How to Maintain a Car with 150,000 Kilometers?
4 Answers
Check and replenish fuel, lubricants, and cleaning agents. Clean the interior and exterior of the vehicle, as well as the engine and chassis. Check the oil levels in the generator, transmission, rear axle, and steering gear. Add lubricating oil as required, ensuring all lubrication points are fully equipped and effectively serviced according to regulations. Inspect the connection and fastening conditions of the steering gear, tie rods, drag links, and steering arms.
When my car had just hit 150,000 kilometers, I specifically consulted a familiar master mechanic. At this mileage, the most critical things to check are the rubber components and fluids: the timing belt must be inspected for cracks, as a broken one would require a major engine overhaul; all vehicle fluids, including engine oil, transmission fluid, and brake fluid, need to be replaced, especially for automatic transmission cars—delayed transmission fluid changes can cause jerking. The chassis bushings should also be thoroughly inspected; if the control arm bushings are cracked, you'll hear a clunk when going over speed bumps. The mechanic pointed out a torn CV boot on my driveshaft with the lift, saying that sand getting in could ruin the universal joint in just six months. Finally, he advised me to pay special attention to the engine sound during cold starts—excessive valve clearance causing a ticking noise means it’s time for adjustment, before the valve seats get damaged and require repair.
My old car just passed 150,000 kilometers last year, and the repair shop provided an extremely useful checklist during maintenance. Tires need tread depth measurement - replacement is mandatory if below 1.6mm, and my original tires already showed sidewall cracking at this point. Brake discs require replacement when thickness reduces to 5mm, and mine had deep grooves worn on the edges when removed. Spark plugs with electrode gaps exceeding 1mm will cause fuel consumption to spike dramatically - I upgraded to iridium ones that can last 50,000km longer. The biggest surprise was discovering collapsed engine mount cushions, which explained the recent steering wheel vibrations. They also used a borescope to inspect cylinder carbon buildup and recommended walnut shell blasting for the next service.
Recently helped a friend deal with his 150,000-kilometer Magotan, and discovered several easily overlooked issues: the gasoline filter hadn't been changed for two years, causing acceleration hesitation—replacing it made an immediate difference; the original coolant in the radiator had long lost its effectiveness, with a freezing point test showing it would freeze at just -5°C; when changing the transmission fluid, the mechanic dug out the oil pan magnet, which was covered in metal shavings. The chassis components require even closer inspection: uneven steering wheel resistance left and right was due to excessive play in the steering gear tie rod ball joint; a strange noise when cornering led to the discovery of cracked rear axle bushings. It's advisable to bring a flashlight and personally inspect all the vehicle's oil lines for leaks—I found oil stains near the turbocharger.
