How Long Does a Regular Car Maintenance Take?
4 Answers
Car minor maintenance typically takes 30 to 40 minutes, while major maintenance requires 2 to 3 hours. Before maintenance, you can make a phone reservation in advance to avoid long waiting times. Here is more information about car maintenance: 1. Car maintenance mainly includes the maintenance of the engine system, transmission system, air conditioning system, etc., aiming to keep the car clean, maintain normal technical conditions, eliminate hidden dangers, prevent failures, and extend the service life. 2. Minor maintenance generally refers to the routine maintenance items performed at the manufacturer's specified time or mileage after the car has traveled a certain distance to ensure vehicle performance, mainly including oil and oil filter replacement. 3. Major maintenance refers to the routine maintenance performed at the manufacturer's specified time or mileage, which includes replacing the oil, oil filter, air filter, and fuel filter.
As someone who commutes by car daily, I need to get my vehicle serviced every 5,000 miles or so, which works out to roughly every six months. Since I drive a regular sedan, the manufacturer's manual recommends this interval, mainly for oil changes and checking brake pads and tires. I've noticed that with frequent stop-and-go city driving, the maintenance cycle needs to be shortened a bit; otherwise, carbon buildup in the engine can lead to reduced power. On the other hand, more highway driving allows for longer intervals between services. Seasonal changes also make a big difference—for example, getting a more thorough check-up before winter helps avoid coolant issues. Overall, developing a regular maintenance routine is crucial. I usually set a phone reminder to ensure I don't miss the schedule and run into problems.
I think maintenance really depends on personal driving habits. As an enthusiast who modifies cars, I know high-performance vehicles like turbocharged models may need servicing every 3,000 to 4,000 miles, with more frequent oil and filter changes. For regular family cars using synthetic oil, you can stretch it to 7,500 to 10,000 miles per service. But don't just focus on mileage - timing matters too. Even if you haven't driven enough miles, you should go for maintenance after six months because rubber components and fluids degrade over time, and prolonged vehicle inactivity makes it worse. Plus, since I often drive on mountain roads where tires wear faster, I always have the suspension and safety systems checked during maintenance. This helps prevent unexpected breakdowns and saves money on major repairs.
Maintenance intervals are directly related to driving safety. I've been driving for decades and always stick to servicing every six months or 5,000 miles. Otherwise, issues like brake system aging leading to brake failure or transmission making strange noises can be extremely dangerous. Especially for older vehicles, more frequent maintenance is crucial. My neighbor delayed maintenance for over half a year, and their car nearly caught fire due to leaking air conditioning fluid. A reminder: the basic recommendations in the manual are the baseline, but in harsh conditions like rainy seasons or frequent muddy roads, the interval should be shortened. Have a technician conduct a thorough inspection to prevent minor issues from becoming accident hazards.
