How often should a new car undergo its first maintenance?

[WillowDella]

New cars should undergo their first maintenance after driving 5,000 kilometers or 6 months, whichever comes first. The first maintenance for a new car includes: 1. Changing the engine oil and oil filter, and cleaning the air filter; 2. Checking whether the car's coolant level is normal; 3. Inspecting the car's brakes and undercarriage components for any scratches; 4. Checking whether the power steering fluid level is normal and if there are any oil leaks at the pipe connections; 5. Examining the condition of the generator, air conditioning, water pump, and belts for aging and tension; 6. Checking the tire pressure and wear condition, and performing tire rotation if there is wear.

[Bob]

My first car had its first service strictly according to the manual. The salesperson said it needed to be done at 5,000 kilometers. That day, I made an appointment with the 4S shop in advance. While waiting in line, I chatted with an experienced mechanic and learned that new engines have a lot of metal debris, and the first service is mainly to replace the oil containing these impurities. Delaying it too long could cause these debris to wear down the cylinder walls. Looking back now, I'm really glad I went on time—otherwise, the money saved on maintenance might have cost several times more in engine repairs. Each car model has different requirements; some German cars may urge service at 3,000 kilometers, while Japanese cars might go up to 8,000 kilometers. The key is to check your own maintenance manual.

[LenaFitz]

Don't rigidly memorize numbers for the first maintenance—it depends on how you use your car. My cousin commutes daily on highways and reached 5,000 km in three months, so he changed the oil as usual. My colleague lives downtown and drove only 3,000 km in six months, but the 4S shop said engine oil oxidizes and deteriorates after opening, so it must be changed even if half a year passes. The manufacturer's recommendation of whichever comes first—time or mileage—makes sense. Besides oil and filter changes, the first maintenance includes a full vehicle checkup, even retorquing wheel bolts. The key point is that the free first maintenance for new cars expires if unused—don’t waste this benefit.

[Lloyd]

The break-in oil installed in new cars from the factory has low viscosity to allow engine components to quickly wear in. If not changed beyond the manufacturer's recommended 6 months or 5,000 km, the lubrication effectiveness plummets. Last week, a new car in our neighborhood suffered cylinder scoring—turns out the owner delayed the first service by nine months. First maintenance policies vary greatly by brand: luxury brands often recommend 10,000 km, while domestic vehicles typically require service within 3-6 months. Remember to clean out personal items from your car before maintenance—last time, all the receipts in my glove compartment got ruined by engine oil.