{"id":32798,"date":"2024-03-21T12:00:40","date_gmt":"2024-03-21T04:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carsome.my\/news\/item\/car-service-before-balik-kampung"},"modified":"2024-03-21T16:57:13","modified_gmt":"2024-03-21T08:57:13","slug":"why-car-service-important","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carsome.my\/news\/item\/why-car-service-important","title":{"rendered":"Why It’s Important to Service Your Car Before a Long Road Trip"},"content":{"rendered":"

9,816 accidents, that was the tally of all the traffic accidents reported by Bukit Aman under the Ops Selamat traffic safety campaign held by the Royal Malaysian Police last year. The annual <\/span>balik kampung<\/span><\/i> exodus where millions of Malaysians are looking forward to returning to their hometowns is soon to be happening. With that in mind, we might see a surge in road accidents this year as more people are beginning to ease up on COVID restrictions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Being prepared is essential for every long road trip. From driver to machine, both parties must be in tip-top condition before embarking on an endearing journey back home. Here\u2019s why car service is important<\/strong><\/a> before you go on a long road trip.<\/span><\/p>\n

Long Distance Drives Stresses the Engine<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"LongExcessive use without regular maintenance is going to <\/span>stress the engine<\/span><\/a>. An internal combustion engine (ICE) consists of hundreds of moving parts. Science has taught us that friction generates heat and heat generated from fuel combustion is going to strain your engine due to the metal expanding on a molecular level. Something\u2019s going to give without maintenance or with newer replacement parts or have its fluids topped up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There is no proper guideline or reference for how long a car can drive without maintenance. Generally, a car <\/span>can<\/b> still keep going after its mileage has exceeded the <\/span>recommended mileage<\/span><\/a> set by the manufacturer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What would you need to keep an eye on during maintenance would be anything made out of rubber like <\/span>hoses and wires<\/span><\/a>. Additionally, your car needs to have its fluids topped up to keep it running smooth and lubricated like engine oil, brake, and transmission fluid, and coolant to protect the engine from overheating. Heat has always been the bane of every ICE engine which leads us to wear and tear of any critical parts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Minimize Wear & Tear Parts<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"GoingWith regular servicing, your mechanic can tell you which parts are under stress and require a replacement. Ostensibly, your car can still run without replacing these intricate parts but the caveat is the risk of the engine breaking down or endangering your passengers. There\u2019s a huge misconception about car owners under the guise of \u2013 if the car can run, it\u2019s perfectly fine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You may think you save hundreds of ringgit of service and maintenance costs by doing so. But when that car breaks down, replacing a whole engine will be much more expensive than any spare part! Sending your car for regular maintenance gives you a good track record on monitoring which part that might need a replacement in the future.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Don\u2019t be like this guy.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Reduces Chances of Breaking Down While on The Road<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"RegularlyA car breaks down on the opposite side of the road\u2026<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Have you ever seen an accident or a car break down on the opposite lane, yet the lane that you\u2019re sitting in is the one that gets congested? Welcome to Malaysia. Nobody can explain why this phenomenon exists, but you can do your role in preventing traffic congestion on the other lane too!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Malaysians<\/p>\n

\u2026but why is the lane that you\u2019re in got jammed instead?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

A vehicle that gets sent to a car service center regularly can reduce the chances of getting your car broken down in the middle of traffic. Remember to swap out parts when necessary to prevent a breakdown during your annual road trip. Traffic is already bad as it is, let\u2019s do our part to not make it worse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As a rule of thumb, take your car for a short drive and a trip to the nearest car service center for a maintenance check. If your vehicle starts showing signs like overheating, smoky exhaust (on a petrol car), and a rough-sounding engine, it may be a sign your car is struggling to keep up. Don\u2019t be like that owner whose Axia went on for <\/span>two whole years<\/span><\/a> without any servicing before it finally gave up.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"The Perodua Axia after running for two whole years straight with no service:<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Sudden High Fuel Consumption<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"In addition to a rough-sounding engine, an unserviced car will have an abnormally <\/span>high fuel consumption rate<\/span><\/a>. High fuel consumption during city driving and slow traffic crawls is normal. But when it still even occurs while driving on empty roads, do take note if the engine starts sounding rough.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rough-sounding engines paired up with high fuel consumption means that the fluids that lubricate your car engine may need to be changed. Remember when we mentioned checking the viscosity of your engine oil earlier? That engine oil is what lubricates all the moving parts like pistons and crankshaft to keep it reciprocating smoothly. But what happens if they don\u2019t get changed?<\/span><\/p>\n