Is a Major Maintenance at 40,000 Kilometers Necessary?

[DiEthan]

It is highly necessary to perform a major maintenance for your car at 40,000 kilometers, as it is crucial for the normal operation of the vehicle and should not be overlooked. More relevant information is as follows: 1. Major maintenance builds upon minor maintenance, and in addition to changing the engine oil, oil filter, air filter, and cabin air filter, it also requires replacing the fuel filter and the vehicle's brake fluid. The fuel filter's role is to provide clean fuel to the engine by filtering out water and impurities from the gasoline. This optimizes engine performance and provides protection for the engine. For automatic transmission models, transmission fluid may also need to be replaced, and for rear-wheel-drive models, differential fluid may also require replacement. 2. The car's battery should generally be replaced every two years. Typically, a vehicle will have traveled around 40,000 kilometers in two years, or even if it hasn't reached that mileage, the battery should be checked for any power loss.

[LaneLee]

I've been driving for over 20 years, and the 40,000 km major maintenance is absolutely not something you can skip. A car is just like a person needing regular check-ups—at this milestone, you need a comprehensive inspection of the chassis suspension components and the engine's carbon buildup. Last time, my friend's Hyundai skipped the 40,000 km service, and when the engine started making strange noises, they opened it up to find it full of sludge. You also have to change the brake fluid; otherwise, excessive water content can affect braking distance. The transmission fluid also reaches its service interval by then—don’t wait until gear shifts become jerky to regret it. Pay special attention to tire wear, as misaligned wheel alignment data can lead to uneven tire wear. This money is well spent—catching problems early is always better than breaking down on the road.

[MacAlejandro]

As an office worker, I think this expense depends on the car's condition. Japanese cars might just need a simple replacement of the three filters, while German cars require spark plugs and transmission fluid changes as per the manual. If you know a bit about cars, you can remove the spark plugs to check the electrode gap before deciding whether to replace them. Measure the remaining thickness of the brake pads; no need to rush if it's above 5mm. Use a tester to check the freezing point of the coolant—no need to change if it meets the standard. However, engine oil and oil filters must be replaced. Don't listen to those who say you can change oil every 15,000 km; turbocharged cars can't handle that. If the air filter can still be used after blowing it out, saving a hundred or so bucks is fine.

[BradleyRose]

Last year, I just went through the 40,000-kilometer maintenance, and the most surprising discovery was the loose steering tie rod ball joint. The mechanic said if it wasn't replaced, the steering would start to deviate, so I had it replaced immediately. It's recommended to have the repair shop remove the wheels to check the bearings—if there's a humming noise at high speeds, it's most likely the issue. The gasoline filter was due for a replacement, and when the fuel tank was removed, half a cup of impurities was poured out. The brake discs needed their flatness measured—my car had worn grooves and required resurfacing. The most commonly overlooked parts are the door hinges and sunroof tracks; spraying some lubricant can prevent strange noises. The whole set of services cost around a thousand bucks, but it's much more economical than repairing the transmission at 50,000 kilometers.

[EvaFitz]

Discussed in the car enthusiast group, focus on three key points: the brake system needs bleeding and fluid replacement, as moisture content definitely exceeds standards after 2 years; inspect belts for cracks, as a broken belt may cause valve damage; all vehicle fluids must be replaced, especially automatic transmission fluid. Some shops might try to upsell you on throttle body cleaning, but actually, just removing the intake pipe for a quick look is enough—no need to clean if it's not dirty. I choose to bring my own full synthetic oil, saving over 200 yuan. Replacing the cabin air filter takes just five minutes yourself, and buying online costs only a few dozen yuan. However, a wheel alignment is absolutely necessary—incorrect data can wear out tires in just two months.