Can the first maintenance be done in advance?
3 Answers
The first maintenance can be done in advance. The essential inspections and replacements to be completed during the first maintenance include: 1. Changing the engine oil and oil filter, and cleaning the air filter; 2. Checking whether the coolant level of the car is in a normal state; 3. Inspecting the car's brakes and whether there are any scratches on the chassis components; 4. Checking if the power steering fluid level is normal and whether there are any oil leaks at the oil pipe connections; 5. Examining the condition of the generator, air conditioning, water pump, and the aging and tension of the belts; 6. Inspecting the tire pressure and wear condition, and performing tire rotation if there is wear. The first maintenance of a car is called break-in maintenance or running-in maintenance, and the mileage for break-in maintenance varies from 3,000 kilometers to 5,000 kilometers depending on the car model.
When I bought my first car, I was so nervous that I thought the first maintenance should be done in advance to protect the engine. So I went to the 4S shop, but they told me that the time marked in the manual was calculated based on the characteristics of the oil, and doing it in advance would just waste money. The factory-installed oil is designed for the break-in period. If you change it too early, the chemical additives in the new oil might go to waste. There's a reason why car manufacturers recommend the first maintenance after 5,000 or 8,000 kilometers. Later, as I drove more, I realized that unless the driving environment is particularly harsh—like always driving in dusty construction sites—or there's an issue with the car when it leaves the factory, there's no need to do it early. Just stick to the schedule. Don’t overthink it; it’s better to save the money for gas or other maintenance needs.
As a regular homemaker managing two family cars, I have to budget carefully. I've looked into the first maintenance service a lot, and while technically it can be done early, I really don't think it's necessary. My husband's new car has only been driven for three months, and he's worried about doing the first service ahead of schedule. But the mechanic said the oil and parts haven't fully broken in yet, and changing them prematurely would actually put more strain on the engine. The money saved could buy our child a new outfit. If we're really going to do it, unless there are strange noises or a sudden increase in fuel consumption indicating a problem, then we might consider an early visit to the 4S shop for maintenance. Usually, paying more attention to tire pressure and cleanliness is much better than messing around with early first maintenance.
