Will exceeding the 5,000-kilometer maintenance interval affect the car?

[SanLeilani]

Occasionally exceeding the 5,000-kilometer maintenance interval by a small margin is generally not a problem. However, as the mileage increases over time, the viscosity of the engine oil decreases, leading to reduced lubricity, which can affect the wear and tear of engine components. It's important not to exceed the interval by too much. Vehicle maintenance frequency: Generally, the maintenance cycle for a car is every 5,000 or 10,000 kilometers. The frequency of maintenance depends on the effective time or mileage of the engine oil and oil filter used in your vehicle. Different brands and grades of mineral oil, semi-synthetic oil, and fully synthetic oil have varying effective periods. Properly scheduling your car's maintenance will help keep the vehicle in good working condition.

[EmmaFitz]

Engine oil is like the blood of a car. Going over 5,000 km without an oil change is really tough. I've seen many cases where cars were ruined due to overdue maintenance. Full synthetic oil can still handle around 7,000 km, but the cheapest mineral oil loses its effectiveness and becomes as thin as water. The oil filter gets clogged like a sieve, and the engine wears out like it's taking a sand bath. The worst part is when the dealership says your warranty is void, and repairing the engine can cost half the price of a new car. Last time, my neighbor's SUV had a seized engine after exceeding 6,000 km, and the repair bill went straight to five figures. Remember, in cities with heavy traffic, it's best to change the oil 1,000 km earlier, as frequent engine start-stop cycles are much more damaging than highway driving.

[GrantLee]

It depends on what oil you're using. My friend who's run an auto repair shop for 20 years says they frequently see cars overdue for maintenance by thousands of kilometers coming in for major repairs. Full synthetic oil can theoretically last up to 12,000 km, but dealership semi-synthetic oil triggers warnings after exceeding 5,000 km. Metal shavings and sludge caking the oil pan, camshafts worn with grooves - these are common occurrences. City commuter cars have it worse, with average speeds of 30 km/h effectively doubling engine workload. Remember, the oil life monitor isn't decorative - lubrication performance plummets when it drops below 20%. Last week, a Corolla with just 3,000 km over the interval had its check engine light on - the engine was full of congealed sludge when opened up.

[EmilyDella]

As a seasoned driver, I remind you: Checking the dipstick is the most practical. I check the oil level every two weeks, and the oil becomes noticeably thinner and darker after exceeding the service interval. When the oil viscosity drops from the new oil's 5W-30 to nearly 10W-20, the engine rattles loudly during cold starts. There's a reason why the maintenance light is designed conservatively—manufacturers have tested the oil degradation curve. German cars allow a maximum of 1,000 kilometers over the interval, while Japanese car sensors can be three times less sensitive. I've tested mineral oil after exceeding 3,000 kilometers, and the iron particle content surged by 17 times. Cars that frequently drive on highways might only damage the catalytic converter, but those often driven short distances are prone to low-temperature sludge formation.