How Many Miles Can Cars Go Without Major Issues?
Looking to get a million miles out of your car without a problem? Sadly, that’s simply not likely to happen. But with proper care, you can keep your cars lasting longer than ever. Here’s what you need to know.
Everyone knows of at least one car that has gone millions of miles without major repairs. The most famous example is Irv Gordon’s 1966 Volvo P1800S, which hit over two million miles before needing a new engine. But those cars are true anomalies. Most cars will never get that far before vital parts start to fail.
Although it’s not likely you’ll ever have a car hit even one million miles without issues, you can extend its life with regular maintenance services. To understand the importance of those services, here’s a look at the average lifespan of modern cars and how to keep them from breaking down.
Average Lifespan of Modern Vehicles
Modern cars can last over 10 years, or over 300,000 miles, when you have all their maintenance services done on time and by a reputable shop. Their service intervals are increasing as well, showing just how much longer important parts are lasting these days.
Spark plugs, for example, were replaced every 30,000 miles in the past. Now, they can last about 100,000 miles before needing replacement.
You can also see this in how much carmakers have extended warranties in recent years. Across the industry, 100,000-mile powertrain warranties are fairly standard. In the past, you were lucky to get 36,000 miles of coverage.
How to Keep Your Cars from Breaking Down
Although modern cars are more reliable than ever, they still need your support to stay in good condition. To get at least 200,000 miles out of your vehicle, you’ll need to:
Perform Regular Maintenance
Since cars use so many consumable parts, you do have to commit to a regular maintenance schedule to keep your car running right. Oil changes and other fluid services, for example, keep moving parts cool and lubricated to slow their wear. Your trusted auto mechanic can let you know when each service is due, so you can schedule a visit right on time.
Complete Quick Checks
Cars rarely suffer catastrophic failure without giving any signs of a problem. In order to detect those signs, you need to know how your car sounds and feels when in great shape. So, turn down your radio at least once a week for at least five minutes. Pay close attention to the sounds your car makes as it drives down the road along with how it feels. Repeat this process weekly, so you can let your auto tech know if anything changes.
Get Prompt Auto Repairs
When you let small problems go on for too long, the lack of care can result in the failure of major systems. For that reason, it’s important to get prompt auto repair services at the first sign of a problem. You can have your auto tech perform a diagnostic check to figure out what’s wrong and replace all the affected parts before they become big issues.
Let Horeb Auto Repair Keep Your Car Running Strong
No matter what kind of car you drive, regular maintenance will keep it running strong and driving straight. You can get your cars tuned up and ready to hit the road with help from our team at Horeb Auto Repair in Houston TX. Just give us a call at 832-767-0672 to get on the schedule and we’ll take care of the rest. With our help, you can trust that your car will last longer than ever, ensuring you get the most out of your investment.
