What is the optimal interval for a major car maintenance?
3 Answers
Major car maintenance is typically recommended every 3 years or 60,000 kilometers, but the exact interval should be determined by referring to the vehicle's user manual. A major maintenance involves servicing all items listed in the manual. Details of major car maintenance: Major car maintenance includes servicing the engine, transmission, chassis, body accessories, and electronic components. For the engine, in addition to changing the oil and oil filter, it involves inspecting components such as the fuel system, oil pan, valves, seals, and spark plugs. Any signs of excessive wear or aging should prompt replacement. Chassis major maintenance primarily covers three major parts: the suspension, front and rear axles, and braking system. It involves inspecting hardware to ensure there is no wear or other damage, then reinforcing and realigning all hardware, as well as adding or replacing shock absorber fluid, brake fluid, and lubricants. Body accessory maintenance includes checking for issues such as looseness in tires, fenders, hood, dashboard, seat belt components, seats, and foot pedals, as well as aging or broken connectors and misalignment. Important notes for major maintenance: During major maintenance, owners should pay attention to the condition of vehicle fluids, such as brake fluid, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, and shock absorber fluid. If these fluids were replaced not long before the major maintenance, it is important to communicate this to the service advisor.
After driving for so many years, I've found that the interval for major maintenance shouldn't be a one-size-fits-all approach. It's generally recommended to perform it every 40,000 to 60,000 kilometers or every two years, but this really depends on your specific usage. For me, since I mainly commute in the city, I usually go by the mileage, replacing the transmission fluid and brake fluid when I hit around 50,000 kilometers. If you frequently drive on highways or carry heavy loads, you might need to do it as early as 30,000 kilometers. Last time, because my SUV was often driven on mountain roads, I had to change the differential oil earlier. Don't just focus on time or mileage alone; it's most reliable to have the mechanic check the condition of the chassis components and belts during each maintenance.
Last week, while helping my neighbor check his old car, I noticed the AC wasn’t cooling properly, which reminded me it’s time for a major service. A major service isn’t a ticking time bomb—there’s no need to rigidly stick to fixed intervals. Take our two cars for example: the Fit went five years before its first major service because it wasn’t driven much, while the MPV used for hauling goods required a full service after just two years. My advice is to base the schedule on usage intensity: lightly used cars can go 50,000 km or 4 years between major services, while heavily loaded vehicles should shorten that to 30,000 km. Focus on inspecting the cooling system, fuel filter, and various fluids—these often-overlooked parts have the biggest impact on longevity.
