1. Don’t Drive Much!
Do you want your vehicle, van SUV or truck to last? Don’t drive much! That sounds obvious, but it’s worth keeping in mind. Chances are there are plenty of times when you currently use your vehicle that you could be walking, biking, using public transportation or car-pooling — choices that are better for the environment, your wallet, your health, and the vehicle you won’t be driving. It’s simple: The less you drive, the longer your vehicle will last.
2. Make Few Short Trips
Short trips of less than 10 minutes can be particularly hard on a vehicle, resulting in excessive wear and tear. During a short trip, your vehicle’s engine never has a chance to reach its full operating temperature.
So what? Here’s why it matters: One of the byproducts of engine combustion is water. When an engine reaches its operating temperature that water turns to vapor and is expunged, either out the tailpipe or the crankcase ventilation system. On a short trip, however, that water stays inside your vehicle’s engine and exhaust. Unfortunately, water is one of only three ingredients necessary to make rust (you’ve already got the other two, oxygen and metal), and rust kills.
A further complication of condensation and water is that it dilutes your oil, which then does a poorer job of lubricating the engine. If you can’t avoid taking lots of short trips, I recommend you change your oil frequently, such as 3,000 miles.
3. Drive Gently
When you drive, do your vehicle a favor and drive gently. Think of your vehicle like your own body. If you abuse your body, your general health will quickly go down the tube.
What does “drive gently” mean? It means accelerating slowly, not snapping your head back. It means anticipating your braking so you can brake gently and avoid panic stops. It means not revving your engine in the driveway when it’s cold, before the oil is warm and freely circulating.
If it’s below freezing outside, allow your vehicle a minute or so to warm up before driving it hard. Then drive slowly for another minute or two, until the engine oil has warmed up and started to fully lubricate all the components.
Finally, if your vehicle is new, follow the break-in recommendations in your owner’s manual. Regardless of the manufacturer’s recommendation, I advise changing your vehicle’s oil after your inaugural 1,000 miles.
4. Watch for Engine Warning Signs
It’s OK to drive your vehicle short distances with certain warning lights illuminated or gauges out of their normal range, but there are three that you dismiss at your vehicle’s peril: the engine oil light, the engine temperature gauge and the brake light. A few minutes of an excessively hot engine or low oil pressure and the groceries you’re hauling in the back could suddenly be worth more than your vehicle. A couple of minutes with the brake light on and you might end up playing bumper vehicles with the Cadillac Escalade ahead of you.
Get in the habit of glancing at your engine’s temperature gauge and warning lights. If the idiot lights come on, pull over as soon as it’s safe to do so and shut off the engine. You might just save yourself an expensive engine rebuild — much to the disappointment of your mechanic.
5. Unload Extra Weight
Most of us know what it feels like to be hauling a few extra doughnuts around, so to speak. It places extra demands on our engine, and it creates suspension, braking and even exhaust problems. .
It’s no different with your vehicle. Extra weight adds stress to critical systems and causes premature problems. Check your vehicle right now. What’s in there that can come out? Toss out the four bowling balls, the barbells, boxes of stuff that belong in your storage shed and not in your vehicle.
You should also remove anything that causes additional drag. Creating aerodynamic drag is similar to adding weight in that it increases the demand on your engine, so think about removing the big, flat bug shield that sticks up above your hood. Remove any roof racks you’re not actively using, and take the vehiclego vehiclerier off the top of the minivan. They affect your gas mileage and make your engine work harder.
6. Do Your Regular Maintenance
Skipping regularly scheduled maintenance intervals is one of the quickest ways to assure your vehicle finds its way to an early grave. Regular oil changes and oil, fuel and air filter changes all help make sure your vehicle has what it needs to run without problems: clean air and clean fuel, plus fresh, uncontaminated oil to prevent wear and tear.
An added bonus to regular service? It gives good mechanics an opportunity to spot problems before they balloon into something more serious.
If you’re wondering how often to do these things, there’s a book that explains it all to you. It’s called the owner’s manual. You’ll find it in your glove box, shrink-wrapped in plastic, because — if you’re like most of us — you’ve probably never looked at it. In the back you’ll find a list of service intervals, and the services that are recommended during each of them. If intervals in the book stop at 120,000 miles, that doesn’t mean you’re done with maintenance. Go back to the beginning and start over (so, for instance, do all the services called for in the 7,500-mile service at 127,500).
7. Change Oil and Other Vital Fluids
Your vehicle’s fluids will often be changed during regular service intervals, but it’s important enough that I wanted to mention it separately. As you drive your vehicle, and even if it just sits in the driveway, your vehicle’s fluids degrade.
That’s a problem because each of the fluids in your vehicle is vital to the long-term health of the engine, transmission, steering or brakes. Simply keeping the fluids topped off isn’t enough because over time they lose important properties — like their ability to remove heat and lubricate, as Ill as the ability to prevent rust and freezing.
What fluids are I talking about? Transmission, differential, brake and power-steering fluid; oil; and antifreeze. Windshield washer fluid? Not so important.
Regular transmission and differential fluid changes are often overlooked, but this service is very important. If you really want to keep your vehicle forever, my suggestion is to get these fluids changed every 60,000 miles whether your owner’s manual recommends it or not. Fresh, clean transmission fluid assures that your vehicle’s drivetrain stays cool and uncontaminated. Some vehicles, by the way, have two separate differentials. Be sure to ask your mechanic if yours is one, and make sure that both sets of differential oil get changed. It’s easy to overlook this particular service, but you do so at your own peril: A cooked differential can cost thousands of dollars to repair. Routine maintenance service is much less expensive; it should cost about $150 to get your transmission fluid flushed and replaced, and another $100 to do both differentials.
8. Get Problems Checked Out Sooner Rather Than Later
This is like saying “Don’t let a cold turn into pneumonia.” If you have a small problem with your vehicle, get it checked out sooner rather than later.
For example, a torn CV boot is a common problem and a simple repair. Delay getting it fixed, though, and you’ll eventually end up by the side of the road, unable to drive and forced to fork over some additional money for a tow and a whole new axle.
That’s just one example. There are many other problems that start small but balloon into something much larger if they’re not addressed right away.
Above all, make sure your vehicle is safe to drive. If you have any doubts about such things as brakes, brake lines, ball joints, tie rods, airbags, seat belts or even the structural integrity of your vehicle, get it checked out. Remember: Even though you want your vehicle to last a long time, you still want to outlive your vehicle.
9. Find a Mechanic You Trust
Find a mechanic you trust intuitively. Think of maintaining your vehicle as a partnership between you and your mechanic.
Having a good working relationship with your mechanic will enable you to make wise decisions when the time comes — and you won’t have nagging doubts about the truthfulness of what you’re being told. This is such an important point.
How do you find a great mechanic? When you find someone you think you like, ask for recommendations from longtime customers if you are new to the area.
10. Discuss Your Plans With Your Mechanic
Not everyone wants a vehicle to last for 200,000 miles. As a result, mechanics don’t always have a long-term mindset when they perform routine service.
If your mechanic knows you are in this for the long term, he or she will spend a little more time looking things over when you bring in your vehicle.
I hope this article will help but, if you have any questions or vehicle issues, call me.
Nadia
Owner
Mobile Auto Diagnostics and Repair
Lady ASE Certified Master Auto Technician with over 10 years of experience.
Experienced. Honest. Fully equipped repair shop.
561-792-1976
http://autorepair33470.com