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Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

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How To Care For a Car Over 100,000 Miles

December 18, 2022 by Denver Express Car Care

According to the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, the average number of miles driven by car owners hovers around 14,000 miles per year, or about 40 miles per day. 

Cars today are better built, meaning they can last longer than cars built a few decades ago. Because cars are also more expensive, consumers choose to keep their vehicles 10.5 years for cars and 13.6 years for pickups. 

Will you watch your car’s speedometer move to 100,000 miles or more? If you see yourself in this article, your answer is probably: Yes. 

Car care changes once your vehicle hits 100,000 miles. That moves it up into the “high mileage” category. There’s still plenty of wear left on your vehicle, providing it’s well maintained throughout its life. 

How To Care For a Car Over 100,000 Miles

What happens as a car ages

With excellent care and maintenance, today’s cars can easily see 200,000 miles or more. 

It’s important to note that age alone doesn’t indicate the reliability of a car. A car sitting in a garage for 5 years will be different from a car driven on average 14,000 miles to work each day. Mileage is often a better indicator of condition, controlling your approach to regular maintenance. 

While your car’s owner’s manual suggests when key components need replacing, it’s important to consider the way you drive when you set up your maintenance schedule. Certain components, such as hoses and gaskets, have a predictable lifespan. They will need replacing with the passage of time. 

Other components don’t rely on age and mileage as much, such as the engine. With proper maintenance, it can continue to last for years to come. 

As your vehicle moves past 100,000 miles, minor issues may creep up faster, turning into full-blown problems without fast action. That’s why it’s more important with high mileage vehicles to stick with a schedule and act quickly whenever you detect a problem. 

Consider this maintenance list as you set up your own timetable to ensure your high mileage car makes it another 100,000 miles. 

Maintenance care for cars with more than 100,000 miles

Once your car hits 100,000 miles, you’ll have to follow a maintenance schedule more closely than you did in the past. This includes:

Prioritize fluid changes

Car owners learn early on that motor oil is the lifeblood of a car, and it’s important to change every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. It becomes more crucial the older the car is, to ensure your engine is lubricated, cool, and in good working condition. Driving with buildup anywhere within the system can damage the different components in the engine compartment. Err on the side of changing the oil more frequently for best results. 

Now that your vehicle has hit 100,000 miles, it’s also important to pay attention to other fluids too. It’s recommended that you have a mechanic evaluate other fluids, such as:

  • Transmission fluid
  • Coolant
  • Power steering fluid
  • Brake fluid

Depending on your vehicle, certain fluids are stored in sealed containers, which makes replacement unnecessary. If it needs replacing, it’s a systems problem and you’ll be replacing more than the fluid. This is a good time to check your owner’s manual and familiarize yourself with each system and what to expect to maintain it. You can also work with a reputable mechanic to get clear and proper procedures for car health and maintenance. 

Minor repairs to ward off major issues

Each system is built from various parts. Your car is built from more than 10,000 parts, each playing an important role in a car’s overall health. 

To keep your car running well, make it standard practice to replace individual parts as they wear out. Keep an eye on things like:

  • Filters 
  • Belts
  • Hoses
  • Gaskets
  • Spark plugs
  • Shocks and struts

Today’s technology makes it easier than ever before. If you notice a dashboard light, alerting you to a problem, don’t ignore it. It’s a surefire way to let minor problems grow quickly into more expensive issues. 

One of the best ways to prevent big issues, especially as your car ages, is to schedule preventive maintenance items to avoid failure at inopportune times. If you work with the same mechanic throughout the year, they can help create a schedule that keeps your car in good condition while putting less strain on your wallet. 

Tires and brakes

Your tires are the only component that connects to the surface. It takes every bump in the road, and adjusts based on weather conditions for the day. That makes your tires one of the most vital components to ensure they are operating well. 

Start with regular security checks. This involves observing each tire from time to time, looking for wear marks, cracking, bulging. Pay attention if you’re alerted to over or underinflation and fix it as soon as possible. You should also get your tires balanced and aligned on a strict schedule too. 

Your tires are connected to the brake system, providing safety and security for the vehicle and the passengers. Like other components, brake maintenance will depend on how often you drive and how you drive your car. Brake pads are the most frequently replaced, somewhere between 25,000 and 65,000 miles. 

If your brake pads wear too low, they can damage rotors and calipers, which are higher priced expenses. Therefore it’s worth your time to ensure the brake pads are in optimal condition, and to replace them before they wear down. Bring it in for a brake inspection if you have any questions. 

Here’s to the next 100,000

Your car made it to 100,000 because of your due diligence. With a proper maintenance schedule and a little TLC, it could make it to 200,000. 

Car maintenance after 100,000 miles should be an essential part of your process to keep your vehicle running well. 

How can we help you keep your car in good working condition? 

Filed Under: Car Maintenance, Tips & Tricks Tagged With: 000 Miles, Car Care Over 100

Do You Really Need To Change Motor Oil Every 3,000 Miles?

September 4, 2020 by Denver Express Car Care

Driving a car means you have to perform a few maintenance tasks along the way to keep it running well. We know we have to fill it up with gas, or it will die. We understand motor oil is necessary to keep the engine running. We need new tires, or we put the passengers inside the cabin at risk.

But when?

Everything comes with a warning sign. As that little needle gets closer to E, you’re aware if you don’t stop at a gas station, you’ll be stranded along the side of the road.

Popular guidance tells you to replace the oil in your car every 3,000 miles. But is that the best advice?

Do you need to change your motor oil every 3,000 miles, or is there some other way to evaluate when it’s needed?

What motor oil does

What does motor oil do inside your vehicle? Most of us know that motor oil keeps your car running, but it does a lot more than that.

Today’s motor oil is a complex mixture of oils and additives that accomplish a variety of things under the hood. It:

  • Lubricates moving parts
  • Helps reduce engine wear
  • Removes dirt and contaminants from the oil
  • Cools engine parts
  • Enhances fuel efficiency
  • Protects the engine against heat and cold
  • Helps protect the emission system

Do You Really Need To Change Motor Oil Every 3,000 Miles?Without the proper motor oil inside your vehicle, it’ll quickly wear down various parts.

Every time you start up your car, the combustion process degrades your motor oil. It adds contaminates to the oil supply, which over time, builds up. In the beginning, motor oil can handle it without issue. But as it wears, it continues to break down, turning into sludge that can harm your engine.

That’s a lot for a few cans of motor oil to handle. That’s also why it’s essential to change it out regularly.

But is it important to change motor oil every 3,000 miles?

Now that you know why changing out motor oil is important, let’s get back to the question of how often.

It doesn’t take a lot of searching online to discover there are many different views on how often you should change out your motor oil. But who’s right?

Start by looking at the source of information.

Quick-lube places will tell you to change your oil every 3,000 miles. They even give you little stickers as a reminder.

It’s important to consider the source, however, before you take their advice. Quick-lube stores offer one service: motor oil changes. That means they have a vested interest in getting you in as much as they possibly can. They are also usually sponsored by a particular brand of motor oil. Again, it’s all about the sales.

Another resource to look at is your own vehicle’s manufacturer. If you check your owner’s manual, you’ll likely find they make their own recommendations. With today’s technology, a lot of them recommend an oil change every 5,000 to 7,500 miles.

That’s a lot different than the 3,000 miles.

But there’s another thing to consider. In most cases, it’s not about how many miles you drive, it’s also about the timeframe between oil changes. For some drivers, it may take a year or more to hit the 3,000 miles. Others may hit that mile marker in a matter of days.

Driver A works from home and only takes their car out to run errands. They drive ten miles or less at a time, with constant starting and stopping. With frequent stops, the motor oil never heats up enough to boil off the moisture condensation. That means more engine wear over time. They shouldn’t pay attention to the 3,000 rule, but should instead change it out twice a year or so.

Driver B has a long commute, driving more than 20 miles one way that consists of mostly highway driving. With this slow and steady drive time, they could easily push the upper edge of what their vehicle’s manufacturer recommends.

In both cases, as the car ages, more frequent oil changes may be in order. Remember, the key to keeping your engine running well is clean performing motor oil. It’s one of the least expensive ways to ensure your car stays running smoothly.

What type of motor oil should I use?

All motor oil is not the same. Which motor oil you use in your car should be determined by a variety of factors, including the climate you live in, your driving habits, as well as the age of your vehicle.

When you bring your vehicle into our service station for an oil change, you can discuss which type of oil you prefer to use for your engine. We’re here to give you advice every step of the way.

In general, there are four types of motor oil:

Synthetic motor oil – this is ideal for high performance vehicles. It provides higher viscosity levels and helps fight oil sludge.

Synthetic blend motor oil – this is becoming increasingly popular as it combines both conventional motor oil with synthetic. It offers extra resistance to oxidation, and more protection against lower temperatures.

Conventional motor oil – this is ideal for older models cars that have operated on this type of motor oil for years.

High mileage motor oil – This is specifically blended for vehicles that have exceeded 75,000 miles. It helps minimize leaks and reduces emissions.

When was the last time you changed your motor oil?

To work out a plan that works well with your vehicle, talk with one of our mechanics today. We can give advice on how often it should be replaced, and what type of motor oil to add to your vehicle’s system each visit.

Filed Under: Car Maintenance, Oil Change Tagged With: 000 Miles, Change Motor Oil Every 3

Express Car Care
4200 E. Evans Ave. Denver, CO (map)
Phone: (303) 691-2760
Located just southeast of the Colorado Light Rail station

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