Can You Still Drive a Car When It Reaches the Maintenance Mileage?
4 Answers
You can still drive a car when it reaches the maintenance mileage, but there may be safety risks, so timely maintenance is recommended. Car maintenance intervals: The maintenance interval for motor vehicles is typically at 5,000 kilometers or 10,000 kilometers. Different brands of motor vehicles have varying maintenance intervals. When performing vehicle maintenance, it is necessary to refer to the maintenance items listed in the owner's manual and the specific usage conditions of the vehicle to determine the appropriate maintenance tasks. Car maintenance items: Maintenance items include engine maintenance, transmission system maintenance, air conditioning system maintenance, cooling system maintenance, fuel system maintenance, and power steering system maintenance. The purpose of maintenance is to extend the lifespan of the motor vehicle. In addition to regular maintenance, it is also important to periodically inspect the chassis and tires of the vehicle.
Just helped my cousin with this issue last week. Exceeding the maintenance mileage won't immediately disable the car, but the lubricity of the engine oil will plummet. Especially for turbocharged vehicles - you can hear valve ticking after just half an hour of highway driving. The worst case I've seen was my neighbor who went over 3,000 km without an oil change, and the engine seized completely. Short-distance driving to the dealership is possible, but keep speed below 20 km/h. Remember to turn off the AC first to reduce load - if the oil light comes on, you must pull over immediately. Calling a tow truck is much cheaper than engine repairs.
The maintenance light came on when my old Regal had already driven 1,700 km. The key is to check the engine oil condition: pull out the dipstick and drip some oil onto a tissue. If the oil is chocolate-colored and still sticky, you can drive up to 200 km in an emergency. If it's black and watery, you must call for roadside assistance. If the tire wear exceeds the warning line, avoid highways. Braking distance increases threefold in rainy conditions. Last year, a client insisted on driving to Tibet, only to end up with an 8,000-yuan transmission overhaul—a classic case of penny-wise and pound-foolish.
As a workshop manager, I often advise car owners not to take chances. If you exceed the warranty period without changing the oil in a new car, the engine warranty will be voided directly. It's even more critical for older cars, especially German models with over 100,000 kilometers. Sludge clogging the oil passages is no joke. Have you seen the tragedy of a BMW N20 engine's timing chain skipping teeth? That's caused by driving beyond the warranty period. If it's an emergency, please switch to manual mode and keep the RPM low. Don't exceed 40 mph on city roads, and replace it with full synthetic oil immediately upon arrival.
