Most people’s idea of the ultimate adventure is to do a year-long trip around the massive country that is Australia. There is such a huge variety of things to see and do that even a year probably won’t be long enough to see it all. If you decide to undertake this epic journey, avoid some of the not so great situations that are common with people travelling around Australia. Plan ahead, be smart and you’ll avoid finding yourself in the following unfortunate situations.

Breaking Down In The Middle Of Nowhere

Australia really is a huge country so do your research and have a good idea of how far you plan to go on a daily basis. Some parts of the country are quite underpopulated so it’s important that you are well prepared with all your needs covered if you are travelling through these areas. Make sure that whatever vehicle you are in is in good shape by getting it serviced when you are in one of the bigger cities. Car service in Sydney and car service in Melbourne are your best bet for value for money and excellent service.

Getting Horribly Sunburnt

It’s amazing how every year there is never a shortage of bright red tourists roaming the beaches of Australia and wandering around the cities in pain. The sun is crazy down here so take it seriously and avoid being burnt to a crisp. There is no better way to ruin your trip and possibly seriously damage your skin than a good burn, so don’t be an idiot and cover up as much as you can. There really is no such thing as a healthy tan.

Getting Alcohol Poisoning

Australian’s do drink quite a lot of alcohol, especially in the summer when nothing is quite as refreshing as an ice-cold beer or two. If you are going to have a few drinks, be careful not to go overboard as the combination of strong beer and the hot sun can leave you a bit worse for wear. Lots of visitors make the mistake of trying to keep up with the locals and can end up in the local hospital with alcohol poisoning. Drink responsibly and know your limit and you will be sure to have a way better time in Australia.

Being Bitten or Eaten By Something

It’s true, Australia really does have a huge amount of creatures that can bite and even kill you, though obviously this doesn’t happen every day. Learn what types of dangerous animals are in the area you will be travelling to and find out what they look like. You can generally avoid being bitten by exercising some common sense and knowing a little bit about the critter, so educate yourself if you don’t want to go home dead.

Getting Lost

Being a large country with a lot of wilderness, it is not uncommon for people to go missing for days or even weeks at a time. Avoid this by having a really good map of all the areas you will be going to. GPS computers are great though make sure you have a map book too just in case your GPS goes haywire.

Lube Mobile are "The Mobile Mechanics" equipped and trained to perform any Car Repair or Car Service. We have a mechanic come to you at a time and a place convenient - 6 days a week. Convenience, Quality and Service are guaranteed. For more information or to make a booking, visit Car Service.

It is a good idea to look after your things if you want them to work well for you and last a long time. Some items get a lot more use than others and so need that extra bit of care if they are going to be able to keep on working at full speed. The following items are definitely worth putting a little extra time and effort into looking after.

The Car

Considering the huge amount of use most people’s cars get, not to mention that they are never exactly cheap to buy, it is worth taking special care of your car if you hope for it to last long. Washing it regularly is a good idea to help maintain the integrity of its body and can prevent rust and fading. It’s also important to get your car serviced either every 10,000 km or once every 6 months, and with car service in Sydney and car service in Melbourne available in almost every part of the city, it is an easy effort to make.

Phone

Another item that gets used often is your phone, so if you don’t want to have to replace it every year it’s a good idea to look after it. Having a decent padded case to protect it can make all the difference and even just making a point to be gentle with it can mean a phone lasts twice as long as it would otherwise.

Computer

Considering how much easier computers make our lives we should do a lot more to take care of them. They really are quite fragile pieces of technology so make an extra effort to keep it out of harms way and having it stay as clean as possible. Don’t eat over your computer, keep it away from surfaces that could get it dirty and clean the keyboard on a regular basis. Most computers will last for years if you treat them well; so make sure you don’t need to replace your computer until it’s absolutely necessary.

Camping Gear

For those of us who love getting out into the great outdoors, your camping gear is some of the most important items that you own. When getting back from a camping trip most people are too tired to properly clean and store their camping gear though this can mean that important gear like your tent and sleeping bags can be deteriorating way faster than they otherwise would. So when you get back from camping, take the time to clean off your tent and be sure to take your sleeping bags out of their stuff sacks and hang them up, this can extend the life of your camping gear by years and years.

Oven

Most of us use our ovens on a daily basis and there is no question it will last much longer if kept clean. Ovens aren’t cheap, so at least once a month take the time to properly clean your oven and stove top and give it a good once over. A clean oven works far more efficiently, so you will be benefiting from your efforts every time you cook.

Lube Mobile are "The Mobile Mechanics" equipped and trained to perform any Car Repair or Car Service. We have a mechanic come to you at a time and a place convenient - 6 days a week. Convenience, Quality and Service are guaranteed. For more information or to make a booking, visit Car Service.

In the last couple of decades, fuel injection systems have completely replaced carburettors as a means of delivering fuel into an engine in modern vehicles. In this article, we’ll take a look at how fuel injectors work and why they’ve become the industry standard. We’ll explain things as plainly as possible — remember, you don’t need to be a mechanic in order to gain a basic understanding of your vehicle’s inner workings!

How does the carburettor work?

Basically, the aim of the carburettor is to mix the appropriate amount of air and fuel in order to allow the engine to run properly. The carburettor is essentially a tube with an adjustable plate (known as the throttle plate) running across it. When the throttle plate runs parallel to the length of the tube, the maximum amount of air is flowing through the carburettors — this is known as full throttle. When the engine is idling, the throttle plate is just about closed, allowing minimal air to flow through.

The reason the carburettor went out of fashion was because it was an inefficient fuel delivery system. While these were fine on basic, old-fashioned automobiles (indeed, carburettors are still used on less complex machines such as chainsaws and lawnmowers even today), as cars evolved and became more complicated the carburettor was no longer efficient. Additionally, concern about fuel emissions in the atmosphere meant higher standards needed to be met by car manufacturers, and the fuel injector, which could more accurately deliver fuel to the engine, was the answer. The last carburettors were created in the late 1980s.

How does fuel injection work?

Electronic fuel injection (EFI) is a computerised system that works by spraying fuel into the combustion chambers at regular intervals. When you put your foot on the accelerator, a throttle valve opens, allowing more air to enter the engine. The harder you push the accelerator, the more air gets in.

The engine control unit (ECU), which is the name for the computer that oversees the electronic parts of your engine, pays attention to how far the throttle valve has opened and allows more fuel to enter based on the amount of air that has made its way into the engine. Sensors will also work to monitor the mass of air in the engine, and also the levels of oxygen in the exhaust. By taking all this information into account, the ECU can create optimum air-to-fuel ratio. This is why EFI has become so important in modern car design.

What are the most common fuel injection problems?

One of the most common fuel injection problems is a dirty injector. If these become clogged, this can lead to an engine misfiring. Some of the symptoms of clogged injectors include hesitation or stumbling during acceleration and general poor vehicle performance. Additionally, fuel injectors may leak fuel, resulting in higher fuel consumption. Using quality fuel ensures your fuel injectors don’t become clogged. If you do feel there may be a problem with your fuel injectors, it’s a good idea to get a professional car service to ensure that this is in fact the problems, as sometimes the symptoms could also be a result of something else being wrong with your vehicle.

Lube Mobile are "The Mobile Mechanics" equipped and trained to perform any Car Repair or Car Service. We have a mechanic come to you at a time and a place convenient - 6 days a week. Convenience, Quality and Service are guaranteed. For more information or to make a booking, visit Car Service.

The internal combustion engine powers most modern cars. But while most people know how to drive a car, not everybody knows what an internal combustion engine involves. In this article, we’ll introduce you to the basics of the internal combustion engine and highlight some of the problems that may cause a car’s engine to function incorrectly. Remember, you don’t have to be a mechanic to understand how a car engine functions.

Let’s start with the basics…

The basic principle of most modern cars is to convert gasoline into motion so that the car can move. To achieve this, gasoline is burnt inside the engine. This is why it’s known as an internal combustion engine; the combustion (basically, another way of saying “burning something”) takes place inside the engine — therefore, you have internal combustion.

When high-energy fuel such as gasoline is burnt inside this enclosed space, a chemical reaction occurs allowing a huge amount of energy to be released. By coming up with a system that allowed this energy release to take place hundreds of times in a single minute, we are able to give our cars the power to move.

Inside the cylinder

In the case of a car, the “enclosed space” in question is known as a cylinder. However, there’s not just one cylinder — generally, there are four, six or even eight in the engine. Inside each cylinder, a four-stroke process takes place in each cycle. These are:

• The intake stroke — The cylinder is filled with a mixture of gasoline in air.
• The compression stroke — A cylindrical piece of metal known as a piston then compresses the air, making the forthcoming explosion more powerful
• The combustion stroke – A spark plug causes a small electric spark, igniting the gasoline. The gasoline then explodes, forcing the piston back down
• The exhaust stroke – The exhaust valve opens and the exhaust exits the cylinder

As soon as the process finishes, it immediately begins again. This cycle may occur hundreds of times in a single minute.

What can go wrong with a car engine?

There are three main problems that can occur to stop your engine from running:

• A lack of compression: Your piston rings may be worn out, causing the fuel/air mix to leak past the piston during the compression stroke. Or perhaps the exhaust or intake valves aren’t sealed, which can also create a leak. It may even be as simple as a hole in the cylinder.
• A lack of spark: Your spark plug may be worn out, meaning the spark is too weak to ignite the fuel. The wiring leading to your spark may also be faulty, causing there to be no spark at all. Or, it could be that the ignition timing is off, meaning that the spark is occurring either too early or too late in the cycle.
• A bad mix of fuel: If you have a bad fuel mix, it could mean that you’re out of petrol, meaning that there is air entering the engine but no fuel. Without the fuel, combustion cannot take place. Alternatively, there could be too little air due to a clogged air intake. Or perhaps there is an impurity in the mix — water, for example — causing the fuel not to burn.

Alternatively, the problem may not be with the engine at all. If the battery is dead, for example, then the engine will not start. Whatever the case, all of these can be tested with a professional car service, and any problems should be diagnosed and fixed immediately.

Lube Mobile are "The Mobile Mechanics" equipped and trained to perform any Car Repair or Car Service. We have a mechanic come to you at a time and a place convenient - 6 days a week. Convenience, Quality and Service are guaranteed. For more information or to make a booking, visit Car Service.

The lead battery is one of the most important parts of the modern car, and understanding it is crucial to performing a car service. In this article, we’ll provide a brief introduction to how the car battery works and run through a few of the problems that could go wrong with it at any time.

A car battery has two terminals — one is positive and one is negative. These terminals are connected to the car and power a range of your car’s important functions, including:

• Starting the engine
• Air conditioning
• Playing the radio
• Turning on the headlights
• Running windscreen wipers

Every car battery is made up of six cells. Each cell possesses two electrodes made of eight overlapping metal plates. These eight overlapping metal plates form what is known as a “grid”, making a total of two grids and 16 plates per cell. It is through these cells that the energy to power your car is produced. But how does it work?

Well, first, let’s recap…

• A battery is made of six cells
• Each cell is made of two grids
• Each grid is made of eight overlapping metal plates

A little bit of chemistry…

It’s all about chemical reactions. One of the grids is positive, while the other is negative. The positive grid is covered in lead oxide and brings electrons into the cell. The negative grid, which is covered in lead, releases the electrons.

The metal plates — remember, eight of them in each grid, 16 in each cell — are soaked in a mixture of water and sulphuric acid. (It’s only about 35 per cent sulphuric acid, but that’s more than enough to burn through clothes and severely burn your skin. It’s a powerful concoction.) This mixture acts as an electrolyte — a substance that conducts electricity.

When the sulphuric mixture reacts with the lead oxide on one grid and the lead on the other, electron particles are released. As they race around the grids, electricity is created. The electrons make their way from the positive grid in the first cell and then out the negative grid, into the next cell. By the time the electrons have passed through all six cells, 12 volts of electricity have been created.

What can go wrong with a car battery?

There are various things that can go wrong with a car battery. If you’re finding that your battery is going dead every morning — and you’re certain you haven’t drained it by leaving your headlights or radio on, for example — then problems may include:

• Low electrolyte levels (not enough of the sulphuric acid/water mixture in the cells)
• Dirty or corroded battery terminals (This stops the flow of electricity into the battery in the first place)
• Deteriorated lead oxide plates (This means the battery needs replacing)

Also, if you turn the key to start the engine but hear nothing but a clicking sound, this means your battery lacks the power to engage the starter motor. This could be due to incomplete charging by the alternator. Dealing with problems with your battery is best left to a qualified mechanic , who has the tools and expertise required to both diagnose and treat the battery problem.

Lube Mobile are "The Mobile Mechanics" equipped and trained to perform any Car Repair or Car Service. We have a mechanic come to you at a time and a place convenient - 6 days a week. Convenience, Quality and Service are guaranteed. For more information or to make a booking, visit Car Service.

When it comes time to get a car service in Sydney , Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and surrounding areas, there are several types of service you can choose from if you’re no longer following your log book service schedule. In this article, we’ll look at four different levels of service you can go for so you can decide which is the most appropriate choice for you.

Level 1: Safety Service

This is the bare minimum service you should go for and is an option if you’re running pretty low on cash. A safety service involves replacing your engine oil, replacing your oil filter, checking under your bonnet, topping up fluids, inspecting belts and hoses and testing the battery. You should also get a vehicle safety inspection, handbrake adjustment, charging system check and cooling system check. While it’s certainly the most affordable option, a safety service will only really last you for 12 months or 15,000km.

Level 2: Major Service

A step up from the safety service, a major service will cost a little bit more but will also last you for twice as long — 24 months and 30,000km, to be exact. It should cover all the things that are covered by the safety service, with a few important extras, including checking the engine management system, a diagnostic scan and fault code analysis, replacement of the air filter, replacement of the external fuel filter and non-platinum spark plugs.

Level 3: Premium Service

Even better than the Major Service and lasting an extra year (36 months) and an extra 15,000km (45,000km total), a premium service should do everything you’ll get in a major service with just two small but crucial additions. First of all, in a premium service you’ll get your brake fluid checked. Some say that brake fluid doesn’t necessarily need replacing if it’s functioning okay, but if you don’t change it you run the risk of microscopic particles of rust wearing away your vehicle parts. Additionally, with a premium service you should get your coolant replaced.

Level 4: Ultimate Service

It’s called an ultimate service for a reason — it does everything that the other services do and goes that extra step to make sure your car is in tip top shape for up to 48 months, or for 60,000km. In an ultimate service, you should receive an on-car fuel injector flush, throttle body clean, engine decarbonisation and fuel tank additive. It’s also the most expensive service but it will benefit you in the long run with a better-running vehicle.

When searching for a car service in Melbourne , Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide or surrounding areas, keep these different levels of service in mind and decide which is best for you. When hiring a mechanic, bear in mind that you could take your car into a repair shop, but you also have the option of contacting a mobile mechanic. The mobile service can come to either your home or office, making the car service convenient for you, and they usually offer upfront quotes as well.

Lube Mobile are "The Mobile Mechanics" equipped and trained to perform any Car Repair or Car Service. We have a mechanic come to you at a time and a place convenient - 6 days a week. Convenience, Quality and Service are guaranteed. For more information or to make a booking, visit Car Service.

For many of us, ‘mechanic language’ is foreign and perhaps even daunting. We don’t know or understand a great deal about what happens at a car service or when car repairs are undertaken. Essentially, we are investing our trust and money in a mechanic and company in the hope that they will do all that is necessary to keep our vehicles safe, roadworthy and performing well. Despite this, it is useful to have some knowledge of what constitutes a good car service and effective car maintenance.

So, what should be included in a good car service?

Inspection and replacement of parts:

Vital car parts and equipment need to be regularly inspected. These include:

• Leads – although leads can last for around a decade, they need to be checked for evidence of wear and tear.
• Air filter – your car’s air filter needs to be changed as and when necessary. In between times, it may need to be cleaned.
• Spark plugs – spark plugs often provide clues about the condition of your car’s engine. For example, an engine oil leak may be indicated by greasy spark plugs. It is very important to have spark plugs inspected and replaced when they show signs of deterioration.
• Bulbs – it is important to check to see that your lights are working. If they are not, bulbs need to be replaced.
• Steering – your steering should be checked for response time.
• Wiper blades – wiper blades need to be regularly replaced to ensure clear visibility through the windscreen.
• Air conditioning – the efficiency of your car’s air conditioning system should be checked at every service.
• Safety belts.

Brake service:

Brakes are critical to a car’s safety and performance. It is imperative that they are checked thoroughly at each service and that the depth of brake pads is measured. Brake response time is also important and brake fluid levels must be maintained to the correct level. Professional auto mechanics will also check your brake rotors and advise of whether they are due for replacement.

Oil change:

In order for your car’s engine to keep running smoothly, cleanly and efficiently, the oil needs to be changed regularly. Old, contaminated oil will certainly affect the performance of your car as engine components can be compromised.

An oil change involves drainage of old, contaminated oil and replacement with new, fresh oil. At each oil change the oil filter also needs to be replaced.

Advice:

Before granting permission for a mechanic or garage to service your car, ask for specific information about what is included in the service and the associated cost. In particular, ask for detailed information about the treatment of: the engine, brakes, electrics, steering, suspension and bodywork.

If car repairs are required, demand a written quote as opposed to an estimate for the work and parts required. It is also advisable to ask to see the parts that the garage has removed, an invoice/receipt and all relevant guarantees when the work is complete. Finally, keep all paperwork and documentation.

When you know what should be included in a car service, much of the mystery is taken away. Quality mechanics will keep you informed throughout and will have transparent policies and inclusions relating to their services, pricing and the car repairs offered.

Lube Mobile are "The Mobile Mechanics" equipped and trained to perform any Car Repair or Car Service. We have a mechanic come to you at a time and a place convenient - 6 days a week. Convenience, Quality and Service are guaranteed. For more information or to make a booking, visit Car Service.

In order to avoid large and unpleasant bills when it comes time to pay for a car service and subsequent car repairs, there are things that we can all do to extend and improve the life of our vehicle. Many people are unsure of how often a car needs to be serviced, strategies to reduce running costs and techniques for maintaining the appearance of a car. Here we address a number of these areas and offer some helpful tips.

How often should my car be serviced?

The best piece of advice here is to check your owner’s manual. This will specify how frequently your car should be serviced and the most important components and systems for checking.

For older cars, an oil and filter change is necessary every six months or 10,000km (whichever comes sooner) at an absolute minimum.

Generally speaking, a car should be serviced at least every six months (and therefore twice a year). Of course, if you notice that your car is underperforming, this is a sign that attention is necessary.

What does a car service include?

The requirements for your car’s service will really depend on the make, model and any obvious problems, but any service should always include:

• The engine oil being changed
• Replacement of the engine oil filter
• A thorough safety check

Why should I have my car serviced regularly?

There are many good and important reasons to have your car serviced regularly. Regular servicing extends the life of mechanical components, ensures that your car is safe and roadworthy, is likely to make your car more reliable, provide greater economy and increase your resale value. Cars that are not regularly serviced are more likely to breakdown and have their owners pay excessive amounts for car repairs.

Regardless of how well you care for your car, all cars need professional servicing.

Running a car is expensive. What are some of the ways that I can reduce my running costs?

Nothing is more taxing on a car than reckless and erratic driving. Conservative driving will not only help to cut down the wear and tear on your car, it will also make your car more fuel efficient and reduce carbon emissions.

At home you can:

• Check your tyre pressure
• Check your oil, water and coolant levels
• Check your lights

Further to this, the following points can limit your running costs:

• Maintain your car regularly (this includes servicing but also relates to the frequency at which you clean your car)
• Seek out and use a credible, trusted and qualified repairer and insurance company
• Although it is not always practical or possible, try to drive in off-peak times
• Limit the number of trips that you do – as much as possible try to combine errands so that you are not making multiple trips
• Purchase your fuel on the days when it is cheapest. It is also a good idea to fill your tank to capacity on these days.

How long should I expect my car to last?

A car’s life varies greatly according to make, model, use, storage, driving conditions and environment, but regular servicing, repair and cleaning can help to extend the life of a car. More than any other factor, a regular car service by a skilled and credible technician or company will help to ensure the longevity of your car’s life.

What are some of the ways I can maintain my car’s appearance and keep it looking good?

Washing your car often, polishing it at least two times each year and vacuuming the interior as required will help to keep your car in optimal condition and looking good.

As much as possible, try not to park under trees that may deposit sap from plants and bird droppings on your car’s paintwork. Similarly, try to avoid parking in industrial areas where there may be pollutants, chemicals and fumes that may negatively impact your car.

If I wanted to sell my car, how could I make sure I got the best resale price?

Regular car servicing, quality car repairs and washing are important for maximising the resale value of your car. Ensure that your full service history is recorded in your car’s log book.

If you want to quickly spruce up your car prior to its sale, it could be advantageous to have it detailed.

Maintaining a car need not be stressful of exorbitantly expensive. If you ensure that regular car service and car repairs are done, you will almost certainly extend the life and performance of your car.

Lube Mobile are "The Mobile Mechanics" equipped and trained to perform any Car Repair or Car Service. We have a mechanic come to you at a time and a place convenient - 6 days a week. Convenience, Quality and Service are guaranteed. For more information or to make a booking, visit Car Service.

When budgets are stretched and time is precious, it can be incredibly tempting to ignore the fact that a car service is due and required. Many people believe that it does not hurt to stretch the time between car services and even the time allowed before car repairs are carried out. In the long run, this is not only dangerous, it can end up costing you an incredible amount of money and stress that could have been avoided.

Why should a car be serviced regularly?

Regular servicing helps to ensure that your car operates in a reliable and efficient manner. It is possibly the singlemost important factor in ensuring the longevity of the car’s life.

When a car is regularly serviced, attention is paid to its many parts, components and systems. This means that problems are identified early and repairs can be carried out before significant stress affects vehicle components and causes inconvenient and potentially costly breakdowns.

Regular car servicing helps to ensure the safety and performance of your ride, as well as increasing fuel efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.

So, what are the risks of not having regular car services?

• Oil sludge build up in your engine – Built up oil sludge can be compared to a gel that adheres to the parts of your engine and inhibits the smooth and normal flow of oil throughout your car’s engine. The result of over-stressed engine oil, it basically pollutes your engine. Regrettably, this problem is quite often seen in modern vehicles.
• Inadequate safety and protection – There really is no bigger risk than the devastation that can result from mechanical failure on the road. Human lives are far too precious.Braking, steering and suspension are critical to a car’s performance and safety and if these (among other system or part problems) are not attended to through regular servicing, most drivers would have no idea of how safe their car is. Regular servicing is pivotal to locating and rectifying wear that compromises the steering and braking systems of the car.
• Excessive and unnecessary wear and tear – It may well be the case that failing to have regular servicing puts undue pressure on your car and increases wear and tear. In the short term this may not seem like such a problem, but car repairs will be required sooner than you think and, in this instance, will probably be more expensive than you think. This is frustrating when you consider that if identified and repaired sooner, the expense and inconvenience would not have been so great.
• Vehicle damage – Driving a compromised or inefficiently functioning vehicle can result in significant damage, exacerbate existing problems and create new problems.
• Poor fuel economy – Let’s be honest, fuel is far from cheap and we all want to get as much mileage from the fuel we purchase as possible. A car that is not regularly serviced is likely to not be fuel efficient and will therefore cause its owner additional fuel expense.
• Blown out running costs – In fact, everything becomes more expensive on cars that are not regularly serviced. All sorts of repairs and the areas for which money must be paid to keep the car on the road suddenly become more expensive. This is particularly so in Australian states where roadworthy checks are required before a vehicle can be registered and insured.
• Exemption from warranty – For new cars, it is a condition of warranties offered that a car be regularly serviced, with log book maintained and with make approved parts. Car owners that do not keep their car services up to date risk their warranty being voided and this can be incredibly expensive if something does go wrong.
• Inconvenience – Time invested now may actually pay dividends later. You may think that you can’t afford a few hours away from your car in order for it to be serviced, but few people can really afford the inconvenience and stress of being without their car when it is damaged or needs to stay with a mechanic for extensive car repairs.

Ultimately, the risks of failing to have your car serviced regularly are simply not worth it. Regular car services help to ensure the efficient running and longevity of your vehicle and give you the peace of mind of knowing that you have done all you can to ensure your vehicle’s safety and efficiency.

Lube Mobile are "The Mobile Mechanics" equipped and trained to perform any Car Repair or Car Service. We have a mechanic come to you at a time and a place convenient - 6 days a week. Convenience, Quality and Service are guaranteed. For more information or to make a booking, visit Car Service.

Regrettably, cars are not self-servicing machines, or machines that never wear out. Regular car servicing is vital for maintaining the performance and life of your vehicle, but unfortunately many people suffer costly car repairs because they have not kept up to date with car service requirements.

So, what are the most frequently seen problems with cars?

1. Tyre pressure and alignment

All too often, avoidable problems are seen as a result of under-inflation (and less commonly over-inflation). When tyres are not sufficiently inflated they wear more quickly than they should and your car’s fuel consumption is compromised – you will actually end up paying more than you should for fuel.

Regular wheel alignments are also important as correct alignment can help to increase the longevity of the life of your tyres and increase fuel economy.

Regular car servicing helps to ensure that these two areas are assessed and rectified if necessary.

2. Clogged air filters

Air filters need to be replaced regularly, as per the recommended time frame in the owner’s manual for your vehicle. Maintaining and replacing air filters ensures that there is effective air flow through your car’s engine. Once again, properly functioning air filters help to improve the efficiency of your engine, facilitate more powerful performance and improved fuel usage.

3. Worn tyres

Back to tyres! And, further evidence of how important tyre maintenance is…too many people drive around on tyres that have insufficient tyre tread depth. This is incredibly dangerous. To provide sufficient traction, tyres require at least 5mm of tread depth. Although some tyres feature tread wear indicators, a depth gauge will be used by a mechanic at your car service to check the condition of your tyres. If regular servicing does not occur, many people drive around on bald or heavily worn tyres.

4. Low or old engine oil

Running your car on dirty engine oil, or an inadequate amount of engine oil, can be incredibly damaging. Oil that is dirty will be more taxing on your car’s engine, while low levels can cause the car to overheat. Lubrication can also be sacrificed if the oil level is too low and this will almost certainly result in significant damage to your engine.

Regular oil changes are critically important and will add time to the life of your engine. The need for regular car servicing is all the more apparent when the number of people who confidently and often check their engine oil level is considered.

5. Windshield wiper blades that are worn out

Clear and uninhibited vision is essential for safe driving. Wiper blades that are cracked, torn or coming apart can reduce visibility when driving in all sorts of weather conditions and can even cause accidents. At a minimum, wiper blades should be replaced yearly (this will often be done as part of a car service) and if you notice streaking across your windshield, this is a sign that your wiper blades need replacing.

6. Squeaky brakes

Squeaky brakes are the result of brake components vibrating. They are a sign that various brake components are not properly aligned or positioned and a sign that the attention of a mechanic is required. Regular car servicing will help to identify and rectify this before it becomes problematic.

7. Air conditioner blowing warm air

In an Australian summer, few things are more upsetting than discovering that your car air conditioner is blowing warm air. This is often caused by a lack of refrigerant in the system, although some air conditioning problems occur because of a problem with the car’s compressor. The attention of a mechanic or automotive air conditioning specialist is required to fix this.

8. Rough riding

Problems with shock absorbers and/or struts can cause a car that previously seemed to glide over the road feel as if it is running over jagged rocks. If addressed early, repairs to shock absorbers and struts are sometimes possible but when problems are too far progressed, replacements are often necessary.

To function at their best, cars require regular servicing and attention. Very often small problems that are left unattended can grow into bigger and more expensive problems. For those who do not have the knowledge and expertise to inspect, assess and repair their own vehicles, regular car servicing is highly recommended and crucial for maintaining a safe and efficient vehicle.

Lube Mobile are "The Mobile Mechanics" equipped and trained to perform any Car Repair or Car Service. We have a mechanic come to you at a time and a place convenient - 6 days a week. Convenience, Quality and Service are guaranteed. For more information or to make a booking, visit Car Service.