Some car maintenance mistakes in Ecublens go unnoticed day to day but gradually damage your vehicle — until they cause an expensive breakdown. Garage RR, your specialist in car servicing and repair in Ecublens, reveals the 5 most common mistakes made by drivers in the western Lausanne area, and how to avoid them.
Mistake no. 1 — Ignoring dashboard warning lights
A warning light is never trivial, even if it doesn’t seem to affect driving. Putting off a check after an engine, battery or oil pressure light comes on can turn a small problem into a major breakdown.
- Good practice: have your vehicle checked as soon as a warning light appears, rather than waiting for things to get worse.
Mistake no. 2 — Putting off the oil change and engine servicing
Many drivers put off their oil change by a few months or a few thousand kilometres, thinking they are saving time. In reality, degraded oil wears the engine prematurely and can lead to repairs far more expensive than a regular oil change.
- Good practice: follow the oil change intervals recommended by the manufacturer — usually between 10,000 and 15,000 km depending on the type of engine.
Mistake no. 3 — Driving with incorrectly inflated tyres
Incorrect tyre pressure damages your vehicle in several ways: uneven wear of the tyres, higher fuel consumption and poorer road holding. Many drivers never check their tyre pressure between two inspections.
- Good practice: check your tyre pressure at least once a month, when the tyres are cold, following the recommendations shown in the driver’s door.
Mistake no. 4 — Overlooking repeated short trips
Very short trips — under 5 km — prevent the engine from reaching its optimal operating temperature. Repeated often, they clog up the engine and exhaust system and speed up wear on the battery.
- Good practice: combine short trips where possible, and take a longer drive from time to time so the engine can warm up properly.
Mistake no. 5 — Constantly postponing preventive maintenance
Postponing service appointments for lack of time or to save money in the short term is the most common mistake — and the most expensive in the long run. A poorly maintained vehicle wears out its mechanical and electronic components prematurely, and may fail the official vehicle inspection.
- Good practice: schedule regular servicing with a professional, even if your vehicle shows no obvious symptoms.
Avoid these mistakes with regular servicing at Garage RR Ecublens
At Garage RR, your car servicing and repair garage in Ecublens, we help you prevent these common mistakes with regular care for your vehicle — oil changes, tyre checks, electronic diagnostics and inspection preparation included.
We work on all makes for drivers from Ecublens, Lausanne, Renens, Crissier, Saint-Sulpice and the whole western Lausanne area.
