Making your car and parts last as long as possible

[amateurbob]

I know most if not all of this information is posted throughout the site but l thought it could be useful to have in a single thread. Besides maintenance what are best practices to make your car and parts last assuming normal maintenance.

For example
1) To make transmission last, don't shift gears until you have come to a complete stop.

2) to make your rack and pinion and pump last (if you have hydraulic power steering) try to minimize turning your wheel to extremes.

3) to make your evap canister last stop on the first click of the nozzle filling your tank.

4) try to minimize short trips (I'm guessing less than 5 miles)... Helps battery and drives off moisture.

5) to slow rust use an rust inhibitor.

These are just few that l can think of. I look forward to other suggestions.

 

[Kurtatron]

Lose as much body fat as possible to reduce unnecessary load on the drivetrain.

 

[dnewton3]

The two things which most vehicles fall victim to:
- accidents
- boredom with the vehicle
Those will take a vehicle out of your garage far, far more often than all the other concerns combined.

Side note: I've seen folks run boutique syns in lease vehicles, knowing full well they have no intention of buying, and yet still insist that nothing but the "best" will do ...

 

[amateurbob]

The two things which most vehicles fall victim to:
- accidents
- boredom with the vehicle
Those will take a vehicle out of your garage far, far more often than all the other concerns combined.

Side note: I've seen folks run boutique syns in lease vehicles, knowing full well they have no intention of buying, and yet still insist that nothing but the "best" will do ...

That's the type of vehicle l want to buy when l need one.

 

[Patman]

My biggest piece of advice for making an engine last longer is to drive gently during the warm up phase.

 

[walterjay]

Avoid jackrabbit stops and starts. Unless you do all highway driving use the severe maintenance schedule for fluids. Use TT fuel.

 

[Passport1]

Same formula for making a marriage last.

1. Adjust to and accept that the current model has foibles and idiosyncracies.
2. Tamp down the lust for a newer model. They are rarely improved, just more complex and expensive.
3. Keeeping and maintaning an older model is far cheaper and less hassle in the long run. Besides nobody really cares what you drive.

 

[PandaBear]

0) Pick a car with proven track record: like a 6 year old car that has no known defect, and buy it from a reputable previous owner you know.

 

[The_Jeff]

- boredom with the vehicle

#1!

Think of an enthusiast car, you probably think of a European sports car, Miata, or Jeep Wrangler. All get maintained (or even rebuilt/ restored) far longer than any appliance vehicle, because someone actually likes it.

 

[CKN]

Avoid jackrabbit stops and starts. Unless you do all highway driving use the severe maintenance schedule for fluids. Use TT fuel.

Zero difference in longevity-IMHO. Fuel system maintenance will be more frequent-yes.

 

[Kestas]

1) To make transmission last, don't shift gears until you have come to a complete stop.

I shift into first just before it comes to a complete stop. Right or wrong, I believe the synchronizers slip past each other more easily when they're moving slowly than if you waited until a full stop.

 

[The_Jeff]

I shift into first just before it comes to a complete stop. Right or wrong, I believe the synchronizers slip past each other more easily when they're moving slowly than if you waited until a full stop.

I leave it in neutral with my foot off the pedal until it's time to move again to save the throwout and crank thrust bearings.

 

[Donald]

My F250 has a 6 speed automatic. No jackrabbit starts and start to slow way before the red light.

My F250 has a boost pressure gauge so I can see how hard I am romping on the gas pedal. And that's less than once a week and most times for 30 seconds or less.

Guess my age!!

 

[RooflessVW]

I know most if not all of this information is posted throughout the site but l thought it could be useful to have in a single thread. Besides maintenance what are best practices to make your car and parts last assuming normal maintenance.

For example
1) To make transmission last, don't shift gears until you have come to a complete stop.

2) to make your rack and pinion and pump last (if you have hydraulic power steering) try to minimize turning your wheel to extremes.

3) to make your evap canister last stop on the first click of the nozzle filling your tank.

4) try to minimize short trips (I'm guessing less than 5 miles)... Helps battery and drives off moisture.

5) to slow rust use an rust inhibitor.

These are just few that l can think of. I look forward to other suggestions.

Cars are made to serve you, not the other way around.

 

[nascarnation]

Lose as much body fat as possible to reduce unnecessary load on the drivetrain.

How long before Amsoil starts selling a GLP-1 formula?

 

[nascarnation]

Same formula for making a marriage last.

1. Adjust to and accept that the current model has foibles and idiosyncracies.
2. Tamp down the lust for a newer model. They are rarely improved, just more complex and expensive.
3. Keeeping and maintaning an older model is far cheaper and less hassle in the long run. Besides nobody really cares what you drive.

This kind of brilliant analysis rarely seen on BITOG. Well done.

 

[Snagglefoot]

I know most if not all of this information is posted throughout the site but l thought it could be useful to have in a single thread. Besides maintenance what are best practices to make your car and parts last assuming normal maintenance.

For example
1) To make transmission last, don't shift gears until you have come to a complete stop.

2) to make your rack and pinion and pump last (if you have hydraulic power steering) try to minimize turning your wheel to extremes.

3) to make your evap canister last stop on the first click of the nozzle filling your tank.

4) try to minimize short trips (I'm guessing less than 5 miles)... Helps battery and drives off moisture.

5) to slow rust use an rust inhibitor.

These are just few that l can think of. I look forward to other suggestions.

I have a contribution that might be too specific, pertaining to 2500 and 3500 series Chevrolet’s. These vehicles have grease fitting. You would be lucky if any shop greased them and there are two fittings that are hidden from view beneath the plastic skid plate. They are on the pitman arm and the idler arm. You pretty much need to remove the skid plate to get at them properly. The tip off is you will get that squealing sound at lock to lock, if they are not greased which of course is hard on the power steering pump.

 

[Marcozi]

The two things which most vehicles fall victim to:
- accidents
- boredom with the vehicle
Those will take a vehicle out of your garage far, far more often than all the other concerns combined.

Side note: I've seen folks run boutique syns in lease vehicles, knowing full well they have no intention of buying, and yet still insist that nothing but the "best" will do ...

Let me add to your list: people driving while gabbing on a cell phone!

 

[Donald]

Basically don't drive like a 17 year old jerk and your car will last a lot longer.

Let's face it at 17 we were all jerks that wanted to be cool (kool).

But at 18 you are a real man. At least Selective Service thought so. I am still 1H according to my draft card.

 

[Snagglefoot]

I have a contribution that might be too specific, pertaining to 2500 and 3500 series Chevrolet’s. These vehicles have grease fitting. You would be lucky if any shop greased them and there are two fittings that are hidden from view beneath the plastic skid plate. They are on the pitman arm and the idler arm. You pretty much need to remove the skid plate to get at them properly. The tip off is you will get that squealing sound at lock to lock, if they are not greased which of course is hard on the power steering pump.

I thought I’d add more info. The Idler Arm Bracket also gets missed and it’s a serious enough problem that GM and other suppliers offer a remote hose kit so you can reach the zerk fitting easier. If at a shop, the technician might not notice the fitting for the bracket.