The brief
Mr Woo brought his A6 in for its regular service. The odometer reading is just a number when a car has been looked after, and a service is how it stays that way, refreshing the wear items on schedule so nothing creeps up between visits. The engine oil and filter take the brunt of keeping the engine clean and protected, and they wear out with heat and miles, so they go on schedule, and on a higher-mileage car that's even more important. The air filter and cabin filter fill up with dirt. And the parts a basic oil change never touches, the brakes, the suspension, the tyres, the belts and the fluids, are the ones worth eyes on every time, because a worn pad or a weeping hose caught now is a small job, and the same fault caught when it fails is not.
The diagnosis
On the ramp the A6 got the full going-over: oil and filter due, the air and cabin filters checked, the brake pads and discs measured, the suspension and steering checked for play, the tyres checked for wear and pressure, the belts and hoses looked over, and the fluid levels and condition checked, brake fluid, coolant, power steering, washer. Nothing was failing, the wear items were simply due, which is what a regular service is for. So it was the standard service schedule: oil and filters, fluids, a full inspection, and a clean bill of health.
The work
The engine oil was drained and refilled with the correct Audi-spec oil and a new oil filter, the air filter and cabin filter renewed, and the fluid levels checked and topped to spec. The brakes were inspected and measured, the suspension and steering checked for play, the tyres rotated and set to pressure, the belts and hoses looked over, the lights and wipers checked, and the service indicator reset. A road test confirmed a clean start, smooth running, steady braking, and no warning lights.
The outcome
Fresh oil and filters, fluids topped, brakes and suspension checked and sound, tyres set right, the service light reset, and a clean health check. The A6 went home serviced and good to go. A car that gets a proper service on schedule stays strong long past the point where a neglected one starts costing money, which is the whole point of keeping up with it.
