Car maintenance milestones by km and time

Items that need to be replaced and periodically maintained according to the number of kilometers for cars are a job to ensure the car has high durability, always operates stably, ensures human safety, and minimizes accidents. damage machine parts and increase engine life, ensuring durability for vehicle operation.

However, it should be noted that each manufacturer has its own specific requirements. So don’t forget to refer to the user manual that comes with the vehicle for more information. 

Each different car company will have different regulations on when to maintain new car engines. However, the first maintenance level will range from 3,000km to 5,000km, equivalent to 3 – 6 months of using the car from the time the car is first operated. For first-time car maintenance , car owners should take the car to a repair center instead of doing maintenance themselves. This is the prerequisite step for the long-term operation of the car, so car owners should not be subjective.

Maintain new car engines after 3,000 – 5,000km

Usually we will periodically maintain our cars every 3000 km – 5000 km or 3-6 months of use. However, experts still recommend maintenance for newly purchased vehicles at approximately 3,000 km or 3-4 months of domestic use. Thus, the car engine will receive the best care during the first period… 

The work you need to do for each periodic maintenance is to change the engine oil, clean the engine air filter and air conditioner filter. Normally you do not need to change engine oil every 5000 km, unless the vehicle frequently operates in harsh conditions. But after the first 5000 km, you should change the oil because it may contain metal debris. After that you can change it every 10,000 km. In addition, if you are more careful, you should ask technicians to check the level of brake fluid, transmission oil, coolant, glass washer fluid, etc. and add more if there is a shortage. 

Change oil and oil filter system every 5,000 – 10,000km

During this second oil change, you should also change the oil filter. The oil filter is responsible for retaining dirt, helping the engine to be lubricated with clean oil and always operate well. Experts recommend that it is best to change the oil filter at the same time as changing the oil, which is every 10,000 km. In addition, at this time you should also rotate your tires if necessary, and then continue to rotate your tires every 10,000 km. 

In particular, for vehicles that operate about 20 – 30km a day with the condition that the engine oil is continuously heated, this timeline is quite accurate. On the contrary, for cars that only move less than 20km a day, the oil should be changed sooner. The reason is that the less the car operates, the more oil will be left behind. Over time, it can clot, causing a negative impact on the engine, so it is necessary to change the oil sooner than cars that operate a lot. 

Whether it is a newly purchased car or a car that has been used for a long time, regular oil changes are essential to ensure the vehicle’s durability. When changing engine oil, car owners should carefully ask a car maintenance expert about the type of oil suitable for the car model they are using so that the oil can bring the best possible results.

See more: Common car errors and how to check and handle them

Replace engine air filter after 30,000 – 40,000 km

In principle, the air filter has the effect of bringing clean air into the combustion chamber to help increase ignition efficiency, thereby ensuring smooth operation of the engine. In case the air filter is dirty due to dust accumulation for a long time, the amount of air entering the engine compartment will be reduced, thereby causing the car to feel rough or consume more fuel than usual.

After every 30,000 km, the engine air filter and air conditioner filter will become dirty and clogged, affecting the engine’s performance and your health. You need to replace the engine air filter and air conditioning filter periodically after 30,000 km to keep the engine running smoothly and save more fuel while helping the air conditioning system work well and protect your health.

According to the usual recommendations of car manufacturers, customers should change the air filter every 30,000 – 40,000 km of use. However, this factor will depend on each person’s usage process. Therefore, every time you go for regular maintenance, if you see that the air filter is too dirty, car users should replace it immediately to ensure everything operates smoothly.

Replace spark plugs after 40,000km

Responsible for engine ignition, spark plugs are parts that wear out quickly on cars because they are often affected by electric sparks. If not replaced promptly, car users will encounter frustrating situations such as difficulty starting or stalling the engine.

Therefore, according to normal standards, car users need to replace spark plugs every 30,000 – 40,000 km of use. In addition, there are many different types of spark plugs on the market that offer different lifespans. For example, Iridium will need to be replaced after 10,000 km, while Platinum will need to be replaced after 40,000 km.

Procedures for checking, maintaining, and repairing car air conditioners

Maintain electric power steering system every 50,000km

If your vehicle has an electric power steering system, we must also ensure that it is maintained as well as other engine systems. Typically, power steering systems are operated hydraulically. Therefore, at around 50,000 km or a certain maintenance period, you should clean and change the water if necessary to increase the life and safety of your car. 

Change manual transmission oil every 50,000 km

Manual transmission oil is often provided separately by car manufacturers due to the complexity of its structure and how to mix many different types of oil. Therefore, when changing transmission oil every 50,000 km, you should take it to the dealer to change the appropriate type of oil; Or use an alternative premium oil if recommended by the company. Because of the importance of the gearbox, when paying attention to the time and distance traveled, you will have the best preparations to help old cars have a longer “life span”.

Change automatic transmission oil every 50,000 – 100,000km

With the eyes of experts, the advice for customers is to change automatic transmission oil every 70,000 – 80,000km under normal driving conditions. In harsh driving conditions, you should change the oil sooner at about 50,000 – 70,000km… These numbers do not convert to usage time; Some cars may need to be changed every 5-6 years if driven for a certain distance, but there are also some cars that need to change automatic transmission oil about 10 years if not driven regularly.

Check the transmission belt after 70,000 – 100,000km

The transmission belt, also known as the timing belt, plays the role of coordinating the operation of external and internal engine parts such as valves and pistons. Therefore, it is essential to regularly check to ensure that the drive belt is always in perfect working condition.

Transmission belts should be replaced between 70,000 – 100,000km. Regularly check the transmission system to see if the belt is cracked or broken to promptly replace it. Weather like some central provinces is hot and sunny, it is unavoidable for belts to quickly dry and break. Apply lubricating oil to keep the transmission system from drying out.

Clean and replace engine coolant after 100,000km

After a long period of work, engine coolant will deteriorate, causing sludge and affecting the vehicle’s cooling system. You need to flush the radiator and replace all coolant periodically every 100,000 km to ensure the cooling system always works best and the engine does not overheat while working. This is also the time you consider replacing parts such as spark plugs, brake pads… if necessary. 

Change car brake fluid every 2 years on average

The brake system is the part that is subjected to the most force and thermodynamic impacts, so checking for corrosion and performance should be done regularly and periodically. Brake fluid should be replaced every 2 years to ensure that the brakes always work well and ensure stable handling when there are unexpected situations on the road. So during regular car maintenance you should pay attention to timely replacement.

Clean the cooling system every 3 years

The cooling system should be checked for leaks and performance at the intervals stated by the vehicle manufacturer and should be cleaned every 2-3 years. The cooling system after 2 – 3 years will release a toxic substance that can corrode the exhaust pipes. Therefore, you should clean the cooling system to protect the battery as well as improve the performance of the vehicle’s cooling system.

Check your car regularly

In addition to periodic inspection items, there are also parts and systems on the vehicle that you need to check regularly or check every time you use the vehicle to ensure the vehicle is always in the best condition. Parts that need to be checked regularly include: Brake system, steering system, suspension system, lighting system, dashboard warning lights, tires, battery, check the condition of shock absorbers (forks), springs, rubber,..

Check the warning lights on the dashboard: When you turn on the engine switch, all the warning lights must light up, then after 30-60 seconds, the lights will turn off slowly depending on which system’s lights and when you start the engine. machine, all these warning lights must be turned off. If any system’s indicator light is still on, it means that the system on your vehicle has a problem. 

See more at: Car Care Vip