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The average cost of a new car today is $28,400, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA). Even in a booming economy, that’s a sizable financial commitment—second only to buying a home.
This is why so many motorists are keeping their cars longer than ever before. The average car on U.S. roadways is now more than 9 years old, and two-thirds of vehicles have more than 75,000 miles on the odometer. The good news is that cars are more reliable than ever before, and consumers should expect their vehicles to easily last 150,000 miles or more.
The key is proper care, but many of the maintenance schedules in your owner’s manuals stop at 100,000 to 110,000 miles. Obviously, this doesn’t mean you’re all through with maintenance. In fact, it’s more important to stay on top of routine maintenance as your car ages. If your owner’s manual stops at a given mileage, just extend the service intervals out.
For example, a service that’s recommended every 15,000 miles should be performed at 15,000, 30,000, 45,000, 60,000 miles…and then 75,000, 90,000, 105,000, 120,000 miles and so on. Because of the additional stress older engines experience, the severe service maintenance schedule is more appropriate than the regular schedule. You’ll also want to ensure your technician is watching out for leaks because seals and gaskets dry out over time and don’t hold the fluids as well as they used to.
Another proactive step you can take to really help your high mileage vehicle is to begin using high mileage formulation fluids. There are special engine oils, coolants, transmission and power steering fluids that are formulated for cars that have a few clicks on the odometer. For example, high mileage oil is designed to condition seals and gaskets, reduce wear and avoid premature burn off. Older engines are dirtier inside, and dirty engines contaminate their oil faster. High mileage oil has special additives that clean the engine, removing sludge deposits over time. The result is less stress on the engine, better fuel economy and excellent wear protection.
Studies have even shown that using high mileage fluids early will actually prevent some of the problems of high mileage vehicles. Once you hit 50,000 miles, consider stepping up to high mileage formulations. These fluids cost a bit more than standard fluids because of the additional additives, but they can be worth their weight in gold in terms of preventing repair costs down the road. And even with slightly higher maintenance costs, it’s way cheaper than a new car payment!
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