What Does Routine Car Maintenance Include?

[DeParker]

Routine car maintenance mainly includes the replacement of engine oil and oil filter, air filter, fuel filter, and pollen filter, as well as the maintenance and replacement of spark plugs, transmission oil, and other related system inspection items. Engine oil and oil filter are arguably the most basic yet crucial components in maintenance, being mandatory replacements during every service. The replacement of engine oil and oil filter primarily serves the lubrication system's maintenance, whose main function is to effectively lubricate various parts of the car's engine to prevent excessive wear. The air filter's role is to filter the air before it enters the cylinder, removing impurities, dust, sand particles, and other foreign objects carried within.

[StMatthew]

I've been driving for almost twenty years, and I know the ins and outs of car maintenance. The most basic routine maintenance is changing the engine oil and oil filter—it's like a blood dialysis for the car. Fully synthetic oil is recommended to be changed every 8,000 to 10,000 kilometers. The air filter also needs replacement, especially in northern areas with heavy sand and dust—it should be checked every time, or the engine will feel like it's wearing a mask and struggling to breathe. I pay the most attention to tire pressure, checking it myself every month. Before long trips, I also inspect the wear and check for stones stuck in the tread. If the tread wears down to the warning blocks, it's time for new tires. The braking system requires special attention—mechanics will remove the brake pads to measure their thickness, and when changing the brake fluid, they might find air bubbles trapped in the lines, which can affect braking. Light checks are often overlooked, but if a brake light is out, you might not even notice it while reversing. Have someone step on the brake while you check from behind the car. I always keep coolant and windshield washer fluid in my trunk, and a freezing point tester is super handy—it only costs about ten bucks.

[VanFelix]

We female car owners pay more attention to maintenance details, especially those related to health. I replace the cabin air filter every season—spring brings so much willow catkin that it's overwhelming. When the filter gets clogged with fluff, turning on the AC makes me sneeze, but replacing it myself takes just five minutes. Many people overlook interior cleaning, but I disinfect the AC ducts every six months; otherwise, the vents blow out a musty smell, which is awful. The buttons on the dashboard need to be checked one by one by a technician—last time, the wipers malfunctioned and nearly caused an accident. Some 4S shops now use an endoscope to inspect engine carbon buildup, which is as intuitive as a gastroscopy. I apply silicone oil to the rubber seals on the car body; otherwise, they age and whistle from wind leaks at high speeds. Electronic systems require even more attention—last time, after a system update, the steering wheel became heavier, and it turned out to be a false alarm from the tire pressure monitoring system causing the assist system to act up.

[DiLandon]

As a car enthusiast, I know maintenance holds hidden tricks. Don't randomly choose oil viscosity - Japanese cars use 0W-20 like sipping sake, while German cars use 5W-40 like chugging thick soup, with the grade printed inside the oil cap. Watching mechanics remove underbody panels is most interesting, revealing many issues - driveshaft leaks resembling oil-dripping fritters, or ball joints rattling when loose. When changing spark plugs, observe the cylinder ports - heavy carbon buildup like soot means frequent short trips. Transmission fluid changes are easiest to get scammed on - gravity draining only replaces 30% of fluid, while machine flushing does it thoroughly but costs double. I use an OBD scanner to read fault codes beforehand, then directly ask mechanics to check specific modules at the shop, saving hundreds in diagnostic fees.