How many kilometers does a car need a major maintenance?
4 Answers
Generally, when a vehicle reaches 30,000 kilometers, it requires a major maintenance, which includes replacing components such as engine oil and oil filter, air filter, fuel filter, power steering fluid, and spark plugs. Below is relevant information about car maintenance: 1. Maintenance intervals: The first maintenance for a car is typically at 5,000 kilometers or six months, and the second maintenance is usually at 10,000 kilometers or one year. 2. Maintenance content: For the first maintenance, special attention must be paid to core components, such as the engine, transmission, drivetrain, and chassis.
As an experienced driver, I can tell you that you shouldn't rigidly follow mileage for major maintenance. For regular commuter cars, the first major maintenance at 40,000-60,000 km is appropriate, but vehicles frequently driven at high speeds may need transmission fluid checks as early as 30,000 km. I remember last time when I drove a Japanese car on mountain roads, the differential oil had turned black when changing brake pads at 40,000 km. Modern cars have smart reminders now, but it's best to develop a habit of checking chassis rubber bushings every six months - rubber components age more deceptively than odometers.
My colleague just had his Golf serviced, with spark plugs and transmission fluid replaced at just 30,000 km, while I didn't do these for my Fit until 60,000 km. The key is understanding your car's temperament! Turbocharged vehicles generally require more frequent maintenance than naturally aspirated ones – like my neighbor's Civic that gets turbo pressure checked at every service. For those who mainly drive short distances, don't assume low mileage means you can relax; engine carbon buildup can be much worse than in long-distance vehicles. While oil life monitoring systems are useful, never overlook hidden items like power steering fluid.
There are three key aspects to understand about major maintenance: the manual's requirements are the baseline, actual road conditions are variables, and component lifespan is the red line. City commuter cars typically require a full fluid change at 50,000 kilometers, but off-road enthusiasts might need to replace transfer case oil as early as 30,000 kilometers. Last week at the repair shop, I saw a car with only 20,000 kilometers on it, yet its coolant had rusted to a reddish color—turns out the owner hadn't opened the radiator cap in three years. While electric power steering cars are worry-free, wear on the motor's carbon brushes remains a potential hazard.
