Does your car really need to be serviced so often?
Why does the 4S shop frequently remind us to carry out maintenance every 5000 kilometers?Actually, the answer is very simple: the maintenance business is very profitable, comparable to selling a car!
Wu Juanjuan mentioned a key data in an article in the journal "China Township Enterprise Accounting" "Seeking New Profit Growth Space for Automobile 4S Stores": the gross profit margin of automobile sales is usually only 15% to 87%, with a meager margin. However, the gross profit margin of the automotive aftermarket is in the 22It fluctuates between 3% and 54% and can even be as high as halves. This includes aftermarket services such as repair and maintenance, sheet metal spraying, etc., which contribute to the considerable revenue of 4S stores.
In other words, when you pay 100 yuan for vehicle maintenance, the 4S shop is likely to make a profit of 50 yuan. This is to make more money, some 4S shops will recommend car owners to carry out a maintenance for 5000 kilometers.
Increasing the frequency of maintenance means potentially higher profits for 4S stores. Considering the gross profit margin of the maintenance business, if the owner maintains frequently, the 4S shop will be more profitable. Take a 4S store with a total basic investment of 23 million as an example, if they succeed in doubling the maintenance frequency, then this additional gross profit can almost make up for their initial investment.
But the question is, do our vehicles really need such frequent maintenance?Does the vehicle need to be serviced once every 5000 km?
Does the owner's manual state that maintenance is every 5,000 km?In fact, the service intervals described in the vehicle manual are relatively conservative. For example, lubricant change intervals are usually determined during bench tests or field tests under extreme conditions. Such cycles tend to be shorter than those actually used. Therefore, if your vehicle manual states that it will be serviced every 10,000 km, you can follow this cycle without having to go out of your way to do it in advance. 
Wei Lei pointed out in the article "Research on the Service Life Evaluation Technology of Automotive Engine Lubricating Oil" of the General Institute of Mechanical Sciences that the replacement cycle recommended by the engine manufacturer is relatively conservative and is often determined according to the bench test. In urban conditions, long-term driving tests have shown that even after 352 to 538 days and 927 to 6,069 kilometers, the lubricant still does not meet the replacement standard. Therefore, the owner can follow the recommendations in the manual for maintenance, and do not have to replace it in advance.
If the vehicle does require maintenance every 5,000 km, the owner still has the option of using a fully synthetic engine oil and having it serviced outside a non-4S shop. Fully synthetic oils typically have longer change intervals and perform better than mineral oils. You can extend the replacement interval according to the service life of the fully synthetic oil. This also confirms the concept of "good maintenance and less cultivation". By properly caring for your vehicle, you will not only save money on repairs, but you will also enjoy a smoother driving experience. At the same time, maintenance is not complicated, and there are some tricks to follow. For example, you can bring your own oil for maintenance, which is not only more economical, but also avoids problems such as using inferior oil.
However, there are cases where it is reasonable to shorten maintenance intervals. The vehicle instruction manual may include a recommendation that the service interval should be appropriately shortened if the driving environment is harsh. For example, driving short distances (driving only 5km per day) can damage the vehicle, leading to more frequent maintenance. In short, the vehicle maintenance cycle should not be blindly shortened, and should be decided according to the manufacturer's recommendations and the actual driving environment. This way, you can take proper care of your car and keep it running at its best. 100 help plan