Is Car Maintenance Necessary?
2 Answers
Maintenance is essential. Cars are consumable items, and all consumables require maintenance. Car maintenance includes major services, minor services, routine maintenance, and other items. Some of these are mandatory. Engine oil and all other vehicle fluids must be replaced on schedule because fluids have expiration dates—after which their performance declines and may even have adverse effects. The fluids include: brake fluid, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, coolant, and windshield washer fluid. Windshield washer fluid can usually be topped up by the owner or added by staff during maintenance, car washes, or refueling. For vehicles used in southern China, replacement is generally unnecessary; simply refill when low. For vehicles in northern regions, if there is still plenty of washer fluid when winter approaches, it should all be used up and replaced with an antifreeze type. First maintenance interval: Requirements vary by region—some recommend 3,000 kilometers, others 4,000 kilometers, but Tuanche Jun suggests not exceeding 5,000 kilometers for the first service.
Let me tell you, cars need regular check-ups just like people. Veteran taxi drivers with eight years of experience know this well—even if you only drive a few dozen kilometers daily, you should obediently change the engine oil every 5,000 kilometers. Why? Because metal parts inside the engine rub against each other, and over time, the oil becomes full of metal shavings, just like toxins building up in human blood. Last week, I saw a buddy who tried to save trouble by not changing his transmission fluid for three years. The result? Gear shifts were as jerky as a rollercoaster ride, and he ended up spending over 8,000 yuan on major repairs. Tires demand even more attention. Last summer, out of ten high-speed tire blowout accidents, seven were caused by worn-out treads.
