9 Ways to Get Your Car to 200K Miles (or more)

Regular maintenance is crucial

There's no getting around this one: A car that's not regularly serviced won't last as long as one that is. It might not even make it to 100,000 miles.

Regular maintenance is "the key to the automotive fountain of youth," says Tom Torbjornsen, author of "How to Make Your Car Last Forever."

What is regular maintenance? It's what it says right there in the maintenance schedule of your owner's manual, says Torbjornsen. Follow the "severe duty" schedule of more frequent servicing if your manufacturer specifies one.

Use your senses: Sight

If your routine is to plop into the driver's seat in a darkened garage at one end of your trip and slam the door behind you in a darkened garage at the other end, it's time to shake things up a little. "Do a 'preflight' at least once a week," says Tony Molla, vice-president of communications for the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (and a certified technician with years of experience). "Walk around your car. Have your kid step on the brake and see if the lights come on. By spotting a problem now, when it's small, you might save yourself more than just a ticket."

Use your senses: Sound (and touch)

Though your sight is the most important sense when driving your car, hearing may actually be the most important one to keeping it running. A car that sounds like it's falling apart probably will soon.
What you're listening for is anything out of the ordinary. "Any bump, squeak, knocking, ticking? Don't turn up the radio — turn it off! At what speed does it happen? That's a really important piece of information you can give to your mechanic," explains Fix. "If you can guide a technician [with that information], you will save them hours of trying to track something down."

Use your senses: Smell

No, really, your nose can help you head off problems that could endanger your run for 200,000+ miles. When you're checking the oil, counsels Fix, give it a sniff. If it smells burnt, that could be a sign that your engine is running too lean (not using enough fuel). Fixing this condition could save you from a costly engine rebuild.
Smell can also come into play if your car has a dipstick to check the level of the automatic transmission fluid (not as common as it used to be). If that fluid smells burnt and nasty, it's also a bad sign. (We'll discuss stinky transmission fluid more later.)

Say no to short trips

If there's one single thing you can do as a driver to get your car to last longer on its original parts, it's to drive it less — specifically, on trips where the engine doesn't have a chance to reach operating temperature.
Here's what happens: Water is a byproduct of engine combustion, and some of it gets into your car's oil and exhaust system every time the engine runs. Also, when your car is first started, more fuel is mixed in to get it running.

Use synthetic oil

Few issues get motorheads more riled up than the question of which oil to use and how often to change it. But few will take the stand that synthetic oil isn't better than the petroleum-based stuff.
Synthetic oil is more expensive, no doubt — up to four times as much as regular. But think of it as insurance against the cost of an engine rebuild. Note that more manufacturers are specifying synthetic oil, particularly in performance models. And if your engine is turbocharged or supercharged, definitely go with synthetic to handle the higher thermal stress. All the experts we spoke to are big fans of synthetic products, not just engine oil but also other fluids in your car, such as the transmission fluid.

Change the transmission fluid

If changing the transmission fluid and filter is specified in your car's maintenance schedule, well, then, take care of it.
But what if no replacement is specified? Increasingly, car manufacturers are either just indicating that the fluid should be checked at intervals or assuring you that the fluid is "lifetime." To which we say, how long is a lifetime? If you're looking for a long lifetime, plan on replacing the transmission fluid at least by 100,000 miles (and there's no harm in doing it earlier).

Keep your car clean

Just as you keep the fluids in your car's critical systems fresh and clean, you should keep your car's exterior clean. Washing road salts and other environmental nasties off your paint and undercarriage at regular intervals will forestall corrosion and faded paint. If your car is going to run a long time, it ought to be nice enough to look at.
But getting up close and personal is also about looking for small problems that could lead to costlier repairs. "Wash your own car," insists Molla. "Get down on your hands and knees. You're going to notice things like cracked lenses, where water is going to get in and cause your expensive headlight assembly to fail."

Be prepared to replace bearings and bushings

It's a given that you'll be replacing what are known as "wear parts": tires, brake pads, timing and accessory belts, and shock absorbers. But as you head for the land of six-figure mileage, there are some other parts you should be looking to replace before they fail. Tackle these fixes proactively to avoid larger repair bills that might lead you to give up on a car before its time.

Summer driving: 10 teen safety tips

Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens and that risk climbs even higher during the summer months. More free time, relaxed parental curfews, and less supervision overall combine to create a higher risk for teen driving accidents and deaths when school is out. In 2009, more teens died in the months of July and August than any other months of the year. Below are 10 key safety tips to help your teen stay safe on the road during the summer months.

1. Buckle up. Compared with other age groups, teens have the lowest rate of seat belt use and the majority of teens involved in fatal crashes are unbelted. Parents need to set a good example by buckling up themselves and making sure teens know about the importance of using seat belts.
2. Put down the phone. Sixteen percent of all teen drivers involved in fatal crashes are distracted. Texting or talking on the phone combined with the inexperience of a teen driver is a recipe for disaster. Set the ground rules early about using phones in the car. The Department of Transportation and Consumer Reports have put together a distracted driving pamphlet outlining six steps parents can take.
3. Limit passengers. Don’t let your teen’s vehicle be the party bus. Friends in the car can be a serious distraction. Limit how many passengers your teen can transport. Most graduated licensing laws already set limits, but make sure you know your state laws or set your own rules. A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that restricting passengers is one area to help reduce fatal teen crashes.
4. Slow it down. Parents are the biggest influence on how teens drive. Teen crashes are more likely to involve speeding, especially with male drivers. Make sure your teen knows that driving above the speed limit can lead to a ticket (which they should pay for), insurance rate increase, or even a deadly crash.
5. Don’t drink and drive. Teens have a greater risk of death in accidents involving alcohol even though they are below the legal drinking age. They may be less likely than adults to drive drunk, but their crash risk is much higher due to their inexperience with both drinking and driving. Make sure your teen is comfortable calling home if they feel they can’t drive or if they are in a situation where a friend is driving drunk. While parents don’t want to condone drinking, it’s best to keep communication open, so a teen can call for help if necessary.
6. Driving at night. In 2009, 17 percent of teenagers' fatalities occurred between 9 p.m. and midnight, and 26 percent occurred between midnight and 6:00 a.m. Reducing night driving is one way to address this crash risk. Parents need to set curfews and be aware of where and when your children are driving.
7. Turn it down. Teens love to listen to music, but it’s important to be able to hear the road noises around you. Also, make sure your teen does not drive with headphones on. Encourage them to turn off the radio and focus on the road. It is important to be aware of not only the sights, but also the sounds of the road, as well.
8. Don’t drive when you don’t have to. If the weather is bad or your teen is tired or upset, don’t let them drive. Taking unnecessary risks just increases your chance of getting into an accident. And talk to your teen about when it rains-the roads will be much slicker, especially in the earliest part of the storm where a thin coating of water, sand and oil can produce very slippery surfaces.
9. Wear comfortable, functional clothing. With the summer here, plenty of teens are walking around in flip flops and while that is fine for the beach, it’s not safe behind the wheel. A flip flop can easily get caught in the brake or accelerator pedal. The same goes for high heels or big boots. Have your teen wear an appropriate pair of shoes behind the wheel and save the fashion statement for later. Sneakers can be left in the car just in case.
10. Make sure your teen has a safe and well maintained car. See to it that the car’s tires have plenty of tread left and that pressures are properly set. Make sure all lights work, the brakes are in good condition, and the air bags are functioning correctly (as in, there are no warning lights on). If you can’t afford a new car, a recent model year vehicle will do.

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Quick and Easy Maintenance Tips!

Battery

Most car batteries today are maintenance-free, sealed and can last more than three years. The first sign your battery should be replaced is often trouble starting the engine. 

Tires

A car tire inflated to 35 pounds per square inch (psi) can lose one psi every month or for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit of temperature change, so your car maintenance checklist should include checking tire pressure. Find the recommended level in the owner’s manual or on a sticker on the driver’s side door jamb. And don’t forget the spare.

Rotate tires every 6,000 miles to prevent uneven wear, replace them when they become worn and have the alignment checked if the car pulls to either side when driving or if you notice uneven tire wear. 

Engine oil

Checking and changing oil is critical to keep today’s engines running properly and efficiently. Follow manufacturer guidelines for changing the lubricant – generally, every 3,000 miles or three to six months.

Check the oil level with the engine off and the car parked on a level surface. Open the hood, remove the dipstick, wipe it clean with a cloth or paper towel, then return it to the oil reservoir. Take it out again and see whether the level is within the acceptable range marked on the dipstick. If you add oil, don’t overfill, which can damage the engine. 

Transmission fluid

Checking the automatic transmission fluid is another vital item on the car maintenance checklist. Look for a reservoir marked ATF (automatic transmission fluid) and follow the same steps as monitoring the oil level – only this time, with the engine running. Follow manufacturer’s recommendations for change intervals, about every 30,000 miles. 

Engine coolant

Replace most engine coolant or antifreeze every 30,000 miles – or every two to three years. Newer formulas, however, may last up to 50,000 miles. To check coolant level, turn the car off and wait for the engine to cool. Locate the coolant reservoir (usually a translucent plastic tank) and eyeball the level of the coolant against the full and low indicators. 

Power steering fluid

Power steering fluid should be changed every three years or 50,000 miles. If you have a power steering fluid reservoir, check the level visually; otherwise, follow the dipstick method. Low power steering fluid may indicate a leak, so have your mechanic take a look. 

Brakes and brake fluid

Check to ensure that brake fluid levels are within tolerance. How often you need to replace brake pads or other components depends on how you drive and typical driving conditions. Warning signs of a brake problem include noise, vibration or “grabbing” when you apply the brakes. Working on your brakes is a job probably best left to the professionals. 

Air filter

Basic car maintenance suggests changing your air filter each year or every 12,000-15,000 miles. A clean air filter can help your engine “breathe” better and improve gas mileage and reduce harmful emissions. 

Fuel filter 

Replace it annually to help prevent debris from clogging your car’s fuel line. 

Windshield wipers and wiper fluid

Windshield wiper care is one of the most neglected basic car care tips. Replace the blades every six to 12 months or whenever the rubber becomes worn. Check the wiper fluid reservoir every week or so and keep it full. 

Headlights and brake lights

With your car turned on and parked, have someone walk around to see that your lights are working – headlights, brake and tail lights, turn signals, etc.

Replacing bulbs in today’s vehicles can be a challenge. Have a mechanic do the job, particularly replacing and aiming headlights. A pro also knows if the problem is a blown fuse, not a burned out bulb.

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