When you’re busy and have a lot in your diary, booking your Range Rover in for a service can feel like an extra task on your to-do list that is a nice-to-have rather than a necessity. 

If that’s how you feel then you’re certainly not alone, with a survey from the RAC discovering that over one-quarter of UK drivers (27 per cent) see booking their vehicles in for a service as a hassle. 

However, having your Range Rover serviced regularly is one of the best ways to keep it in top condition and ensure that any issues are caught early and fixed before they cause more serious damage to your engine. 

Among the most common problems a service will catch with Range Rover and Land Rover engines are:

Leaking coolant: As the name suggests, coolant is important for preventing your engine from overheating. As with oil leaks, often a coolant leak will arise due to natural wear and tear on various parts in the engine – normally from worn seals or gaskets.

Oil leaks: these can occur due to natural wear and tear on a number of seals within your engine. Over time, the rubber that the seals are made out of hardens and cracks, which is how oil can seep out. A regular service will spot any seals that are damaged or reaching the end of their life, enabling you to replace them promptly.

Timing chain issues: Range Rover engines typically feature timing chains that connect the crankshaft to the camshaft. In other vehicles, a cambelt is more commonly used.

Timing chains, like those used in Range Rover engines, are made of metal rather than rubber. This gives them greater longevity, but can lead to specific problems of their own, such as a stretched timing chain.

Rattling while your engine is idling is a telltale sign that there could be an issue with your timing chain. 

If you notice this, take your vehicle to a specialist who can assess the issue and help you find the best solution.