3 things not recommended for vehicle maintenance

Vehicle maintenance is crucial to the performance and life of the vehicle. If the vehicle is well maintained, the vehicle can always maintain good working condition. However, maintenance should be done as needed, and do not over-maintain. Some maintenance items are not only ineffective, but may cause damage to the vehicle.

The following 3 items generally do not need to be done frequently.

1. Deep cleaning of the engine

Many vehicle owners may be recommended to do this maintenance by vehicle maintenance shops, claiming that it can completely remove carbon deposits and impurities inside the engine, making the oil change more thorough. The operation method is to add a bottle of cleaning agent before draining the oil, start the engine and run for 5-10 minutes to let the cleaning agent clean the sludge, and then change the oil. In fact, engines that are used normally and change the oil on time generally do not need this deep cleaning, especially vehicles with a small number of kilometers, because there is no sludge in the oil channel.

Moreover, if the cleaning agent used is not of good quality or is improperly used, it may cause corrosion of engine parts and affect the normal operation of the engine. At the same time, the cleaning agent may also cause corrosion or aging of the engine's seals, rubber parts, etc., which will cause oil leakage, water leakage and other problems over time.

2. Turbocharger maintenance

Many models are now equipped with turbochargers, so there is a so-called turbocharger maintenance project. The operation method is similar to cleaning the intake duct. The cleaning agent is injected into the intake pipe. As the turbine runs, the carbon deposits and impurities on the blades and inner wall are cleaned to extend the life of the turbocharger and keep the turbocharger in good working condition.

But in fact, as long as the vehicle is maintained normally and the standard air filter is replaced on time, there will not be too much carbon deposits and impurities inside the turbocharger, and the turbocharger usually does not require additional maintenance within the design life.

More importantly, if this project is done frequently, it may also cause damage to the turbine. For example, some unqualified cleaning agents may corrode the metal parts inside the turbine, causing the turbine performance to decline or even damage. 

3. Engine compartment cleaning and coating

In addition to the engine and gearbox, the engine compartment also contains many wiring harnesses and important electronic modules, so some car owners pay more attention to whether the engine compartment is clean. Therefore, some 4S stores will launch engine compartment cleaning and coating projects. In addition to cleaning the engine compartment, they will also spray a layer of protective agent to protect the internal wiring harnesses and electronic modules to prevent aging.

Although it is good to keep the engine compartment clean, a special cleaning and coating service is not necessary. Excessive cleaning, especially using a high-pressure water gun to wash directly, may cause problems such as short circuits in electronic components, corrosion in plugs, and sensor failure. Especially for old vehicles, due to aging circuits and loose plug seals, it is easier for water to enter during cleaning, causing some faults.