I Want 200,000 Miles Plus Out of My Car Recommended General Maintenance Schedule Keeping Your Vehicle in Tune What to Do in Case of an Accident Important Items to Carry in Your Vehicle I Want 200,000 Miles Plus Out of My Car With the cost associated with any vehicle it becomes very important to protect that investment. To keep your vehicle dependable, safe and performing at its best is no accident. The average vehicle on the road today is 8 to 10 years old and the average driver drives between 12,000 to 15,000 miles a year. This is why proper care and maintenance is so important. Industry studies have shown it is more economical to properly maintain a vehicle for 100,000 to 200,000 miles than it is to trade in this vehicle every 2 to 4 years. Listed below are some basic vehicle care and maintenance ideas. 1. Purchasing the proper vehicle for your needs, you would not want to buy a half ton truck if you wanted to carry one ton of equipment all the time, or buy a high performance sports car to use in a newspaper route. You need to assess your needs and do your homework before you buy. 2. Use a good grade of fuel and the proper fuel in your vehicle. Most vehicles on the road today are designed to use the regular grade or 87 octane grades. There can be some advantages to using a higher grade fuel or the higher octane levels. To find out what fuel grade is recommended for your vehicle refer to your owner’s manual. Fuel injection systems are used in most vehicles on the road today. The proper fuel is very important. It is also very important to keep the injector clean and keep the intake clean from carbon buildup. A fuel injection service and decarbonization service should be performed every 12 to 24 months. To help keep the fuel injection system clean it is a good idea to add a good fuel injector cleaner and conditioner to your fuel tank every 3,000 to 4,000 miles. A good time to do this is at your oil service intervals. 3. The condition of the exterior and interior of your vehicle will add value when it comes time to trade; as well as make it more pleasurable to drive. There is no logic to the statement “a clean, good looking vehicle performs better,” but it does! I guess that’s human nature. 4. Vehicle maintenance is one of the most important aspects to vehicle safety, longevity, and value. It is also one of the most neglected areas in vehicle care. With any vehicle you will have the normal wear items such as brakes, tires, drive belts, etc; in addition to the needed repairs that accompany any mechanical vehicle from your first wagon you played with as a child to the space shuttle. Every vehicle comes with an owner’s manual which is a good source for maintenance schedules. I think this is a guideline that should be used, but if you are looking for those 100,000 to 200,000 miles plus out of your vehicle you need to improve on that basic maintenance plan. Most mechanical and hydraulic system failures in your vehicles are related to heat or poor lubrication that comes with either normal wear, lack of service or fluid contamination. It is very important to keep all fluids and hydraulic systems at the proper level, clean, free of contamination and moisture build up and serviced properly. You want to keep moving parts lubricated and inspected for wear. Keep all ignition and fuel systems performing properly. This not only adds to the longevity of your vehicle, but also has the hidden advantage of better fuel mileage which will save on fuel cost. That can be a major savings today. Have your vehicle repaired when the problem starts and do not wait until it becomes a major repair problem. This will help with the cost of repairs in most cases. An annual complete comprehensive vehicle inspection will help in all areas above and in the long run, your vehicle will be less costly to operate, more reliable, last longer and you will be driving a safer vehicle; an advantage to everyone on the road today. 5. Find a good professional repair shop that you can trust and build a working relationship with. This is an advantage for you, your family and the repair shop. The repair shop will get to know you, your vehicle, how the vehicle is used, and has the repair history on your vehicle. Vehicle history and the way your vehicle is used can be very important in the maintenance requirements of your vehicle and vehicle longevity. 6. Use the proper oils and fluids in your vehicle. Today’s vehicles use many different types of oils and fluids in their newer or improved systems. The best source for this information is your owner’s manual or a reference guide most repair shops have. It is not recommended to mix some fluids and this may vary from car to car. If you are not sure please consult your manual. (back to top) Recommended General Maintenance Schedule Monthly Inspection: • Inspect all fluid levels (engine oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, windshield washer fluid, etc.) • Inflate tires to proper air pressure, inspect for wear (don’t forget to test the spare tire air pressure) • Clean windows and inspect wiper blades • Inspect all lights for proper operation Yearly Inspection • A complete and comprehensive vehicle inspection to insure vehicle performance • An air conditioning system service to protect the system and insure proper operation. It is common for the A/C system to lose small amounts of freon every year. When this happens the system will also lose oil which lubricates internal parts, also will allow moisture to build up inside the system and cause an acid to form which will corrode and damage internal parts. • A complete vehicle brake system inspection • A battery, starting and charging system test and inspection • Replace fuel filter • Vehicle interior and exterior detail service Every 24,000 to 30,000 miles or 24 months to 36 months - Inspection • Vehicle wheel alignment • Automatic transmission flush and fill service, with transmission filter service • Differential flush and fill service • Manual transmission fluid service • Power steering flush and fill service • ABS / Brake hydraulic system flush and fill service • Cooling system flush and fill service (most vehicles, some vehicles have extended life coolants and should not be mixed) • Fuel injection purge service • Engine decarbonization service • Vehicle performance service / tune-up service (this can vary from 12,000 miles on a older vehicle to 100,000 miles on some newer vehicles) • Replace drive belt and coolant hoses • If your vehicle has a Timing Belt it is very important to service it at the proper time. This is a mileage interval and may vary from 50,000 miles to 120,000 miles. See Suddeth Automotive Services back to top Keeping Your Vehicle in Tune with the Environment Car care is definitely a win-win situation. Besides helping the environment, a properly maintained and operated vehicle will run more efficiently, will be safer, and will last longer - up to 50 percent longer, according to a survey of ASE-certified Master Auto Technicians. The following tips should put you on the road to environmentally conscious car care. • Keep your engine tuned up. A misfiring spark plug can reduce fuel efficiency as much as 30 percent. Follow the service schedules listed in your owner's manual. Replace filters and fluids as recommended. • Check your tires for proper inflation. Underinflation wastes fuel - your engine has to work harder to push the vehicle. Wheels that are out-of-line (as evidenced by uneven tread wear or vehicle pulling) make the engine work harder, too. Properly maintained tires will last longer, meaning fewer scrap tires have to be disposed. • Keep your air conditioner in top condition and have it serviced only by a technician certified competent to handle/recycle refrigerants. • Do-it-yourselfers: dispose of used motor oil, anti-freeze/coolant, tires, and old batteries properly. Many repair facilities accept these items. Or call your local municipal or county government for recycling sites. • Observe speed limit. Mileage decreases sharply above 55 mph. • Drive gently. Avoid sudden accelerations and jerky stop-and-gos. Use cruise control on open highways to keep your speed as steady as possible. • Avoid excessive idling. Shut off engine while waiting for friends and family. Today's vehicles are designed to "warm up" fast, so forget about those long warm-ups on cold winter mornings. • Remove excessive items from the vehicle. Less weight means better mileage. Store luggage/cargo in the trunk rather than on the roof to reduce air drag. Remember, how your car runs, how you drive it, and how its fluids, old parts and tires are disposed of all have serious consequences on the environment. Source: Automotive Service Association (ASA) back to top What to Do in Case of an Accident Most drivers make costly, long-term decision errors immediately following an accident as fear gives way to anger and frustration. Questions race through your head faster than the mind can register them. Who was at fault? Will my car ever be right again? What are my rights and responsibilities? A calm and informed reaction to an accident will reduce your chances for additional grief and expense. • Move your vehicle to a safe place, then stop and identify yourself to the other driver. (Some state or local statutes may require the vehicle be left as is.) If it can’t be moved, turn on the hazard lights. Seek medical help if you or other parties require it, and notify the police. Tell them who you are, where you are, and about any obvious or claimed injuries. • Exchange information with the other driver(s) including driver’s license numbers. Get the driver’s name, address, telephone numbers and name of insurance company. Also, list any passengers and witnesses. • Get names and badge numbers of any police officers who arrive at the scene. If there are injuries or extensive damage, the police should file a report. Ask to get a copy. • Avoid any extensive discussions at the scene about who is responsible for damage. If the other person admits responsibility, offers a money settlement and you accept, any future claim against the driver may be compromised. You or the other party may later find damage and bodily injury not apparent at first. • Write a complete description of the accident as soon as possible. Include weather conditions, estimated speeds, and as much precise information as you can observe. Take photographs if a camera is available. • Have the vehicle towed or driven to a collision repair facility of your choice. • Notify your insurance company of the accident as soon as possible. Source: Automotive Service Association (ASA) back to top Important Items to Carry in Your Vehicle In case of road-side emergencies, accidents or bad weather, always have in your vehicle the following items: • Jumper cables • Pliers, an adjustable wrench and a screwdriver • A first-aid kit • Blankets • A supply of any regularly needed or taken medications • Candles and matches • Sand or kitty litter for climates with snow or ice • Clean water • Canned fruit or nuts and a can opener Source: Automotive Service Association (ASA)