What to do when your car reaches 100K miles
#1
09-15-2010, 02:01 PM
What to do when your car reaches 100K miles
What to do when your car reaches 100,000 miles
By Melissa Rayworth
It was once a huge red flag: When a car's odometer would hit 100,000 miles, "it was almost a magic threshold that meant the car was probably worn out," says Kay Wynter, who runs an auto service center in Fort Myers, Fla., with her husband, Terry.
But thanks to improvements in car design and maintenance, the milestone of 100,000 miles now means something very different.
Although some cars are ready for trade-in at that threshold, many others can travel twice as far without major repairs.
What allows one car to pass the 100,000-mile barrier with few repair bills, while another is ready for the junkyard? It's all about preventive medicine.
"It's just like when you get to be 70 and everyone tells you the same thing: Exercise, eat right, take care of yourself," says Lauren Fix, author of "Lauren Fix's Guide to Loving Your Car" (St. Martin's Griffin, 2008).
Feeding your car the right things and taking it for regular checkups will make all the difference.
Open the Book
The key to keeping your car running smoothly is probably tucked at the bottom of your glove compartment, under the spare napkins and ketchup packets. It's the owner's manual, which most people ignore at their peril.
"There is a schedule in the manual that runs well over 100,000 miles," says Fix, and it lists when to replace parts likely to be wearing out. The list will vary for different cars, so check yours and follow it.
Newer cars may have the maintenance schedule built into an internal computer. A blinking light or a beep will announce that it's time to replace certain parts, says autoeducation.com founder Kevin Schappell.
"Things like the water pump and timing belt should be changed before you notice a problem," Schappell says. Replacing them won't be hugely expensive, but "if that belt breaks, it can cause internal damage to the engine, or if the water pump fails, you can overheat the engine and warp the cylinder head."
That's when things get expensive.
"Typically, around 100,000 or 120,000 miles there are some major preventative maintenance things that need to be done," Schappell says, so it's a great time to catch up if you've been lax until now.
Get Fluent about Fluids
The liquids that go into your car (gas, oil, brake fluid, power steering fluid, etc.) are crucial to its survival. To extend the life of your car beyond 100,000 miles, these experts suggest frequent oil changes and fluid checks done at dealerships or full-service auto centers.
The staff at a quick-change lube shop, Fix says, isn't likely to have extensive training. Often, "they don't have experience," she says, "so they'll top off long-life fluid with non-long-life or they'll put power-steering fluid where the brake fluid ought to be."
These mistakes cause damage, but the car owner doesn't realize it until well after the discount oil-change was done.
In choosing oil, Fix advises buying full synthetics. They "actually will lube the engine better. It's designed for longer life. There are less emissions, so it's greener. There's slightly better fuel economy and better performance," she says. "There are no negatives except it costs a little more."
Whichever oil you choose, Schappell says, be consistent over time. That way you won't mix synthetics and blends, which can cause problems.
Gas also matters: Different cars benefit from different types, so check your manual. "For a Honda which runs really hot because of the compression, if it says run premium, then run premium," Fix says. "But if it says there's no benefit from premium gas," you don't need it.
Find the Right Shop
"Do your research," says Terry Wynter, and choose the best people to extend the life of your car. Ask friends and neighbors, and search online for reviews of repair shops.
Once you've chosen one, get to know the staff and ask questions. "Consumers are smarter now than ever before" about their cars, Wynter says, but many still are uncomfortable asking for details about work that needs to be done.
Sticking with your car's dealer can be a safe choice, because the staff will be trained to work on your car. But over the life of a high-mileage car, regular maintenance at a dealership can get pricey.
"Rates at an independent shop may be about $40 to $50 an hour," Schappell says, "but you're paying probably $60 to $90 an hour at a dealer."
The cost of repairs can vary widely depending on the brand of car. Parts for some vehicles, including exotic cars and some German models, can be hard to get, driving up their cost. That can be a reason to trade in a car just before the 100,000-mile threshold.
At 100,000 miles, Fix says, "it is out of warranty and you've got to consider that."
When you do replace parts, there are ways to save money: "A quick oil-change place will charge you $50 for an $18 air filter," she says, because you're mainly paying for labor.
But an auto-parts store will charge you only the $18 price tag, she says, and "you can buy it and say, I don't know how to put this on. They'll do it as a courtesy."
The Type of Miles Matter
It may seem surprising, but highway driving puts less stress on a car that tooling around locally. It requires less quick braking and acceleration, and moisture under the hood has a chance to evaporate.
"Cars that do a lot of short trips will require exhaust work a lot sooner than car that travels on the highway a lot," Schappell says.
Fix agrees: With local driving, "if you sit in rush hour traffic, tow a trailer, idle outside a school, drive on dusty roads, that's considered severe duty."
Local driving in colder climates can also cause buildup of ice and snow under the car, which may contain corrosive chemicals. Fix suggests hosing it off on slightly warmer days. She also suggests waxing your car regularly.
Sound like a lot of work to keep a car zooming along past 100,000 miles?
"It's your second most expensive investment. You want to take care of it," says Fix.
"With your home, something needs fixing and you get on it," she says. "With your car, especially one with a lot of miles you have to get on it right away too."
These small investments will add years to the life of your car.
__________________________________________________ _________________________________
Memeber's, what did you think of the article ? Agree/Disagee ? Do you have something 2 add ? then please share your opinions....
Above source was from Yahoo Auto's Section....
Hope your EnJoyed : )
Peace/Out
By Melissa Rayworth
It was once a huge red flag: When a car's odometer would hit 100,000 miles, "it was almost a magic threshold that meant the car was probably worn out," says Kay Wynter, who runs an auto service center in Fort Myers, Fla., with her husband, Terry.
But thanks to improvements in car design and maintenance, the milestone of 100,000 miles now means something very different.
Although some cars are ready for trade-in at that threshold, many others can travel twice as far without major repairs.
What allows one car to pass the 100,000-mile barrier with few repair bills, while another is ready for the junkyard? It's all about preventive medicine.
"It's just like when you get to be 70 and everyone tells you the same thing: Exercise, eat right, take care of yourself," says Lauren Fix, author of "Lauren Fix's Guide to Loving Your Car" (St. Martin's Griffin, 2008).
Feeding your car the right things and taking it for regular checkups will make all the difference.
Open the Book
The key to keeping your car running smoothly is probably tucked at the bottom of your glove compartment, under the spare napkins and ketchup packets. It's the owner's manual, which most people ignore at their peril.
"There is a schedule in the manual that runs well over 100,000 miles," says Fix, and it lists when to replace parts likely to be wearing out. The list will vary for different cars, so check yours and follow it.
Newer cars may have the maintenance schedule built into an internal computer. A blinking light or a beep will announce that it's time to replace certain parts, says autoeducation.com founder Kevin Schappell.
"Things like the water pump and timing belt should be changed before you notice a problem," Schappell says. Replacing them won't be hugely expensive, but "if that belt breaks, it can cause internal damage to the engine, or if the water pump fails, you can overheat the engine and warp the cylinder head."
That's when things get expensive.
"Typically, around 100,000 or 120,000 miles there are some major preventative maintenance things that need to be done," Schappell says, so it's a great time to catch up if you've been lax until now.
Get Fluent about Fluids
The liquids that go into your car (gas, oil, brake fluid, power steering fluid, etc.) are crucial to its survival. To extend the life of your car beyond 100,000 miles, these experts suggest frequent oil changes and fluid checks done at dealerships or full-service auto centers.
The staff at a quick-change lube shop, Fix says, isn't likely to have extensive training. Often, "they don't have experience," she says, "so they'll top off long-life fluid with non-long-life or they'll put power-steering fluid where the brake fluid ought to be."
These mistakes cause damage, but the car owner doesn't realize it until well after the discount oil-change was done.
In choosing oil, Fix advises buying full synthetics. They "actually will lube the engine better. It's designed for longer life. There are less emissions, so it's greener. There's slightly better fuel economy and better performance," she says. "There are no negatives except it costs a little more."
Whichever oil you choose, Schappell says, be consistent over time. That way you won't mix synthetics and blends, which can cause problems.
Gas also matters: Different cars benefit from different types, so check your manual. "For a Honda which runs really hot because of the compression, if it says run premium, then run premium," Fix says. "But if it says there's no benefit from premium gas," you don't need it.
Find the Right Shop
"Do your research," says Terry Wynter, and choose the best people to extend the life of your car. Ask friends and neighbors, and search online for reviews of repair shops.
Once you've chosen one, get to know the staff and ask questions. "Consumers are smarter now than ever before" about their cars, Wynter says, but many still are uncomfortable asking for details about work that needs to be done.
Sticking with your car's dealer can be a safe choice, because the staff will be trained to work on your car. But over the life of a high-mileage car, regular maintenance at a dealership can get pricey.
"Rates at an independent shop may be about $40 to $50 an hour," Schappell says, "but you're paying probably $60 to $90 an hour at a dealer."
The cost of repairs can vary widely depending on the brand of car. Parts for some vehicles, including exotic cars and some German models, can be hard to get, driving up their cost. That can be a reason to trade in a car just before the 100,000-mile threshold.
At 100,000 miles, Fix says, "it is out of warranty and you've got to consider that."
When you do replace parts, there are ways to save money: "A quick oil-change place will charge you $50 for an $18 air filter," she says, because you're mainly paying for labor.
But an auto-parts store will charge you only the $18 price tag, she says, and "you can buy it and say, I don't know how to put this on. They'll do it as a courtesy."
The Type of Miles Matter
It may seem surprising, but highway driving puts less stress on a car that tooling around locally. It requires less quick braking and acceleration, and moisture under the hood has a chance to evaporate.
"Cars that do a lot of short trips will require exhaust work a lot sooner than car that travels on the highway a lot," Schappell says.
Fix agrees: With local driving, "if you sit in rush hour traffic, tow a trailer, idle outside a school, drive on dusty roads, that's considered severe duty."
Local driving in colder climates can also cause buildup of ice and snow under the car, which may contain corrosive chemicals. Fix suggests hosing it off on slightly warmer days. She also suggests waxing your car regularly.
Sound like a lot of work to keep a car zooming along past 100,000 miles?
"It's your second most expensive investment. You want to take care of it," says Fix.
"With your home, something needs fixing and you get on it," she says. "With your car, especially one with a lot of miles you have to get on it right away too."
These small investments will add years to the life of your car.
__________________________________________________ _________________________________
Memeber's, what did you think of the article ? Agree/Disagee ? Do you have something 2 add ? then please share your opinions....
Above source was from Yahoo Auto's Section....
Hope your EnJoyed : )
Peace/Out
Last edited by Space; 09-15-2010 at 02:13 PM.
#2
09-15-2010, 03:01 PM
Check, check, and check. Did all that right before I went on the trip that I knew would roll me over to 100K. "Find the right shop"? yea its called learn to do it yourself lol
#6
09-17-2010, 08:53 AM
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mentor, Ohio
Posts: 12,156
If you gave it TLC from day one of owning it, keep doing it! Regular oil changes I think is key and being diligent in regular repairs.
I have one '94 Grand Am at 176K and another '94 Grand Am crossed 200K last week.... Drive trains in both are strong (but it's getting tougher to fit the damage done by living in the snow belt). But they both have a 3100 v6 and still run!!! They aren't perfect but I've been pleased with their performance thus far.
I have one '94 Grand Am at 176K and another '94 Grand Am crossed 200K last week.... Drive trains in both are strong (but it's getting tougher to fit the damage done by living in the snow belt). But they both have a 3100 v6 and still run!!! They aren't perfect but I've been pleased with their performance thus far.
#9
09-22-2010, 09:43 PM
120K And Still Going Great!
Yes I donated my 2004 Supercharged Monte to my wife when I bought my 2007 Avalanche last year. We actually bought her a 2006 Mustang Pony Package new in 2006, but she hated that car and always liked the Monte. Well when we paid the Stang off (thanks to Ford for 3 year no interest financing) it was time for me to upgrade my sales car so I went with the Avalanche with 47K miles.
So with about 85K miles she wound up with the Monte and never looked back. Now it is approaching 120K miles and she still runs like a dream and better yet the wife is still happy. We found the local Buick GMC dealership to be the best service for the car. The only major problem we have had was the instrument cluster went haywire and I lost the speedometer and boost gauge, but the dealership replaced the whole cluster and outer plastic for $379.00. We also had the brakes changed while we were at it and it was the first time we had to do this since I bought it with 48K on the car. She still tracks and rides like it is new and I can't think of a car that I ever had that has been as good as this one.
When I retire it I will probably build a mild 12-13 second quarter mile bracket car for some weekend fun. I still look weekly for the 2007 SS replacement car so I can keep the wife happy.
The bottom line is this generation Monte Carlo is one of the best cars I have ever owned and if your thinking about buying one there are plenty of Supercharged models out there that can be bought for a reasonable price with low mileage. Or if you want the V-8 power the next best thing is a 2006-2007 SS model.
http://s244.photobucket.com/albums/g...rent=pass2.jpg
So with about 85K miles she wound up with the Monte and never looked back. Now it is approaching 120K miles and she still runs like a dream and better yet the wife is still happy. We found the local Buick GMC dealership to be the best service for the car. The only major problem we have had was the instrument cluster went haywire and I lost the speedometer and boost gauge, but the dealership replaced the whole cluster and outer plastic for $379.00. We also had the brakes changed while we were at it and it was the first time we had to do this since I bought it with 48K on the car. She still tracks and rides like it is new and I can't think of a car that I ever had that has been as good as this one.
When I retire it I will probably build a mild 12-13 second quarter mile bracket car for some weekend fun. I still look weekly for the 2007 SS replacement car so I can keep the wife happy.
The bottom line is this generation Monte Carlo is one of the best cars I have ever owned and if your thinking about buying one there are plenty of Supercharged models out there that can be bought for a reasonable price with low mileage. Or if you want the V-8 power the next best thing is a 2006-2007 SS model.
http://s244.photobucket.com/albums/g...rent=pass2.jpg
Last edited by odessadude; 09-22-2010 at 09:57 PM. Reason: Posted Pic
#10
09-23-2010, 08:13 AM
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mentor, Ohio
Posts: 12,156
My current "daily" is a '94 Grand Am, bought with like 86K on it, now over 200K. Got it cheap, many years of NO payment, just a little wrench work now and then. Dependable for 40-80 mile round trip commutes Monday-Friday and out of state road trips.
Just takes knowing what you're looking at to determine if a 100K mile car is worth buying.