It wasn’t that long ago that hitting the 100,000-mile mark on the odometer was a major milestone. Today, vehicles are traveling longer than ever and with the proper maintenance there’s no reason you shouldn’t expect your 40,000-mile reading on the odometer one day roll right past 200,000 and keep on trucking. If your vehicle has less than 50,000 miles on it today, chances are it still has at least 70 percent of its driving life ahead of it. That’s good news for the majority of vehicle owners, as many are now holding onto their vehicles longer. Below we offer some tips to help make your vehicle last longer.
Find a mechanic you trust
Working with a mechanic who has your best interest at heart and will partner in your quest to reach that magical milestone of 200,000, is not always easy to find. Most just want to sell you that expensive repair and never see you again. If they’re experienced and accustomed to working on your type of vehicles, it can be the start of a beautiful professional relationship. Bonus points if they are close by or can come to your home or workplace for most repairs.
Follow you vehicle maintenance schedule
Now if you don’t care for your vehicle and don’t care about making it last till next year, let alone to 200,000, then ignore this tip completely. There is nothing worse than ignoring your vehicle maintenance requirements. Routine maintenance is necessary and reading up on your vehicles maintenance schedule is instrumental in knowing when to perform your routine maintenance, which can be based on mileage or time increments, sometimes both.
While you should keep up on all maintenance items, the most vital one is always the oil change. In addition to lubricating the vital engine parts, oil traps contaminants and helps prevent them from damaging your engine. Changing your oil routinely and using a high quality motor oil such as AMSOIL will help your vehicle get to that 200,000 mile mark. Don’t forget about these items as well:
- Coolant System
- Brakes
- Power Steering
- Transmission Fluids
- Filters, Belts, Hoses
- Windshield Wipers
Following your owner’s manual, and your trusted mechanic’s advice will help you develop and stick with a regular maintenance schedule.
Pay attention
Be aware of how your vehicle looks, sounds, smells and feels. Don’t just hop in and go or park and leave. Pay attention to anything new or out of the ordinary when it comes to your vehicle. Vibrations, rattles, squeaks, fluid leaks underneath and funky smells are all indicators of possible problems. By paying attention to how your vehicle operates normally, you will notice when a mechanical problem is causing something out of the ordinary to happen, enabling your trusted mechanic to correct a little problem before it becomes a major one later down the road.
Recalls
Do not ignore your vehicle manufacturer recall notifications, no matter how minor you think they seem. Manufacturers don’t just issue recall notices on a whim. It has to be a serious, important issue that affects vehicle performance and/or driver and passenger safety, which means it’s something you want to take care of. Plus you may find out something was recalled that you were fixing to replace, helping save you some extra money.
Keep it clean
There are several reasons to keep your vehicle clean, both inside and out. Aside from the most obvious one of looking good when you’re behind the wheel, removing dirt and bugs from your vehicle’s exterior and coating it with a good quality wax on a regular basis will help protect the finish. The same holds true inside your vehicle where dirt and other debris is left to accumulate. Dirt and grime will wear down fabric, vinyl and leather. Having your vehicle regularly cleaned gets you up close and personal with it, so you’re more likely to notice broken or missing parts or other maintenance items that may need attention. After all, it’s a long way to 200,000 miles. Not every vehicle will make it to that impressive milestone, but by being a responsible vehicle owner, you can increase the likelihood that yours will.
