High mileage vehicles are usually referred to as clunkers. But truth be told, the cars today are built more durable and reliable, capable of lasting over 200,000 miles. Of course, this can only be achieved when the car is well-maintained, with the maintenance and services schedules set by the car’s manufacturer religiously followed. However, when it comes to caring for high mileage vehicles, it requires a more strict maintenance and a whole lot of effort. Caring for high mileage vehicles include:
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- Following the recommended tune ups found in your owner’s manual.
- Following the oil change intervals.
- Making sure that the tires are well-maintained.
- Taking care of minor issues before the problem gets worse.
- Always checking, topping off, replacing fluids.
- Checking and replacing belts and filters.
- Washing and waxing the car regularly.
- Caring for the battery.
- Cleaning the fuel system.
Caring for high mileage vehicles is essential to make sure that you can enjoy your car for a long time. If you want to get the most out of your vehicle, keeping it performing smoothly and efficiently for you, then this article can help you. Keep reading so you will find out how you can keep your high mileage vehicle on the road longer!
Caring For High Mileage Vehicles: What Maintenance Should I Do on a High Mileage Car?
Average vehicles are usually driven 12,000 to 15,000 miles each year, anything driven more than that figure is considered high mileage. High mileage vehicles do not necessarily mean that they’re old, but cars in general, usually have a life expectancy of about 200,000 miles. You might be able to achieve this and more if your car is properly maintained, whether you reach this mileage in three years or in ten years.
If you have a high mileage car and you want to use it for a long time since you genuinely love your car and you want to get the most out of it, or maybe you still don’t have a budget to buy a new car yet, then you need to do some extra caring for high mileage vehicles.
You might ask, what maintenance should I do on a high mileage car? Let’s go through each of them.
- Following the recommended tune ups found in your owner’s manual.
Caring for high mileage vehicles includes religiously following the recommended tune ups which can be found in your owner’s manual. You need to check it and be familiar with the recommended tune ups or services your car needs. This way, you will be able to preserve or extend the life of your car.
- Following the oil change intervals.
You need to follow the oil change intervals set by your car manufacturer since they are necessary in maintaining a healthy engine. You should not delay or postpone oil changes schedule. Every car owner should know that oil plays a very important role in the overall function of a car. It keeps the engine components lubricated and protected against heat and friction, which can be very damaging.
If you want your car to last for a long time, then you need to change your oil at the right intervals. Caring for high mileage vehicles also includes switching to or using special high mileage oil when your car passes the 75,000 mile mark. This high mileage oil can help lessen oil consumption, lessen smoke smoke and emission, and minimize oil seepage and leaks.
- Making sure that the tires are well-maintained.
Tires are often overlooked. In fact, some drivers don’t mind them unless they start giving problems or when they become flat. This should not be the case since healthy tires are just as vital as healthy engines.
When you have healthy tires, it can decrease the risk of accidents as well as damaging or wearing out your car’s suspension. This can be done when you have your tires rotated at the recommended interval set by your car manufacturer. During winter, it is also recommended that you use winter tires to get better traction.
Caring for high mileage vehicles means you should still continue to check your tires, their treads, and pressure. It is important to maintain proper air pressure in your tires since it can prolong their life. Plus, it also improves your car’s handling and fuel economy. You need to consult your owner’s manual to get the right tire pressure for your vehicle.
- Taking care of minor issues before the problem gets worse.
If you experience problems in your vehicle, even if it is only a minor one, you need to have it checked and corrected immediately. Catching a problem early and correcting it can prevent a much bigger problem from occurring, which can be very expensive to fix. You should also make it a habit to stay on top of the basic car services such as replacing filters, changing brake pads, and many more.
- Always checking, topping off, replacing fluids.
There are various fluids in your car such as coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and many more. That is why caring for high mileage vehicles includes checking, topping off, and replacing all the car’s fluids regularly.
Each of the car’s fluid has a certain purpose and each has important roles to play in the overall operation of the car. You need to check their levels, and if you notice that they are low, you need to top them off immediately. You should also check for any leaks and make sure that you are following the recommended fluid change intervals. You should consult your owner’s manual to know the right interval or schedule.
- Checking and replacing belts and filters.
Aside from changing the car’s fluids, you should also have your filters changed regularly. Dirty or clogged filters can also do as much damage to your car as low or contaminated fluids. Make it a habit to check or inspect your filters on a regular basis and replace them when needed. You should also inspect your hoses, belts, or clamps and look for any signs of damage. If there is damage on any of these parts, have it replaced immediately.
- Washing and waxing the car regularly.
Caring for high mileage vehicles includes regular waxing and washing of your vehicle. This might sound like a hassle but it should be done if you want to extend your car’s life. This is because high mileage vehicles are more prone to rust and one sure way to prevent rust from developing is by washing and waxing your car regularly. While you’re at it, you should also take time to clean your car’s interior to minimize holes and tears on your seats and carpets.
- Caring for the battery.
Of course, when caring for high mileage vehicles, you should also make sure that the battery is also working well. Without a working car battery, you won’t be able to start your car and go anywhere. You have probably used a couple of batteries on your high mileage vehicle and if you want to use your battery for a long time, you should also take good care of it. Caring for the battery includes cleaning it regularly, checking its electrolyte level, checking or testing its voltage, and adding charge, if needed.
- Cleaning the fuel system.
When caring for high mileage vehicles, you also need to clean the fuel system. One of the components of your fuel system that needs extra attention is the fuel injector. Fuel injectors become faulty over time since it tends to be clogged with dirt and other debris.
When this happens, they won’t be able to deliver proper fuel and air mixture to your engine, which can cause great stress on your engine. This can also lead to a reduced engine performance. That is why caring for high mileage vehicles includes adding the right fuel injector cleaner. This can remove unwanted deposits in your fuel injectors, preventing other issues from occurring.
Caring For High Mileage Vehicles: How Can I Extend the Life of My High Mileage Car?
Caring for high mileage vehicles is a sure way to prolong the life of your car. It allows you to get the most out of it. You might ask, how can I extend the life of my high mileage car? Caring for high mileage vehicles to extend their life is possible when you:
- Continue following the recommended maintenance.
Caring for high mileage vehicles means doing all the maintenance, tune ups, or services set by your manufacturer. It includes doing all the tips listed above, such as replacing oil, filters, tire rotation, belts, hoses, and many more. If you want to know the specific maintenance schedule or intervals of your car, consult your owner’s manual.
- Practice good driving habits.
To ensure that your car will last for a long time without having to deal with major problems, you need to practice good driving habits. You should beware of driving aggressively, doing hard acceleration or rapid accelerating, hard braking or decelerating, and other driving habits that can cause too much stress on your car.
Bad driving habits can lead to unnecessary wear and tear on your vehicle. Caring for high mileage vehicles includes driving gently or calmly. You should practice accelerating slowly and try to avoid having to slam your brakes. This way, you will be able to extend the life of your car and its components.
- Make sure that your car is always clean.
It is important to keep your car’s interior and exterior clean. You should give it a good wash regularly to get rid of any contaminants that may cause rust, particularly on your car’s underside since that area is not protected with paint. You should also wax your car regularly to protect its paint.
- Drive your car longer.
Vehicles are meant to be driven, and we’re not talking about short trips. To maintain your high mileage vehicle and make sure that it will last for a long time, you need to make fewer short trips. If you only drive your car on shorter trips, it can allow water to build up in the engine and exhaust system which can lead to rust.
Short drives can also cause engine sludge since the engine won’t be able to get hot enough to properly burn off the fuel in the oil, engine, and exhaust system. You should drive your car longer to allow it to run at its optimal operating temperature.
Caring For High Mileage Vehicles: What's the Problem with a Car with High Mileage?
Why is caring for high mileage vehicles necessary? What’s the problem with a car with high mileage? Common problems that can occur on high mileage vehicles include:
- Transmission problems
Transmission problems may start to occur when a car hits the 100,000 mile mark. These transmission problems can be corrected by either repairing the faulty components or by replacing the entire transmission. If this is the problem, you might need to consider the condition of your car if it is still worth repairing since replacing a transmission is not cheap. If it is not, you can consider selling your old car to build a budget to buy a new one.
- Engine is burning oil
One of the common problems with high mileage vehicles is worn out piston rings. This can cause your engine to burn more fuel than usual. However, this problem can be prevented if you have been caring for your high mileage vehicle.
- Corrosion
Another problem that can occur on high mileage vehicles is rust or corrosion, especially the ones that are frequently driven in snow or rain. If rust is not prevented during its early days, it can spread and compromise the integrity of your car’s metals or frame.
- Leaking water pump
Water pump leaks usually happen on vehicles with 60,000 to 90,000 miles on them. That is why caring for high mileage vehicles is very important, such as changing coolant regularly, since it can prevent problems such as this from occurring.
Caring for high mileage vehicles needs to be done if you want your high mileage car to last longer. Although it can take some of your time to maintain it, it will be worth it.