At Car Care LLC 307-234-4431 we've had a lot of CASPER customers asking how they can make their vehicles last longer. These questions are actually a reflection of a trend that's been building for several years in WY. The median age of personal vehicles is now over nine years. And 33 percent of all vehicles on the road have over 75,000 miles (120,000 km) on them. It looks like it's going to keep heading in that direction for a while. With high fuel prices, a lot of WY folks are putting off buying a new car.
So let's say you're one of the average in the CASPER area; you've got a nine-year-old car with 80,000 miles (130,000 km) on the odometer. What can you do to make it last another year or two?
Let's start with the premise that there's no reason that a modern car can't run for 200,000 miles (320,000 km) with proper care in CASPER. The engineering and manufacturing quality is there.
Of course, some parts will wear out along the way, but there's no reason for a catastrophic meltdown if CASPER drivers stay on top of their recommended car maintenance. The maintenance schedule in some vehicle manufacturer's owner's manuals runs out at 60,000 miles (100,000 km) or so: how do CASPER vehicle owners know what to do when they're way past that?
It is a challenge, for example: If a service is recommended every 15,000 miles (24,000 km) for the first 60,000 miles (100,000 km), you can just keep getting it done at least every 15,000 miles (24,000 km) after you hit 60,000 miles (100,000 km). But, it gets more complicated because older engines lose some efficiency, are dirtier inside and are just more stressed. That means it's very important to not miss any scheduled services. Skipping just one oil change at Car Care LLC 307-234-4431 in CASPER, for example, leaves an opportunity for sludge to build up. Talk to your service advisor at Car Care LLC 307-234-4431 for more details.
So all the usual things like oil changes, transmission service, coolant service, brakes, power steering, fuel system cleaning – all that stuff needs to be maintained. People responsible for fleet vehicles around CASPER are sticklers for scheduled maintenance. They know that money spent on maintenance saves them three ways:
Having the oil changed may be the most important thing CASPER drivers can do. A full-service oil change at Car Care LLC 307-234-4431 means that all of your other fluids get topped off so they are never low enough to cause damage. It also gives your friendly and knowledgeable Car Care LLC 307-234-4431 service advisor a chance to spot problems in the early stages so that you can fix them before they get worse. And it gives you a touch point with an automotive professional along the way to remind you of things that aren't scheduled as often – things like differential service and timing belt replacement.
If you live in the CASPER area and have an older vehicle, you may need to follow the severe service maintenance schedule. Check your owner's manual and talk with us at Car Care LLC 307-234-4431. Conditions inside an older engine, transmission and cooling system can arguably be considered severe – so shorter intervals could well be called for.
And, the team at Car Care LLC 307-234-4431 strongly encourages CASPER drivers to consider using high mileage formulation fluids. They're fluids like engine oil, transmission fluid and coolant that are formulated for older engines. They have special additives to clean deposits, and to condition and restore seals and gaskets that dry out with age. Some CASPER auto owners start using higher mileage formulations at around 50,000 miles (80,000 km) as a preventive measure.
Of course you also want to still look marvelous in your older car as you drive around CASPER. Salt and road grime wreak havoc on your paint job and can lead to body rust – so regular washing is very important. Also, a good quality waxing is recommended at least twice a year.
Give us a call for more information:
Car Care LLC 307-234-4431
701 W YELLOWSTONE HWY
CASPER, WY 82601
307-234-4431