Most people don't read the car maintenance manual, and they usually drive directly to the 4S store for maintenance. The after-sales reception recommends certain items, and if the price is not very high, they usually do it. Those who know a little about the car may have a choice. The recommended items for after-sales reception are not blindly recommended. They are recommended within the mileage or time frame, and this situation generally does not occur. There will also be a list of maintenance items in the 4S store, usually hung on the wall or pasted next to the computer. When reaching a certain mileage, recommend according to the items corresponding to the mileage on this table. However, the maintenance schedule in the 4S store is not exactly the same as the one in the maintenance manual, and there may be additional items, even some with different mileage. Which one should we take as the standard?

Car maintenance generally relies on the maintenance manual as the main reference, with the maintenance items developed by the 4S store as auxiliary references, because some items are not included in the maintenance manual, but the car also needs to be done and cannot be omitted. We don't need to do simple maintenance projects that are not listed in the maintenance manual, such as cleaning oil ducts, cleaning transmission oil ducts, cleaning water channels, and so on. Generally, as long as these fluids are replaced, 4S stores will recommend cleaning them first and then replacing them. However, these items are not included in the maintenance manual, and the cleaning agents used by the 4S store are not from the original factory or shipped from the original manufacturer. They are all purchased by ourselves, and we do not need to do these things.

Under what circumstances does it need to be done? If it can be seen with the naked eye that it is indeed dirty, or if there are some malfunctions due to the dirt, it needs to be cleaned. Generally, except for carbon accumulation, as long as the oil is changed on time, these areas will not have problems due to dirt. The same is true for other projects. If it's not in the maintenance manual and everything is normal for the car, then don't do it. It is important to note that items that are not included in the maintenance manual do not need to be done, as almost every car owner who goes for maintenance will encounter them.

The second point to note is that the project is not done in advance. For example, the maintenance manual says to check the spark plug after 40000 kilometers and the belt after 80000 kilometers, but it does not say that it must be replaced. This situation also requires an inspection first, replacement is necessary before replacement, and if not necessary, it is not necessary to replace. Some stores often recommend replacement without inspection. Due to the different conditions of each vehicle, there is a possibility of premature replacement. If you are unwilling to read the maintenance manual, you can also call the manufacturer's customer service hotline to inquire about the mileage of a certain project. They also recommend it according to the mileage stated in the maintenance manual.

Finally, there is another point that many car owners may encounter, which is the replacement of the oil or other components. The time has come, but the mileage is still far behind. Do you need to replace it? For example, brake oil and power oil should have been replaced within three years and 60000 kilometers, but they have only been running for over 20000 kilometers in three years. Do you want to replace them? Strictly speaking, it should also be replaced, but in terms of economy and personal maintenance experience, it can be towed again. If the mileage is small, even if it is towed for a year and a half, there will be no problem. This type of component or oil with a strict replacement cycle can be towed, while those without a replacement cycle cannot be towed if there are problems during inspection. For example, if the brake pads are thin during inspection, we must not drag them. But without inspection, if you say you need to change the brake pads after 30000 kilometers, don't immediately agree, just ask for an inspection before proceeding.

From: WONDEE Autoparts 2023-10-16