What is the Difference between Sending Your Car for a Minor and a Major Service?

For your average person who isn’t mechanically minded, you might look at the price of your minor and major service and think, “What am I paying for?”. You get the car back after a major service, and it doesn’t feel like anything significant has been done, so couldn’t you just continue with the minor services instead of having to pay more? Significant differences exist between what is done during a minor and a major car service. 

When should you send your car in for a service?

The rule of thumb for maintaining your car is to send it in for a minor service every 10,000 to 15,000 kilometres and a major service every 30,000 to 45,000 kilometres. However, to best maintain your car, you should consult its owner’s manual for specific recommendations. 

What is done during a minor car service?

There are multiple things that mechanics will check for wear and tear, repair and replace certain elements, and top up on certain fluids when you send your car in for a minor service. However, the labour is usually not as intensive as what is performed on a car during a major service. When performing a minor service, the mechanics will check:  

• The brakes and brake fluid – they will specifically measure response time and the depth of the brake pads
• The windscreen wipers and washers – this is essential to maintain visibility
• The air filter – the mechanics may need to have it cleaned or completely replaced
• The leads – while these can last for almost a decade, they still need to be checked every service 
• The spark plugs – these need to be checked as they will give a good indication of the state of your engine (greasy spark plugs may show that there is an oil leak) 
• The fuel filter – a blocked fuel filter may inhibit the amount of power your engine produces 
• The hoses and belts – need to be checked for wear and tear, and the hoses need to be checked for leaks as they are responsible for transporting vital fluids like coolant, brake fluid and power steering fluid
• The battery – this is essential to make sure there is nothing wrong with the battery so you can pick up on problems before they become major issues and start causing problems for the rest of the car
• The cooling system – this is essential to prevent engine failure and a host of other expensive repairs
• The exhaust – the condition of your exhaust has a direct impact on the performance of your car, and a poorly maintained exhaust may cause an increase in fuel consumption, reduced air quality or even engine failure
• The tyres – the tread depth, pressure and wheel alignment of tyres should be checked to ensure optimal safety and performance
• The transmission – it’s essential to check the transmission fluid to ensure it’s not leaking or dirty as this will prevent proper lubrication and transmission power
• The air conditioning system – to make sure that it is running properly and keeping passengers and drivers at an optimal temperature
• The steering and suspension system – the response time as well as the functionality will be measured 
• The lights – the mechanics will see if the lights are operational and may need to replace bulbs to maintain high visibility at night and in low light

What is done during a major car service?

During a major car service, mechanics will perform tasks that are more labour-intensive, and while some elements of the service will be the same as a minor service, there are a few extras that are necessary to check once your car has travelled every 30,000 to 45,000 kilometres. A major car will typically take the majority of the day to complete, depending on the car model, and the price will differ accordingly. During a major car service, your mechanic will: 

• Check all the fluids (and do top-ups if necessary)
• Change all the transmission fluids
• Replace the spark plugs 
• Repack the wheel bearings
• Test the car’s battery
• Test the coolant condition and cooling system
• Check the external engine hoses and belts
• Check the tyre condition and pressure

Where can you go to have your Euro car serviced in Brisbane?

Many people depend on their cars to get to work and go about their day-to-day tasks — so you can’t send it off to just anyone to do a quick service, especially those with European cars. Rather, send it to trained mechanics who have experience with your specific car model. For those looking for trustworthy car mechanics to handle your European car’s services and repairs, check out Wayne Park Auto Shop for quality service worthy of a Euro car. 

Final Thoughts

Understanding the differences between sending your car in for a minor service and a major service will help you understand what is being done to help you keep your car in the best running condition. You’ll notice that while more things are checked in a minor service, major services require more intensive labour to ensure certain parts of your car are in working order and if they need to be repaired or replaced. So, don’t skip out on your services, and don’t think you can replace a major service by doing more minor ones. Each service has a specific function. Remember to always get your car owner’s manual to ensure that you are meeting your car’s specific needs.