The Ultimate Car Service Schedule: What Your Car Needs and When

Following a regular service schedule is the most effective and economical way to keep your car running reliably, efficiently, and safely for years to come. But with so many components, it can be confusing to know what needs to be checked and when. While your vehicle's owner's manual is always the ultimate guide, here is a general service schedule based on kilometers driven, outlining the most important maintenance milestones for a typical modern car.

The Foundation: Every 10,000 - 15,000 Kilometers (or Annually)

This is your fundamental, regular service, often called a minor service. It is absolutely crucial for engine health and basic safety.

• Engine Oil and Filter Change: This is the lifeblood of your engine. This service drains old, contaminated engine oil and replaces it with fresh oil that meets manufacturer specifications, along with a new filter. It is the single most important maintenance task you can perform.
• Tire Rotation and Pressure Check: Rotating the tires promotes even wear, maximizing their lifespan and saving you money. Correct pressure is vital for safety and fuel economy.
• Fluid Level Inspection: A check of the levels and condition of critical fluids, including coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and windshield washer fluid.
• Brake System Inspection: A visual inspection of the brake pads and rotors to assess their remaining life and check for any unusual wear.
• Lights, Wipers, and Horn Check: Ensures all essential safety and visibility components are functioning correctly.

The Intermediate Step: Every 25,000 - 35,000 Kilometers

This service includes all the checks from the minor service, plus the replacement of key filters to maintain cabin comfort and engine performance.

• Replace Engine Air Filter: Your engine needs to breathe clean air for efficient fuel combustion. A clogged air filter suffocates the engine, hurting performance and fuel economy.
• Replace Cabin Air Filter: This filter cleans the air that you breathe inside the passenger cabin. Replacing it improves air quality, reduces allergens, and enhances the performance of your AC system.
• Comprehensive Battery Check: A technician will clean any corrosion from the terminals and perform a professional load test to assess the battery's true health and starting power.
• Inspect Suspension and Steering: A more thorough visual check for worn-out parts like bushings, shocks, struts, and tie rods that can affect handling and tire wear.

The Major Service: Every 50,000 - 60,000 Kilometers

This is a significant service milestone where critical wear-and-tear components are often inspected and replaced to prevent future failures.

• Replace Spark Plugs: Worn spark plugs lead to inefficient fuel combustion, resulting in poor fuel economy, rough idling, and difficulty starting the engine.
• Inspect Belts and Hoses: A thorough inspection of the serpentine belt and all coolant hoses for cracks, brittleness, or signs of impending failure.
• Brake Fluid Flush and Replacement: Brake fluid is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air over time. This moisture can cause internal corrosion and lowers the fluid's boiling point, leading to reduced braking performance. A full flush replaces all the old fluid.
• Coolant System Flush: The anti-corrosive properties of engine coolant degrade over time. A flush replaces the old fluid to continue protecting the engine, water pump, and radiator from rust and corrosion.

The Critical Milestone: At 100,000 Kilometers and Beyond

This is a major milestone that often requires replacing long-life components whose failure could be catastrophic.

• Replace Timing Belt: If your car has a timing belt instead of a timing chain, it is absolutely critical to replace it at the manufacturer's recommended interval (typically around 1,00,000 km). A snapped timing belt will cause the pistons and valves to collide, leading to catastrophic and extremely expensive engine damage.
• Transmission Fluid Service: Draining and replacing the transmission fluid and filter (where applicable) can significantly extend the life of your automatic or manual transmission, one of the most expensive components in your vehicle.

Staying on schedule keeps your car healthy, safe, and saves you money on major repairs. Drvyn makes it easy to book the right service for your car's specific needs. Check your odometer and schedule your next milestone service with our trusted professionals today.