Not too long ago, 100,000 miles on a car’s odometer seemed like a lot. That was usually the “end of the ride” for many autos. However, today’s cars are designed to go a lot further than 100,000 miles. In fact, it is not a stretch to say that many cars can hit the 200,000 mile mark and beyond. The average age of the car on the roads today is 11 years. How close are you to hitting 150,000 miles? here are some easy ways to make sure your old car can keep running:
Follow the Maintenance Schedules
When was the last time you read your cars on a manual? It was probably when you need to find out how to change the clock! That owner’s manual will have recommendations for maintenance checks. This will tell you when you need to not only change your oil but also have recommendations for spark plugs, battery, timing belt and other needed replacements. These manuals are also on every certified mechanic’s computer system. just note, that the older a car gets the more frequent you might have to make those maintenance appointments. Just because you could go 5000 miles between oil checks when the car was new doesn’t mean you be able to do that several years down the road.
Keep Driving
Obviously, you want to keep driving your car for as long as you can. But some people think that the less you drive the better off you are. In truth, it doesn’t help to “save miles.” The occasional long weekend trip could actually help identify problems with the car that need to be repaired. Listen to the hum of your engine or any noise emanating from under the car. You might also want to have someone else drive the car so that you can pay attention to how it is performing.
Maintain the Cooling System
Getting your car’s oil change regularly isn’t the same as a thorough maintenance check. Most of those oil change franchises just want to get you in and get you out as quickly as possible. They may not even look at your cooling system. A car’s radiator hose is usually the first thing to go up on a cooling system. When the cooling system fails a car’s engine can overheat and that can be game over. Keep in mind, that an old cars head gasket and water pump are also part of that cooling system and both need to be replaced occasionally.
Keep the Brakes Working
It is easy to tell when the brakes are failing: you’ll start to hear them squeak. The more you drive the lout of the squeak becomes. You want to make sure that you get those breaks taken care of at that first “squeak.” This is especially true with a car that has gone beyond seven years. Having good brakes can make all the difference as to whether or not you get into an accident.
Rotate Tires
Anytime you go in for an oil change is when you should also rotate the tires. Keeping good air pressure also reduces strain on the engine.
In addition to all these regular maintenance tune ups, you want to make sure that you take care of the problem as quickly as possible. An issue with the car can grow very quickly and become much more expensive. Placing a radiator hose is a lot simpler than replacing an engine.
