Tips on How You Can Drive Your Car Up to 200,000 Miles

Getting past 200,000 miles on the odometer is an impressive achievement. With the improved reliability of today’s cars and more advanced car maintenance works recommended by car manufacturers in Singapore, drivers today can get more miles out of their vehicles.

However, not all vehicles are created equal. While some are designed to drive more than 200,000 miles, some just fall short in that aspect. Fortunately, you can improve the chance of your car making 200,000 miles or even more. Just make sure to follow these tips to get the most out of your vehicle.

Every Month

Check your tires and make sure they have the right pressure by engaging the best car services by Merlin Motors in Singapore at Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park. Tires that are properly inflated lead to a smoother—and safer—ride and better gas mileage. Also, don’t forget to check the windshield washer fluid level.

Every 7,500 Miles

For typical driving, this is an interval of around eight months. After every eight months, have the oil and the oil filter changed. Check the coolant level and the windshield wiper to see if they need to be replaced. Also, it’s ideal to keep fresh fluids in your car to help avoid larger issues.

Every 36,000 Miles

Have the cabin air filter replaced by your car repair company as soon as you reach 36,000 miles. This car component aids in minimizing air pollutants from circulating inside the car. Regular replacement of cabin air filter ensures circulation of clean air inside the vehicle.

Every 72,000 Miles

Have a second cabin air filter replacement during this time. Also, let a car servicing expert check the evaporative control system of your car to clean it out of pollutants caused by the gasoline as it evaporates.

Service Check-Ups After 100,000 Miles

When you’re already at 100,000 miles, some important parts of the car start to wear out. Take regular precautionary check-ups for these components to preserve your car’s condition and avoid expensive massive repairs later on.

Cooling System

Hoses that serve the coolant live a hard life. These components have no choice, but to transport high-pressure fluids that can be more than 240oF hot. If you can’t remember when was the last time you had your coolant hoses replaced, now is the best time to do it, especially that you have driven your car over 100,000 miles.

Tires and Brakes

Because the tires are the only car parts that make contact with the pavement, it is critically important to ensure that they are in their best condition. Check the tire pressure, thread depth, and any bulging and cracking on the sidewalls of the tires. Don’t forget the regular tire rotation either. Along with the tires, the brakes require maintenance, too. Have your pads checked to ensure you still have plenty of material left. For disc brakes, have the rotors checked for any signs of wear, warping, or pitting. If there’s any sign of such items, have your rotors turned and your brake pads replaced.

Serpentine Belt

Your car’s serpentine belts are made of special kind of rubber that’s designed to work in hot environment like the engine compartment. However, this doesn’t mean that they can last forever. Take your vehicle to a car repair shop and have the belts inspected or signs of missing ribbing, cracks, or brittleness. If any of these is present, it means that you should replace them with fresh ones.

Water Pump and Timing Belt

Other than changing the oil, replacing the water pump and the timing belt is among the most important car maintenance works that you should do to your vehicle as the repair caused by a busted timing belt is extremely expensive. Statistically, there’s a really good chance for your timing belt to break. Though this maintenance can be a bit expensive, do not delay to have your timing belt changed. And since you’re going through all the hassle of having this component replaced, might as well have your car repair staff change the water pump, too.

More tips to keep your car running for longer:

• Use your sense of sight. Do a ‘pre-flight’ check at least once a week. Walk around your car and visually check if there are any broken parts. Also, take a second to look back at where you have parked every time you pull away and see if there are any fluids left behind.

• Use your sense of hearing. Your eyesight could be the most important sense when driving, but hearing can be the most critical one in keeping your car in its best state. Be extra mindful with the sounds you hear while driving. A vehicle that sounds like it’s going to break apart, probably will soon.

• Use your sense of smell. Your nose can help avoid problems that can endanger your run for 200,000 miles. When checking the oil, for instance, take a sniff. A burnt smell could mean that there’s something wrong with the engine as it is not using enough fuel to operate. Fixing this problem could save you from an expensive engine rebuild.

• Avoid short trips. If there’s one tip we can offer to make your car last longer on its original components, it is to drive your car less for shorter trips. Shorter trips do not let your car reach its standard operating temperature, allowing the slurry of water, fuel, and oil in the crankcase to build up and turn into toxic sludge.

Periodically, have a car servicing company check your car. While you can do some of the minor check-ups on your own, only the experts can tell which components can use another repair and which ones finally needs replacing.