🛠️ Can You Service Your Car Late? What’s the Real Risk?
🛠️ Can You Service Your Car Late? What’s the Real Risk?
By Andrews Car Centre – Car Servicing Experts in Lincoln
Life gets busy. MOTs, insurance, work, school runs — and sometimes, your car service gets pushed back.
But how late is too late? And what happens if you delay a service by a few months or a few thousand miles?
At Andrews Car Centre in Lincoln, we often speak to drivers who’ve missed a service and want to know:
“Is it still worth doing now? Or have I left it too long?”
The good news: it’s rarely “too late.”
The bad news: servicing late can lead to preventable damage — and bigger bills down the line.
Here’s what you need to know.
⏱️ How Late Is Too Late for a Car Service?
Most vehicles need servicing every 12 months or 10,000–12,000 miles (whichever comes first).
Some newer models have long-life service schedules, but even those benefit from regular inspections.
Being a few weeks late is usually fine — but delaying by months or thousands of miles increases risk.
🔧 What Can Go Wrong If You Delay a Service?
We see a lot of problems in our workshop that could’ve been avoided with timely servicing:
1. Old Engine Oil Turns Sludgy
Oil degrades over time, even if you’re not driving much. It loses its ability to protect engine components, leading to wear and carbon build-up.
🛠️ We’ve stripped engines full of sticky sludge just from missed oil changes.
2. Filters Get Blocked or Overloaded
Air filters, oil filters and fuel filters all clog over time — reducing performance and fuel economy.
⚠️ Blocked filters can trigger warning lights or even cause misfires.
3. Brake Wear Goes Undetected
Servicing isn’t just about fluids — it’s also a chance to spot worn brake pads, low fluid, or sticking calipers before they fail.
🛑 We’ve seen drivers go straight into an MOT fail because they didn’t catch worn pads early.
4. Timing Belt or Wet Belt Issues
If your service includes a belt inspection (especially on wet-belt engines like Ford EcoBoost or PSA 1.2 PureTech), skipping it can lead to catastrophic failure.
💸 One missed check can become a £3,000+ engine rebuild.
5. Warranty or Service History Gaps
Late servicing can:
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Void certain parts of your manufacturer warranty
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Damage your car’s resale value
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Raise questions for future buyers or trade-ins
📉 Even a small gap in service history can cost you when selling the car.
✅ It’s Not Too Late — But Don’t Delay Further
If your car is overdue for a service, the best thing you can do is get it booked in ASAP.
At Andrews Car Centre in Lincoln, we offer:
✅ Full and interim servicing
✅ Manufacturer-spec oil and filters
✅ Digital or stamped service history
✅ Honest advice and transparent pricing
✅ Optional extras like brake checks, fluid flushes, and diagnostics
We work on petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric vehicles — all makes and models welcome.
📍 Book Your Car Service in Lincoln Today
Don’t let a late service turn into a major repair.
👉 Call us, book online, or pop into Andrews Car Centre on Dixon Street, Lincoln to get your service sorted.
✅ Flexible booking
✅ Same-day slots available (subject to availability)
✅ Courtesy car options available
🔍 Related Local Searches We Help With:
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Independent car service garage Lincoln