You know the routine. You enter the car, start the engine, and fire up the aircon. However, you’re met with a foul stench. It can put a sour on your trip, long or short, in no time. As frustrating as the smell can be, it’s even more frustrating when you’re unable to identify its source. It obviously has something to do with the AC system. Yet, there are varied kinds of stenches that emanate from the AC. We’re here to get our hands, and noses, dirty with this guide. Continue to know more about what smells to expect, what causes them to appear, and as always, how to get them fixed. Situation #1 – Your AC smells like mould This one’s relatively simple. If your car AC smells like mould or mildew, it could actually be either of those. It tends to happen in older vehicles because of the prolonged presence of bacteria in the vents. A vent and duct cleaning spray could work as a quick fix, but it’s always advisable to get a comprehensive repair. ServiceMyCar offers an intensive car AC diagnosis and repair system that’ll leave your AC clean and fresh in no time. Situation #2 – Your AC has an oddly sweet scent No, we’re not talking about the sweet air freshener you’ve stuck on the vent. An oddly sweet scent without a discernible source probably means your car has a coolant leak. Coolant has a sweetish scent due to the presence of specific chemical components. Such an inconvenience can be a good sign that your car needs to be fixed ASAP. If you find yourself in such a situation, request a car AC repair quote at ServiceMyCar at once. Situation #3 – Your AC smells like petrol Like a coolant leak, your AC will smell like petrol if there’s a gas leak. It can lead to an unsafe situation. If you get a whiff of gasoline from your AC, it’s advisable to turn off your car completely. Avoid driving in such a situation. Instead, get a car recovery service from ServiceMyCar to get a comprehensive inspection and repair.
0 Comments
You’re familiar with the term ‘car service’ and what it mostly entails. There are broad categorisations, such as minor service, major service, interim service, etc. However, petrolheads aside, most people aren’t as familiar with what actually goes on in each service. That’s where our car service guide comes in. Fear not, for it’s fully vetted by your resident car service experts at ServiceMyCar. We’ve scoured the ends of the internet to choose the most frequently asked questions about car servicing, and what each one offers. Now that the context has been established, let’s get started. What is a car service? Essentially, it’s a routine maintenance check that’s scheduled for fixed time intervals, or after your car has run past a certain number of kilometres. Each vehicle comes with specifications on when to do a service. These specifications come straight from the manufacturer and must be adhered to. A service schedule is created based on the time intervals. Modern cars have smart computers onboard that will send a notification when a service is due, based on the mileage. The maintenance, in question, typically entails the replacing of fluids and specific parts. A physical inspection is also carried out to check if essential components are functioning correctly. What are the different types of car service? Car service comes in three broad categories: basic, full, and major. Different garages may use alternative titles for branding purposes, but the inclusions remain the same. It’s not a matter of confusion since these inclusions work in levels. This means that each service package includes everything in the level below, with certain additions. Your car requires these additional features after it has crossed a specific mileage. The service prescribed will depend on your mileage and service history. What is a basic car service?
As the name suggests, a basic service is the entry-level service package. Also referred to as ‘interim’ or ‘minor’, it’s recommended for frequent drivers. It’s designed for cars that cover over 30,000km every year, which means they probably require more than one basic service in a year. The basic car service typically entails an oil and filter change, and a thorough inspection of the car’s major components, such as tyres, windscreen wipers, and lights. Fluid top-ups and lubrication of other moving parts may also be included. A basic car service is mostly done every 10,000km or every 6 months, depending on what comes first. What is a full car service? A full service acts as an intermediate between a basic service and a major service. It’s designed for drivers that typically clock a low annual mileage, meaning they only have to get one service done every year. It has a wider set of features and checks, when compared to a basic service. Apart from the oil change, the air filter also gets replaced. Certain fluids are topped up, such as the windscreen washer and the power steering fluid. A comprehensive brake check is carried out as well. It’s mostly done every 20,000km or 12 months, and is generally recommended for casual drivers who don’t clock a high annual mileage. What is a major car service? A major service is the most comprehensive service package that can be availed. It strictly adheres to your manufacturer’s standards, which is why it’s only required every 2 years. A general rule is that if your last annual service was a full service, you’re due for a major service next. As you might have guessed, it includes everything from a full service, and more. You get an oil change, and your air filter, A/C filter, and spark plugs get replaced. Most, if not all, your car fluids get replaced too. If parts, such as your brake pads, are worn out, they get replaced as well. Since it’s a heavy-duty operation, it’s only required every 2 years or every 40,000km, whichever comes first. Unless your car has sustained severe damage from an accident or by any other means, a major service is the best way to get it back to ideal performance. Is it necessary to get a car service? Getting a car service isn’t like getting an RTA inspection done. It’s not necessarily a legal requirement. However, adhering to your service schedule ensures your car stays at peak performance, and passes any RTA inspection tests. Some people find car maintenance to be too taxing, and in some cases, expensive as well. If you follow the practices laid out by the car manufacturer, it’s beneficial for the long road. Modern car maintenance services have ensured that car servicing is a hassle-free process while keeping costs down. At ServiceMyCar, all the service packages come with free collection and delivery. This takes out all the hassle and provides a convenient experience. Each package is also priced at highly competitive rates that beat the prices you would get from agencies. There are several benefits from getting a routine service done at ServiceMyCar:
Don’t delay your next service. Book now on the ServiceMyCar app or website. Let's face it, there's no 'perfect' driver. No matter how good you think you are, certain aspects of your driving put more strain on your vehicle. You can follow all the maintenance tips in the world, but without appropriate driving, it can all be rendered useless. Follow along as we offer tips on how to minimise strain and maximise the output from your car. Accelerating over speed bumps Most sportscar drivers know to slow down when approaching speed bumps since their car rides low to the ground. On the inverse, SUV drivers like to accelerate despite approaching speed bumps. This can affect your vehicle's alignment and add unnecessary strain to your wheels and suspension system. It must be avoided at all costs. Improper or 'hard' braking habits Improper usage of your brakes can have a list of its own. Whether it's 'riding' the brakes, or hard braking in general, there are so many incorrect braking habits deployed by drivers. Such actions result in the overheating of the brakes. You must avoid using the brakes while turning, or in stop-and-go traffic situations to prolong the brake system's life. Driving with a low, or nearly empty, fuel tank This is a bad idea for multiple reasons. Fuel pumps are located inside the tank and require constant cooling, which is aided mainly by the tank's fuel. Another note to consider is the fact that fuel indicators can be unreliable. By adding strain to your vehicle, you put certain parts in danger and run the risk of running out of fuel. Dangerous shifting of gears, especially between 'drive' and 'reverse' Every action movie to feature car sequences is to blame for this one. We've all attempted to look cool when shifting quickly from drive to reverse, or vice-versa. However, this can severely strain various components in your vehicle. The gearbox is built to generate a smooth transition between gears. It can only do so when the car is stopped completely. Shifting gears while the vehicle is in motion could damage essential parts in the transmission module. Ignoring your dashboard warning signs
Your dashboard warning signs light up for a reason. By prolonging the issue, or just ignoring them altogether, you put your car through a lot of strain. It's best practice to get your car inspected by a professional mechanic, especially for the issues you're being warned about. Maintaining improper tyre pressure Your vehicle's only points of contact with the road are the tyres. With improper tyre pressure, you run the risk of uneven tyre wearing. This can cause severe wheel alignment issues in the long run. If you follow the tyre pressure guidelines outlined in the owner's manual, you get proper handling, increased fuel efficiency, and a safer driving experience. Opting out of routine car maintenance services We're all guilty of this. When there's no time to get a routine service done, we simply choose to skip it. However, this can have drastic effects on the vehicle's condition. Nowadays, laziness or lack of time isn't a valid excuse anymore. Modern car maintenance solutions, like ServiceMyCar, have made it much easier to get routine maintenance done whenever required. The convenience of choosing a peugeot repair dubai package is only bested by its free pickup and delivery feature. The hassle-free booking process, which can be availed on the website or the app, is easier than ever. Don't delay your service any further. Book now on the ServiceMyCar website or app. You're likely to have heard the term 'fluid top-up' every time you've been interested in getting a service. At this point, a fluid top-up is almost synonymous with a major service. However, not everyone delves into what fluids get topped-up, and just how vital these fluids actually are. As the resident car guru, we're here to change that for you. Continue reading this post to know more about what car fluids are vital, what purpose they serve in your vehicle's functioning, and when to get them topped up. What does fluid top off mean? Before we get started with the nitty-gritty, let's understand what the term 'fluid top off' means. To 'top-off' or 'top-up' fluid means bringing the liquid to an optimal level, as recommended by the manufacturer. The service centre should have a gauge to indicate when the fluid is at an ideal level. The confusion arises when you look at all the vital fluids. Engine oil is considered to be one such fluid. However, engine oil cannot just be topped off. As a rule of thumb, any existing fluid that's considered as an 'oil' has to be flushed out first. Other fluids, such as the coolant and the windscreen washer fluid can simply be topped up. There are still instances where any fluid must be flushed out and replaced. This is necessary if it has been in the vehicle for too long, with dust and contaminant build up over time. How often do you need to top up brake fluid? On a general level, about every 2 years. Based on how your brakes are performing, you should get your brake fluid flushed out and refilled. This can be done every 2 years, or per 40,000km travelled. What are the 6 vital fluids for your car?
Engine oil This one's relatively well-known. It functions as the blood for your vehicle's heart, which is the engine. Without proper engine oil, your car would simply cease to function. It helps to reduce the friction between the myriad of moving parts within the engine console. As a result, your car performs at an ideal standard. The frequency of getting an oil change has changed a lot over the last couple of years. For modern standards, you're advised to change your oil between every 8,000km – 12,000km. It's best practice to consult a brand specialist, or the owner's manual to know what works best for your car. Brake fluid Your brake fluid is as essential for your brakes' performance, as engine oil is for your engine. The fluid serves a vital role since it applies pressure on your brake pads against the brake disc's movement, allowing the car to slow down. As we covered earlier, your brake fluids can be refilled every 2 years or so. If the oil isn't contaminated, you can get a top-up within the 2 years. Coolant All the energy produced by your engine turns to heat. Without the coolant, the temperature may extend to dangerous levels, resulting in significant damage. Coolant helps to absorb all this residual heat and ensure your engine runs in optimal temperature levels. Modern car standards allow you to change your coolant every 5 years, as newer cars have a longer coolant lifetime. Transmission oil Transmission oil or gear oil serves as a lubricant for the myriad of parts in your gearbox. As you change gears, various functions take place within the gearbox console. Without adequate and clean gear oil, your gear is subjected to high temperatures, increased friction, and corrosion. Our resident service experts suggest changing your transmission oil after every 40,000km – 60,000km. Power steering fluid Imagine driving a car with a stiff steering wheel that doesn't move smoothly. That's what having low power steering fluid feels like. Power steering fluid serves multiple functions. It helps to give you control and balance of your steering wheel and adds power to the steering system. You're recommended to change your power steering fluid every 2 years, or at every 80,000km. Windscreen washer fluid This one's something we're all familiar with. While we don't really consider it a 'vital' fluid, it still serves a rather important function. In a region like ours, we're always prone to the odd sandstorm. The windscreen washer fluid is imperative in such cases. If you use the wipers without the liquid, it could result in scratches and other damages to your windshield. The refilling rate is mostly dictated by your usage of the fluid. As a general rule, you should get it refilled at every service interval. Choose ServiceMyCar for all your maintenance needs So, you're aware of all the vital fluids for your car. Now you're probably wondering, where do I get them changed? ServiceMyCar has already got you covered. We've designed our Major Car Service package to include a top-up for all these fluids, and we do so much more. Make a hassle-free booking on the ServiceMyCar app or the website now. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
March 2021
Categories |