Many vehicle owners are still confused about when to perform minor servicing and when to perform major servicing. However, understanding the difference between the two can help you maintain your car's performance and avoid the risk of sudden breakdowns on the road.

Every car manufacturer actually provides routine maintenance guidelines based on the vehicle's mileage. If you regularly follow these recommendations, your vehicle's lifespan can be extended, and your wallet won't be drained by unexpected repairs.

Minor Service: Quick, Affordable, but Important

A minor service is routine maintenance typically performed every 5,000–10,000 km. The duration of the service is relatively short, taking about 1–3 hours. The cost is also much more affordable compared to a major service.

What is checked during light maintenance?

• Change engine oil & oil filter
• Inspect and clean the air filter
• Check coolant and power steering fluid levels
• Check tire pressure and condition
• Inspect the braking system
• Check the electrical system (lights, battery, horn)
• Adjust the fan belt and timing belt
• Check the windshield wipers, spray nozzles, and exhaust system

Although it may seem trivial, a minor service plays an important role in maintaining fuel efficiency, driving comfort, and preventing more significant damage in the future.

Major Service: More Expensive, But Makes the Car Engine Last Longer

Unlike a minor service, a major service is performed at longer intervals—approximately every 40,000–50,000 km or every two years. The process is more complex and time-consuming, sometimes taking up to three working days.

Major service is typically performed when engine performance begins to decline, unusual noises occur, fuel consumption increases, or gear shifting feels heavy. These signs should not be ignored!

What does a major service include?

• Disassemble the engine to inspect valves, pistons, and cylinders 
• Replace the timing belt, water pump, and clean the fuel injectors 
• Replace spark plugs, spark plug wires, or ignition coils 
• Clean the throttle body and MAF sensor 
• Replace brake pads, inspect the parking brake, and replace the brake rotors 
• Flush the radiator and cooling system
• Inspect the transmission system and replace transmission fluid
• Replace the clutch (manual transmission) and inspect the flywheel
• Perform electrical diagnostics using a scanner

It’s not cheap, but it’s an important step to prevent catastrophic damage that could force you to replace the engine or transmission—and that’s much more expensive.

The bottom line: Don’t be lazy about maintaining your car

Regularly performing minor and major maintenance is a long-term investment for your vehicle. Don’t wait until the engine stalls or the car breaks down on the road before taking it to the shop.

Always check the vehicle manual or consult with an authorized mechanic to determine the best time for maintenance. Let’s start maintaining your car now to ensure comfort and safety on every journey!

Indonesia 🇮🇩

Ini Bedanya Servis Ringan dan Servis Besar

Masih banyak pemilik kendaraan yang bingung kapan waktunya servis ringan dan kapan harus melakukan servis besar. Padahal, memahami perbedaan keduanya bisa bantu kamu menjaga performa mobil tetap prima dan terhindar dari risiko mogok mendadak di jalan.

Setiap pabrikan mobil sebenarnya sudah memberikan panduan servis rutin berdasarkan jarak tempuh kendaraan. Nah, kalau kamu rutin melakukan perawatan sesuai rekomendasi, usia kendaraan bisa lebih panjang dan dompet kamu pun nggak terkuras gara-gara perbaikan dadakan.

Servis Ringan: Cepat, Murah, Tapi Penting

Servis ringan adalah perawatan rutin yang biasanya dilakukan setiap 5.000 – 10.000 km. Durasi pengerjaannya juga relatif singkat, sekitar 1–3 jam saja. Biayanya pun jauh lebih terjangkau dibandingkan servis besar.

Apa saja yang dicek saat servis ringan?

• Ganti oli mesin & filter oli
• Periksa dan bersihkan filter udara
• Cek level cairan pendingin & power steering
• Cek tekanan dan kondisi ban
• Pemeriksaan sistem rem
• Cek sistem kelistrikan (lampu, aki, klakson)
• Penyesuaian fan belt & timing belt
• Cek wiper, nosel semprot, hingga sistem pembuangan

Meski kedengarannya sepele, servis ringan berperan penting untuk menjaga efisiensi bahan bakar, kenyamanan berkendara, dan mencegah kerusakan yang lebih besar di kemudian hari.

Servis Besar: Lebih Mahal, Tapi Bikin Mesin Mobil Lebih Tahan Lama

Berbeda dengan servis ringan, servis besar dilakukan dalam interval lebih panjang—sekitar setiap 40.000 – 50.000 km atau dua tahun sekali. Prosesnya lebih kompleks dan memakan waktu, bahkan bisa sampai tiga hari kerja.

Biasanya servis besar dilakukan saat performa mesin mulai menurun, muncul suara aneh, bahan bakar makin boros, atau perpindahan gigi terasa berat. Tanda-tanda itu jangan diabaikan!

Apa saja yang termasuk servis besar?

• Bongkar mesin untuk cek katup, piston, hingga silinder
• Ganti timing belt, water pump, dan bersihkan injektor
• Ganti busi, kabel busi, atau koil pengapian
• Bersihkan throttle body & sensor MAF
• Ganti kampas rem, cek rem tangan, hingga ganti piringan
• Flushing radiator & sistem pendingin
• Periksa sistem transmisi & ganti oli transmisi
• Ganti kopling (transmisi manual) dan periksa flywheel
• Diagnostik kelistrikan pakai scanner

Memang biayanya nggak murah, tapi ini langkah penting untuk mencegah kerusakan fatal yang bisa bikin kamu harus ganti mesin atau transmisi—dan itu jauh lebih mahal.

Intinya, Jangan Malas Rawat Mobil

Melakukan servis ringan dan besar secara rutin adalah investasi jangka panjang buat mobil kamu. Jangan tunggu mesin ngadat atau mobil mogok di tengah jalan baru ke bengkel.

Selalu cek buku panduan kendaraan atau konsultasikan dengan mekanik bengkel resmi buat tahu kapan waktu terbaik melakukan servis. Yuk, rawat mobil dari sekarang agar tetap nyaman dan aman di setiap perjalanan!