One question that many European car enthusiasts tend to ask is, are ŠKODA cars expensive to maintain?
As with any car, the cost of maintaining and servicing a ŠKODA really depends on how well you take care of it on a routine basis. The better you care for your car, the less you’ll need to spend on patching it up (or forking out hundreds of dollars to replace worn-out parts and fix extensive damage).
Here’s our 4-step car maintenance regime to keep your ŠKODA in good shape for years to come.
1. Regularly check your oil, water, tyre pressure.
This is a must-do for all car owners and ensures that a small problem doesn’t spiral into a huge one. Having clean and adequate oil and water levels in your car is key to keeping your engine running smoothly and extending the life of your car.
Oil acts as a lubricant for the engine parts and reduces metal-on-metal friction, while water acts as a coolant and prevents your engine from overheating.
It’s also important to make sure your tyres are inflated to the right pressure. Under-inflated tyres pose a safety risk and can increase your car’s fuel consumption and running costs through increased rolling resistance and uneven tread wear on your tyres, which means you’ll need to replace them more often.
On the other hand, over-inflated tyres can impact your ability to brake and handle your car at speed, and increases the risk of your tyres skidding or even popping.
Generally, we recommend checking your car’s oil, water, and tyre pressure at least once a month, or before you leave for a long journey on the road.
Before conducting an oil check, make sure your car is parked on level ground and the engine has been turned off for a few minutes, so that all the oil that has been circulating around your car has a chance to drain back into the sump.
Pop the bonnet and pull out the dipstick, give it a wipe with a clean rag, and then dip it back into the stop. Leave the dipstick in for a few seconds before pulling it out again – the oil level should be between the two marks.
A low oil level may indicate issues such as an oil leak, or worn engine parts that need replacing. Without enough oil to lubricate your engine, this could increase the amount of wear and tear on your engine’s components over time.
You should also note the oil’s colour and smell; if it’s black, brown, has a thick consistency or smells like burnt fuel or cooking oil, it’s probably time for an oil change.
2. Check your brakes regularly.
This isn’t just important for efficiency and cost, it’s also vital for safety – you don’t want to leave this one too late. Your brakes will typically need to be checked every six months, and more frequently if you go for joyrides every so often.
But how do you know when your brakes need to be inspected? Some of the first tell-tale signs that your brake pads or other components need replacing are squealing, grinding, or groaning noises or vibrations in your steering wheel and brake pedal whenever you hit the brakes.
If you notice any of these issues, you should take your car in to be looked at by a qualified mechanic.
3. Use high quality fuel.
While it’s tempting to use cheaper fuel types in your car, filling up with higher quality fuel keeps your engine healthy and provides better fuel economy.
Besides improving your car’s performance by delivering more power, premium fuels can also act to clean your car’s fuel system.
4. Service your car regularly with mechanics who specialise in European car servicing
The famed American author and inventor Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” When it comes to looking after your prized vehicle, this rings especially true.
As soon as you feel something is wrong, make sure you talk to the experts and are taking a preventive approach by getting your car regularly serviced.
It’s important that you don’t miss any scheduled services, as any undiagnosed issues can worsen over time and result in an even bigger repair bill.
Spare parts can sometimes be difficult to source for ŠKODAs, so you want to make sure you’re not left without a car in the event that one of your vehicle’s key components needs replacing.
At Elite Euro in Wangara, our mechanics are factory-trained professionals who specialise in all aspects of servicing European cars.
The team at Elite Euro is always available to help you look after your ŠKODA and to provide advice around ŠKODA care and servicing. Any car service we provide can go in the logbook and won’t void any warranties.
To talk to one of our qualified Perth team about European performance parts or to book a car service for your ŠKODA, Volkswagen or Audi, get in touch with one of our friendly staff on (08) 9309 3636.
