11 Ways to Make Your Car Last (Almost) Forever, According to a Car Expert

For many people, a car is their most expensive purchase after their home. It makes sense to find ways to get as many years and miles out of it as possible.

Illustration by The Epoch Times, Shutterstock

According to a survey conducted by insurance comparison website The Zebra in April, Americans keep a vehicle for about eight years, with the average age of vehicles in the United States being 12 1/2 years old. This supports a report by Consumer Reports that states that cars should be able to provide 200,000 miles of service, if not more.

When asked how to make any vehicle last as long as possible, Lauren Fix, host of the Car Coach Reports YouTube channel and co-host of the His Turn Her Turn YouTube channel, told The Epoch Times, “The best way to get more miles from your car is when something is broken, don’t wait to fix it.” Ms. Fix should know—she started working on cars at age 10, was racing by 16, and even became Oprah’s automotive expert and a television car expert.

“Being able to do the work yourself or finding a good mechanic is a must,” she said.

That being said, here are 11 tasks that Ms. Fix suggests you perform regularly to make your car last as long as possible.

Change the Fluids

When asked where a car owner should start, she advised, “Changing all the fluids when needed and following the maintenance schedule are the most important part of keeping any vehicle running for a long time.”

The most important fluids to monitor and keep topped off include automatic transmission fluid, coolant, power steering fluid, and brake fluid. Differential fluid is also an important fluid, but one that rarely runs low, and it is not easy to check without the vehicle on a lift. Allowing any of these to run low can lead to damage and costly repairs.

Some vehicles will display a warning light if any of these are low, while others require the owner to check them manually. The car’s owner’s manual will provide information on how often they need to be changed.

Check all fluids in your car at least every month or after a long drive, topping them off or replacing them as necessary. Kritchai7752/Shutterstock

Keep the Exterior Clean

Not all maintenance involves wrenches. Ms. Fix said: “Start with what you see most often: the exterior. The easiest way to keep your vehicle looking its best is to wash it once a week with car soap. Never use dish soap, because it strips the car of all the wax and can dry out the paint.” She also cautioned against automated car washes, since they can damage the paint and snag roof racks.

Instead, she suggests hand-washing because it’s “the best option when the weather allows it.” But don’t skimp on washing the exterior when winter rolls around.

“In cold climates,” she said, “roads are sometimes de-iced using salt, brine, or magnesium chloride, all of which are corrosive to metals and must be removed as soon as possible.”

Wax Monthly

You can wax your vehicle with polish products commonly sold by retailers.

Once the exterior is clean, take the maintenance a step further by waxing. “A good coat of paste wax once a month is great protection,” Ms. Fix said. “If you want to invest more, a ceramic coating and paint protection is what we use on all our vehicles. It’s pricey, but the paint will look new as long as you keep it clean with the proper products.”

Alternatively, a PTFE polish is easier to apply, less expensive, and doesn’t require special cleaners, all while providing long-term protection and shine.

Applying a protective polish is about more than adding shine; it helps protect the paint by repelling UV rays, dirty water, and mud. Nor Gal/Shutterstock

Keep It Covered

The most effective way to protect a car’s exterior is to keep it in the garage, but for many, this may not be possible. A high-quality car cover is the next best option, providing protection against damaging UV rays as well as from dust and bird droppings.

A car cover shields a car from the sun and bird droppings that can prematurely age the paint, while keeping the interior cooler and less prone to heat-related damage. Philip Lange/Shuttesrtock

Clean the Interior

Regularly clean with a leather conditioner.

Keeping the interior clean pays off in the long run. Dirt, spills, and general wear all take a toll on seats, carpeting, headliner, the dashboard, and all other surfaces. Ms. Fix warns against cleaning the car interior with household products, as these can damage vinyl or leather surfaces. Instead, she recommends using specialized cleaning products.

“If you have real leather seats, dashboards, door panels, and armrests, use a leather cleaner and regularly apply a conditioner specifically made for leather,” she advised. “Don’t use ammonia-based products on car leather surfaces, or they will dry out and can crack.”

Oil the Engine

Ms. Fix next addressed the part of the vehicle that keeps it going: the engine.

“The heart of any car is the engine, and the blood is the oil. I prefer using full synthetic oils in my vehicles,” she said. “Even though it costs a small bit more, the lubrication is, in my opinion, superior. Compared to traditional oils, synthetic fluids offer slightly better fuel economy, which helps make up for their higher cost.”

Replace the oil as recommended by your owner’s manual, and address it immediately if the car’s low oil light on the instrument panel turns on. Some vehicles allow the oil level to be checked via an onboard diagnostics system, while others require the vehicle to be parked on a level surface, the engine turned off and allowed to cool a bit, and the oil level checked via a traditional dipstick.

Ms. Fix cautioned against adding too much oil. “Never exceed the recommended amount of engine oil as shown in the car’s owner’s manual. In this case, too much of a good thing—engine oil—can be very bad for the engine,” she said.

Make a note on your calendar to change the oil regularly, and plan to replace filters and spark plugs, too.

Run Diagnostics

“If you want the car to last, there’s another light to pay attention to—the check engine light,” Ms. Fix told The Epoch Times. “Don’t think you can ignore it and it will just go out; that’s not a great idea because you don’t know what it is signaling. Invest in a basic Onboard Diagnostic tool, called an OBD scanner. These can be purchased for as little as $30.”

When a check engine light illuminates, plug the OBD scanner into the port—which is usually under the dash and the steering wheel—and press the “read” button to get the code. Next, enter the code number into an internet search engine to determine the problem. Codes can be minor, such as P0457, which indicates a loose gas cap, or P0300, indicating the cylinders are misfiring.

Invest in a multimeter and an Onboard Diagnostic (OBD) code reader that can help you identify engine problems and troubleshoot electrical issues. Me 3645 Studio/Getty Images

More mechanically inclined owners may consider an advanced diagnostics system similar to what car dealerships use. Ranging in price from several hundred dollars to several thousand, these systems are either standalone units or utilize software loaded onto a laptop computer. In both cases, they are connected to the vehicle’s OBD port to access very detailed vehicle conditions that otherwise could be difficult to diagnose, such as a loose brake wear indicator cable on a specific wheel.

Even if the owner decides to let a professional car tech do the work, by using a diagnostic computer, they have the comfort of knowing it was a necessary repair.

While many car owners enjoy doing most of their own maintenance, sometimes it’s best to turn to a trained, experienced tech for complex repairs or upgrades. Quality Stock Arts/Shutterstock

Inspect the Electrical System

In addition to taking care of the engine, Ms. Fix advises keeping a watchful eye on the electrical system.

“A vehicle’s electrical system typically holds up well over the years,” she said. “To help protect it, avoid flooded roads and take steps to keep rodents out of the garage. Water can cause shorts or corrosion. Rats and mice sometimes chew on wiring because the coverings taste sweet to them.”

To avoid a small problem becoming a larger one, conduct a quick visual inspection once a month to check for corrosion and chewed wires.

Watch the Transmission

The transmission is another part of the vehicle that works hard and needs to be properly maintained.

“A vehicle’s transmission applies the power from the engine to the wheels, and is easy to take for granted,” she said. “If you’re having transmission issues, such as erratic shifting, a burning odor, or difficulty getting into gear, you need to take it to a professional, as this portion of the car can be beyond the skill sets of most owners.”

However, there are a few things the owner can do, such as keeping the fluid levels topped off and sticking to the recommended service schedule.

Promptly identifying and repairing any mechanical problems can save you from a roadside breakdown. urbazon/Getty Images

Don’t Ignore the Suspension

A vehicle’s suspension and related components eventually begin to show signs of wear when riding over a rough road.

“If the ride becomes overly bouncy or rough, or you notice handling issues while driving straight or taking a corner, these are warning signs that you should not ignore,” Ms. Fix said. “Inspect the car’s suspension components, from springs, to shocks, and struts, or take it to your trusted mechanic to get it fixed.”

Refer to the vehicle’s owner’s manual to know when to schedule or perform repairs to suspension system components. Mr.Music/Shutterstock

Flush the Brake Fluid

For a car to run right, it has to be able to stop.

“Brakes are the most important safety item to never overlook,” she said. “Make sure that you flush the brake fluid every two years, which is actually a pretty easy task if you have the right tools, and keep on top of the brake pad wear, being aware of squeals that indicate rotor wear. All this will keep you safer on the road.”

The best way to make a car last longer? Give it some quality time and pay attention to what it’s telling you.