What Does a Full Car Service Include?

Interested in learning more about car servicing? YMF Car Parts’ complete guide looks at what’s involved in a full car service, as well as other elements that make up this essential car-care process. 

What Types of Car Service Are There?

There are three types of car service: 

• Interim — Designed for vehicles with high usage. They are conducted every six months and look to make sure a vehicle is capable of running properly up to its full service. Checks are not as extensive as a full service, and only very basic maintenance will be involved. 

• Full Service — This is the most common type of service, often run annually. A much wider range of checks and replacements is completed as compared to an interim service. 

• Major Service — A major service is run after long-term use or when breaks between servicing have stretched out. It is effectively a full service with a few added extras, which is typically additional filter replacements and fluid flushes. The same checks will be complete as a full service. 

What Does a Full Service Include?

Depending on who carries out your full car service, your vehicle could be checked against anywhere between 60 to 80 different criteria. These are often broken down into separate and distinct categories:

General and Internal Checks — A sweep of the interior looks for a variety of often non-mechanical checks. The service will assess the condition of door locks, seatbelts and electricals like headlights, brake lights and indicators. An advisory will also be made on the condition of the cabin filter. Finally, analysis software will be plugged into the car’s computer system to check for faults. At this time, the mechanic will check the dashboard display for any highlighted reports. If the issues are resolved, they will remove the instrument warnings from the dashboard. 

Engine Bay — The beating heart of your vehicle, the engine is where the most significant checks and changes take place. Full services will always involve the replacement of engine oil and the engine oil filter. Mechanics will also replace the air filter. Other direct changes include checking and topping up coolant and advising on the potential replacement of spark plugs. Replacement of spark plugs is likely to be suggested but will not be done without permission as it incurs additional costs. There will be checks for general wear-and-tear alongside oil leaks, checks to the radiator and coolant hoses, as well as advice given on antifreeze strength levels. Your belts will be checked, including the drive belt and timing belt, with recommendations given as to whether they need replacing. Final checks of the engine include monitoring the battery for problems and cleaning off any residue. 

Brakes — A complete assessment of brake condition and performance will be carried out. Brake discs and callipers will be examined, as will the brake pedal, brake lines and wheel cylinders. Mechanics will be looking out for safety problems, like weakness, damage or corrosion. The handbrake, and all its associated mechanical elements, will also be covered under these checks. The brake checks are some of the most comprehensive as part of the service, and they may also include fluid top-ups, replacements or hydraulic fluid boiling point tests.

Steering System and Suspension — Power steering systems, hydraulic fluid and pressure, the condition of road springs, rack gaiters, hoses, pipes, lines and ball bearings — all of these will be checked over during a full service. Mechanics will be looking out for issues such as corrosion, leakers or worsening conditions. Top-ups to power steering fluid will likely be made if needed. 

Wheels and Tyres — Wheel conditions will be checked, including removal of the wheel to evaluate the condition behind the hub plates. Wheel balancing will also be reviewed, as well as tyre quality, tread depth and any signs of damage. 

Exhaust and Emissions — The exhaust system will be checked for signs of damage, leaks or any smoke. Diagnostic tests may also be run to examine emissions.

Fuel — Mechanics will check the condition of the external fuel system, including the filler cap and fuel lines. They’ll look for any potential wear or spots where leakage has occurred or could occur in the future. They’ll also report on whether or not a new fuel filter would be necessary. 

Drive System — A full car service will test the clutch system and gearbox, including any required fluid top-ups. There will also be checks to the driveshaft and prop shaft, as well as the transfer box and limited-slip differential. 

Vision — Full services cover checks to driver vision equipment, looking for damage or problems. The condition of the front and rear windscreen is checked, looking for cracks, chips or other visual barriers like marks or warping. Mirrors will also be looked at, as will wipers, both for their ability to function and the levels of wiper fluid available (topped up if necessary). The condition and visibility of the number plate are also checked, ensuring legal compliance. 

Why Should I Get My Car Serviced?

Cars do need to be serviced to operate properly. Cars are not designed to work out of the factory for the rest of their lives. They are designed to last only when proper care is taken of them. 

Servicing not only checks for problems but replaces old and worn-down elements with lifespans much shorter than the vehicle’s own. Servicing is used to:

• Keep your vehicle running smoothly.
• Make sure your car is efficient and safe.
• Stop faults from causing breakdowns.

What Are the Advantages of Regular Car Servicing? 

By regularly servicing your vehicle, you can save money by avoiding breakdowns and surprise repairs bills. Proactive maintenance is often cheaper than reactive repairs. Your car will also last longer as servicing replaces faulty parts and reduces wear-and-tear.

One of the most valuable benefits of servicing, though, is the literal value it gives to the vehicle. Regular servicing can increase the value of resale by up to 10%. A good service history increases buyer trust in both seller and vehicle. 

How Long Should a Full Car Service Take?

A full service is a comprehensive look at a vehicle. It is expected to take longer than an MOT, at around three hours. However, some can be longer, particularly if the vehicle is old or in bad shape. 

How Often Should I Have My Car Serviced?

How long is a piece of string?

There are no set rules for how often a car should be serviced. Generally speaking, you should service a car after

• one year has elapsed since the previous service; or
• the car has been driven for 12 thousand miles.

These are often advisories and not set rules. Some manufacturers will advise six months between services, while others up to two years. The length of time between services all depends on usage, age and terrain. 

A 10-year-old car used 12 hours a day on rugged terrain has a different life expectancy to a brand new vehicle used on weekends for trips to the shops. 

What’s the best thing to do? Ask a professional! 

Find an honest and trustworthy mechanic and ask them at your next service how long they would recommend until your next service. They’ll be able to give you a more accurate estimate based on all the variables. 

Is Servicing Your Car a Legal Requirement?

Unlike an MOT, which is a legal requirement for any vehicle used or parked on a public road, a service is not a legal obligation. Car services are only advisory. MOTs ensure the vehicle is road legal and safe, servicing is more about improving performance and longevity. 

This means you do not need to service a car in order to insure it. 

Can I Service My Own Car?

No. This is for two reasons:

• Car servicing requires expert knowledge of mechanics. Failure to carry out a service properly can be dangerous as you might not notice major issues. Servicing should only ever be carried out by a professional car mechanic. Servicing is not a DIY job.

• Many modern cars have been built with or enhanced by complicated electrical systems and software. To service a car, you need compatible diagnostic tools to identify faults, assess car performance and perform any required tune-ups. This is not software private individuals have access to.

We highly recommend you do not attempt to service your own car. Take it to a professional instead. 

Professional car mechanics looking to procure parts for car servicing jobs can find all they need on the YMF Car Parts online store. Input the registration number of the vehicle you are servicing and browse our range of parts to find exactly what you need.