor sod who buys it off her.

Absolutely. One reason I like high mileage ex company cars with FSH is for having those services done on time and less wear. Cars pootling around town with no servicing seem like a problem waiting to happen for the owner.

Robisere

As a long-retired workshop foreman, I find some of the views stated here to be amusing.

I know that engine and lubrication technology has moved on, but there really is no substitute for a professional servicing your vehicle in a reputable garage. Wheels off, brakes checked by actually looking at any wear in discs, pads, drums or hydraulics. Oil and filters changed, all at recognised intervals. If the engine has a cam belt, that should be changed at the correct interval. Not to change that particular part, can lead to a snapped belt and severe damage to cylinder head and associated parts such as valves and camshafts. None of this should be carried out of course without (a) informing the customer of the costs involved and(b) replacing at the manufacturer's recommendations. Which are there in the Service Manual for a reason.

Now some of you are going to say 'Well he would say that, wouldn't he?' Others might say that they can do all the servicing themselves and they are quite entitled to do so. But cars today have so much advanced technology that DIY is a risk.

Read the Service Manual.

scaredofdebt

It's like a kind of insurance.

A regularly serviced car is less likely to have issues than one that isn't/

If I had a newish, fairly expensive car then I would be more inclined to get it serviced regularly.

I've owned bangers that I have never bothered to service, my old Nova got to 220k miles without any service for the last 3-4 years of its life. I did get things like the brakes and brake fluid checked though as that's a safety issue.

My current car does mainly motorway miles but the dealership recently said the rear brake discs and pads will need replacing in 700 miles. They told me this without even looking at the car, just took the key and plugged it into their computer.

I don't think so. And they wanted £740 for a service and the rear pads/discs. They can whistle, I'll take it to my local mechanic and see what he thinks. I bet there's a good few thousand on those brakes yet.

I always used to do my own servicing but it is getting harder with modern cars, but the main thing is to do a regular oil change and that is usual straightforward enough.

motorguy

TeamPlum wrote: »

That's not a question, no need for the question mark. You've done that three times now.

Even if you could correctly form a sentence, me having a 'rant', (which it wasn't, but I'll let you get away with it as the written word seems to trouble you) has little bearing on me also saying 'let's give it a rest'. Now the O/p seems to have a host of opinions on which to ruminate - let's give it a rest. Unless of course you wish to play 'thread policeman' some more.

Or you could admit you were in the wrong?

Nodding_Donkey

Can't see that happening

Ebe_Scrooge

Robisere wrote: »

But cars today have so much advanced technology that DIY is a risk.

Read the Service Manual.

I would suggest that routine servicing is well within the scope of anyone with a basic level of DIY experience. If it's a local garage that you trust, then your comment may be fair enough, but personally I actually prefer to do things like oil and filter changes myself. Parts from a local motor factor ( much cheaper than Halfords or whatever ), and I know that the job's been done correctly, using the manufacturer's recommended grade of oil, filter, etc. How many people would be able to tell if the garage had *really* changed the filter, especially if it's a cartridge type ?

Checking brake pads / discs - as you rightly point out, this needs to be a proper "wheels off" check, but again that really should be within the scope of any driver. And changing pads and / or discs is really very simple.

Not to detract from the skills of a mechanic such as yourself, and I concur that a "service" is NOT just an oil & filter change. But this site is, primarily, about saving money, and many people should be able to learn to do basic car maintenance themselves to save a fair wedge. Again, please don't think I'm "rubbishing" professional mechanics. But a mechanic has to buy the parts the same as we do, then factor in his overheads, premises, tools, etc., and make a profit on the job. For simple jobs, DIY can save a fair bit of money.

Car_Complaints

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

I would suggest that routine servicing is well within the scope of anyone with a basic level of DIY experience. If it's a local garage that you trust, then your comment may be fair enough, but personally I actually prefer to do things like oil and filter changes myself. Parts from a local motor factor ( much cheaper than Halfords or whatever ), and I know that the job's been done correctly, using the manufacturer's recommended grade of oil, filter, etc. How many people would be able to tell if the garage had *really* changed the filter, especially if it's a cartridge type ?

Checking brake pads / discs - as you rightly point out, this needs to be a proper "wheels off" check, but again that really should be within the scope of any driver. And changing pads and / or discs is really very simple.

Not to detract from the skills of a mechanic such as yourself, and I concur that a "service" is NOT just an oil & filter change. But this site is, primarily, about saving money, and many people should be able to learn to do basic car maintenance themselves to save a fair wedge. Again, please don't think I'm "rubbishing" professional mechanics. But a mechanic has to buy the parts the same as we do, then factor in his overheads, premises, tools, etc., and make a profit on the job. For simple jobs, DIY can save a fair bit of money.

To do an oil and filter/brakes "correctly" is not in every DIYer's scope, most DIYers will not have a torque wrench, needed for sump plug, wheels, calipers, wind back tool for rear pads, what if the car has internal handbrake shoes that need fitting, or even epb

What happens if things go wrong, you remove the caliper, seals are leaking, you watch you tube and replace the seals put it back on the car, then being as a DIY'er
wouldnt have a self bleeding kit they use the old pipe and milk bottle way...what happens when either the bleed nipple snaps or you push the pedal in the car to the floor, the seals in the Master Cylinder decide to collapse/flip....say bye bye to your brakes...now we are getting further away from a DIYer's scope, to top it off we now have a screaming partner saying "told you not to touch it" whilst the car is immobilised.

Going back to the oil and filter change, have you seen the mess an incorrectly tightened oil filter makes when it leaks, believe me you do not want that on your block paved drive.

I too believe in saving money, but sometimes what look like a money saving exercise turns into a nightmare, if we are talking about what is in peoples scope then I would say putting a bit of ptfe tape around a gas pipe and fitting a gas fire is well within most with a spanner, but the law says you need to pay for someone to do it.....should be the same for cars, especially safety related items like brakes

If people want to have a crack at doing DIY on the car then who am I to argue, trouble is alot of DIYers do not know what they are looking for as part of a "service" and lack the tools for doing the job properly

Brakes: Wind Back tool, bleed kit
Any nut and Bolt:- Torque Wrench
Remove service light: Computer

Manufacturers are getting more and more keen on stopping people working on their cars be producing "Special Tools" and bloody expensive tools, if you have seen some of them that cost £3000 you would think they are having a joke.

Like I say dont shoot me down, if you can DIY it, crack on, just make sure it is done to the standard expected.and that you know what you are looking for and doing on engine/chassis/brakes/suspension/transmission...if you dont..get a pro to do it,

colino

For years I was a great believer in DIY for cars and encouraged anyone to get a Haynes manual (in the days when they were worthwhile) and have a go. I've seen far too many laughable and frankly dangerous outcomes to still advise the same now. From the spark plugs not tightened properly and shooting out (stripping the thread) to front brake pads with the metal backing facing the disc, it really brings home how unmechanical some people are.
Know your limitations, not every fixing needs an impact wrench to undo it or a torque wrench to do it up, and if your not sure, leave it alone and do the basic checks that will be in your handbook.

Car_Complaints

colino wrote: »

From the spark plugs not tightened properly and shooting out (stripping the thread) to front brake pads with the metal backing facing the disc, it really brings home how unmechanical some people are.

yep seen the metal to metal brake pads, or copper grease on the friction material

I think still to this day my all time favourite is when a customer called and said the car wont start after putting oil in, didnt tell us that they had brimmed it to the oil filler cap level
Also seen plenty of people put water in the pas, master cylinder, engine and vice versa, oil in the windscreen washers, coolant

We asked a customer who had a faulty starter motor does he know what it looks like and where it is, they replied "yes" we told them to give it a swift whack with a hammer, still no go, it wasnt until they had the car recovered to us, to find the alternator smashed to bits

This list could go on and on