What are the items for a car's first maintenance?

[MacKingston]

Car first maintenance items include changing the engine oil and replacing the oil filter, followed by a comprehensive inspection of the vehicle, commonly referred to as a minor service. A major service refers to the routine maintenance performed at the time or mileage specified by the manufacturer, which includes replacing the engine oil, oil filter, air filter, and fuel filter. Car maintenance, also known as vehicle servicing, involves regular preventive work such as inspecting, cleaning, replenishing, lubricating, adjusting, or replacing certain parts of the car. Car maintenance primarily includes servicing the engine system, transmission system, air conditioning system, etc., with the aim of keeping the vehicle clean, ensuring normal technical conditions, eliminating potential hazards, preventing faults, and extending the service life.

[ElijahFitz]

I remember when I first bought my car, the dealership directly notified me to come in for the first oil and filter change. The mechanic said that during the break-in period, the new engine would produce fine metal shavings, so it was necessary to flush them out with specialized oil. Besides this core service, they also checked my tire pressure—new cars are shipped with very high tire pressure, so it needed to be adjusted to the normal level. All the chassis bolts were retightened as well, since the new car might have loosened after bumpy transportation. They even topped up the windshield washer fluid and coolant for free, and ran a computer scan to check for any fault codes. Oh, and they applied grease to the door hinges—a detail I later realized really helps reduce squeaks. After the first service, the throttle even felt more responsive. I’d recommend not exceeding the mileage before getting it done.

[VanJuliette]

The first maintenance service is far more than just an oil change. When I took my car in for its first service, the work order listed over 20 items: draining the factory-fill break-in oil, replacing it with full synthetic oil, and installing a new oil filter. The car was lifted on a hoist for chassis inspection, where the mechanic went over all suspension bolts with a torque wrench. They picked out stones from tire treads, rotated tire positions, measured brake pad thickness, and even applied anti-oxidation paste to battery terminals. What surprised me most was their use of a diagnostic tool to reset the transmission adaptation values. The entire process took about 40 minutes, and they even washed the car afterward. I recommend bringing your maintenance manual, as some procedures require official stamps to maintain warranty coverage.

[PeytonLynn]

Last month, I took my brand-new car for its first maintenance service and found the items quite basic but crucial. The must-do tasks included an oil and oil filter change, as the new engine needed a 'bath.' The 4S technician also used a flashlight to inspect all the vehicle lights, including the easily overlooked license plate lights. The windshield washer nozzle angle was adjusted—it was spraying too high before, wasting washer fluid. Special attention was given to the brake fluid reservoir level, as new cars might experience some fluid consumption. The most practical part was the complimentary four-wheel alignment check, as the technician mentioned new suspensions need time to settle. Finally, the mechanic covered the steering wheel and seats with plastic bags before the test drive, which impressed me with their professionalism. I recommend owners observe the entire process to learn valuable car maintenance tips.

[DeFaith]

A new car owner just completed the first maintenance and shares: The core items are just three—draining the old engine oil, replacing it with new oil, and updating the oil filter. However, the 4S dealership performs over 30 additional preventive checks: including scanning the vehicle's computer for fault codes, resetting the tire pressure monitoring system, cleaning the willow catkins off the surface of the air conditioning filter, and even using an endoscope to inspect engine carbon buildup. The technician also taught me how to read the oil dipstick markings and reminded me of the next maintenance mileage. Although the entire process was free, it's important to carefully review the items on the service checklist before signing—mine included a 'free top-up of coolant to the standard level' as a hidden service.

[MacClaire]

As a seasoned driver who has experienced the first maintenance of five cars, I've summarized the must-do five-item checklist: 1) Change engine oil and filter, 2) Tighten chassis suspension bolts, 3) Inspect vehicle circuit fuses, 4) Test cooling system sealing, and 5) Calibrate onboard computer data flow. During the first maintenance of my current car, the technician specifically demonstrated how to reset the oil life reminder—just press the center console button three times. They also took out the air filter and blew dust off it with an air gun, which wasn't required by the manual but was very thoughtful. A reminder for new car owners: some brands require self-payment for replacing the oil drain plug gasket during first maintenance—this small part costs only about ten yuan, don't be fooled into expensive unnecessary services.