June 12, 2022
4 Ways of Making Your Old Auto Run Like Brand-New Again
Photo by Maria Tyutina under Pexels License
Why spend thousands of dollars to purchase a new car when you can still keep your old ride in tiptop shape? Just because it has hit the 100,000-mile mark, or probably close to it, doesn’t mean that it’s no longer worth driving.
Today, it’s becoming more common to see vehicles running on the road even if they’re already high mileage. The average age of a car in the United States rose to 12.1 years in 2021, research shows. The average age was 9.6 years in 2002.
You might be surprised to learn that your odometer can reach 200,000 or even 300,000 miles! The secret? Proper auto maintenance.
Remember that as your car gets older, it will need more attention from you. Maintaining it regularly can make all the difference. Before you know it, you’ll feel as if you’re driving a brand-new car.
So, how can you make that happen? How can you make a high-mileage car run like new? Veteran Car Donations offers four ways of achieving that:
- Drive calmly.
If you’re an aggressive driver, or you have this habit of accelerating or decelerating rapidly, it’s time to stop it. Such behavior will add extra wear and tear to your car.
On the other hand, driving at a steady pace and accelerating slowly can extend the life of your high-mileage vehicle. During cold days, make sure to keep the speed lower for the first couple of minutes of driving until the oil has warmed up.
- Make fewer short trips.
Short trips can shorten your battery’s lifespan. Less heat resulting from driving shorter distances may also stop the engine oil from reaching its optimal temperature and viscosity. Thus, you’ll have a motor with a less efficient operating temperature. Also, shorter drives can affect your engine oil by not allowing contaminants to evaporate efficiently.
Instead of driving to a nearby place, you better walk or bike your way to it. A little cardio exercise is always good for the health. However, if you need to use your vehicle for short errands, you can have a longer trip by combining them to allow your car’s engine oil to achieve its optimal operating temperature.
- Keep your car neat and clean.
Giving your high-mileage car a regular wash can keep both its interior and exterior in great shape. It eliminates contaminants and stops rust from taking over. To preserve the carpet and upholstery and keep them free of dirt and dust, vacuum the interior thoroughly.
- Maintain your car regularly.
Follow a regular high mileage maintenance schedule. You don’t need to wait until your car hits a hundred thousand miles. Any vehicle that has passed the 60,000-mile mark is considered high mileage. That said, here’s what you should do as soon as your car hits 60,000 miles:
- Check your oil.
You need to check your oil at least once a month. However, for a high-mileage car, you might need to do it twice a month. You can also use a special oil designed to prevent engine wear and tear.
- Check your tires.
Deflated or worn-out tires can result in a wide range of issues. If your car has already logged a lot of miles, you should get your tires checked regularly to make sure they’re still in good condition.
- Check your brakes.
Taking care of your brakes is vital since they’re responsible for your safety. Once they get compromised, you’ll put yourself at risk for a serious accident. Keep an eye on them as your mileage increases, as excessive use can cause them to wear out quickly.
- Check your coolant.
As with engine oil, you need to check your coolant level every so often. Failure to notice low coolant levels could cause your car to overheat. Worse, it could lead to irreversible damage that you could have avoided if only you paid attention to it.
- Get a transmission fluid change.
A good rule of thumb is to get your transmission fluid changed every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. That way, you’ll save yourself from the costly consequences of having dirty and grimy fluid that will fail to lubricate and disperse heat very well.
- Replace your air filter.
Many drivers tend to forget about their air filter because it’s not one of those things that require constant attention, which is why we’re reminding you about it. As soon as your car becomes a member of the high-mileage club, take it to the auto repair shop to get a new air filter.
- Wax your car’s exterior.
There’s more to waxing than just making your vehicle look fresh and brand-new. It also helps prevent damage from rust and other weather-related issues.
Looking for the Best Way to Dispose of Your Unwanted Car?
When your ancient car no longer satisfies you, when it has become prone to breakdowns, you have no other choice but to dispose of it. If you’re thinking of selling it, you’ll likely have a hard time looking for a buyer, considering its unappealing condition. Not only that, but you may also have to spend a lot in having that vehicle repaired to make it sellable, which could bust your wallet.
Here’s a much better option: Hand over that vehicle to us at Veteran Car Donations. In doing so, you’ll help uplift the lives of the disadvantaged and suffering veterans in your local area.
We’ll fix your vehicle before selling it through an auction, with the proceeds handed over to some of the leading veteran nonprofit organizations in our country that are in partnership with us. These IRS-approved 501(c)(3) nonprofits are dedicated to helping former U.S. service members who are suffering from homelessness, chronic unemployment, disabilities, and illnesses, including mental health conditions.
They use the funding we give to provide deserving veterans with free quality health care, psychotherapy services, financial aid, family support, housing assistance, educational scholarships, employment opportunities, and many other benefits.
As a donor, you’ll have the privilege of enjoying a fast and free towing service, which we offer our donors anywhere in the United States. Plus, you’ll be entitled to the highest possible tax deduction in the next tax season.
Best of all, you’ll have the most satisfying donating experience, knowing that you’re giving back to the brave men and women who risked their lives to guarantee our liberties and ensure our nation’s security.
We’ll gladly take your car, truck, van, RV, boat, or almost any other type of vehicle regardless of its age or condition.
To learn more about our vehicle donation program, including our quick and easy donation process, feel free to visit our FAQs page. For inquiries or concerns, call us anytime through our toll-free hotline at 877-594-5822 or write to us here.
Bring Hope to Our Suffering Heroes Today!
Photo by Connor Kelley under Pexels License
It only takes a simple vehicle donation to make a lasting impact on the lives of our hurting heroes in your area. Call Veteran Car Donations at 877-594-5822 or fill out our secure online donation form now!
Last Updated: March 8th, 2023