Is it better to maintain a car based on time or mileage?
3 Answers
Car maintenance is better based on mileage. Depending on the actual usage of the vehicle, whichever comes first between time and mileage should be chosen. Below are specific details about mileage-based car maintenance: 1. Maintenance based on mileage is a measurement method recognized by most car owners, but the premise is that the vehicle's working environment is relatively friendly. 2. Even if the vehicle has reached the maintenance time limit, if the mileage hasn't been reached, maintenance is not necessary. However, the opposite is not true, and maintenance must be performed according to the time limit. Additional information: The maintenance cycle of a car engine depends on the type of oil used in the vehicle. There are three types of oil: full synthetic, semi-synthetic, and mineral oil. Full synthetic oil should be changed every 10,000 kilometers or once a year; semi-synthetic oil should be changed every 7,500 kilometers or every 7 to 8 months; mineral oil should be changed every 5,000 kilometers or every 6 months.
I used to think that sticking to the mileage-based maintenance schedule was all it took, but later I realized it's not that simple. Car engine oil is like food with an expiration date—it deteriorates and loses effectiveness if left unused for too long, even if you've only driven 3,000 kilometers in a year. But if you're constantly on long-distance trips and rack up over 10,000 kilometers in just two months, you should service your car even earlier. My experience is that both factors matter, and the maintenance manual is the most reliable guide—last month, when I changed the oil as per the manual's recommended interval, the oil had already turned black upon inspection. Always pay attention to dashboard alerts and don't wait until the mileage threshold is met to think about maintenance. The money spent on upkeep shouldn't be skimped on—one engine repair can cost as much as a decade's worth of maintenance fees.
I remember being really torn about this issue when I bought my first car. Later, an auto mechanic told me that urban commuters should pay more attention to time intervals. For someone like me who drives just 20 minutes to work each day, I might not hit 5,000 km in six months, but brake fluid absorbs moisture and deteriorates if not changed every two years, and tires can age and crack even if unused for three years. However, my ride-hailing friend must watch the odometer closely, needing oil changes every three months. The safest approach is to follow whichever manufacturer-recommended standard comes first for maintenance. Last time I went for my six-month service, the mechanic spotted a coolant leak and fixed it promptly, preventing a major repair.
