Bosch Auto Service certified service stations have remained a popular choice for car owners in various countries for routine maintenance for many years. Ukrainian vehicle owners share similar preferences.
Types of maintenance
The list of necessary procedures and their frequency are always specified in the owner's manual, which has been included with every car for over a hundred years. The first stage is a daily inspection, for which the driver is responsible. This includes assessing the external condition of the car, the serviceability of lighting devices, the correct operation of the brake system, adjusting the position of mirrors, and other similar operations.
Maintenance of the first type is carried out at intervals of 10–20 thousand kilometers (the exact value is set by the manufacturer depending on the engine type). This service includes replacing the air and oil filters, renewing the engine oil, checking the brakes and suspension, as well as monitoring the battery charge level. Additionally, other, smaller operations may be performed, the list of which the automaker has the right to expand. If the annual mileage does not exceed 15 thousand kilometers, such maintenance should be carried out at least once a year.
Second-level maintenance at Bosch Auto Service stations is carried out when the mileage reaches 30 thousand kilometers. The basic list of works includes all operations from the first stage, and additionally adds replacing the brake fluid, cleaning the fuel system, installing new spark plugs, replacing the timing belt, as well as comprehensive diagnostics of all vehicle components.
Seasonal maintenance involves a set of measures aimed at preparing the vehicle for operation in new weather conditions. Before winter, winter tires are installed, wheel alignment geometry is checked, and sometimes the body is polished and treated with wax to protect the paint layer. With the arrival of the hot period, tires are changed again, and it is also recommended to check the operation of the air conditioning system.
How mandatory is maintenance?
Under the term "maintenance," specialists and drivers usually mean regularly performed technical operations, the regulations of which are established by the automaker and depend on the design features of the car, the type of power unit, and other factors.
The maintenance system was developed by automotive companies to minimize the risk of sudden breakdowns for the owner. Timely replacement of oil, filter elements, brake and coolant fluids, high-voltage wires, and other consumables helps reduce wear on main components and assemblies, and also minimizes the likelihood of sudden failure of critical systems—brakes, transmission, and others.
There is a widespread opinion that prestigious and expensive cars require less frequent maintenance compared to more affordable brands. However, in practice, this is most often not true. The many years of experience of Bosch Auto Service stations show that all cars are subject to friction, vibrations, deformations, and other physical processes leading to part wear. Moreover, more expensive models have a greater number of electronic systems and auxiliary functions that also require regular monitoring and checking.
