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High Mileage Car Maintenance.
It’s a great feeling when you get a new car, but for some people who are attached to their current vehicle, what’s the best way to keep it running as good as new and avoid it slowly turning into just another old clunker?
Pending an accident or corrosion, most vehicles can last an exceptionally long time if they’re shown proper attention and care.
Understanding your vehicle
Owning a car for a long period of time is like a long term relationship. Eventually, you will know and understand your car and what it needs. If you notice any unusual sounds, smells, vibrations or your pedals feel different than normal, it’s a sure sign that something is wrong. It pays to get your vehicle checked out as soon as you can.
Regular servicing
Regularly scheduled fluid changes will keep your vehicle operating as intended for a long time. Many of the recommended service schedules in vehicle owners books only account for the first 200,000kms of a vehicle’s life, but many of the service items will have a specified service interval. If you stick to these recommendations, there is no reason many vehicles can’t make it well past double that figure.
As vehicles and their engines age, it’s not uncommon for metal components inside the engine to wear and the recommended oil viscosity will change over time. The thinner oil that was originally recommended when your vehicle was new may no longer be appropriate for use and a thicker oil will be needed to ensure adequate lubrication.
Make sure you periodically take your vehicle for a nice long drive to get the engine and transmission up to operating temperature to remove any internal condensation buildup.
Safety Inspections
On older vehicles, safety inspections become more important as rubber hoses, brake hoses, seals and gaskets become old and brittle. A comprehensive bumper-to-bumper inspection can assess old and failing components before you even notice any signs of failure.
Preventative maintenance
If you truly care about your classic (to you) vehicle, there’s no sense in waiting for a service interval or parts to break before getting them replaced. By now, you know your vehicle better than anyone. If you have a bad feeling and your intuition is telling you something isn’t right, you can follow your own preventative maintenance plan to ensure your weekend cruiser is ready to go at a moment’s notice.
Storing out of the weather
Over extended periods of time our harsh Australian conditions can wreak havoc on your car’s exterior, everything from your paint to rubber door and sunroof seals through to your tyres and dashboard are affected by UV damage, temperature and humidity. If you’re unable to store your pride and joy inside a plush air-conditioned garage, storing it out of the direct sunlight is a great start.
Professional detailing
For those truly special vehicles, make friends with your local car detailer. A good detailer will remember your vehicle, and since they specialise in cleaning and protecting the exterior and interior surfaces of your vehicle, they might come across damage or issues that aren’t looked at during a typical mechanical inspection such as cracked interior plastics, stone chips or even frayed seat belts.
Contact the expert team at Donnellans today!
If you have an older vehicle that you absolutely love, bring it to us at Donnellan’s. Our expert staff can provide advice and recommendations as well as offer high-quality tyres, wheels and inspections.
We have 4 convenient locations across the South East Melbourne Region. You can find us at the link below!
Contact us today!
