How to Keep Your Car Running Like New

April 28, 2010, By Jeff Waddle 0 comments

It wasn’t so long ago that once most cars hit 100,000 miles, they were shot.  Cars certainly are a lot more expensive than they used to be, but the good news is they also are built to last longer.  That is, of course, you don’t neglect your ride.  Here’s what you need to know to keep your car on the road and out of the junk yard.

Don’t be Penny-Wise and Pound-Foolish

Lots of cars die before their time because their owners believed they could save a few bucks by delaying routine maintenance.  Big Mistake.  Sure, it’s easy to be lured into a sense of false security when your car is running fine, you’re busy and money’s not growing on trees.  But put off maintenance longer than suggested in your owner’s manual and you’re asking for trouble down the road—literally. 

In the big picture, things like motor oil, anti-freeze and transmission fluid are cheap, especially when compared to expensive repairs or worse, buying a new car.  So, follow your owner’s manual maintenance schedule and flush the radiator and change the belts, for example, even if it doesn’t seem necessary.

Learn to Check the Basics Yourself

Your owner’s manual is your car’s best friend so look it over and learn how to do some essential checks yourself.  Get in the habit of checking your oil every time you gas up and keep an eye on other fluid levels like anti-freeze, brake fluid and transmission fluid.  While the hood is up, check the air filter to make sure it’s not too dirty (a clogged one can damage your engine) and look for signs of leaks or a suddenly oily engine that could be an early sign of problems.

Also occasionally inspect belts and hoses for signs of fraying and cracks and pay attention to your garage floor or wherever you park your car.  An oil slick below your car is a sure sign that something’s wrong.  Any unusual noises or sudden changes in performance also mean it’s time to call your mechanic.   

Find a Good Mechanic

Finding a good mechanic you trust and can talk to is key to keeping your car a long time.  Many independent repair shops do great work but ask about their qualifications to work on your specific make and model.  Many shops specialize in certain types of cars (German imports, etc.) and may not have as much knowledge about specific maintenance issues and quirks related to your car. 

Once you find a shop you trust, ask them about the maintenance schedule suggested in the owner’s manual.  You may find out that sure, you can go 5,000 miles between oil changes if you want, but a smarter move would be every  3,500 miles if you’re hoping to keep your car for the long haul.  Remember that mileage between maintenance also can be affected by your driving habits (city vs. highway, etc.), so talk to your mechanic about it.

Keep Detailed Records

Most repair shops will have a record of your maintenance history in their computers but it’s always a good idea to keep a logbook yourself.  Checking your logbook periodically makes it less likely that you’ll forget about the next scheduled oil change or some other important maintenance issue.  Your shop could go out of business, too, just as many dealerships did over the last couple of years.

Call a Dealership

Even if you don’t get your car maintained at a dealership, it’s a good idea to call a local dealer every year or so to find out if there have been any recalls.  There are thousands of cars recalled every year for all kinds of problems that could affect your car’s long-term survival or basic performance, and not all recalls make the news. 

A call to a dealer might reveal a defect in your model’s fuel injectors, for example.  Free fuel injectors!  Sweet!

Jeff Waddle is a featured contributor to ManoftheHouse.com.