It’s easy to forget among the hustle and bustle of daily life, school drop-offs, and long carefree road-trips that the vehicles that get us from A to B (and back again!) are complex machines. While it may feel as simple as ‘press accelerator to go’, ‘press brake to stop,’ it takes tens of thousands of moving parts and several on-board computer systems for your car to operate smoothly. Regular servicing of these components is critical to keeping your vehicle on the road.
But what is included in a car service in Australia these days? Today we look under the hood to explore the ins-and-outs of car servicing.
What is included in a minor car service in Australia?
Logbook services are performed roughly every 10,000 kms or 12 months (whichever comes first), and are designed to examine your vehicle in accordance with the manufacturer’s requirements. Different manufacturers require different service items for each service. Generally speaking, a ‘minor’ car service will occur every 10,000-15,000km, while ‘major’ car service cycles occur roughly every 30,000-45,000km, depending on the make and model of your car and the kind of driving you do.
As a general rule, if your car is serviced regularly and running in optimal condition, a minor car service will take between 1 and 2 hours. It is generally inexpensive, with our key focus on identifying any early warning signs of faults before they result in excessive costs.
A minor service generally includes:
- Comprehensive vehicle inspection and diagnostic checks
- Draining and replacement of engine oil and oil filter to keep your car running efficiently
- Top-up, flush or change of other fluids (clutch, transmission, power steering, brake, engine coolant), as required
- Check of leads and spark plugs – each are a good indicator of engine condition
- Check of fuel filter, belts, hoses, exhaust, transmission and tyres
- Testing of air conditioning system
- Testing of steering and suspension
- Testing of battery to ensure it is holding charge
- Testing of lights
- Check of air, fuel and pollen filters
- Full safety inspection
What is included in a major car service in Australia?
A major car service occurs less frequently and will cover all of the above in more depth. A major service will also include additional servicing requirements, depending on your manufacturer’s requirements.
As a general rule, if your car is serviced regularly and running in optimal condition, a major car service will take between 2 and 4 hours.
Looking for something to do while you wait? Learn how long a car service takes and how to pass the time while you wait!
Depending on which major service interval your car is due for, additional servicing requirements may include a full flush and change of all fluids, replacement of certain parts reaching their recommended lifespan (e.g filters, engine belts, hoses, spark plugs, wheel bearings, etc.), or a full service of certain systems (e.g. air conditioning). Check your owner’s manual for an indication of what is required at your next major service.
How often should you get your car serviced?
We all know that servicing your vehicle at regular intervals is important, but how often is ‘regular’ and why is there so much conflicting information out there? Every vehicle manufacturer recommends different intervals for car servicing, and these days most makes and models have onboard computers that advise you when to bring your car in for a service.
At Cox Auto, we’ve observed that many prestige and European car dealers use long service intervals as a selling point, claiming that their vehicles require less frequent servicing than others. Some dealers even recommend intervals as long as 25,000 km. However, we’ve also observed much higher rates of major component failures (resulting in excessive servicing costs) in vehicles serviced so infrequently.
We believe the most cost-effective service schedule for prestige and European cars is every 10,000 km or every 12 months, whichever occurs first. This applies to both automatic and manual transmissions. Our experience over many years has demonstrated that these intervals allow us to keep an eye on your vehicle’s major components (such as its transmission, power steering, cooling system and differential) so we can advise you to service them before they result in any excessive costs.
Learn more about how often you should get your car serviced.
Do I have to take my car to the dealer for servicing?
Deciding where and when to have your car serviced can be a confusing experience. If you’ve just bought a new or used vehicle, your dealer may have left you with the impression that you must have your car serviced with a dealer to keep your warranty intact. In fact, Australian Consumer Law clearly states that a manufacturer cannot void a warranty simply because you choose to have your car serviced outside the dealer network!
Indeed there are many reasons why taking your car to a qualified and reputable independent workshop is a better alternative to taking it to the dealer for both you and your car. When you service your vehicle at Cox Auto, both you and your car will receive a premium service experience unmatched by dealerships, and it won’t void your warranty.
Independent operators have more freedom to offer competitive quotes for servicing. While dealerships might offer capped-price offerings, those prices very often reflect the large overheads and narrow sales margins faced by dealer networks. We pride ourselves on doing our homework on costs and providing the best deal and highest quality of service. We’re transparent about our costs and process and will keep you informed at every step, talking your language, plain and simple.
Learn more about getting your car serviced at an independent workshop.
Book a car service today
Now that you know what is included in a car service in Australia, it’s time to take action. When you bring your car to Cox Auto, we’ll meet your logbook servicing needs and provide you and your car with a premium service experience unmatched by dealerships. From our welcoming shopfront, to the flexibility to prepay for easy pick-up, we are here with the best of modern processes and good old-fashioned family service to care for you and your car.
We’ll provide you with an estimate of how long your car service will take when you book, and are transparent about costs. Book a car service or call the workshop today.
