HOW TO MAKE YOUR CAR LAST
500,000 MILES
by Dan Metz
ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO DO THIS?
• New cars have prestige• Everything is new on a new
car• Modern car features abound• Operating expenses are often
lower for a new car• Many more new car choices
are offered every year
WHAT WEARS OUT AND WHAT DOESN’T WEAR OUT
• Normal wear and tear vs. damage• Mechanical basics of a car• Signs of wear to become attuned to• Tools and tune-ups; what you need
and what you don’t need• When, how and where to call in the
pro
NORMAL WEAR• Tires• Brakes• Clutch (if a standard transmission)• Exhaust system• Water pump• Alternator• Belts, serpentine belt, cam chain• Hoses• Paint• Chrome and other trim• Upholstery• Carpet and floor mats• Windshield wiper blades
DISC BRAKE OVERVIEW
DISC BRAKE COMPONENTS
ENGINE OVERVIEW
ALTERNATOR
ALTERNATOR
SERPENTINE BELT
SERPENTINE BELT
BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER
POWER STEERING RESERVOIR
JACK STANDS
FLOOR JACK
THROTTLE BODY
SIGNS OF WEAR• Wear rate: very slow, slow,
moderate fast, instantaneous• Use your senses: sight, smell,
sounds, feelings of wear• Normal maintenance• Fix it, live with it, ignore it• Identifying fluids
TOOLS, TUNE-UPS AND DIY POTENTIAL
• Basic hand tools• Specialty tools• Shop manuals• Camera, video and other
shade-tree mechanic tricks• Those dreaded computers
HAND TOOLS
HAND TOOLS
CARING FOR THE EXTERIOR• Washing a car• Paint• Chrome• Stainless steel trim• Black trim• Glass• Wheels and tires• Products to use and avoid• Once in a while vs. continuous care• Safe and unsafe modifications
A GOOD WAX JOB
CARING FOR THE INTERIOR
• Products to use and to avoid• Leather and cloth upholstery• Carpet and floor mats• Dashboard cover• Trim parts• Seat belts• Mirror• Safe and unsafe modifications
DRIVING STRATEGIES FOR 500,000 MILE CAR LIFE
• Braking• Acceleration• Cornering• Fuel and oil• Rust, salt and pavement• Short vs. long trips• Using the internet• Local resources