What to avoid during a car service

When it comes to getting their cars serviced at authorised outlets, owners usually go the whole hog. They want their cars coming out of service centres looking brand new, and are willing to pay for it. But do service centres take undue advantage of this? Yes, they do. Servicing may involve changing certain parts and oils after a set interval, but service centres will almost always try to plug in a few extras using technical jargon that a layman may not really understand. Certain processes are completely unnecessary, and customers end up paying extra as they are not aware of what's important and what's not. Also, most of the times, the service associate will throw you a hard sales pitch, and it's not always done with your best interests in mind. So what exactly are the things you don’t really need and should avoid?

Engine flushing

Flushing an engine simply means cleaning the impure oil and gunk that has built up overtime that reduces performance and efficiency. It’s a rather simple process where a flushing chemical is added to the engine oil and the car is run at idle for a few minutes so that the additive can reach all areas accessed by the engine oil. Now, although engine flushing isn’t completely irrelevant, it is not necessary for newer cars or cars that have been maintained well. If your oil changes are regular, there is no reason to waste your money on it. However, if you’re looking at a used car with a high odometer reading, and aren’t sure of the oil changes, it is advisable to get it done. But it's not required each time you give your car for a service. Service centres usually charge a lot for engine flushing depending on what car you own. So the next time you get a service checklist, make sure you think hard before checking the box.

Cost: Rs 1,400-2,000

Oil additives

Another product that is silently slipped into your service quotation is an oil additive. What it does, or rather claims to do, is improve the efficiency of your engine and ensure smoother operation. However, experts are sceptical about it and rightfully so. Lubricant engineers work with the best materials and state-of-the-art technology to develop engine oils that ensure the best balance of performance and efficiency and is made specifically for your car. Therefore, it’s hard to justify why you would shell out extra cash for something that your standard engine oil already has. Follow normal maintenance procedures periodically and there is no reason you’ll need to use to rely on oil additives throughout your car’s lifespan.

Cost: Rs 500-600
 

When it comes to getting their cars serviced at authorised outlets, owners usually go the whole hog. They want their cars coming out of service centres looking brand new, and are willing to pay for it. But do service centres take undue advantage of this? Yes, they do. Servicing may involve changing certain parts and oils after a set interval, but service centres will almost always try to plug in a few extras using technical jargon that a layman may not really understand. Certain processes are completely unnecessary, and customers end up paying extra as they are not aware of what's important and what's not. Also, most of the times, the service associate will throw you a hard sales pitch, and it's not always done with your best interests in mind. So what exactly are the things you don’t really need and should avoid?

Engine flushing

Flushing an engine simply means cleaning the impure oil and gunk that has built up overtime that reduces performance and efficiency. It’s a rather simple process where a flushing chemical is added to the engine oil and the car is run at idle for a few minutes so that the additive can reach all areas accessed by the engine oil. Now, although engine flushing isn’t completely irrelevant, it is not necessary for newer cars or cars that have been maintained well. If your oil changes are regular, there is no reason to waste your money on it. However, if you’re looking at a used car with a high odometer reading, and aren’t sure of the oil changes, it is advisable to get it done. But it's not required each time you give your car for a service. Service centres usually charge a lot for engine flushing depending on what car you own. So the next time you get a service checklist, make sure you think hard before checking the box.

Cost: Rs 1,400-2,000

Oil additives

Another product that is silently slipped into your service quotation is an oil additive. What it does, or rather claims to do, is improve the efficiency of your engine and ensure smoother operation. However, experts are sceptical about it and rightfully so. Lubricant engineers work with the best materials and state-of-the-art technology to develop engine oils that ensure the best balance of performance and efficiency and is made specifically for your car. Therefore, it’s hard to justify why you would shell out extra cash for something that your standard engine oil already has. Follow normal maintenance procedures periodically and there is no reason you’ll need to use to rely on oil additives throughout your car’s lifespan.

Cost: Rs 500-600
 

When it comes to getting their cars serviced at authorised outlets, owners usually go the whole hog. They want their cars coming out of service centres looking brand new, and are willing to pay for it. But do service centres take undue advantage of this? Yes, they do. Servicing may involve changing certain parts and oils after a set interval, but service centres will almost always try to plug in a few extras using technical jargon that a layman may not really understand. Certain processes are completely unnecessary, and customers end up paying extra as they are not aware of what's important and what's not. Also, most of the times, the service associate will throw you a hard sales pitch, and it's not always done with your best interests in mind. So what exactly are the things you don’t really need and should avoid?

Engine flushing

Flushing an engine simply means cleaning the impure oil and gunk that has built up overtime that reduces performance and efficiency. It’s a rather simple process where a flushing chemical is added to the engine oil and the car is run at idle for a few minutes so that the additive can reach all areas accessed by the engine oil. Now, although engine flushing isn’t completely irrelevant, it is not necessary for newer cars or cars that have been maintained well. If your oil changes are regular, there is no reason to waste your money on it. However, if you’re looking at a used car with a high odometer reading, and aren’t sure of the oil changes, it is advisable to get it done. But it's not required each time you give your car for a service. Service centres usually charge a lot for engine flushing depending on what car you own. So the next time you get a service checklist, make sure you think hard before checking the box.

Cost: Rs 1,400-2,000

Oil additives

Another product that is silently slipped into your service quotation is an oil additive. What it does, or rather claims to do, is improve the efficiency of your engine and ensure smoother operation. However, experts are sceptical about it and rightfully so. Lubricant engineers work with the best materials and state-of-the-art technology to develop engine oils that ensure the best balance of performance and efficiency and is made specifically for your car. Therefore, it’s hard to justify why you would shell out extra cash for something that your standard engine oil already has. Follow normal maintenance procedures periodically and there is no reason you’ll need to use to rely on oil additives throughout your car’s lifespan.

Cost: Rs 500-600