Date published: 07/06/23 All content in this article is intended to be general in nature and does not constitute and is not intended to be financial or professional advice.

On a scale of one to Dom Toretto, how much do you love your car? If you’re struggling to quantify your love or pinpoint the pop culture reference, it’s likely you’re not one to regularly pop the hood. But taking a keen interest in the health of your car may serve some financial pluses and prolong its life. Here’s a car servicing checklist to help your car go the distance.

Like a little check-up with the doctor, this service helps to keep your car in peak physical condition. The good news is that sticking to this appointment means your mechanic is more likely to catch little problems before they become a big problem. This will hopefully avoid a mega bill if a problem goes unseen or finds you broken down in the middle of nowhere cries.

Interim car service checklist can include:

• Engine oil and oil filter change
• Air and fuel filter check
• Brakes, fluids, belts and hoses inspection
• Tyre check and rotation (if necessary)
• Battery testing

If you’re sticking to the six-monthly date with your mechanic, the yearly service should hopefully not have any surprises. But, if you want to keep your car at its prime, lean into the full service, too, as this will suss out more complex issues with your car.

Full car service checklist can include:

• Wheel alignment check
• Spark plug replacement
• Wheel bearings check
• Suspension check
• Brakes and brake fluid check
• Filter checks and replacements
• Engine and transmission oil testing and replacement
• Battery tests and other general checks

File under ‘not negotiable’. The extensive/major car service rolls around every two years and is a must to literally get under the hood of your car and check things are all ship-shape.

Major car service checklist can include:

• Dash warning lights check
• Exterior lights check
• Washers/wipers/windscreen check
• Horn operation check
• Cabin air filter check (if directly accessible)
• Air conditioning/HVAC controls check
• Transmission and driveline check
• Camshaft belt replacement due (if required)
• Engine air filter check
• Battery and charging check and test condition
• Coolant level check and test condition
• Cooling system pressure test
• MAF sensor/intake and throttle body check
• Brake fluid level check and test condition
• Fuel filter check (if directly accessible)
• Transmission fluid level check and test condition
• External engine belts and hoses check
• Drain and replace engine oil and filter
• Brake systems check (full wheels-off inspection)
• Park brake operation check and adjust (if necessary)
• Steering components and drive shaft check
• Suspension/control arms/links check
• Exhaust system and underbody check
• Differential/fluid level check
• Wheel bearings/hubs check
• Tyres and pressures (including spare) check
• Clutch and power steering fluids check and test condition
• Road test up to 60 km/hr and report
• Vehicle inspection report

Checking in with your mechanic frequently is a good idea for a couple of big reasons. Firstly, it can help your car live longer and diagnose any serious issues that could land you in a (pot)hole when you least expect it. If your car is still under warranty, skipping scheduled services will void your warranty, an absolute no-go! It’s also good to note that regular servicing could help reduce fuel consumption, which may help you rationalise the cost of the servicing.

But most importantly, meeting your service milestones can help keep you safe on the road! Everything your mechanic checks, tops up or replaces, can help keep your pride and joy on the road. So prioritise your safety and think of your mechanic as your car’s doctor/personal trainer/guru.

Ensuring a decent supply of engine oil and a clean filter can decrease the likelihood of moving parts overheating or failing, which is why it's a good idea for this to happen frequently. The same goes for the engine’s air filter and the fuel filter. These will be checked as part of this service and replaced if needed.

This one’s ‘wheely’ important. No one likes a thread-bare, unevenly worn tyre, especially your mechanic. Keeping your tyres in tip-top shape can help to optimise safety and fuel efficiency, so your mechanic may check their pressure and tread depth to see how they’re wearing. They may rotate the tyres based on the tread wear or recommend a replacement.

Your brake pads wear down as the brake fluid drops, so it’ll be topped up if need be. Mechanics will likely also check the response time and depth of the brake pads to ensure they’re all systems go. Brakes are crucial, they can help keep you safe, and a regular service will help them keep doing their thang.

This may surprise you, but visibility is key! Your mechanic can check the washer fluid and make sure the blades are performing at their peak.

You’re not going anywhere with a bad battery, so a mechanic can give yours a once-over to see if there are any frayed cables, cracks in the casing, powdery deposits or other signs of poor health.

Here’s where you can flex your car-enthusiast muscles. Add these tasks to your ‘chores’ list and help your car stay in top shape.

REFILL YOUR WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID

While you’re adding fresh blades to your wipers, do the whole shebang and refill the wiper fluid too. Simply pop the hood and top up the reservoir with your suds of choice, following the instructions and measurements on the bottle.

KEEP YOUR CAR CLEAN

Wait for a sunny day, pump Car Wash on the sound system and go for your life. All you need is some car-appropriate detergent and a bucket-and-sponge combo. To take things up a notch, add a pressure hose and enjoy the enormous, oddly specific satisfaction of watching that grime dissolve before your eyes.

KEEP YOUR CAR TYRES PUMPED

Head to your local service station and use the free air compressor to pump up your wheels. Check your car’s ideal tyre pressure, which you’ll usually find on the door frame of the driver’s side or in your car’s manual.

How much will it cost? Give it to me straight, doc. Your mechanic should be able to give you a breakdown of the parts and labour costs for every repair that needs to happen. Get it in writing before work begins.

What are my repair options? Obviously, some repairs are absolutely essential – hello, brakes! But some you can live with. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with the bill, query whether something on the repair hitlist could wait or see if a second-hand part could do the trick.

Can I see the parts you’ve taken off? Glean extra car knowledge by touching base on repairs. If a part looks in perfect health, why was it removed? It’s good to remain engaged with the service to understand what you have paid for.

This is general advice only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs (“your personal circumstances”). Before using this advice to decide whether to purchase a product, you should consider your personal circumstances and the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations available from rollininsurance.com.au. Insurance issued by Insurance Australia Limited ABN 11 000 016 722 AFSL 227681 trading as Rollin’ Insurance.