APPS Automotive Efficient Personalised Motor Vehicle Servicing and Repairs

Welcome to the Apps Automotive website Tailored Servicing Page.

Other Servicing Tips on this page:
Basic lubrication service | Radiator Coolant Change | Brake Fluid Change | Tune | Auto service | Timing Belt | 4WDs | Air conditioner service

Apps Automotive Tailored Servicing

red sports car side/rear view Firstly, the term service is one of the most misinterpreted terms in the motor trade. Each service book for every model vehicle lists service routines to be carried out to keep your vehicle maintained through its warranty period, it is rare to see any two services the same. Ask any workshop/mechanic to outline what a service is and I am sure you will receive a different answer from each individual. Each manufacturers service schedule is set for a vehicle operating under ideal conditions and travelling an ideal distance each year, this is rarely the case.

At Apps Automotive, we try to tailor servicing to suit the vehicle, the distance travelled each year, the conditions the vehicle operates under, and also try to factor in the length of time you will own your vehicle, and operate within the required maintenance program to comply with you manufacturers warranty.

To determine the service required to keep your vehicle in optimum mechanical condition, we need both previous vehicle history, and future life expectancy of the vehicle from you.

Life expectancy of your vehicle! Sounds strange? Not really, how we service your vehicle needs to be balanced between your budget and how long you believe you would like it to last. A vehicle operated by a fleet that may only keep their cars for 2-3 years would be serviced basically in accordance with manufacturers service schedule. This will comfortably see most vehicles under desirable conditions survive the warranty period, and for a reasonable period after that, on a minimal service budget. A vehicle you would like to still be driving some 8-10 years later or 200,000-300,000 klm later will need far more attention throughout its life, and the early days are very important. As I mentioned earlier, the manufacturers service schedule is for perfect conditions over a desired distance, very rare. Each service book will outline what they class as severe driving/operating conditions, this is usually more the norm under which more frequent servicing is required, most operators seem to miss this in reading their service books, the result is overwhelmingly obvious in the trend these days for vehicles to start showing premature engine failure at a very early stage in its expected life, although a vehicle may have travelled very low klm for its age a vehicle say 7-8 years old which has been serviced by distance factors only, can show signs of engine failure as early as 80-90,000 klm.  The reason for this is simple, a vehicles average use by most manufacturers is approximately 15,000 klm per year, 20 years ago this used to be 20,000 klm a year, and the trend for operating close to home and over shorter distances is increasing. Each time the vehicle starts it produces a slightly richer mixture (more fuel), some of which not being burnt by normal combustion will end up in the oil. Under shorter travelling distances the vehicle either does not reach operating temperature, or does not stay at operating temperature long enough to dissipate pollutants in the engine oil (fuel/carbon) which cause premature failure of the oil resulting in advanced engine wear. Once a vehicle is presented to us and we have established any previous known history, we then set up a 2-year cycle (5 year including timing belt) for most basic routine service operations, these include; (costs are estimates only for average small car)
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Basic lubrication service;

Frequency, time and mileage sensitive, whichever comes first Performed at a frequency determined by your particular driving habits and vehicle environment, and after monitoring condition of engine oil, from as little as 2-3 months to 12 months, or 2,000-20,000 klms apart. Changing oil and filter, checking other fluid levels, check lights, tyre pressures, check brakes, lubricate wear points where applicable, road test and check for foreign noises or poor drivability, basic visual/audio service checks as/ most vehicle manufacturers service schedule. Approximately $130.00. We carry 7 different grades of engine oil alone, the use of synthetic oils where suitable can give remarkable fuel savings, which in turn will further reduce engine wear.
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Radiator coolant change;

Frequency, mostly time sensitive, approximately every 2 years. Life expectancy of radiator coolant is approximately 2-3 years, every 2 years your cooling system should be flushed and filled with the correct mix of coolant to offer internal cooling system protection (corrosion and sludging) approximately $95-100.00
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Brake fluid change;

Frequency, mostly time sensitive, approximately 2 years. As the fluid ages, it has the characteristic of absorbing moisture, reducing the boiling point of the fluid over time, and adding the chance of corrosion caused by water internally in the brake hydraulic system, ideally the fluid should be flushed every 2 years, or when hydraulic parts are replaced in normal service. Approximately $50.00
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Tune;

Frequency, Mostly mileage sensitive, 30,000-40,000klm Again, another term which can cause much confusion over what constitutes a tune, in most computer controlled engines these days, changing of spark plugs, air cleaner and fuel filter change, check compression, and computer scan check is a basic, however, age and type of vehicle may need control devices such as egr systems and throttle bodies cleaned of carbon deposits, which may add over an hour or more to the procedure, some vehicles have platinum spark plugs only requiring replacement every 100,000 klm but removal and replacement of these plugs and the cost of a spark plug is a major factor. Cost from $130.00 for basic, upward (refer to tune diagnostic pamphlet for more information.) Injector/ throttle body service, and attention to control devices such as oxygen sensors can also add greatly to cost of servicing($150- upward), however, can have results in economy more than paying for the service costs in long term fuel saving and oil polluting benefits, and increases in engine performance.
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Auto service;

Frequency, determined by vehicle manufacturer, or by condition of fluid, Some environment factors may influence this such as towing or prolonged high speed. Cost may vary depending on vehicle, some vehicles no band adjustments are required so simple oil change and possible filter may suffice, however, some band adjustment procedures may be extensive, $80.00-$200.00
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Timing belt;

Frequency, 100,000 klm or 5 years Some vehicles will require the timing belt to be changed commonly around 100,000 klm or 5 years, approximately $200.00-$300.00, some European models as early as 50,000 klm and at a much higher cost.
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4WDs;

These vehicles are generally higher maintenance, however, some items listed in maintenance schedules for replacement may be due to assumptions that the vehicle is being operated in conditions like river crossings, or high dust environments, causing driveline contamination, or more frequent requirements of replacing air cleaner elements, these areas need to be assessed along with the particular conditions the vehicle has been operating under. Diesel engines although economical in operation for fuel savings if used for primarily city driving or short distances will see oil contamination at a much increases rate to its petrol equivalent, and as such without more frequent oil changes will see premature engine, turbo, and injector pump failure, all very expensive operations. Most city diesel vehicle will require an oil change period of around 3 months or 5,000 klm and with the higher cost of lubricating oils for diesels and the larger sump capacities this will add greatly to the overall maintenance of your diesel vehicle.
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Air conditioner service;

A perfect system will maintain gas/pressure indefinitely, and require very little service to the actual system. Cabin/pollen filters are becoming more popular and the cabin intake area and ventilation system do require attention as prescribed by more and more vehicle manufacturers. In a perfect world your gas system will not require servicing, and, with the introduction of stricter licensing and pollution controls for the treatment of ozone depleting gas, the systems have become more efficient, but I have not moved to that location called the perfect world and I am still waiting for the right bus, some systems as much as it is not acceptable will leak due to the far more numerous joints needed in a motor vehicle system as opposed to the domestic or commercial systems found in home and commercial air conditioning and refrigerant systems, the more minor and longer the period between the need to actually “service” the gas system the harder it will be to identify an actual leak, systems that may take a total of 900 grams of gas will show a lack of cooling efficiency with a minimal loss, if it has taken around 2-3 years to reach this situation what is called a “service’ may be required. Licensing would also require that the leak be detected and repaired to stop any further gas escaping, in reality at this rate of loss, the identification of the leak may take another 6 months to 2 years to establish, let alone correct the situation. For a basic service to evacuate and test the system and replace gas is approximately $110.00, any number of further faults may cause a drop in cooling efficiency such as faulty compressors, TX(thermal expansion valve) or blockages anywhere in the system, requiring further extensive repairs, these unfortunately cannot begin to be diagnosed without the basic installation of gauges and test equipment to determine if this further work is necessary or if a minor leak may be the only fault. The far more dangerous to the environment R12 refrigerant gas may still be in pre and early 1990s vehicles, this gas is now banned, servicing of these vehicles require that they be retrofitted to the newer R134 less ozone depleting substance, and the gas disposed of correctly, and this may cost around $200.00 to $400.00 (depending on vehicle type and system condition).
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Copyright ©: Apps Automotive

Unit 4, 5-7 Ethell Rd Kirrawee, NSW 2232
Ph: (02) 9521-1655,
Fax: (02) 9545-4018
appsauto@tpg.com.au