What is the period for servicing a car?

Servicing cars is an essential task to ensure the integrity of your car and avoid unpleasant surprises on the road. Many people have doubts about when to service their car and what to check when doing this.

If you are one of these people and would like to know more about servicing your vehicle, the mileage between servicing and which components should be inspected in this activity to ensure the durability of the car and your safety, continue reading and we will help you.

What is vehicle servicing and what is the importance of frequent vehicle servicing?

Before reaching dealerships, OEMs carry out a series of tests involving practical day-to-day situations to understand the durability of vehicle components.

However, on a daily basis, cars are exposed to different agents, such as weather and terrain, which can lead to the wear of the material. Therefore, every vehicle needs to undergo regular servicing to ensure it is preserved and remains functional, either by replacing worn parts or by aligning components.

Problems that arise due to the lack of preventive and predictive maintenance decrease the performance of the vehicle and cause headaches for you and impact your wallet. The purpose of the review is to prevent cars from leaving you hanging and, mainly, to avoid accidents while driving as a result of some component malfunction.

What should the servicing intervals be?

In general, servicing should be done at every 10,000 kilometers or every 6 months, whichever comes first, especially for vehicles that have daily and recurring use, such as fleet cars.

However, each model has exact dates stipulated by its OEM and available in the vehicle owner's manual. There, all the details about the model, its servicing details and so on can be found. Drivers should be aware of signs of problems - such as the tire shaking, an indication of the need for balancing - to identify when it is time to take it to the mechanic.

When purchasing a new car, it is important to take into account the mandatory servicing events, necessary conditions for vehicles not to lose the factory warranty. To know when it is time for this servicing, it is important to contact your dealer or car manufacturer as soon as possible.

But I nearly do not use my car little, must I do all the servicing anyway?

Yes. Even if the car remains at a standstill a long time, the servicing is indispensable. This is so because some car items, such as engine oil, have expiration dates.

What should I check when servicing my car?

When the servicing is done at a dealership, there is a checklist to make sure nothing goes unnoticed, since these are all standardized tests by the automaker and required from all brand representatives.

Among the main elements to be checked when servicing the car are:

• engine;
• clutch;
• brakes;
• gearbox;
• suspension;
• cables;
• electrical cables;
• battery;
• tyres
• air conditioning;
• cooling system;
• air filter;
• fuel filter;
• sparkplugs;
• lighting (headlights, lights and blinkers);
• radiator;
• electrical system in general (start up, fuses, etc.).

Engine oil check

Engine oil, for example, which is responsible for preventing excessive wear of internal parts resulting from friction between them, when not changed correctly, can contribute to problems – such as engine meltdown – resulting in the devaluation of the vehicle – something you certainly do not want.

Air filter check

Air filters are another example of the importance of servicing. Responsible for preventing impurities in the air from entering the engine intake manifolds, the lack of air filter checks can, in the mid-term, lead to valve obstruction. In cities with a lot of dust or in rural areas, the recommendation is to perform air filter maintenance at every 5,000 kilometers traveled.

Brake system check

The brake system has several components that wear out quickly, demanding periodic changes. Brake system components such as pads, discs, pincers, and fluids are examples of this. The recommendation is that the replacement of the parts should be carried out by a specialized professional, preventing the brake system from being damaged and ensuring safety on the road.

Sparkplug check

Sparkplugs are another important item to take care. Fundamental for the correct operation of the engine, the sparkplugs do not require any specific fault to be replaced. This is so, because even when damaged, they may seem to be operating normally. They should always be replaced according to periods set by the manufacturer of the car, with the most indicated is at every 15,000 kilometers travelled.

Tire check

Tyres have a direct influence on the entire performance of the car. When in good condition, tires deliver full use of suspension, transmission, traction, steering and braking systems, affording more comfort, fuel economy, less wear and more safety for drivers and passengers.

To ensure this performance, vehicle owners must check their tire pressure weekly, respecting the calibration indicated by the manufacturer, and always do it when the tires are cold. Checking the pressure of the spare tire, which must be calibrated with a pressure of 5 psi above the others, is also important. Calibrating tires at the wrong pressure may cause a variety of damages to the vehicle, from premature tire wear to deformation.

Other points of tire care include tire alignment and balancing, which ensure better stability and driving capability for the car. Vehicles that travel a lot or travel on rough roads suffer wear that causes losses in tire settings. This wear shows a variation in the amount of rubber in the tire diameter, causing the tire to shake, which will be transmitted through the suspension to the steering wheel of the car. Tire balancing offsets this variation with lead counterweights in the rim.

When to balance the wheels?

If you've changed or rotated your tires recently, balancing all four wheels is important. Another indication is when the vehicle displays unusual behaviors above 30 km/h.

Another extremely important point of attention in tires is their natural wear and tear. One of the main consequences generated by worn tires is loss of grip of the ground, which directly interferes with the braking system. If you need to brake quickly, the vehicle will travel a much farther before coming to a full stop, increasing the risk of an accident.

On rainy days, the dangers are even greater. The main problems caused by worn tyres are:

• increased risk of aquaplaning;
• loss of vehicle stability;
• others, e.g., driving with worn tires is a traffic violation.

Along with tire calibration, these items are essential for safe and economical tire use. So s it time to change your car tires?   Goodyear draws on its long experience and consolidation as one of the world's most acknowledged tire manufacturers due to the high quality of its products. Leaders in innovation, we focus on cutting-edge research, development and technologies.

Since we were established, we have maintained our commitment to guaranteeing the needs of our customer, offering maximum safety and performance. Visit our website and find the right tire model for your car at a store near you.