A car is a huge investment, and naturally you want to make that investment last as long as possible. Many cars make it to 300,000 miles and beyond with proper care and maintenance. Ideal maintenance and care means a lot more than regular oil changes, but also includes putting the time and effort into keeping your car in tip top shape to ensure your car lasts for years to come. There are several steps you can take to help your car run optimally for years to come, let’s take a look at some steps you can take.
Routine Maintenance
Staying on top of routine maintenance is an easy thing you can do to help your car last as long as possible. Routine maintenance includes many things that your mechanic will inspect when it’s in for service. Checking your car’s fluid levels and condition on a regular basis is critical. When those fluids are no longer doing their job, it will be time to complete a fluid exchange. Out with old, in with the new.
3 Things Not To Forget
Stay on top of oil change intervals (3,000 vs 5,000 miles).
Make sure your car’s tires are rotated, and balanced when due.
Check the alignment every 15,000 miles, or 2 years.
If your vehicle is equipped with a timing belt, replacing it when the manufacturer recommends based on time and mileage is essential to the life of the engine, not to mention an unwanted costly repair because of the failure to complete that service. Not all vehicles have timing belts. Ask your mechanic if the vehicle you drive has a timing belt or a timing chain.
One consideration when doing routine maintenance is selecting the type of oil to use in your vehicle. Many new synthetic oils are cleaner and have more additive properties which can increase a longer lifespan, making changing your oil less frequent. If your car’s owner’s manual doesn’t already call for synthetic oil (which many newer models do), you may want to consider it, or discuss it with your mechanic.
Driving Habits
Your personal driving habits may also play a role in how many miles your car will last for. Hard driving (speeding, braking hard, two foot driving, etc.) can shorten the life of your car. Some good driving habits that can extend the amount of miles you get out of your car include cruising when possible, using the brakes gently, instead of changing gears to reduce speed (in manual transmission cars), and accelerating gently.
Fuel
The type and quality of fuel you put in your car can also have an impact on how many miles your car will run for. Using the octane gas that your car’s owner’s manual calls for can help your engine run longer and give you the optimal gas mileage for your car. Putting premium gas in your car when its manual calls for regular won’t increase your gas mileage, or make your car last longer, and could do more harm than good.
Routine maintenance, good driving habits and proper fueling can help you get the most out of your car. Even if you handle most car maintenance yourself, it’s important to occasionally bring your car into the shop for a thorough inspection and repairs. At Hillmuth, we are experts at what we do, and can help your car last for miles and miles, even 300,000 and beyond! Call us to schedule an appointment today!
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