My Car Made it to 300,000 Miles, Will Yours ?

Nowaday cars are built with better technology, parts and materials so if they are taken care of properly they will go many more miles than cars of the past. The key is “taken care of properly.”

My Scion XB (build by Toyota) just went over the 300,000 mile mark. How could this happen ? Regular preventive maintenance over the years has paid off for me and it can for you to. My cars still runs fantastic.

Here are tips for getting those extra years out of your car and saving money in the long run.

1 - Change oil regularly, every 3000 - 5000 miles (longer if using synthetic, 7500)

2 - Have all fluid levels checked every few months when serviced (Transmission, brake, coolant and power steering)

3 -  Fluid flushes (Transmission, brake and power steering flushes.) These fluids breakdown contaminated by impurities, dirt, moisture and corrosive properties that cause these systems to have expensive problems if not flushed.

4 - Change air filter (Usually every 6 months, your car will run better )

5 - Check tire pressure and wheels (Properly inflated tires give you better gas millage, uneven wear from being out of balance or alignment causes vibration that can cause stress on the car's suspension).

6 -  Schedule twice a year safety inspection, more often if you do a lot of driving. (We perform a safety inspection with every oil change)

7 - Protect your car's exterior and interior. (Have your car waxed twice a year and keep the dirt and grime from the inside. This will increase your car’s value when it’s time to sell and it just feels better)

8 - Fix the small issues now (Small issues with your car often turn into expensive repairs if they are not taken care of in a timely manner. (coolant leaks, oil leaks...)

9 - Know your car (be sure to glance through your owner's manual to get an idea about your scheduled maintenance, as always we will be glad to help you with your scheduled maintenance)

The freedom of not having a car payment is awesome. Yes, my vehicle has repairs from time to time however it is much cheaper than a new car payment for the next 4 - 6 years. It used to be if your car had over 100,000 miles it was time to get a new one. That's just a start on today's vehicles.  We service many cars with 200,000 - 400,000 miles. Regular service and maintenance is the key.

Do You Drive with Dirty Oil in Your Car?

Probably Not ! During the life of your car we all have our oil changed regularly because we know a vehicle running on dirty oil does not run as well, gets less gas mileage and will break down more often with costly repairs. The same thought process follows with power steering, transmission and brake flushes. You wouldn’t drive your car with dirty oil so why would you drive your car with dirty power steering, transmission and brake fluid ? Dirty fluid is dirty fluid. Below is some helpful information on the benefits having your fluids flushed.

Power Steering Flush

• Power steering fluid flush should be done every 30,000 miles.
• Insures proper lubrication of your power steering unit and its parts
• Over time the fluid becomes burnt, discolored, oxidized and tiny metal flakes from wear runs throughout the system causing damage
• Dirty fluid is thicker than clean fluid causing the components to work harder causing premature failure of the power steering system. (hoses, seals, pump, steering rack)
• Flushing will allow for a longer life for the power steering components helping save your car from an expensive repair

Transmission Flush

• Transmission fluid flush should be performed every 30,000 miles.
• Keeping your transmission lubricated will help it to operate with more efficiency.
• Over time as the fluid deteriorates it becomes darker in color and will acquire a burnt odor. Another indication the fluid needs to be flushed is when you see dirt and debris in the fluid.
• A transmission flush requires 8 quarts, however we use an additional 8 quarts to make sure the dirt and debris are flushed out as much as possible.
• A transmission flush will help your transmission run smoother and add life to your transmission.  

Brake Flush

• Brake fluid flush should be done every 30,000 miles or 24 months
• A brake fluid flush ensures proper brake system performance and increases the lifespan of your brake system components.
• Keeping clean fresh fluid in your system will keep your brakes working better and slow the corrosion caused by moisture
• Brake fluid starts to absorb moisture from the moment it is put in the system.
• Regularly flushes to your brake system will help keep you from costly brake repairs caused by corrosion.

Basicly all fluids break down over time and need to be replaced. Replacing these fluids need to be part of your scheduled maintenance over the lifespan of your vehicle. This can add years of life to your car as it ages.

Call 770-457-9991 for an appointment

Should a Transmission Flush be Part of My Regular Maintenance ?

Transmission flushes are an important part of keeping your transmission in good working order. So yes transmission flushes should be part of your regular maintenance schedule. Think of a transmission this way. You would never not change your oil, right? That's because you know clean oil lubes your engine and helps it run better. The same principle applies to your transmission. When your transmission fluid becomes clogged and dirty with debris, it will fail to properly lubricate your transmission. As transmission fluid breaks down over time it will typically turn a dark color.

When performing a flush we use a specialized machine made only for transmission flushes. We input a cleaning solution, then add the new transmission fluid. A typical transmission will take 12 quarts of fluid however we use 16. By using the extra 4 quarts (which we drain out) the extra fluid helps to make sure that more of the dirt and debris is removed from your transmission. Repair shops that only use the 12 quarts leave in dirt and debris.

We recommend your initial flush be performed at 60,000 miles and every 30,000 miles after that or every 2 years. If you have not had your transmission flushed give us a call and we will set up an appointment for service.

Regular preventive maintenance is probably the single thing you can do as a car owner to keep your car running longer and save money on repairs in the future.