How Often Should a New Car Undergo Minor Maintenance?
3 Answers
New cars should undergo minor maintenance approximately every 7,000 kilometers. Car maintenance refers to the preventive work of regularly inspecting, cleaning, replenishing, lubricating, adjusting, or replacing certain parts of the car, also known as car servicing. The purpose of car maintenance is to keep the vehicle clean, maintain normal technical conditions, eliminate potential hazards, prevent faults, slow down the deterioration process, and extend the service life. Generally, car maintenance can be divided into major maintenance and minor maintenance. Major maintenance, compared to minor maintenance, involves not only changing the engine oil but also replacing the three filters and spark plugs, among other things. The three filters refer to the air filter, oil filter, and fuel filter, which are used to filter impurities. They respectively function to filter dust from the air, sludge and carbon deposits from the engine oil, and impurities from the fuel.
New car minor maintenance is generally recommended every 5,000 to 10,000 kilometers or every six months, depending on your vehicle model and usage habits. When I bought my car, I studied the manual carefully. For someone like me who often drives short distances in the city, the mileage may be low but the oil still deteriorates over time, so I get it changed every six months. Spending a little money on oil and filter changes is much better than regretting it after the car develops problems. Long-term lack of maintenance accelerates engine wear, and replacing a new engine later would be extremely expensive, not to mention the impact on driving safety. Also, don't forget the climate factor - in cold regions, winter oil viscosity changes significantly, so more frequent changes are advisable to keep the car running smoothly.
As a seasoned driver with ten years of experience, I believe the interval for minor maintenance mainly depends on mileage and road conditions. If you don't drive much on highways daily, like me who takes a break after every 100 kilometers, you might drive less than 10,000 kilometers a year. In that case, getting maintenance every six months or 5,000 kilometers saves time. But if you frequently drive in congested areas, like during rush hours, the engine bears heavier loads and collects more dust, making the oil filter dirty faster. To be safe, get it done within 5,000 kilometers. Remember, changing the engine oil is crucial—it removes carbon deposits, protects parts, and extends the car's lifespan. Neglecting it can lead to increased noise and higher fuel consumption. I've seen a friend save a few hundred bucks only to spend thousands later on transmission repairs. Weather changes add to the trouble too—high temperatures cause fluids to evaporate faster, so frequent checks are always a good idea.
