A routine service can mean the difference between a minor repair and a costly engine overhaul. Book your service today to avoid financial and emotional stress
With so many things competing for our budget these days, it’s no wonder that so many people often put off their car service.
Some people say, “There’s nothing wrong with my car now. What’s the harm in waiting a few extra weeks, months, or even a year or longer?” They assume that, because there are no warning lights on the dashboard and the drive is still comfortable, they don’t have to worry.
Unfortunately, adopting this mindset can be a costly mistake. If you’re not careful, you could be left stranded on the side of the road, having to cancel your plans for the day and be taken to the nearest mechanic. These emergency repairs are often more expensive and inconvenient than if you took preventive care of your car.
Fortunately, you can avoid this risk by arranging a routine service schedule for your car.
How often should you service your car?
That depends on a number of factors, including the make and model of your car, your driving environment (Do you drive in a relatively clean suburban area, or a tougher, more rugged setting like the outback?), your driving style (Do you slam on the brakes and throttle the accelerator, or ease in-and-out of each motion?), and the quality of your engine parts
As a general rule of thumb, you should service your car at least once every six months or every 10,000kms, or whichever comes first. You can also refer to your owner’s manual for the recommended manufacturer service intervals.
Keep in mind, though, that your car may require more frequent servicing depending on the type of driving you do. For instance, if you do stop/start and short trip driving in the city, or a busy suburb, on a near-daily basis, then this is considered severe use and requires a more rigorous service – especially for diesel vehicles.
To help demonstrate the importance of a regular car service, here’s a real life case study to consider.
A case study in early detection
Recently, we had a customer bring in their car, a 2006 Ford Falcon with 187,000kms on the clock.
During a routine inspection, the team discovered the engine oil light lit up on the dashboard, indicating a problem with the oil system. We then referred to the car’s computer system to identify the inspection fault code. This is a unique code used by mechanics to quickly identify a problem area in the engine. No fault code gives an exact silver bullet for a problem; rather, it suggests a circuit or system that the ECU is receiving incorrect data values for.
Based on the code given by the ECU (Engine Control Unit), there was one of two possible problems, either: a) The oil pressure was low, or b) The camshaft was experiencing an issue known as ‘timing over advanced.’ The latter is a problem that occurs when the car’s computer has detected a difference in the desired camshaft position angle and the actual camshaft position angle.
Low oil pressure prevents oil from going through narrow passages to provide sufficient lubrication to all the engine components
To determine which of the two problems was most likely, the team performed a visual inspection of the engine. Inside, they found evidence of sludge formation under the valve cover, which was restricting the flow of oil, thus making it harder to keep the engine cool and lubricate the moving parts.
From there, the team performed an oil pressure test. This test is important, as it tells our mechanics how much force the oil pump is able to produce, in order to help push the oil throughout all the necessary parts of the engine, so that all the moving parts can be properly lubricated. This helps reduce unnecessary wear on moving parts like the valves, connecting rod and crankshaft, as the oil helps prevent the risk of metal-on-metal contact, acting like a sort of ‘fluid barrier,’ to ensure the moving parts can work together without grinding against one another.
Based on the results of the oil pressure test, it produced a reading of 2.4 bar at 2,000 rpm; unfortunate, as it was 0.6 bar short of the recommended factory specifications. As a result, there was not enough oil pressure to evenly disperse the oil throughout the entire engine.
Finding the right treatment
In situations like this, the most logical option is to either: arrange an engine rebuild, or a second-hand replacement engine. Unfortunately, given the age of the car, the cost of a second-hand engine was comparable to an engine rebuild.
Fortunately, we came up with a better solution. Instead of rebuilding or replacing the engine as a first step, we used a BG product oil flushing agent called EPR. This simple flushing agent verified that the oil galleries were blocked due to sludge formation.
How do we know this? Because we were able to gain a .4 Bar increase in oil pressure by just adding this flushing agent to the oil, running the engine for 20 minutes, and then draining, refilling, and changing the oil filter.
Saving the customer time, money, and stress
In total, the customer spent about $350 to diagnose the issue. And, there was no need for them to spend a fortune on an unnecessary timing chain repair, only to find out afterwards the engine was no longer good.
On the surface, this may sound expensive. But keep in mind, the cost of a replacement second-hand engine for a 2006 Ford Falcon is around $3,000. So, by verifying the cause of the engine failure correctly, we helped save the customer unnecessary time and money on extra labour and parts.
At Car Servicing & You we give you honest, reliable advice about what your car needs, and what it doesn’t. We have locations in Carnegie, Ormond and Keilor Park for your convenience. Book online today and we’ll take care of the rest.
