Car Service from a trusted professional
Why Is Regular Car Servicing Important?
Car servicing is carried out to ensure that your car operates reliably and efficiently and is maintained to maximise the life span of the vehicle.
Avoiding your regular car service leads to undue stress on vehicle components which can in turn lead to expensive and inconvenient breakdowns. A mechanical failure on the open road can have devastating consequences, especially if a critical part of the braking, steering or suspension is involved.
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BEWARE FALSE PROMISES - E.g. Online Coupons
Like anything else, there are always many "special offers" which abound for car service, especially in the many coupon type offers that are now available online. Some of these offers propose what appear to be huge savings on car service.
Offers like these vary in type and are sometimes referred to as "loss leaders" that are usually put out as a marketing exercise by an operator trying to recruit a new customer.
As a rule, you will only ever get what you pay for and it is good practice to carefully scrutinize the detail of such offers and get complete (written) clarification about exactly what you are getting.
Be sure to enquire as to what quality of parts and lubricants are being used, and especially the price of these items. Also confirm the cost of labour for any 'extra' services. Insist that no extra work be carried out without your express approval.
Whilst uncommon, there are unfortunately some unscrupulous operators who use heavily discounted offers to 'bait' a customer into their business, with the express intent of "up-selling" extra services at an inflated price.
That's not to say that add-on recommendations from these or any other mechanic are simply an unwarranted profit grab. Credible mechanics will only ever suggest valuable, if not essential services.
And that remains the challenge ... to find a credible mechanic who charges a fair price for their expertise, uses quality parts and who only ever recommends necessary items or services.
And preferably, they dont have to resort to fancy marketing tactics to win your favour!!
At the end of the day, there is a lot to be said about having a trusted and ongoing relationship with mechanic who is committed to looking after you and your car.
Click HERE to find a Repco Authorised Car Service Centre near you
Is Oil Sludge killing your car?
In the same way that cholesterol clogs the arteries of your body, oil sludge is a gel that sticks to engine parts and prevents the normal flow of oil throughout the engine. It has become increasingly common in vehicles manufactured since 1997 and if not treated can severely reduce the lifespan of an engine.
What causes sludge?
Contributing factors include short trip driving and regular high temperature operation, poor quality oil, contamination of the oil system or poor air flow into the combustion process. Modern engine design with smaller sumps and extended oil change intervals can also be a contributing factor.
What if I get my car serviced 'by the book'?
Over recent years, vehicle manufacturers have increased the recommended period between oil changes. These schedules are usually adequate if the car is driven in ideal circumstances, although most handbooks do make reference to adverse conditions. If you regularly drive in stop-start traffic or the vehicle only makes short trips it is likely that your car service schedule needs to be adjusted accordingly to avoid costly consequences.
How can oil sludge be prevented?
You can minimise the risk by tailoring your car service intervals to match the way your vehicle is driven and to insist that a good quality oil of the correct grade is used. Repco Authorised Car Service Centres are trained to ensure that the right class of oil is protecting your vehicle at all times. In addition to the right kind of oil, fitting a quality oil filter at every car service and use of correct oil drain procedures will help ensure that no contaminants are left in your engine.
Check out the Auto Facts Video on Ancillary Oils.
With 350 locations throughout Australia, your nearest Repco Authorised Dealer is close at hand.
Please enter your location (street, suburb and state) below to search, or call 13 28 68 for your nearest outlet.
