How Long Does Car Maintenance Take

September 20, 2024

Are you wondering how long car maintenance takes? It happens, and to surprise you, many car owners don’t know how long it takes to maintain their car. Let us first know what car maintenance means.

Car maintenance is the regular servicing of a vehicle to ensure its effective operation. The process involves oil changes, tyre rotations, wheel alignments, brake inspections, and fluid checks.

Why is car maintenance essential? Regular car maintenance helps prevent mechanical problems, prolongs the lifespan, ensures a safe driving experience, and guarantees optimum performance.

Another question comes up: How long is the car repair duration? It depends on the type of services, type of vehicle, and the availability of the resources involved.

Some services may take 30 minutes or less to complete, while others take hours. This blog answers these and other questions. Let’s dive in and learn more about car maintenance.

1. How Long Does an Oil Change Take?

Having your oil changed can take approximately 30 to 45 minutes. However, if you can take your car to a lab station without a queue, an oil change can take approximately 15 minutes.

Steps involved:

Draining old oil

Place the oil receiver or container large enough to accommodate the oil so that it will pour into it without spilling over the ground. Most cars have roughly a gallon of oil. Ensure the container is large enough.

Replacing the filter

Reach out to the oil filler. It is a ball-like cylindrical stuff screwed onto the engine. Unscrew it with your hand until the oil starts dripping into the container. Do not remove the filter until the oil flow stops, then fish removing the filter.

Ensure that you don’t leave any part of the old filter behind. If you do, the new one won’t fit well, causing oil spillage. Also, ensure that you wipe all the oil on the covered surface so that you will be able to notice any leakage.

Adding new oil

After replacing the filter and drain plug, there is no time to refill the oil. Open the oil cap, then use a funnel to pour in the oil specifically recommended by the manufacturer.

Factors Affecting Time:

Car Type

Different cars have different engines. Some have engines built differently, so they don’t have easily accessible oil. In such a case, the technician would take longer than it would for a car with an easily accessible oil cap.

Oil Quality

Although they serve the same purpose, different oils exist. What differentiates them is the quality. High-quality oil will have the correct viscosity and take less time to refill. Poor-quality oil will have the wrong viscosity and take more time to refill.

Waiting Time at Service Centers

Perhaps you arrive at a service centre and realise more cars are waiting to be attended to. This means you will need to stay longer. But if you come and find that you are the only one in the service centre, you will take less time to change your oil.

2. Tire Rotation and Balancing Duration

How Long Does a Tire Rotation Take?

Tire rotation and balancing can take 30 to 45 minutes to balance all four wheels. However, some factors can lead to changes in time. 

Whole Process Explained

Removing tyres

The first step is to remove the old tyre from the vehicle. The technician will mount your vehicle to lift the tyre off the ground. Afterwards, they will use a wrench to loosen the lug nuts that attach the tyres to the car. The technician will technically do this, starting with the front wheels on the left-hand side and working counterclockwise.

Rotating

Tire rotation is the most straightforward step. It involves bringing the front wheels to the back and taking the actual wheels to the front. The front wheel on the left should go to the real on the right-hand side, and the front wheel on the right-hand side should also go to the real on the left-hand side.

The wheels from the rear on the left side should go to the front on the right-hand side, and the one on the right-hand side of the rear should go to the left-hand side at the front.

Balancing

Tyre balancing can sometimes include tyre balancing. This process reduces wear and tear on the tyre’s tread, increasing its grip on the road. Using the tyre balancer, the technician measures the wheel imbalance. With the help of the machine, they adjust the weights on the tyres to correct the imbalance.

Reinstalling

After the wheels are balanced, the technician installs them back on the vehicle. They use a wrench to loosen and tighten the lug nuts. They must tighten them, but not entirely, until they bring the car down and pull them entirely using a torque wrench.

3. Brake Inspection and Pad Replacement

Standard brakes take 30 minutes to one hour per axle to replace, but it might take more depending on the type of brakes. Brake discs can take one to two hours per axle or more if the callipers need to be replaced. So, the brake service time to replace the front and rear is around two to four hours, depending on the vehicle.

What Happens During A Brake Inspection:

Checking Rotors

Rotors, also known as brake discs, are the most challenging part of the brake system as they are steel or iron. They are the heart of the whole system and are readily identifiable as the large, flat, circular part of your tyre.

Calipers

Callipers play a vital role in brake systems. They squeeze brake pads against the rotor to create friction, which causes the vehicle to slow down or stop.

Pads

The pads are always in pairs, pushed by the brake fluid in the calliper against each side of the rotor. Every time you press the brakes, the pads are subjected to wear and tear, hence the need to change them often.

4. Battery Installation Time And Replacement

The estimated time it takes to change or replace the battery is approximately 15 to 30 minutes. However, the indicated time will change depending on several factors, such as the technician’s availability.

Also, some new cars have batteries fixed in places that are hard to reach quickly, making it take longer to replace them. For example, some vehicles have batteries up by the firewall bucked up by a brace. Replacing such a battery will take longer than replacing it in traditional cars.

Explaining the Process

 Disconnecting the Old Battery

Begin by disconnecting the battery, starting with the negative terminal, and loosening the nut. If corrosion difficulties occur, use a baking soda solution with a safe automobile lubricant.

After the nut is loose, you can use the terminal battery puller tool to pull it up and off the terminal. Follow the same process to detach the positive terminal.

Installing a New One

Now, set the new battery in the space occupied by the old one, ensuring it fits well. Attach the cramp by moving the side arms into the sides.

Ensure you tighten them well to prevent the new battery from moving. Fit the newly cleaned positive terminal on the positive terminal and tighten it well. Do this, too, to the negative terminal.

Testing

To ensure you have done it well, test. Make sure the terminals are tight enough that you can’t wiggle. If you need to tighten them more, please do. Failure to do this can lead to problems related to starting the car, low voltage, and lighting flickering or failing.

5. How Long Does a Full Car Service Take?

If you can book the service earlier, the estimated time to fully service a car is two to four hours. Otherwise, it may take longer if you arrive at the service station only to realise a queue exists.

What A Full Service Includes

Oil Change

During the oil change, ensure the engine is cold and parked on level ground. Open the bonnet to remove the dipstick and the oil filler cap.

Put the container to receive the old without spilling it all over. Unscrew the oil drain to drain the oil in the container.

After draining the oil and cleaning the oil filler, pour the new oil into the tank using a funnel. Wait a minute or two for the oil to circulate throughout the engine. Take and screw back the oil filler cap and start the engine and run it for two minutes for uniform flow of the engine.

Fluid Top-up

Before topping up the fluid, ensure your engine is turned off, and the car is on level ground. Check the fluid level by removing and wiping the dipstick using a clean, lint-free cloth. Then, insert the dipstick back and remove it to take the reading.

Depending on the readings, refill the fluid, taking care not to exceed the maximum mark. If you notice that the oil colour is not yellow or amber as it should be, you may need to change it. You can also feel if the oil is dirty by rubbing a little between your figures. If it feels gritty, it may also need to be changed.

Brake Check

The brake is one of the vital components of a car and should be kept in constant check. One of the signs that your break needs to be attended to is reduced responsiveness or a complete lack of response. Another sign you need to replace your brake is the vibrating steering wheel when braking at high speeds or going down a hill. Generally, when there are funny sounds when you step on that brake pedal, it is time you plan on replacing your brake.

Tire Rotation 

Tyre rotation involves repositioning tyres in a specific pattern from back to front and from front to back. Use an X pattern during the rotation to ensure even tread wear. Here is how the front wheel on the left-hand side should be on the right-hand side of the back wheel and vice versa. This pattern applies to four-wheel vehicles, including lightweight cars.

Other patterns exist, such as the rearward and forward cross patterns. A rear-wheel pattern is recommended for rear-wheel vehicles. The rear wheels are moved to the front and the front wheels to the back but kept on the same side.

A forward cross pattern is ideal for forward wheels. The front wheels are moved to the back and the rear wheels to the front but kept on the same side.

Why does A Full Service take longer?

A full service takes longer because several components are being serviced or looked at. It includes more parts, like the air filters and spark plugs. It may also involve diagnostic checks, which take longer than interim services, which require several hours.

6. Transmission Service Duration

Replacing transmission fluid could take roughly 20 to 30 minutes. The whole process involves removing the transmission pan and cleaning out the old fluid that might have accumulated. Then, replace the old filter with a pan gasket.

Explanation of the Process:

The old fluid flows better at operating temperatures. Let your car idle for a few minutes, after which you can turn off the engine.

Ensure the vehicle is raised. Put the container under the transmission. Carefully and gradually loosen the bolt from one side of the pan.

Then loosen the other bolt on the pan, drain it, and break the gasket seal using a screwdriver. It is essential to clean the gasket on the pan and the transmission housing. Try to observe any sign of shavings or other damage on the metal and clean it using a solvent.

Also, remove the old transmission ring and keep the drain pan under since the filter contains fluid. Install the new transmission filter, ensuring the O-ring fits as it should, and attach the new gasket to the pan using oil-soluble grease. Finally, lower your vehicle and fill the transmission with the recommended fluid.

FAQs

1. What Is The Quickest Car Maintenance Service?

Oil changes and battery replacement are the quickest car maintenance services. A dedicated auto service can perform these two services quickly. Confirming the estimated time for different services with your local service provider is essential.

2. Can I Wait While My Car Is Being Serviced?

Yes. The auto shop waiting time for many shops is usually a few minutes. You can stay in the waiting areas for minor services that take a short time. But for other services that take longer, it is advisable to use alternative means of transport.

3. Why Does Car Maintenance Take So Long Sometimes?

Sometimes, some issues require more time, leading to longer waiting times. For example, some parts may need to be sourced, which makes the process longer, hence the waiting time. A thorough inspection may also be required, which, of course, takes more time.

4. How Often Should I Get My Car Serviced?

Service your car every 6 months or every 5000 to 7000 miles, depending on what comes first. But to ensure you are safe, always refer to the manufacturer’s manual, as there could be variations.

5. Can Car Maintenance Be Delayed?

Yes. Car maintenance may take more time than expected to some extent, and it is good to expect this to avoid frustrations. While minor delays might be okay, be vigilant about your car maintenance. By maintaining a regular maintenance routine, you can avoid other expenses resulting from damaged parts and the general engine.

Conclusion

The time taken by different car maintenance services varies. Some take more time, and others take less time. This depends on factors such as the complexity of the service itself and the availability of resources.

Taking routine car service seriously is imperative. If you don’t observe the vehicle maintenance schedule, consequences may arise. Prioritizing car maintenance enhances performance, prolongs its lifespan, and can save you a lot in the long run.

It is essential to seek professional car maintenance services. Should you encounter any challenges, always refer to the manual for precise and accurate information.

Just invest time and resources to ensure your car is well-maintained. If you still can’t figure out where exactly you should have your vehicle maintained, call us today. Let us handle it as soon as possible.