Many of our customers at Loren's Auto Repair inquire about how to make their vehicles last longer. The median age for personal vehicles is just over nine years. And 33 percent of all vehicles on the road have over 75 thousand miles. With increasingly high fuel prices, a lot of people are avoiding the purchase of a new vehicle. If you want to prolong the life of your vehicle, follow these tips for increased performance and durability.
Modern engineering and manufacturing quality is better than ever, making it much easier to keep newer vehicle’s running for longer. There’s no reason that a modern car can’t run for 200 thousand miles or more with proper maintenance and care.
Staying on top of your vehicle’s routine recommended maintenance is the first step to increasing the longevity of your vehicle. Many vehicles provide owner’s manuals that include a recommended maintenance schedule. But, most of these maintenance schedules stop at or around 60 thousand miles. Oftentimes, customers don’t realize that their maintenance schedule should change with the age of the car. After 60 thousand miles, it is important to increase the routine maintenance intervals.
As your engine gets older, it begins to lose its efficiency. They become dirty and worn out from years of stress and use. That means it’s very important to follow-through with any scheduled services. Skipping one oil change, for example, can cause sludge to build up in the engine, which reduces efficiency, and it can potentially lead to serious engine damage.
Oil changes, transmission service, coolant service, brakes, power steering, and fuel system cleaning are all important aspects of your routine maintenance. Money you spend on maintenance helps to save fuel late, prevent costly repairs down the road, and postpone having to buy a new vehicle. used car maintenance
Having the oil changed is the most important part of your routine maintenance service. A full service oil change includes topping off all of your other fluids to ensure that they never become low enough to cause damage. It also gives your technician an opportunity to inspect your engine and to spot any problems in the early stages. It will also help to keep your organized; your service technician can provide a timeline for maintenance that isn’t performed often. This includes services for your differential and timing belt replacement. used car maintenance
If you live in the Kalispell area and have an older vehicle, you may need to follow the severe service maintenance schedule. Check your owner’s manual and talk with your service advisor at Loren's Auto Repair to decide if you fall into that category.
If you are driving an older vehicle, we encourage you to consider using high mileage formulation fluids. They’re fluids like engine oil, transmission fluid, and coolant that are formulated for older engines. They have special additives to clean deposits and to condition and restore seals and gaskets that dry out with age. Some people start using higher mileage formulations at 50 thousand miles for preventive measures.
Give us a call at Loren's Auto Repair for more information about prolonging the life of your vehicle and preventative routine maintenance.
Loren's Auto Repair
1309 US Hwy 2 West
Kalispell, MT 59901
406-755-7757
