If you delay a servicing for about 1000 km after reaching the recommended servicing point of every 15 000 km, or wait a few months after your 6-month mark, chances are that your car will be just fine, especially if you don’t use it often.

On the other side of the coin, putting off a servicing by more time or mileage than listed above will run the risk of your vehicle breaking down. Let’s look into a few of the things that can happen if you delay taking your car in for a service.

What happens if you delay a car service for too long

The biggest risk to delaying your car’s servicing for a significant amount of time is your oil filters, and oil in general, giving out. Basically, your oil filters aren’t made to last for a very long time after missing a scheduled servicing date; that is, they won’t last very long if you keep on delaying your servicing.

Likewise, you also need to change your oil regularly, something that a servicing does effectively. Leaving your oil and oil filters for too long after missing a scheduled servicing could result in a totalled engine:

Geoff Gwilym, CEO of the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce, said “the single biggest risk of skipping a service is a breakdown of oil or the sludging of oil, both of which will destroy an engine.

“If you’re missing servicing, you’ll run the risk of a totalled car because you haven’t changed the oil regularly. It’s sludged or overheated. Thick or thin oil will both destroy your engine,” he concluded.

Besides worn-out filters and thick/thin oil that could all destroy your engine if left unchecked for too long, you also run the risk of being surprised by a potentially lethal problem with your car.

From worn-out brake pads that can result in crashes, misaligned wheels that could put you in a dangerous situation, or transmission issues that can cost your thousands of Rands in repairs, there are simply too many risks associated with delaying your car service for too long.

We’ve got your back though, get in touchwith us to get access to seasoned car mechanics who know what it takes to keep your car in the best condition possible.

Now, that doesn’t make you incompetent or reckless in any sense, but having an idea of what your suspension offers your vehicle – as well as how important it is to repair it when the time comes – can save you a lot of money and headaches in the long-term.

A car’s suspension can be defined as a system comprising of your tyres, springs, shocks, and linkages that connects a car to its wheels and allows smooth movement of your vehicle.

Suspension impacts several things, including the smoothness of your ride, as well as your vehicle’s balance and controllability.

4 signs that you need to repair your suspension system

Rough riding

This is by far the easiest and most convenient way of telling when your suspension system needs to be repaired. When you start feeling every bump on the road, or when bumps start making your car bounce, you need to get your suspension inspected.

Uneven tyre treads

Check out your tyres. If the tread has worn down unevenly, or if you notice a few unusual bald spots, it may mean that your tyres are suffering from uneven suspension, therefore placing uneven pressure on the tyres.

Drifting or pulling when turning

If your suspension starts failing, you may experience drift or pull when you’re turning. This usually means that the shocks are no longer able to keep your car stable against the force of a turn, essentially increasing the risk of rolling over. If you start experiencing this issue, we recommend you get in touch with an auto repair shop near you.

Nose dives when stopping

When you’re driving with worn shocks, you may start feeling your vehicle’s body lurching forward and downwards nose-first every time you apply the brakes firmly. This can affect your brakes’ ability to stop your car quickly, which is never a good thing.

If you’d like to learn about more of the signs of a failing suspension system ,don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

As a general rule of thumb, you should take your car in for a service every six months, or every 10 000 km-15 000 km – whichever comes first.

When it comes to mileage, it depends on the make and model of your vehicle. Be sure to ask your dealership about keeping track of your mileage for servicing, it may just save you on unnecessary expenses.

In the meantime, let’s talk about why taking your car in for a service as often as is recommended will pay off in the long run.

What is a car service?

Car servicing, in a nutshell, is the process by which qualified car mechanics inspect your vehicle for any defects, damage, or wear and tear. Depending on the terms of your service plan, you can get those issues fixed as well.

During the inspection, a mechanic will look at several things, including your brakes and suspension, your wheel alignment, your car’s filters, as well as your transmission and clutches.

If you’re not on a service plan with your dealership, you may want to consider finding a competent auto repair shop near you. We’re always ready and willing to get your back into tip-top shape – get in touch with us to learn more.

Why getting your car serviced on time pays off

Imagine you’re strolling down the freeway one Sunday afternoon, more than a year after your last car service. Your transmission all of a sudden starts making unsettling grinding noises as you change gears. You’re forced to stop your car because of the severity of the issue, and there isn’t a single fuelling station in sight.

Pretty inconvenient, right? Not only will your day be ruined by having to wait for a tow, but you’ll also find yourself spending a whole lot of money to repair your transmission and/or gearbox.

Getting your car serviced on time, as often as is recommended by your dealership, will help you avoid these kinds of situations with the proper due diligence. Here at Mechanic Masters, we know exactly what it takes to give your car a good servicing. If you’d like to learn more, get in touch!

When your foot pushes the brake pedal down, it pushes against the master cylinder. This is basically a piston surrounded by brake fluid. The fluid moves down the brake lines where it forces the caliper to squeeze a pair of brake pads against a brake disc. This, in turn, slows the wheel down. The energy released from stopping your car’s motion is converted into waste heat, which has to be dispersed. As the disc has a relatively quick cooling time, this type of brake offers a better stopping performance than drum brakes and is widely used in current car models.

Considering the amount of times that you brake during an average car journey, it’s no wonder that brake pads and discs need to be replaced periodically.

Generally, there’s no fixed interval for replacing your brakes, as the duration of the brake components depends upon the vehicle as well as upon your driving style. Brakes can last up to 80 000kmor more, but can be as low as 25 000 – 30 000 km in the case of heavy duty use. Your owner’s manual will have more information about the recommended intervals for brake replacements of your car’s make and model.

It is important to note; if the discs are unevenly worn or badly scored, it is recommended to replace your brake pads and brake discs at the same time.

Rarely, it occurs that your clutch fails while you are driving. Whether the clutch pedal breaks or the clutch disc fails, you could find that pressing the clutch pedal does not engage the clutch. If this happens, you can’t shift your transmission in the traditional way.

You can, however, continue to drive your vehicle until you need to come to a stop. Driving a manual transmission vehicle without using the clutch is tricky and can cause damage to your transmission. It should only be used in an emergency and for a brief time.

When you’re driving a manual transmission car and your clutch fails, you can still accelerate and upshift. Upshifting without a clutch isn’t a smooth action and is going to be harsh as your clutch can’t be used to ease the transition between gears. Accelerate your vehicle to the point of the next gear change. The speed varies from vehicle to vehicle. Upshifting at 3,000-3,500 RPMs is a good range.

Simultaneously let off the gas and pull the shifter out of gear. While you let off the gas, the transmission doesn’t have pressure on it. The gear shifter should pull out with slight effort. If you wait too long to pull the shifter out of gear, you may have to rev the engine back up and try again.

Press the shifter against the next highest gear in sequence. If you’re in third gear, press the shifter against the fourth gear location.

Apply moderate constant pressure against the shifter as the engine RPMs drop. Once the RPMs match the transmission speed, the shifter will slip into gear. Pressing too firmly will cause the gears to grind and pressing too lightly can cause you to miss the gear.

Accelerate up to the next shift point. Immediately once the shifter slides into place, press the accelerator to speed up. You can continue through your whole range of gears this way.

How do you know when it’s time for suspension repair? Your vehicle will usually tell you,here are hints to look out for

l Bumpy car rides: most car owners can tell their shocks or struts are wearing out when they begin to feel every bump in the road, or when every bump causes the vehicle body to bounce. A rough ride is an obvious sign that your vehicle’s suspension requires attention

l Drifting during turns: With a failing suspension system, you ‘ll often feel the vehicle drift or pull when you are turning. This means the shocks are no longer keeping the vehicle body stable against the centrifugal force of a turn, increasing your risk of a rollover. If you feel this sensation while turning, it’s time to take the car to a trusted auto repair shop for servicing

l Dips or ‘nose dives’ when stopping: Another sigh that your shock are worn out is that you’re likely to feel the car body lurching forward and downward nose-first when you apply the brakes firmly. This can actually affect your ability to stop the car quickly. 

Change the oil regularly

Changing the oil regularly is one of the most crucial things you can do for your engine. Oil has a central role of keeping vital engine parts well lubricated so that they don’t overheat. Your engine can hardly function without it and if you go too long between oil changes it can cause permanent damage to your engine over time. So it’s imperative to confirm what your car’s manufacturer suggests for your specific vehicle’s oil change interval. You can also search online.

We can’t mention changing the oil without also stressing that the oil filter must be replaced at the same time. Oil filters catch all the dirt and debris floating around inside of your engine and keeps the junk from circulating back into the engine. A new filter and new oil will allow your engine to run smoothly, and most importantly, it will keep all the internal parts of the engine cool and well lubricated.

Keep the cooling system working

The cooling system includes the radiator, thermostat, water pump and coolant. The simplest way of protecting your engine from overheating is by ensuring you have the proper amount of coolant (radiator fluid) circulating throughout your engine. The coolant circulates through your engine when the thermostat determines that the engine is getting hot and needs to be cooled down. The water pump then pulls coolant from the radiator, sends it into the engine block and then back out to the radiator to be cooled back down. The cost to find and replace a problem with the cooling system ahead of time will far outweigh the damage done to your engine, should it overheat.

Change air filter

Air filters keep all the outside debris like bugs, leaves and dirt from getting inside your engine. Over time, filters can become clogged with dirt and need to be replaced. Depending on your driving habits and road conditions, an air filter can usually last a long time. But if the filter is allowed to get too dirty and not doing its job efficiently, it can starve your engine of oxygen, let in too much debris- or both. 

Mechanical Masters offers the following services:

• Lube Service
• Oil Service
• Full Service
• Timing Belt Service
• Brake Fluid Service
• Full Checkups
• Battery and Maintenance Checks

Lube service ensures the greasing of the steering system and suspension system. Oil changes are also vitally important to maintain to ensure that the engine is running smoothly. Diagnostic testing also ensures that the compressor services and leak detection are caught in time.

Additional car services include full brake checks, shock absorbers check, suspension checks, windscreen wipers checks, exhaust checks and tyre tread pressure checks.

There are extensive techniques that Mechanical Masters incorporates into the full vehicle service offering. Additional services include antifreeze car services, inspection of the engine, wheel bearings as well as the replacement of pollen filters and the inspection of the air conditioning system.

Vehicles undergo significant wear and tear. By investing in a full car service for your vehicle, owners reduce the likelihood of replacing expensive components of the vehicle. A full car service includes the replacement for service scheduling, which includes fuel filters and spark plugs for example.

Get in touch with us for more information. 

Brake discs are predominantly utilised for the suspension of a car, motorcycle and bicycle and is gripped by brake pads which is held in a brake calliper. The brake disc has a versatile range of advantages which it dissipates heat quickly and thus gives a strong and consistent braking performance.

The high-performance applications of the brake disc ensure that the vehicle will comprise two discs attached side to side by various rotors. The disc will become ventilated, which in turn assists with cooling and performance.

Brake disc skimming should be completed periodically to ensure better quality and lower cost alternatives to disc replacements. The brake discs would become worn out when there is severe braking.

There are definitive ways to identify when the brake discs should be replaced. This includes the vibrating steering wheel or even the smell of burning rubber. Brake skimming should also be completed to improve wet-weather braking performance. The discs are also mounted to improve consistent performance.

Contact us for more information. 

White smoke from the tailpipe

When there is an internal head gasket leak, the coolant flows into the combustion chamber which then burns and gives off a white smoke through the exhaust pipe. The amount of smoke released from the exhaust will inform you how bad the leak is.

Overheating engine

This is the least obvious sign of a blown head gasket. This can be caused because of a lack of coolant. If the engine overheats, it could cause major problems such as the warping or cracking of components because of expansion. It could become a huge expense.

External Coolant Leak

An external coolant leak from a head gasket would cause the coolant to leak from the bottom of the exhaust manifold. This usually only happens when the engine has warmed up. This is an easy way to tell that your head gasket has blown as there are no other cooling passages near the head gasket.

White, Milky Oil

Over time, if the coolant is leaking into your combustion chamber, the oil and water will mix and create a milky, white oil. If this happens, the oil will not sufficiently lubricate your engine and will cause wear. You can identify this problem by checking your engine oil cap.