Just as experienced police officers can spot a pickpocket on a bus at a glance,“pickpockets”, seasoned repair shop staff can also tell whether you’re a novice from your words and actions. Mr. Liu has owned his car for a year and takes good care of it, but he knows very little about vehicles.
His car7500was asked by the repair shop to replace the three filters, spark plugs, and undergo an engine cleaning during its kilometer maintenance, costing over nine hundred yuan. His friend Xiao Wu, who knows about car repairs, told him he had been duped.
For a car like Mr. Liu’s, during7500kilometer maintenance, including material and labor costs, it should cost around300yuan, but the repair shop tricked him into replacing a lot of unnecessary items and performing unneeded maintenance. Car components such as engine oil, brake fluid, and spark plugs all need regular replacement, but each part and fluid has its own lifespan. By understanding the lifespans of the most commonly deceptive car parts and fluids, we can better guard against unnecessary servicing.
Don’t rush to replace:“The three filters”Replacement has its deadlines
Xiao Wu explained that during every routine car maintenance, the oil filter must be replaced. However, if you mostly drive in areas that are not very dusty, the air filter can generally last for2ten thousand kilometers, and only needs cleaning at7500kilometers. The lifespan of the fuel filter depends on the type of fuel used. If you consistently refuel at certified gas stations and haven’t experienced any fuel supply issues, you can consider replacing it after2ten thousand kilometers.
Additionally, under normal usage, brake pads can last for3ten to-4twenty thousand kilometers, and original batteries can last for3-4years. There are many types of spark plugs; ordinary nickel alloy spark plugs can last for2twenty to-3thirty thousand kilometers, platinum spark plugs can last for8forty to-10fifty thousand kilometers, and iridium spark plugs can last for3sixty to-4seventy thousand kilometers, etc. Vehicle owners can adjust the replacement timeline of these parts and fluids according to their car’s maintenance manual and actual usage.
Don’t be misled: Identifying the real replacement deadlines for fluids
Fluid replacement is something repair shops love to do more during maintenance as a““professional””Recommended. Whether to change the oil isn’t just about listening to their advice — you should have your own judgment.
Brake fluid: Manufacturers generally recommend5changing it around every 40,000 kilometers, but if there’s actually no major issue and the brakes are functioning normally, there’s no need to replace it. If the brake fluid is running low, the parking brake warning light will come on or start blinking — that’s the time to change it, not just because the repair shop says so.
Engine oil: Abroad, engine oil is typically changed only after1100,000 kilometers, but in China, manufacturers, considering poor road conditions, usually move the replacement cycle up to75005,000 kilometers, and now even to50005,000–7,500 kilometers. However, in reality, as long as the oil remains clear and the level is not below the minimum mark, and there are no special circumstances, it’s not necessary to change the oil so frequently.
Power steering fluid: Power steering fluid doesn’t need frequent replacement either. Dealers suggest replacing it once every1040,000–60,000 kilometers, and not changing it won’t pose any safety risks. If the power steering fluid is low, you may hear engine noises, and there’s also a minimum mark for the fluid level — wait until it drops below that before replacing.
Don’t just wash it because you can:3Wait until over 60,000 kilometers before doing so.
So-called deep engine cleaning is actually a process of cleaning the engine's internal lubrication system and carbon deposits. Xiao Wu explained that since engines operate under high temperature and pressure for extended periods, the resulting sludge and carbon deposits reduce engine efficiency, making this quite necessary for older vehicles.
But most lubricants used in modern cars now have built-in cleaning capabilities that can keep the engine free from sludge for a certain number of kilometers or only produce very small amounts.
Performing deep engine cleaning during a second service on a new car would be a huge waste and is completely unnecessary.
The repair shop staff, seeing how much Mr. Liu cared for his car, recommended these packages indiscriminately.
Xiao Wu explained that cleaning the lubrication system, intake manifold, combustion chamber, and similar services are indeed necessary for maintaining your car’s engine, but under normal vehicle usage, they are generally only considered after340,000 to-560,000 kilometers.
Don’t just add additives because you can: Don’t randomly add additives to a new car.
With the growing number of vehicles, many businesses have also set their sights on the massive car supplies market. However, product quality varies greatly, and some are simply based on marketing gimmicks. There are countless products such as various anti-wear agents, cleaners, and restorers. Some repair shops, in pursuit of maximum profit, aggressively push all kinds of additives during vehicle servicing. Maintenance experts say that legitimate anti-wear and restorative agents from reputable manufacturers can help repair some wear on older vehicles to a certain extent, but adding unqualified or random additives could alter the properties of the lubricating oil, leading to reduced lubrication efficiency, oil degradation, and even increased mechanical wear. For new cars, it’s best to add nothing at all unless you truly understand the product performance.
In addition, many pour-in cleaners targeting components like electronic throttle valves, fuel injectors, and intake manifolds have limited effectiveness, and it’s better to go to a regular repair shop for periodic manual cleaning.