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Derek Steen`s Auto Care take great pride in offering their clients personalised, and friendly service at all times. 
		
Conveniently located in Castlemaine, the business is a member of the Repco Auto Tech training program, ensuring their technicians are kept fully up to date with modern vehicle repair methods. 
		
Derek Steen`s Auto Care have a wealth of experience in servicing all makes and models, including commercial fleet vehicles. As a Repco Authorised Service centre, they have a commitment to high quality workmanship, ensuring the very best in automotive care.

Engines that operate through internal combustion rely on large amounts of clean air to ensure the fuel burns properly and generates the power needed to drive the vehicle. At Derek Steen's Auto Care in Castlemaine, we understand how vital it is to keep your car's air filter in good condition as part of protecting your engine's health. Your engine requires extremely clean air to function efficiently. Dirt, dust, and other particles entering the engine can cause serious damage. That’s where the air filter comes into play. It ensures the air entering the combustion chambers is clean, shielding key engine components such as the pistons and cylinders from wear and damage. Why Replace Your Air Filter? Save on Fuel Costs: Your engine requires the correct balance of fuel and air to run efficiently. A clogged air filter restricts airflow, causing your engine to run inefficiently – often referred to as ‘running rich.’ This not only puts additional stress on your engine but can also increase fuel consumption by up to 10%. No one likes spending more on petrol than necessary!   Protect Your Engine: Over time, air filters become clogged and weaker, increasing the risk of damage. A damaged or overly dirty air filter can allow harmful particles to enter the engine, potentially leading to expensive repairs.   Benefits of Replacing Your Air Filter: Extends the life of your engine Improves fuel efficiency Reduces vehicle emissions At Derek Steen's Auto Care, we always check the condition of your air filter during every full car service. Whether it’s a major or minor service, or one that follows your manufacturer’s handbook or logbook guidelines, you can trust us to keep your engine running smoothly.

Keep your engine healthy with clean air filters. Improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and extend engine life. Visit Derek Steen's Auto Care for expert maintenance and reliable car servicing.

Air Filters

Get ready to experience the thrill of the Supercars Gold Coast 500 - on us! Simply replace your car battery with a Repco battery at Repco Authorised Service and you could be heading to one of Australia’s most exciting motorsport events with your family. This is your chance to combine essential vehicle maintenance with an unforgettable holiday experience. What You Could Win One lucky winner will receive: Return flights for 2 adults and 2 children (if required) 3–4 nights accommodation 4 x General Admission Tickets to the Supercars Gold Coast 500 $500 spending money allowance Supercars merchandise pack Theme park tickets for 2 adults and 2 children Airport transfers (if required) From high-speed track action to theme park fun and beachside relaxation, this prize package delivers the ultimate family getaway. How to Enter Entering is easy: Have your car battery replaced with a Repco battery at Derek Steen's Auto Care between 1 June and 31 July 2026. Then, complete your entry online here. That’s it! You’ll be in the draw to win an incredible Gold Coast Supercars experience. Why Wait? A new battery keeps your vehicle reliable and ready for the road — and now it could also put you on track for an unforgettable family holiday. Book your battery replacement today at your Derek Steen's Auto Care and get your entry in before 31 July 2026. View full terms and conditions here. Don’t miss out - start your engines and enter today!

Enter for your chance to win a family trip to the Supercars Gold Coast 500! Replace your battery with Derek Steen's Auto Care between 1 June and 31 July 2026 to go in the draw.

Win a Family Gold Coast Experience

Here at Derek Steen's Auto Care, we would be more than happy to show you how to give your car a once over to make sure it is running safely and efficiently. Check out some of our tips! How to check your oil After consulting the owner's manual to follow the manufacturer's instructions, check to see if your car is equipped with an electronic oil monitor. If it does not have a traditional dipstick, move on to the next step.  Before checking the oil level, make sure the car is parked on level ground and that the engine is either cold (for most vehicles) or warm (if the automaker's directions specify so).  Once the engine is in the desired state, open the hood and locate the dipstick. Pull it out, clean off any oil on its end, and then re-insert it into its tube, pushing it all the way in. Remove the dipstick again and examine the oil level on both sides. Many dipsticks are marked with two pinholes, letters 'L' and 'H' (representing 'low' and 'high'), abbreviations MIN and MAX, or an area with crisscrossing lines. If the top of the oil streak is between the two indicators or in the crosshatched area, the oil level is appropriate. In case the oil is lower than the lowest marker, it is necessary to top up. Carefully examine the color of the oil - it should be either brown or black. However, if it appears to be milky, this may signify a coolant leak into the engine. Further inspection should be done to check for any metal particles that could point to internal engine damage. If either of these conditions are present, bring the car to Derek Steen's Auto Care for a proper diagnosis. To ensure your car is running smoothly, give the dipstick another clean and firmly seat it back into its tube before closing the hood. How to check your coolant levels It is important to make sure your engine is cooled off before beginning to inspect your car's cooling system. Wait at least a few hours after driving to remove the radiator cap, otherwise you may get sprayed with hot coolant and suffer from burns. You may find it useful to look in your owner's manual for more detailed instructions. The plastic overflow bottle connected to the cooling system will usually have low and high marks which will indicate if the engine has the correct amount of coolant. You will want the level to be somewhere between the two marks. The overflow bottle is connected to the radiator, usually with a brightly colored cap, and can be found at the front of the car. Lift the car's hood, ensuring it is properly secured, and then locate the coolant reservoir. Make sure that the water level is in between the minimum and maximum levels. If the level is too low, look in the owner's manual to find out the type of coolant that is needed for your vehicle, as well as the proper method for topping off the level. How to check brake fluid On the driver's side of the engine bay, the brake fluid reservoir is usually visible with a transparent casing and two distinct level markers - one for the low level, and one for the high level.  In order to ensure the brake fluid is sufficient, simply observe the current level and fill the reservoir to the appropriate level with the recommended fluid, if it is below the low marker. How to check power steering fluid Checking your power steering is straightforward: open the reservoir and assess the fluid level. Many caps come equipped with a dipstick, which makes it a cinch.  Note that the level is prone to shifting in relation to the car's temperature, and the indicator usually reveals a COLD or HOT range to guide you. Should the fluid be low, replenish it with the specified type.  Should you require any additional assistance, please feel free to consult the team at Derek Steen's Auto Care. How to check water levels Assessing the water levels in your car is an effortless task, yet it's vital to inspect the levels only when the engine is cold. To start, open the hood and ensure that it's locked. Then, identify the coolant tank and confirm that the water amount is between the maximum and minimum levels. If not, add the required quantity. If it's challenging to spot the tank, you can look up your vehicle manual or consult a professional for help. If you would rather have an expert examine the water levels, please drop by our Castlemaine shop or book an appointment online now. How to check your tyres Assessing the tread depth of your tyres is a breeze, requiring nothing more than a 20c piece. Place an Australian 20c coin into one of the central channels of the tyre to get a quick read on its tread depth. If the tread doesn't meet the top of the platypus' head, your tyre has a tread depth of less than 3mm. It's imperative that you purchase new tyres for safe driving. As the tread on your tyres wears down, they are less able to effectively disperse water. When the roads are wet, older tyres will cause your vehicle to take a longer time to come to a halt. Legally, you must change your tyres once the tread depth falls below 1.6mm, yet it is recommended that you maintain a tread depth of at least 3mm to guarantee tyre performance is not diminished in wet conditions. How to check your windscreen wipers When working correctly, your windshield wipers should remove rain from the glass with no water streaks. However, streaks are left when the blade does not touch the surface. Damage can come from chips of the road hitting the blades, as well as from general wear and tear. Over time, the blades can deform and not fit snugly against the windshield. To prevent this, examine the wiper blades for any sign of damage, misalignment, or deformation; if you notice any of these, it's time for a new set. Keeping on top of your services and checking your vehicle regularly helps prevent possible issues in the future.  If you're still a little unsure, come in and speak with Derek and the team! They would be happy to help you 😊

Here is some of Derek Steen's Auto Care's tips and tricks checking your vehicle.

Do you know how to check your car?

Repco Authorised Service is Australia's largest network of independent car service workshops and with that comes the reliability of a Nationwide Warranty. Each independently owned Repco Authorised Service workshop offers you an Australian-wide warranty ensuring the goods and services you receive are free from defects in materials and workmanship. This warranty is in addition to your rights under the Australian Consumer Law. If something does go wrong or you have a question about our Nationwide Warranty, please get in touch with us here. With over 500 Repco Authorised Service centres Australia wide, there are few places you won't find one of our workshops within easy reach. Warranty Period For services provided by any Repco Authorised Service workshop, the warranty is for a period of 12 months or 20,000kms (whichever comes first) from the date of your invoice. Claims If you need to make a claim under the warranty, please contact the Repco Authorised Service workshop that originally completed the work on your vehicle. The workshop where the work was originally performed will be responsible for responding to and accepting claims. If the original workshop can't help, they may authorise another workshop in the network to assist. Terms and Conditions What does the warranty cover? The Repco Authorised Service workshop will have the option of reperforming, replacing or repairing the good or service if it is or becomes defective during the warranty period, at no additional charge.
a.       Where the good or service is replaced, repaired or reperformed pursuant to this warranty, the replacement good or reperformed service will be subject to the terms of this warranty commencing on the date of the original invoice.
b.       If you request for a good to be repaired, your Repco Authorised Service workshop may choose to replace the good with a refurbished good of the same type. The warranty will cover any reasonable diagnosis or scanning fees conducted by the relevant Repco Authorised Service workshop, if such goods or services are later found to be defective. If the work done on your vehicle involves the supply of services from another service provider nominated by the Repco Authorised Service centre, the warranty offered by such service provider will replace this Nationwide Warranty to the extent of such goods .  The Repco Authorised Service centre will advise you of the terms and conditions of such warranty. The rights and obligations under this warranty remain solely with the original Repco Authorised Service workshop that provided you with the product or service. The benefit of this warranty is personal to you and is not transferable. What does the warranty not cover? This warranty does not cover: normal wear and tear and consumable goods such as globes, wipers, and fluids; loss of any data stored in your vehicle like music or phone numbers; and any incidental loss or damage caused by the defect, such as towing fees, loss of profits, loss of use and loss of goodwill or other loss or damage that cannot reasonably be considered to arise normally. This warranty is void if the defect is a consequence of misuse, neglect, abuse, incorrect operation or improper maintenance of the vehicle, accident, or other use that is not otherwise caused by a Repco Authorised Service workshop. How to submit a warranty claim Step 1: Have your original invoice ready. Step 2: Ensure that you make your claim within the warranty period. Step 3:  Please contact the Repco Authorised Service centre that carried out the relevant repairs or maintenance on your vehicle. Their contact details are on  your original invoice.  Your rights under the Australian Consumer Law The goods and services acquired from a Repco Authorised Service workshop comes with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law. For major failures with the service, you are entitled: to cancel your service contract with us; and to a refund for the unused portion, or to compensation for its reduced value. You are also entitled to choose a refund or replacement for major failures with goods. If a failure with the goods or a service does not amount to a major failure, you are entitled to have the failure rectified in a reasonable time. If this is not done, you are entitled to a refund for the goods and to cancel the contract for the service and obtain a refund of any unused portion. You are also entitled to be compensated for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage from a failure in the goods or service.

Enjoy peace of mind with the Repco Authorised Service Nationwide Warranty. Quality parts and labour covered at over 500 locations across Australia.

Nationwide Warranty

At Derek Steen's Auto Care, we provide specialised LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) service and repairs to keep your vehicle running safely, efficiently and economically. As your trusted Repco Authorised Service centre, our team is trained and equipped to maintain and repair LPG systems to the highest standards—helping you get the most out of your LPG-powered vehicle. Why LPG Vehicles Need Specialist Attention LPG systems operate differently from traditional petrol engines, meaning they require unique diagnostic processes, maintenance procedures and safety checks. Regular servicing not only keeps your vehicle performing at its best—it also ensures that your LPG system remains compliant with safety regulations. Common issues related to LPG vehicles can include: Hard starting or rough idling Backfiring or misfiring Excessive fuel consumption Reduced power Issues switching between LPG and petrol Our team can diagnose and fix these problems before they become costly or unsafe. Comprehensive LPG Services We Offer At Derek Steen's Auto Care, we provide a full range of LPG system care, including: LPG system inspections Tank condition assessments and certification checks LPG fuel line and regulator testing Vapouriser and converter servicing Leak testing and safety inspections LPG tuning and performance optimisation Repairs to electrical and switching components We use quality parts, industry-approved equipment and up-to-date diagnostic tools to ensure your system is performing reliably and safely. Trust Your LPG System to the Experts With years of mechanical experience and a strong commitment to quality workmanship, Derek Steen's Auto Care is your local go-to for LPG service and repairs. Whether you drive a dedicated LPG vehicle or a dual-fuel setup, our team can ensure it remains safe, efficient and ready for the road. Have more questions about LPG? How often should I service my LPG system? Most LPG systems should be serviced every 20,000 km or at least once a year. However, if you notice performance issues like rough running, backfiring or difficulty starting, it's best to book an inspection sooner. What happens during an LPG service? An LPG service includes a full inspection of the tank, fuel lines, regulator, converter, vapouriser and all connections. We also perform leak testing, pressure checks and tuning to ensure optimal performance and safety. Does my LPG tank need recertification? Yes. LPG tanks generally require inspection and recertification every 10 years. Our team can check your tank’s compliance date and advise you if it needs certification or replacement. Why is my vehicle backfiring on LPG? Backfiring can be caused by issues such as poor tuning, worn ignition components, vacuum leaks or a failing converter. We can diagnose the root cause and repair it to restore safe operation. Can you fix issues with switching between petrol and LPG? Yes. Switching faults are often related to electrical components, valves or blockage in the system. We can diagnose and repair switching issues for both dedicated and dual-fuel setups. Is LPG still a good choice for fuel savings? For many drivers, yes. LPG often provides lower operating costs, reduced emissions and less engine wear. Proper servicing ensures you maximise these benefits. Do you work on all LPG systems? We service and repair most LPG makes and models, including both factory-fitted and aftermarket conversions. If you're unsure about your vehicle, just give us a call.

At Derek Steen's Auto Care, we provide specialised LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) service and repairs to keep your vehicle running safely, efficiently and economically.

LPG Service and Repairs at Derek Steen's Auto Care

Cabin or Pollen filters are your invisible line of defence against allergens inside your car, working to filter out irritants that can trigger allergic reactions. At Derek Steen's Auto Care in Castlemaine, we recommend having your filters checked and replaced regularly to ensure a safer and more comfortable drive. Anyone who suffers from allergies knows that just because spring has passed, it doesn’t mean the discomfort has disappeared. While it’s well-known that spending time outdoors can expose you to allergens, fewer people realise that the air inside your car can be significantly more polluted than the air outside. It can contain harmful bacteria, dirt, pollen, fungi, and the unavoidable summer dust that often finds its way into our vehicles. These contaminants can enter the passenger cabin unfiltered through the vehicle's air intake system, potentially causing allergies, asthma, headaches, nausea, fatigue, or dizziness. Needless to say, none of these are ideal when trying to enjoy a drive or focus on the road ahead Thankfully, there are ways to mitigate these risks. One simple and effective measure is ensuring that your cabin air filter is in good condition. Most vehicles manufactured since the late 1990s come equipped with a cabin air filter. At Derek Steen's Auto Care in Castlemaine, we are proud to recommend and install high-quality Ryco Filters, which are designed to effectively trap pollutants and improve air quality inside your car. What many drivers don’t know is that a clogged or worn-out cabin air filter can also affect your car’s air conditioning system. When the filter becomes blocked with debris, it can reduce airflow, causing your air conditioning to work harder and possibly even consume more fuel. Replacing the filter not only enhances the air quality but also helps maintain the efficiency of your vehicle's ventilation system. For a clean, fresh, and more comfortable ride, visit us at our workshop and let our team ensure your cabin air filter is up to the task.

Reduce allergens, dust, and pollutants in your car with quality cabin air filters. Ensure a healthier, more comfortable drive while maintaining your vehicle’s air conditioning efficiency.

Derek Steen's Auto Care

Cars are our passion.

Air Filters

Win a Family Gold Coast Experience

Do you know how to check your car?

Nationwide Warranty

LPG Service and Repairs at Derek Steen's Auto Care

Air Filters and Allergies