Car Servicing And What’s Involved

Car servicing is an important aspect of car maintenance that will enable you car to be safe. Whether you own a Mercedes, Audi, BMW or Volkswagen for example, it is good practice to keep to your manufacturer’s servicing schedule. This will result in the car being less likely to breakdown.

A service will often cover the following aspects; engine oil and oil filter change, checks on the levels of coolant/brake fluid/power steering fluid, checks on lighting /signalling/brakes/clutch, reading of onboard auto diagnostics, air filter/spark plug replacements. These checks will generally cover MOT and safety requirements and because of the complexity of today’s cars are best carried out by manufacturer trained mechanics. A further breakdown of service detail will outline the benefits of some of these areas.

Engine oil and filter change lifecycle will vary according to the oil type used. Modern oils have moved from mineral to semi-synthetic to fully synthetic. Synthetic based oils will generally last longer than the old mineral type and offer a greater range of protection to the engine, an example of which is Castrol GTX Magnatec that can protect the engine from the start due to magnetic properties built into the oil. A professional car servicing garage will use the oil recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

Fluid levels for the brake, steering and coolant systems should be checked and topped up as necessary as part of a service, but these should also be checked by the owner from time to time. Lack of engine coolant may result in substantial engine damage to anything from the head gasket to the big ends (this will require engine replacement!). Lack of brake or power steering fluid will also cause problems with control systems which are obviously paramount for driver safety.

Almost all modern vehicles will have onboard electronics which may include auto diagnostic functionality. A properly equipped service garage will be able to link into these systems and gain information of any intermittent or impending problems that may have occurred since the last service thus giving an extra layer of security and oversight.

Air filter replacements are necessary at anything from 25,000 to 50,000 miles and are also dependent on environmental conditions. A clogged air filter will restrict air flow to the engine thus reducing power and fuel consumption. Spark plugs are amongst the least expensive parts of the engine and probably one of the most critical for engine tuning. Some spark plugs are claimed to have life spans of 100,000 miles, general manufacturer service recommendations will specify replacement every 30,000 to 50,000 miles. Even if longlife spark plugs are fitted they will require removal and regular cleaning to make sure they don’t seize in the engine.

The Advantages Of Car Servicing

Running a motor can be very expensive, particularly these days. We spend money on tax, insurance, petrol, MOTs and car servicing and sometimes the costs seem infinite.

Whether you have a BMW, VW, Audi, Mini Cooper, Mercedes or a commercial vehicle, you can minimise costs by ensuring you don’t pay through the nose: making sure that you have a regular car service.

Car manufacturers recommend very clearly at what time in a car’s life you will need to have a service, and provide a comprehensive service book that needs to be kept up-to-date, especially if you are planning to sell on your car. When it come to trading in or selling your vehicle, it will have had a decent programme of maintenance and will possibly sell for a higher price, so investment in car servicing is a good investment.

Also, if you have a warranty on your car, then you will need regular servicing in order to maintain that warranty as part of its terms and conditions.

Car servicing also ensures that your car is maintained to the highest standard, and performs at its optimum level, and that your car will run as smoothly, safely, efficiently and reliably as possible for a very long time. And when you car is performing to its best ability you will enjoy the driving experience more and get a lot of satisfaction.

With cars’ CO2 emissions becoming increasingly a factor in motoring life, especially for new higher car tax bands, having a regular car service can help fuel consumption be at its cleanest and CO2 emissions at its lowest.

There is nothing worse than an unreliable car, we have all had the odd occasion when the car has broken down at the roadside, not started in the morning, or perhaps has been in and out of a garage more times than it has been running on the road. This can apply to Audis, as well as BMWs and Volkswagens. Having regular car servicing ensures that potential or underlying problems with a car are dealt with before they happen, especially if there is a small mechanical problem that, if left unfixed, can develop into a larger problem, and expense, later on. Sometimes a service can seem like an awful lot of money, especially with all of the other running costs associated with owning a car. But, in the longer term, having your car serviced regularly at a trusted garage could save much trouble and expense and keep the vehicle on the road, performing at its best.

Custom Car Seat Covers

What you ever thought about custom car seat covers? Different abuses and hazards can cause damage to your original car seats. Pets and children are some of those who cause damage to car seats but the original upholstery of your car may also be damaged through repeated abrasion and friction. Spills of beverages and water and food remains may make car seats to be unpleasant and dirty. To be able to protect the original upholstery of your car, it is necessary to protect car seat covers, and the best choice for most people is through car seat covers.

Custom car seat covers are the ones which are personalized to suit your specific taste. It is possible to make them for your car, and there are different types of materials and designs which can be used for truck and car seat covers. You can also find the custom seat covers in different colors from in many parts of the world. Some of the popular car seat covers are Ballistic seat covers, Neoprene seat covers, Velour seat covers, BMW seat covers, Suede seat covers, Tweed seat covers, Ford seat covers, Leatherette seat covers, Honda seat covers, Saddle Blanket seat covers, and so on. There are many of them; and you can even make custom ones based on your personal beliefs and interests.

In order to make good custom seat covers, you should first of all consider what is already available for the type and model of your car because it is possible that custom covers are already installed for your car. In creating the design, you can make the ones which make a fashion statement to those which are just basic black seat covers.

Custom car seat covers are good for seats like 70/30 seats, 40/20/40 seats, 60/40 seats, and the difficult-to-fit seats found in trucks, jeeps, SUVs and tractors. In installing the seat covers, the upholstery company first measures your car seats and then have an estimate built up. In most cases, this is a free service while you only pay for the customization. It is possible to make the cover to be designed aesthetically, while you may choose from the different types of fasteners like zippers, buttons, Velcro or strings, in order to improve the durability and look of the cover.

There are many types of materials which are used, and you can choose from vinyl, cotton, neoprene, denim, sheepskin, tweed cloth, velour cloth and many other materials. You can also choose specific patterns and colors, in addition to being able to consider climactic factors and the level of wear and tear which the car seats are likely to be subjected to.