What Items Are Included in Basic Car Maintenance?

[Corey]

Basic maintenance refers to the replacement of maintenance parts and wear items such as engine oil, oil filter, air filter, fuel filter, brake fluid, coolant, power steering fluid, and spark plugs when the specified maintenance cycle or mileage is reached. The function of engine oil is to lubricate, cool, dampen shocks, and reduce wear in the engine. Changing the engine oil is the most fundamental car maintenance task. Engine oil is categorized into mineral oil, semi-synthetic oil, and fully synthetic oil. Mineral oil should be changed every 5,000 kilometers or 6 months; semi-synthetic oil typically requires replacement every 8,000-10,000 kilometers; while fully synthetic oil is generally changed every 10,000-12,000 kilometers. The three filters in a car refer to the oil filter, air filter, and cabin air filter. The oil filter is replaced every time the engine oil is changed, as its role is to filter out impurities from the oil. The air filter acts like a "mask" for the engine, filtering the air that enters it. The air filter should be replaced every year or 10,000 kilometers, depending on the driving environment. Similarly, the cabin air filter should be replaced every year or 10,000 kilometers, also adjustable based on the driving environment. Transmission fluid serves to lubricate the transmission and extend its service life. Transmission fluid is generally divided into manual transmission fluid and automatic transmission fluid. Manual transmission fluid is typically changed every 2 years or 60,000 kilometers, while automatic transmission fluid is usually replaced every 60,000-120,000 kilometers. Brake fluid is the fluid that needs maintenance in the braking system. Due to the structure of the car's braking system, brake fluid can absorb moisture over time, leading to reduced braking performance or brake failure. Therefore, it should be replaced promptly. Brake fluid is generally changed every 2 years or 40,000 kilometers.