If you have a vehicle that has over 100k miles, it means that you have probably taken care of well so far. Now, you have to begin treating it like you would any senior citizen. Spark plugs, timing belt, fuel and water pumps are some of the parts that could fail. Begin by having a trusted mechanic check all of these for wear if you plan to keep the vehicle. Remember the rule that you should budget about $200 a month for vehicle maintenance, and this will cover replacement of these items should they require it. Continuing regular oil changes every 3-5k miles is crucial. The higher value is if you are using synthetic oil. Going beyond that guideline will put your engine at risk. Oil is the life blood of an engine, and prevents excess wear. Extreme driving conditions also put a strain on the vehicle. Most people don’t realize that city driving is the most extreme that you can do, because of the many stop and go situations. I advise my clients to always remember “tires & brakes”. No matter how well your engine is performing, if your car will not stop when you need it to, the results are obvious. Check your tire pressure once a month, rotate your tires at every other oil change, and have your brakes inspected at every tire rotation. Just being aware of the health of your vehicle can extend its life. The biggest mistake people make is only to address their car when there is a problem. Walk around it every week or so and check that all your lights are working and that your tires are not wearing badly. Don’t wait, perform your maintenance as a check up against future problems. Replacing a wearing part is much cheaper than waiting for it to fail.

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Most people do not think about how much money rushing around can cost them.  The biggest cost is in gas mileage and more money at the pump.  Keeping your vehicle at a steady, reasonable speed can increase your mileage by two to three miles per gallon.  When you make that jack rabbit start at a red light, chances are you will hit the next one red as well.  Not only that, but you increase the stress on your engine and tires by making these sudden lurches.  When someone asks what kind of driving conditions you are in most of the time, people respond based on how quickly they get where they are going.  However, the truth of the matter is that the most extreme conditions are those where you are in heavy traffic with a a lot of stop and go.  That makes driving in the city the most severe conditions your car will encounter.  Most drivers I see are right on the bumper of the car in front of them, and constantly on the brakes.  Think about it!  What wears our brake pads - using them.  So, the next time you are in a hurry, remember, slow and steady wins the race and you car will last a lot longer.  The constant drain of money for gas, tires, and brakes is not worth getting somewhere two minutes earlier.

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