Don't you wish there was one place that had everything you needed to know about car services, car care, and vehicle maintenance? We did too, which is why we've pulled together all the information you need to know about caring for your car's health and longevity.
Although we know many people use the terms car service, car care, and vehicle maintenance interchangeably, they're not the same. Below, we demystify, and fact check everything you need to know about keeping your car in good condition.
If you keep up-to-date with services, maintenance, and care, you will lower costs, lengthen the lifespan of your vehicle, and increase your resale value.
Car services are annual check-ups that keep your car running smoothly and are essential to maintaining its warranty. We recommend contacting the experts, or your car dealer when you plan to service your vehicle.
Here, we will explain why car dealers care so much about services, why your car needs a service, what happens during a service and more. Why don't you start by scheduling a service reminder?
Your first service should occur at 15 000 km or once a year (whichever comes first), then every 15 000 km or once a year (again, whichever comes first) after that. Suzuki Boosterjet engines are slightly different in that – because they have a turbo booster, the services should be at intervals of 10 000 km or one year, whichever comes first
Yes, you get different types of services (basic, full, and major). The type of service depends on your car's age or kilometres on the clock. All our service options will include the following:
Full- and major services may also include the following:
Remember to book your car's service at your closest Suzuki dealership.
If you're getting your car serviced, we recommend that you have the questions in our checklist above ready to ask. It not only indicates that you're interested in what happens, but it also builds a good relationship with the person working on your car.
Additionally, it's good to ask these if you're unsure of whether you can trust the quality of your service:
If there are any terms that your mechanic is using that confuse you, you can consult our car maintenance jargon glossary to help you.
Understanding the difference between a maintenance plan, a service plan, and a warranty is vital to any car owner. Knowing what you've selected and what that covers is important to your car's (and wallet's) longevity.
We've summarised the most important differences below for you. But, we always encourage an owner to contact their dealer and ask them to explain exactly how your car is covered.
Warranty |
A warranty is the manufacturer’s promise that the machine they’re selling you won’t give you problems, and they’ll cover it if it does. |
Service plan |
A service plan pays for your car’s services - the labour and standard parts. However, it doesn’t include the cost of defective parts or wear and tear on parts like the clutch, brake pads, and so on. |
Maintenance plan |
This covers what your service plan doesn’t: wear and tear. |
Every vehicle owner should have a repertoire of essential car-care tips and tricks to maintain and clean their car. From knowing how to clean your vehicle correctly, which cloth to use when polishing your car's body, and tricks on how to avoid unnecessary spills or stains on the interior… Everyone has something to learn.
Caring for your car: Stock up and make your Suzuki shine
Once you have stocked up on car care goodies, you're ready to make your Suzuki shine, inside and out.
According to Rentokil Initial, several dirt hotspots need special attention in cars when you're spring cleaning. Next time you're giving your vehicle a scrub, make sure you don't forget to spray and wipe the following areas with an antibacterial cleanser:
If anything is ever feeling a bit too much, never fear. Your dealer is just around the corner, and they will help you if you're uncertain about a problem or have a question about your vehicle.
While we all expect our cars to never let us down, sometimes we encounter a few hiccups. In those moments, we're often tempted to fix the issues ourselves to avoid any additional costs by taking it to a dealership.
While this can sometimes work out well for the driver, it usually doesn't. We don't recommend DIY for anything other than the most basic car care (unless you have expert knowledge of how your car is made).
Sometimes it's difficult deciding what's an excellent issue to DIY, and what shouldn't even be considered to fix at home, though. That's why we've outlined the most vital components of your car below that need expert attention should any issue arise: Don't DIY problems with these parts!
Even in light of these recommendations for diagnosing your car, we will always recommend that you visit your local dealership first.
This is because we know that our Suzuki service team has undergone approved training and that all of our dealerships operate under strict quality controls. An alternative mechanic might offer a good deal but may not provide the same quality or experience.
Building and maintaining a relationship with your regular dealer is an integral part of car maintenance. You need to trust the dealer working on your car, and you also want to be able to ask any question and have it answered timeously and accurately.
It's important to keep up regular communications with your local service centre. Get to know the mechanics and staff working on your vehicle, and ask the questions that you're dying to know the answers to.
Questions left unanswered are usually those left unasked. The more effort you put into getting to know your dealer, the more effort they'll put into getting to know your car. The question still circling in your mind is, "When do I need a dealer?"
Increasing the lifespan of your car is easier than you think because you can reduce wear and tear with regular vehicle maintenance. Simple strategies like avoiding aggressive driving, rapid acceleration, sudden stops or abrupt turns, will see your car living a long and healthy life.
That being said, some parts of your vehicle will need to be replaced more frequently than others:
Image Source: Goodyear
Thus if you measure it, 60% of 205mm = 123mm. Low profile tyres have smaller aspect ratio percentages. Low profile tyres offer greater traction than a conventional type of tyre.
Load Index | 81 | 82 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 90 | 92 | 95 | 96 |
Max Load /Tyre kg | 462 | 475 | 515 | 530 | 545 | 560 | 600 | 630 | 690 | 710 |
Speed Symbol | N | P | Q | R | S | T | H | V | W | Y |
Max Speed | 140 | 150 | 160 | 170 | 180 | 190 | 210 | 240 | 270 | 300 |
Did you know that fuel can impact your car's performance? The right fuel helps to lubricate your engine, but the wrong fuel can cause knocking (that gunfire effect many old cars have).
How does petrol work?
Petrol is your car's fuel — its food if you will. Just as you eat to produce energy, your vehicle uses petrol to be able to move. It does this by creating a series of small, controlled explosions which generate the power to propel your car forward, transporting you from point A to point B. We call this internal combustion.
Which petrol is better for your car?
Which Petrol is Better for Your Car?
The petrol you choose to use should depend on both your vehicle (each vehicle has a recommended fuel type) and where you'll be driving it. In theory, you get better mileage and fuel economy from a higher octane fuel (i.e. 95 octane).
In the highveld (like in Johannesburg), you have approximately 20% less atmospheric pressure than at the coast. This makes it harder for fuel to ignite (meaning that you generally need a lower octane fuel, like 93 octane, which would likely cause knocking in coastal areas).
At Suzuki, we advise drivers that 95 octane fuel may not offer a significant boost in performance, but it does help to keep your engine clean from carbon deposits, which enhances the lifespan of your car. To better understand your Suzuki engine and which fuel it likes, take our Know Your Engine quiz.
There are a lot of cautionary myths around car oil and for a good reason. Oil, being the lifeblood of your engine, essentially separates your engine from a large repair bill. Without oil, an engine wouldn't be able to run for longer than a few minutes. The reason for this is because oils help your car's engine with:
The four main types of engine oil
There are many different types of oils. Some are used for high-tech engines, others for new cars, and still others for high-mileage cars or heavy-duty SUVs. But, the best bet is your car manufacturer's recommendation, as they know your car best (you'll find their recommendation for oil type in the owner's manual). The four main types of engine oil are:
Whether you're planning a road trip soon, or you just like to be prepared for your next family holiday, we have compiled the ultimate road trip checklist for you. It has all the questions you need to ask yourself about your car to ensure you are ready to hit the road and arrive safely.
Download our checklist for your next family road trip.
"One of the many benefits of owning a Suzuki vehicle is a comprehensive Suzuki Roadside Assistance plan that incorporates around-the-clock roadside emergency assistance."
Life has a nasty habit of springing unwelcome surprises on car owners (often when you're least equipped to deal with them!). This is why we developed our Roadside Assistance services. Suzuki Roadside Assistance opens more than 900 cases a year, which might seem like a lot. Yet, it accounts for only 1% of our Suzuki car parc.
The primary objective of this service is to get you back on the road immediately, and we manage to do that 95% of the time. The package offers drivers a wide range of services, such as the following:
Struggling to figure out what a dealership or repairer is quoting you for? Look no further. We've compiled a list of frequently used terms to help you.
We spoke to the car finance experts at Wesbank, to see if they had any insider tips to help motorists make an informed decision about their car finance.
Unless you’re familiar with the ins and outs of car finance, it’s hard to tell whether you’re dealing with old wives’
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Buying a new car is exciting - but it can also be very confusing if you’re not sure what to expect. There’s loads of myths and misinformation around buying a car and unless you’re a well-seasoned buyer these can get in the way of you getting the best possible deal.
There are many things that you might have heard about petrol stations. These may vary from when you should fill up to whether you should use your phone while waiting to fill up. How do you separate the fact from the fiction?
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