DIY repairs versus a professional vehicle service (updated)

If the thought of paying for vehicle service once or twice a year fills your bank balance with dread, you could consider servicing it yourself.
You’ll need to have a sufficient level of confidence under the hood, and whether you do it yourself or employ a mechanic, it’s essential your car is serviced frequently to keep yourself and other road users safe as well as ensure the efficient running of your car.
You can learn almost everything you need to know online, including how to fix a car. However, as a car is one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your life, is it wise to allow a YouTube tutorial to fix yours?
DIY vehicle maintenance can be a great way to save money and learn skills. The cost of materials to replace parts versus the cost of both materials and labour is significantly lower. However, it is important that you know your limits. Sometimes it is necessary to enlist the help of a professional.
Everything you need to maintain your car and preserve its value in one convenient place
By getting your car serviced regularly you’re likely to see improved fuel efficiency, better handling, and a smoother running engine. It also decreases the likelihood of your car breaking down and helps you avoid severe repair bills by preventing any issues that may lead to a problem over time. A full-service history will also help your car maintain its market value should you choose to sell.
The average age of a car at scrappage is around 14 years, while the average age of vehicles on the road is closer to eight years.
However, there are a few simple steps you can take to give your vehicle the best chance of reaching its golden years. One of the most effective ways of adding to your car’s lifespan just happens to be one of the easiest: routine inspections.
Make sure to check these every few weeks:

• fuel
• oil
• rubber (tires and wiper blades)
• coolant
• electrics
• windshield washer fluid
• engine air filter
• spark plugs (petrol engines only)
• brakes
• air conditioning
• Interiors and exteriors

It’s recommended that a vehicle is serviced at least once a year to keep the mechanics, such as transmissions and clutch, in good order. To reduce costs, you can perform a basic car service yourself without any fancy equipment, rather than sending your car to a professional garage that will charge for their labor and replacement parts.
If you’re going to perform a service on your car, you need to make sure you’ve got the right tools:

• Socket set
• Oil drain tray
• Oil filter remover
• Wrench set
• Screwdrivers
• Allen keys
• Carjack
• Axle stands
• Tire pressure gauge
• Old rags
• Funnel
• Gloves

Keep the vehicle service history records up to date

Whether you do a full vehicle service at a professional company such as CRS Automotive Hamilton, or a DIY car service, it is necessary to keep the vehicle service history records up to date. Why should you do it? With a complete service record, you can ask a fair price if you want to sell the car, and it might be beneficial when you change auto insurance. It will also help the buyer for the following reasons:

• To confirm the pricing is fair
• To confirm that the car has been taken care of properly
• To ask questions about any gaps in the service record
• To know what to look for when inspecting the vehicle.

The records should include the following:

• Service intervals
• Odometer readings during each service
• Oil and filter changes
• Electrical filter checks
• Alignment checks.

Do you know your car’s vehicle identification number (VIN)? When you do DIY car maintenance, you are going to need it to order the correct parts. The VIN on your car’s dashboard must be the same as the number on the driver’s door post, ownership permit, and pink liability card. If the numbers differ, there might be concerns the car is stolen, deemed irreparable, or unsafe for road use.

What do you get with a professional oil change service?

There are a few car repairs you should not do yourself, but why would you want to do any work on your BWM, Audi or Land Rover? CRS Automotive Hamilton will do all the maintenance for you. What do you get when an oil change is included in your service?

Luxury vehicle owners don’t often think about the oil filter of their vehicle, even though it is an essential part of the engine. Engine oil lubricates the moving parts of a car, thereby reducing friction and wear. It also draws away heat to maintain the engine’s temperature. Without it, the engine will seize and overheat. Over time, oil breaks down and turns into sludge, and if not replaced, decreases the engine’s efficiency. Since an oil filter removes contaminants from the car’s engine oil, the two are replaced simultaneously.

CRS Automotive Hamilton not only changes the vehicle oil and filter, but will also inspect the following for you as part of the car maintenance checklist:

• Air filter
  Prevents dirt, dust, and other environmental contaminants from entering the engine.
• Transmission filter
  A key part of the transmission system, it prevents metal shavings from the gears, other debris, and dirt from contaminating the transmission fluid.
• Engine coolant
  Keeps the engine from overheating by regulating the temperature.

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Simple vehicle maintenance may be something you can do in your sleep. Most of us can easily learn how to change components such as windshield wipers, add fluids, or change lights without technical skills. As you get deeper under the hood, however, mistakes could affect other areas of the vehicle. It’s best not to attempt to service your own vehicle unless you really know what you’re doing and you have access to the right tools and equipment. When in doubt, let professional mechanics handle the problem.
CRS Automotive Hamilton is a full-service vehicle care facility specializing in light and medium-duty vehicles and trucks, manuals, or automatics. When it comes to automotive repair, not many things are more important than experience and customer satisfaction. At CRS Automotive Hamilton you will find both.

Contact us today to book your appointment.