Cars tend to be on the road much longer now than they used to be. By "longer" I mean they are seeing a lot more miles. Todays vehicles are getting to 200,000 or more miles before needing extensive repairs. Technology has come quite a long way, so how do you keep your car running for that long? And if you purchase a car with high mileage, what are the risk and things you should know about it?
To keep you car running in tip top shape, it is important to ensure a few things.
1) It must be properly lubricated internally. That means get your fluids changed when you should. Oil is every 3000-5000 miles depending on driving habits. Highway miles can usually push closer to 5000, but city stop-and-go driving should be changed sooner. Always change the filter at every oil change too. Transmission fluid must be changed at the appropriate intervals along with the filter. Refer to the owners manual for this. A commonly overlooked area is the rear end of rear wheel drive vehicles. This oil must also be changed as often as the transmission fluid. If not, metal will start to wear down and you will notice a jolt or a thud when putting the car in gear. Also have the brake lines flushed. Thats right, the brake lines. Until recently, it was thought that brake fluid wouldn't need replacing, but studies show that bad brake fluid can result in master cylinder failure. Also take note of the radiator fluid. If this is overlooked, you can get rust deposits and clogged water passages in the engine. Clogged water passages equals higher engine temps, which are an enemy of durability.
2) The engine must have the right fuel and air mixture. This is important for several reasons. The fuel mixture determines the combustion in the cylinders. This is directly related to horsepower, fuel economy, and engine life. A lean mixture (not enough gas) can cause detonation, which is very bad for the internals of the engine. Prolonged periods of detonation from a lean fuel mixture can take thousands of miles off of the life of the motor, and hamper performance and fuel economy. Running too rich (too much gas) can have a different but equally adverse effect, resulting in carbon build up and premature valve failure. Late model care are equipped with computers to control the fuel and air mixture. If a component in the system fails, the check engine light will come on. This is usually a sign of a component going bad that read or adjust the fuel air mixture. Riding with this light on, even though you may not notice it, can be detrimental to your engine. Always have the codes read and fix the problem to ensure the durability of the engine.
3) Revs are an enemy of every engine. The higher the rpms, the greater the risk of engine failure. Driving habits have everything to do with how many rpms your engine will see. At higher rpms, there is a greater chance for bearing wear and damage, piston ring and cylinder wall scoring, among many other unwanted possibilities. Engines have a red line, which is the highest rpm the engine can safely withstand without immediate damage. Stay close to the edge too long, and you may find yourself with burnt rings, bent or burnt valves, spun engine bearings, or collapsed lifters.
The OEM auto parts and aftermarket auto parts markets have a lot of options out there to help you keep your car maintained and running smoothly. You can find whatever you need to replace your sensors and get the scheduled maintenance done on time, but if you heed these warnings, then you should see every bit of 200,000 miles and beyond.
To keep you car running in tip top shape, it is important to ensure a few things.
1) It must be properly lubricated internally. That means get your fluids changed when you should. Oil is every 3000-5000 miles depending on driving habits. Highway miles can usually push closer to 5000, but city stop-and-go driving should be changed sooner. Always change the filter at every oil change too. Transmission fluid must be changed at the appropriate intervals along with the filter. Refer to the owners manual for this. A commonly overlooked area is the rear end of rear wheel drive vehicles. This oil must also be changed as often as the transmission fluid. If not, metal will start to wear down and you will notice a jolt or a thud when putting the car in gear. Also have the brake lines flushed. Thats right, the brake lines. Until recently, it was thought that brake fluid wouldn't need replacing, but studies show that bad brake fluid can result in master cylinder failure. Also take note of the radiator fluid. If this is overlooked, you can get rust deposits and clogged water passages in the engine. Clogged water passages equals higher engine temps, which are an enemy of durability.
2) The engine must have the right fuel and air mixture. This is important for several reasons. The fuel mixture determines the combustion in the cylinders. This is directly related to horsepower, fuel economy, and engine life. A lean mixture (not enough gas) can cause detonation, which is very bad for the internals of the engine. Prolonged periods of detonation from a lean fuel mixture can take thousands of miles off of the life of the motor, and hamper performance and fuel economy. Running too rich (too much gas) can have a different but equally adverse effect, resulting in carbon build up and premature valve failure. Late model care are equipped with computers to control the fuel and air mixture. If a component in the system fails, the check engine light will come on. This is usually a sign of a component going bad that read or adjust the fuel air mixture. Riding with this light on, even though you may not notice it, can be detrimental to your engine. Always have the codes read and fix the problem to ensure the durability of the engine.
3) Revs are an enemy of every engine. The higher the rpms, the greater the risk of engine failure. Driving habits have everything to do with how many rpms your engine will see. At higher rpms, there is a greater chance for bearing wear and damage, piston ring and cylinder wall scoring, among many other unwanted possibilities. Engines have a red line, which is the highest rpm the engine can safely withstand without immediate damage. Stay close to the edge too long, and you may find yourself with burnt rings, bent or burnt valves, spun engine bearings, or collapsed lifters.
The OEM auto parts and aftermarket auto parts markets have a lot of options out there to help you keep your car maintained and running smoothly. You can find whatever you need to replace your sensors and get the scheduled maintenance done on time, but if you heed these warnings, then you should see every bit of 200,000 miles and beyond.
