At one time, a car reaching 100,000 miles on the odometer seemed like a lot. That was typically the end of the line for many vehicles. However, nowadays cars are designed to go much further than 100,000 miles. Many cars can now reach 200,000 miles and more. On the roads today, the average age of a car is 11 years.
The following are some simple ways to ensure your old car can carry on running:
Carry on Driving
Obviously, you will want to carry on driving your vehicle for as long as possible. But some drivers believe that the less you drive the vehicle the better off you are. In reality, this does not help to protect the vehicle. The occasional weekend trip can help identify issues with the car that must be repaired.
Adhere to the Maintenance Schedule
When was the last time you read your vehicle’s manual? That owner’s manual will include the manufactures maintenance check recommendations. This will include when you need to change your oil but also include recommendations for the battery, timing belt, spark plugs, along with other replacements.
These manuals are included in the computer system of every certified mechanic. Be aware that as a car gets older it may require more frequent maintenance servicing. Just because you were able to do five thousand between oil checks when the car was new does not mean you can do the same as it gets older.
Maintain Your Brakes
When the brakes start to fail you will hear them start to squeak. The more you drive the louder the squeak becomes. You need to get those breaks taken care as soon as they start squeaking. This is very true with vehicles over seven years old. Whether or not you get into an accident could depend on how good your brakes are maintained.
Rotate Your Tires
Whenever you go in for an oil change you should also have the tires rotated. Maintaining the correct air pressure can also reduce the strain on the engine.
Keep the Cooling System Maintained
Having your car’s oil changed on a regular basis is not the same as having a thorough maintenance check. Many of the oil change franchises want to complete the tasks as quickly as possible. They might not have the time or opportunity to check your cooling system.
On a cars cooling system, the radiator hose is generally the first thing to go. When a car cooling system fails the engine can overheat and then that could be game over. Bear in mind that a cars water pump and head gasket are part of the cooling system and both require replacing occasionally.
As well as these regular maintenance checkups, you need to make sure that you have any problems fixed as quickly as possible. A problem with the car can develop very quickly and become more expensive to repair. Replacing a failed radiator hose is much easier than replacing the engine.