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