A Minor Service Isn’t All That Minor…

We all know what a major service is – usually the one we are most afraid of. Expensive, with pumps and belts, and all sorts of things that need replacement. But what about a minor service? What should you actually expect from your mechanic? In this article, we talk you through what happens to your car when it comes to V-Sport for a minor service.

Modelling our minor service today, we have this tidy Black Mitsubishi Evo X. V-S

Evo X’s love minor services. They have individual openings in the undertray to allow easy access to all the service hot spots, including what we need today – the sump and the oil filter. First up in a minor service is the oil change. Engine oil is best changed when it is warm. Warmer oil is thinner oil, which means it drains easier, and you can squeeze that extra bit more out of it. The engine should be left to drain for at least 15 minutes. This patience is sometimes overlooked in a service center with tight appointments and back to back bookings.

We use and recommend Royal Purple Oils, not just because of the pretty purple colour. We have over ten years experience building and maintaining some of Australia’s fastest cars – our GoPro Evo X for example, and we’ve used almost every oil available over the years. We believe Royal Purple is the best oil you can put in your engine. It’s an area where compromise isn’t worth it. Rather than go into a giant spiel here, you can check out the facts for yourself in this oil review (Warning, may upset some people!).

Along with Royal Purple, we only like to use genuine oil filters. As you can see, a lot of Mitsubishis come through V-Sport’s workshop, and we’re more than prepared!

Second to fluids are brakes. While, Mick will remove all four wheels and conduct a thorough brake inspection. This involves measuring the thickness of the brake disc and checking it against minimum thickness rating, often located on the outside of the brake disc. At the same time he will check the surface of the brake disc, and make note of the life left on brake pads and brake discs. Most of the time these are fine, but this is always done to ensure you don’t drive out of the shop on something dangerous.

The second reason for removing all wheels is to check tyre wear, and if need be, rotate the tyres to ensure they wear evenly. Generally tyres are rotated front to back, as the front tyres receive the bulk of the power, and steering. In saying that, this Evo X had even wear across the tyres and didn’t need to be rotated.

Maintaining an ideal tyre pressure also ensures even tyre wear. Ideally, you want to be checking this at least once a month, as all tyres gradually lose pressure over time. Too little pressure and you’ll wear the outside of your tyre faster, you may experience heavier steering and use a tad more fuel. For road cars we’ll normally run around 36 – 38psi, but if you’re not sure, you can always check the tyre placard, usually found in the door.

On the topic of tyre wear, another influencing factor is your alignment, something you can read more about in our WTAC prep article here.

Mick has a thing about finerprints and brake dust on wheels, so much so he will clean and polish in every nooky and cranny after replacing them.

He’s also a fan of tyre shine to add a finishing touch.

A small thing to mention, but we’ve all been here. Pulling on your wipers only to realize you have no fluid, and you’re stuck with a smeared windscreen, looking for the nearest service station to pull in to.

Mick tops up both washer fluid reservoirs with a mix of windscreen washing concentrate and water. On this Evo, the headlamp wash reservoir is located in the engine bay, with the wiper wash reservoir in the boot. Weight distribution yes, but also because the engine bay in an EvoX doesn’t leave room for much else. Knowing this, and remembering to go through the boot lining and top up the rear is a minor touch that comes with our familiarity with this model.

Ensuring the driver notices an immediate difference, Mick will clean the windscreen with Wurth Active Glass Cleaner.

No cutting corners here… This is about to become the cleanest windscreen in history.

In addition to all of the above, Mick goes over the car with a keen eye. All fluids are checked and topped up if necessary, along with a visual inspection of bearings, suspension etc. Even listening for an exhaust leak – basically Mick will look and listen for anything out of place in the engine, and underneath.

Of course, there’s nothing more frustrating than getting back home after a service, to discover your service book hasn’t been completed, or the people who serviced your car can’t actually stamp your log book. V-Sport’s workshop is registered, and offers log book servicing that won’t void warranty.

How can you make sure you’re getting the most out of your minor service?

Dash cameras are a great way to keep an eye on your car and ensure your service is all they say it is. This is something we’re seeing more frequently, you can set these to record while you’re car is being serviced. We don’t mind, though Mick’s singing may come as a surprise if you ever were to watch it back.

While we’ve used this Evo X today, it’s worth mentioning, we don’t discriminate. If you’re into exotics, euros, or Australia’s home grown variety, we’ll ensure your car receives the same attention to detail, naturally.

To find out more about servicing your car with V-Sport, call us today on 02 9679 8644.