Service? Any point?

Chnandler Bong

First off I know very little about cars, just the basics.

Was wondering why would people bring they're cars for a "service"?
Mine is due one according to the light on the dash (service light), the car seems fine, I top up the oil, coolant, check brake fluid and other small bits. (wipers, tyres, water)

So my question is whats the point paying €150-€200 to a mechanic for a service when I do this other stuff?

Nissan doctor

Chnandler Bong wrote: »

First off I know very little about cars, just the basics.

Was wondering why would people bring they're cars for a "service"?
Mine is due one according to the light on the dash (service light), the car seems fine, I top up the oil, coolant, check brake fluid and other small bits. (wipers, tyres, water)

So my question is whats the point paying €150-€200 to a mechanic for a service when I do this other stuff?

Checking oil and coolant level etc are things that anyone with a licence should be able to do.

Do you change your spark plugs when your checking your oil level? Replace the oil filter which, as is the function of any filter, gets saturated to the point that it can't operate properly? same with air filter, pollen filter. Are you aware that just because your coolant and brake fluid are full doesn't mean they still working as they should. And those are just the basics of a full service.

A bit of a daft view IMO.

Have a look at the last couple of pages of the 'how to service a car' thread in the DIY service and repair section and see how many of those replacements/checks you carry out.

allyJay

I'm not sure you should have a car. . maintain it or you will end up paying much much more when it dies of neglect.

corktina

you need to change the oil regularly not just top it up.Otherwise excessive engine wear will result.This is a DIY operation as are most other service requirements. Get a workshop manual (Haynes) if you need guidance.

CarMuppet

Let me put it this way.... If you brush your theeth everyday do you still need to go to the dentist for a checkup/service?

If you don't spend the euro200 on regular services you will spend thousands in the long run when your car experiences a failure... and hopefully not the braking system.

Get you car serviced regualry; it will love you for it.

-Chris-

Engine oil degrades over time - creating acids & oxidising, increasing in viscosity, sludging the oil channels in the engine. Ultimately you'll plug the oil channels and oil won't be able to get to various parts of the engine and you'll get a seizure due to oil starvation.

Engine oil also has a cleaning function, picking up any dirt/debris in the engine and running it through the oil filter, so the filter holds the crap instead of letting it wash around inside the engine causing wear and damage. If you don't change the filter, it'll bypass itself once full and the oil will no longer be doing its cleaning role.

Any other filter is there to remove dirt/debris from the air/fluid. If they're not changed regularly they'll get full and the air/fluid won't be able to get through them, again leading to some form of starvation.

Brake fluid is hygroscopic - it attracts or absorbs water. Brake fluid is formulated to resist changes due to heat, water unfortunately is not. If your brake fluid absorbs enough water then if you're doing enough braking (for example, when driving down a long hill) the water will expand or could boil and you could experience significant brake fade.


There's no reason you can't change your oil and filter yourself instead of paying a mechanic to do it, but checking you fluid levels is NOT a valid substitute for actually servicing your car.

Mar4ix

It all depend of owner, all people cant be same mechanically minded, some people can do a lot of work with car (like myself), some people cant, because they have different education and working field , like scientists, teachers, lawyers, also most of females not doing car service at all, etc.... i dont think so they will go change oil for car, clutch or brake pads.
Most difficult for mechanic is diagnose problems, other stuff quiet easy.

Voodoomelon

Jesus wept. And people say the NCT is a money spinner.

unkel

Chnandler Bong wrote: »

Mine is due one according to the light on the dash (service light), the car seems fine

It will probably seem fine for another year or three depending on whether you have a FIAT or a Honda

Many cars are never serviced in Ireland. Incredible stuff really. No wonder some cars get a bad reputation for reliability over here.

One of my cars still had 2 out of 5 green lights on (it needs a service when all lights are off), so it didn't even need a service yet according to the car. The car seemed fine and the engine still ran smoothly. I decided to give it an oil service anyway and the car runs even smoother now. Early days yet, but it looks like it uses less fuel too.

@Chris - you have done some serious booklearning recently! :pac: :cool:

peasant

Chnandler Bong wrote: »

I top up the oil, coolant,

The very fact that you actually have to top up oil (and more worringly, coolant) would indicate that you're not the first one who has skimped on servicing your car properly

Reloc8

Best thread in the motors forum ever.

Should be stickied and flagged with a 'why Ireland is full of crap cars' tag.

-Chris-

unkel wrote: »

@Chris - you have done some serious booklearning recently! :pac: :cool:

I learned all that in college, and then I forgot it all when I went into carsales because what you say to customers doesn't actually need to bear any relation to reality/truth.
Now I'm remembering it all again!

Chnandler Bong

I take it all you are mechanics, how the hell can you justify charging €200 for what?An hours work!

The last time I brought a car for a service I went to newry, they done an excellent job and only cost €95. Sound guys too, its not like down here where they make you feel like they are doing you a favour:rolleyes:

-Chris-

Chnandler Bong wrote: »

I take it all you are mechanics, how the hell can you justify charging €200 for what?An hours work!

The last time I brought a car for a service I went to newry, they done an excellent job and only cost €95. Sound guys too, its not like down here where they make you feel like they are doing you a favour:rolleyes:

This was neither your question nor the point of your thread. Don't start attacking people.

€200 is probably composed of €100 for labour and €100 for parts.

If you don't want to pay €200, then go to a garage that doesn't charge you that much (Atlas Tyres will service your car for €99).

Both down here, and up there, they are doing you a favour considering you think checking fluid levels is an adequate alternative to getting a service done.

Based on this answer I regret taking the time to type an informative post. Lesson learned I guess... :rolleyes:

Chnandler Bong

So mechanic's are on €100 an hour?:rolleyes:

-Chris-

Chnandler Bong wrote: »

So mechanic's are on €100 an hour?:rolleyes:

No, the cost of leasing a premises, buying the equipment necessary, paying the mechanic's wages, paying the light/heat/insurance, making a profit etc. all requires an hourly rate far in excess of what you'd pay a mechanic per hour for their time.


If you don't stop making such silly and blanket statements, I'm going to have to presume you're trolling.

DanWall

If you have a warranty issue, the dealer will want proof of a full service history

Chnandler Bong

-Chris- wrote: »

No, the cost of leasing a premises, buying the equipment necessary, paying the mechanic's wages, paying the light/heat/insurance, making a profit etc. all requires an hourly rate far in excess of what you'd pay a mechanic per hour for their time.


If you don't stop making such silly and blanket statements, I'm going to have to presume you're trolling.

Truth hurts eh....

-Chris-

Thread closed. Chnandler Bong banned for 3 days for trolling.