On average, car owners drive about 10,000 to 20,000 miles per year. This means that your car can last about 12 years if you reach the average life span of 200,000 miles. Luckily, even used cars can be reliable and last longer if you stay on top of maintenance and treat your car right.
Keep in mind that your used car may no longer have its original warranty. However, depending on the vehicle’s condition and the manufacturer, some companies can still offer an extended or used car warranty.
Take a look at important things that help keep your car reliable and prolong its life span.
Regular Maintenance
Regular maintenance and following your car’s manual recommendations are important steps for your used car. Apart from prolonging your car’s life span, maintenance also helps you keep your suspensions, drive train, cooling system, and other components in tiptop shape.
If you check your parts regularly, you may catch problems that will help you avoid costly replacements later. Checking your brake pads, cooling system, battery replacement, and steering can be critical to your car’s longevity. Fortunately, your manual will guide you on what inspections to do and when.
Remember, if you use your car for extra-demanding activities, you should follow the “severe use” maintenance schedule. This schedule is for activities such as off-roading, hauling, or driving in stop-and-go traffic. These activities may wear down your car faster, so it is advisable to do more frequent inspections and replacements.
Keep records and receipts of any maintenance you’ve done. Records come in handy if you plan to sell your vehicle down the line.
Drive Carefully
Speeding can have a major impact on your car — especially if you accelerate too fast, downshift and upshift repeatedly, or overload your car. In addition, speeding can reduce your reaction times, leading to hitting bumps and potholes.
You may also strain your engine and brakes when you go over the recommended speed limit. In addition, it leads to faster wear and tear in the engine components, setting you up for major repairs or a shorter life span. Therefore, it is advisable to accelerate to top speeds slowly, especially in cold weather, to give the engine time to heat up.
Drive as smoothly as possible and avoid sudden maneuvers when accelerating and decelerating, steering, changing gears, and braking. Smooth driving also helps you spot warning signs, bumps, or stop spots on time.
Besides driving carefully, always make a point of listening to unusual sounds. If your car rattles or sputters when driving, have a mechanic check the source of the issue immediately.
Change Your Car Fluids on Time
Fluids have an important role in almost every component of your car. So, checking the fluids improves your car’s reliability, longevity, and fuel economy.
It is recommended to inspect the cleanliness and levels of your transmission, steering, and brake fluids every two weeks if you own a used car. Your car’s manual should guide you on how to inspect these fluids.
Of course, most cars come with “lifetime” transmission fluid, but that doesn’t mean you should overlook its inspection. Brake, transmission, and steering fluids should always be at the recommended levels, and if the levels drop, visit your mechanic.
On the other hand, you can check and replace the coolant and engine oil yourself. On average, you should check your coolant every 50,000 miles. Follow the manual when replacing your coolant because the process varies from vehicle to vehicle.
Remember, always let the car cool down — about 10 minutes – before checking the engine’s oil. This allows the oil to settle first. Also, to check if your oil is dirty, you should smear the oil between your fingers. If it is not smooth or you notice particles, your car’s components may be wearing down.
Don’t Ignore Gauges and Alerts
Every alert and warning light in your car signals something. Common alerts include gas, anti-brake system, engine temperature, battery, and oil pressure warning lights.
Some symbols can be harder to figure out than others. So, to find out what these alerts mean, consult your mechanic or manual. Also, various online resources can help you know what they mean and the severity of the problem.
Typically, the color of the alert shows the severity of the problem. For example, blue or green lights mean your car is on. Orange or yellow lights mean that your car needs some maintenance and repairs soon. And lastly, a red warning indicates safety warnings or potentially severe issues.
That said, most car owners neglect alerts and hope that the problem will go away. But this can greatly reduce your used car’s longevity.
Change Filters
Regularly changing your car’s filters can help prolong your car’s life span and engine performance. Fuel and air filters help keep debris out, meaning they will clog with time. A clogged filter will reduce your car’s fuel mileage, engine reliability, and longevity.
Fortunately, filter replacement is one of the cheapest and easiest maintenance procedures. However, it doesn’t mean it is less important. That said, various online tutorials will guide you on how to do it yourself.
Generally, it is recommended to replace the fuel filter every 24 months or 24,000 miles. On the other hand, replace the air filter every 12 months or 12,000 miles.
Final Thoughts
With better planning and adherence to maintenance schedules, you can prolong the life span of your car past the average of 200,000 miles. It is also advisable to get a used car warranty for your vehicle. It may seem expensive at the moment, but it helps you keep off expensive repairs and maintain your car’s resale value.
