Don't Lose Money Unnecessarily: 4 Self-Check Steps for Your Vehicle Before Taking It to the Service Shop for Tet

As Tet approaches, the demand for motorcycle maintenance rises sharply. This is also the time when repair shops easily exploit customers by fabricating problems. Many individuals take their bikes to the shop with a mindset of complete surrender to the mechanics, only to end up spending millions on unnecessary repairs, such as replacing tires when the tread is still deep, changing the battery when it's just temporarily dead, or cleaning the engine even though the oil is still good.

This article guides you through 4 simple steps to check your motorcycle at home, taking only 5-10 minutes. With basic knowledge of motorcycle self-checking, you’ll have a clear understanding of your bike’s actual condition, and be confident when discussing with mechanics, ensuring your spending during this Tet is purposeful.

To avoid unnecessary expenses during Tet maintenance, follow these 4 self-check steps:

1. 1. Check the tires: Inspect the tread and TWI marks.
2. 2. Check the brakes: Measure the thickness of the brake pads.
3. 3. Check the oil: Observe the color and level of the oil.
4. 4. Check the electrical system: Honk the horn and start the engine to distinguish between a weak battery and a dead one.

1. Self-check the tires

2. Self-check the brake system

How to self-check your brakes at home:

• Disc brakes (usually at the front): Look at the gap between the brake caliper. If you see two brake pads pressing against the disc, and the pad thickness is over 3mm (around the thickness of two stacked coins), then it is still good to use.
• Drum brakes (rear wheel): Check the brake adjustment screw – if the screw isn’t tightened too deep, the spring is still long, or the arrow mark on the indicator hasn’t lined up with the triangle on the brake shoe, then the pads aren’t fully worn. If the mechanic mentions otherwise, calmly ask them to clean and blow the dust off the brake pads first. If noise persists or the brakes are still ineffective after cleaning, then consider replacement. This self-check step helps you avoid unnecessary costs.

3. Self-check the oil

A classic Tet trick: a mechanic pulls out the dipstick, wipes it, sees it’s black, and then, with a serious face, claims that the oil is as black as sewage and needs to be replaced urgently, along with a thorough cleaning. Many end up panicking and spending a few hundred thousand on oil that is still perfectly fine.

In reality, black oil is not a warning sign that you need to change it because oil