How Many Kilometers Before a Car Needs an Overhaul?
3 Answers
A major maintenance service is required when a car reaches 30,000 kilometers, involving the replacement of components such as engine oil, oil filter, air filter, fuel filter, power steering fluid, and spark plugs. Introduction to Car Overhaul: A car overhaul refers to a restorative repair process for a new car or a previously overhauled car after it has been driven a certain mileage or time. Through inspection, diagnosis, and technical evaluation, the vehicle's technical performance is fully or nearly fully restored by repairing or replacing car parts. Technical Evaluation for Car Overhaul: When a car's mileage approaches the overhaul limit, a technical evaluation is conducted to determine whether an overhaul is necessary. If the car is deemed still usable, a specified additional mileage may be permitted before another evaluation. Regular technical evaluations can prevent premature or delayed overhauls. The decision to overhaul should be based on the technical condition of the majority of the car's assemblies. If most assemblies are in good condition, only the severely worn ones may need overhauling.
I've been driving for over 20 years and found there's no universal answer to this issue. My old Volkswagen didn't need an engine overhaul until 180,000 km, while my neighbor's Japanese car is still running fine at 250,000 km. The timing for major repairs really depends on how you use the vehicle - cars frequently driven on mountain roads will naturally wear faster than city commuters. Regular maintenance can delay major overhauls; change the engine oil every 5,000 km and don't delay spark plug replacement beyond 80,000 km. Pay special attention to newer turbocharged models - prolonged traffic congestion can cause carbon buildup. A friend's car suffered cylinder scoring at just 120,000 km. If you hear metallic knocking sounds from the engine, get it checked immediately regardless of mileage.
As an average car owner, I feel that 100,000 to 150,000 kilometers is a critical milestone. My family's SUV started burning oil at 130,000 km, and the mechanic said it needed a major engine overhaul. But it really depends on luck – my colleague's identical model is still running fine at 180,000 km. Routine maintenance is crucial: changing the air filter every 10,000 km and coolant every two years can significantly reduce engine strain. Once I forgot to change the transmission fluid, and the transmission required major repairs just after 100,000 km. I recommend getting full vehicle inspections on schedule, and don't neglect the brake system – failures there can be far more dangerous than engine overhauls.
