What does the third car maintenance include?

[MaverickRose]

Generally speaking, during the third car maintenance, spark plugs, engine oil, and three filters (oil filter, cabin air filter, and engine air filter) should be replaced. Depending on the vehicle condition and requirements of different maintenance shops or 4S stores, there may be some variations in the third maintenance items. Below is a partial introduction about car maintenance: First maintenance: The first maintenance is relatively simple, mainly involving a comprehensive inspection of the vehicle after the break-in period, including brakes, tires, etc., to ensure it remains in good condition. Second maintenance: The main content of the second maintenance is replacing the engine oil and oil filter, and adding windshield washer fluid, antifreeze, etc.

[Arlene]

During my third maintenance, I specifically asked the mechanic to check the air filter and cabin air filter in addition to the basic oil and oil filter change. After driving for half a year since the last service, the air filter was completely covered with poplar catkins and dust. The cabin air filter was even worse—just a light shake made half a handful of sand fall out. The mechanic also tested the brake fluid moisture content for free and said that exceeding 3% could affect braking distance. The spark plugs were removed to check the electrode color, and the mechanic mentioned that my driving habits were good and they could last another 5,000 kilometers. Finally, a tire cross-rotation was done, and now the steering wheel doesn’t shake at high speeds. Remember to keep the maintenance receipt—it’ll be useful for warranty claims later.

[VonGabriel]

The third maintenance is crucial for detecting potential issues. During the service of my car, which had run 15,000 kilometers, it was found that the underbody guard was dented by a rock. The mechanic used a flashlight to inspect the CV boot and mentioned slight signs of oil seepage, advising me to keep an eye on it. The brake pads still had 7mm left, but the right front caliper guide pin was found to be rusty and was lubricated. The washer fluid reservoir connector was loose and was tightened for free—had I not noticed, it could have leaked completely. The most surprising find was oxidation on the battery terminals; the mechanic rinsed off the white foam with hot water and applied Vaseline. Don’t fall for those cleaning services; instead, focus on having the mechanic thoroughly check the aging of underbody components and rubber parts.

[VonBeau]

Proactively request specific items for the third maintenance. I asked the technician to focus on rainy season-related checks: Used an air gun to clear three leaves from the sunroof drainage holes, and unclogged mud chunks from door panel drainage holes with an iron wire hook. Brake discs measured 22mm remaining with vernier calipers (minimum limit is 19mm). Here's a tip: Place tape on the oil filler cap before maintenance - if the technician doesn't remove the adhesive residue after oil change, it means fresh oil wasn't added. The wiper arm spring tension measured with a dynamometer - replace if below 9N. Finally, remember to do wheel dynamic balancing. The technician found my front left wheel needed 35g counterweight - no wonder it vibrated at 120 km/h.