Why you should get your vehicle serviced regularly

MOTORING|VEHICLE|SERVICING

Getting a vehicle to be serviced is time consuming, laborious yet still expensive, and many times, because it's not compulsory, vehicle owners are tempted to ignore it. 

According to Stephen Nyondwa, a mechanic in Bweyogerere, during service, all the fluid levels are checked, the oil and oil filter are changed and all the moving parts of the car are lubricated. 

"Vehicles are very complicated mechanical machines with a lot of moving parts. That means oils need to be maintained and changed regularly to keep everything running smoothly. Filters need to be renewed to stop dust and dirt getting into the oil," says Nyondwa.

Nyondwa advises motorists to regularly check the colour of the oil. "If you see a thick black substance, then book a service immediately. The ideal colour is a nice golden brown," he says. 

Nyondwa adds that if possible, service should not only be about oil change but a full vehicle health check. 

"This means that the mechanics performing your service will also check the vehicle from top to toes, such as breaks, suspension and tyres, to make sure that the vehicle remains safe to operate," he advises. 

"It is for example a must for motorists to check their tyre treads daily before getting into their vehicles, but how many do it out there? Having a regular service is a good opportunity to check whether the tyres are both within the right tread limit, and also don't have any uneven wear. Without regularly having all these checks you may be driving around in a dangerous vehicle," Nyondwa says. 

Mustapha Baliruno, a mechanic in Wandegeya says that a well taken care of vehicle lasts longer and fetches more money on the market in-case the owner wants to cash in on it.  

"A vehicle that has been really well looked after can last several years longer than one that hasn't. This could save you even more money in the long run as you won't need to upgrade quite so often.

It can be much cheaper to keep a vehicle running longer than buying a new car," Mustapha explains. 

Baliruno adds that a more efficient engine will cost less to run. "It is no secret that a tired, dirty engine with a lack of oil will burn far more fuel than one that is well looked after. It will also be more sluggish and not as smooth to drive," he says. 

According to Baliruno, one of the reasons a car's fuel consumption will spike is due to not changing its oil on schedule. "The engine struggles because of reduced lubrication, which translates into increased fuel intake. Ignoring to replace parts such as spark plugs too can lead to increased fuel costs since the fuel combustion is hampered," Baliruno says.