How To Make Your Company Cars And Trucks Last Longer

By Michael Chotiner

Getting a new car or truck every two or three years used to be emblematic of prosperity — a status symbol of personal and business success.

Status aside, in the 20th century it might have made sense to get a new vehicle every few years when you calculated car payments versus the cost of reliability risks and repair expenses. That was then, this is now.

For one thing, new vehicles are relatively more expensive in today’s dollars, but for another, they’re also much more reliable and longer lasting. And then there’s the hangover from the Great Recession — a lot of business folk are still catching up from the down years, and nobody’s forgetting the lesson that the economy doesn’t always cooperate as they consider taking on new debt. According to an IHS Automotive survey, the typical car on the road today is 11.5 years old.

The good news, many experts report, is that it’s not unreasonable to expect to drive a vehicle manufactured within the last 30 years up to 200,000 miles or more. The keys to achieving this milestone are:

• Choosing a reliable vehicle
• Keeping up with routine maintenance
• Preemptively repairing/replacing parts that wear out on a schedule that can be predicted

The Longest-Running Cars and Trucks

The website iSeeCars.com collected data on the mileage of more than 30 million used cars and trucks listed for sale on its pages during the last year. It studied vehicles for the model years between 1981 and 2010 and ranked various makes and models for longevity of service based on the percentage of the total number for each car on sale with 200,000 miles or more. See their top five cars and trucks below:

VEHICLES THAT ARE GIVING THE MOST MILES
TOP 5 CARS	TOP 5 TRUCKS
1.   Honda Accord	1.  Ford F-250 Super-Duty Pickup
2.   Subaru Legacy	2.  Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD Pickup
3.   Toyota Avalon	3.  Chevrolet Suburban SUV
4.   Honda Odyssey	4.  Toyota 4Runner SUV
5.   Nissan Maxima	5.  Ford Expedition SUV
SOURCE: iSeeCars.com

Maintenance Practices that Keep Vehicles on the Road

Irv Gordon, who bought his 1966 Volvo P-1800 new and has kept it on the road for more than 3 million miles, shares this secret: “Just follow the owner’s manual…Have its scheduled maintenance completed… Do what the manual calls for, not what the dealer calls for.”

Checking and changing fluids according to the manufacturer’s recommendations is perhaps the most effective way to enable a vehicle to reach its mileage potential:

• Use the weight the manufacturer specifies and follow the recommended schedule for oil and filter changes. Most experts recommend synthetics over conventional oils. Although synthetic motor oil is more expensive, it keeps engines cooler and doesn’t break down as quickly as conventional oil. Also, when checking your vehicle’s oil level between changes, smell the dipstick. If the oil on it smells burnt, it could be a symptom that the engine is running hotter than it should. Tell your mechanic about it and get him/her to check out the possible causes.

• Transmission fluid. The proper interval for changing transmission fluid is a matter of some debate. Your dad may tell you that you need to have it done every 15,000 or 30,000 miles. Most manufacturers recommend changing it only every 100,000 to 150,000 miles. Most brands of transmission fluid are bright red—although it comes in other colors — but if your vehicle’s transmission fluid looks brown or darker than the original color, it might be time for a change (or it might not, so consult a trusted mechanic). When you’re checking the transmission fluid level, smell a sample for a burnt odor. It could mean not only that the fluid needs changing but that something else in the transmission needs attention.

• Engine Coolant. Manufacturers’ recommendations vary depending on make and model — from changing coolant every 60,000 to 150,000 miles. The real way to tell if coolant needs changing is to have it tested and look for signs of rust, which can harm the radiator and water pump. Too-frequent coolant changes are a waste of money. 

• Brake Fluid. Manufacturers’ recommendations are all over the map on scheduling brake fluid changes. Mercedes-Benz says every 20,000 miles. Volkswagen says 30,000. Chevrolet says 10 years or 150,000 miles. If your vehicle’s maker has a recommendation, follow it.

Apart from maintaining the fluids and repairing or replacing typical wear items in the table below, you can keep your vehicle on the road and maintain its value by attending to these details:

• Wash your vehicle on a regular basis — both the visible body surfaces and the underside to remove dirt and corrosive substances. At least once in a while, wash it yourself by hand and inspect the finish for damage that may lead to rust. Touch up the paint when needed, and wax the body once or twice a year.
• Listen for unusual sounds — knocking, squeaking, pinging, rattling, etc. Consult a trusted mechanic if you can’t figure out what’s causing the noise, and address required repairs.

TYPICAL MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FOR WEAR PARTS
Part	Typical Repair or Replace Timing		What Happens If You Neglect
	Best Case	Worst Case
Air filter	50,000 mi.	30,000 mi.	Engine can’t suck in enough air for combustion; loses power; may foul combustion chambers with contaminants
Alternator	Never	5 years	Battery won’t charge; no power for electricity-dependent functions
Automatic transmission	Never	70,000 mi.	Aggressive driving, frequent towing and/or dirty, degraded transmission fluid leaks to premature failure; costs thousands to replace
Battery	5 years	3 years	Doesn’t hold charge; vehicle won’t start
Belt, serpentine	Never but don’t count on it	6 years/75,000 mi.	Alternator, power steering pump, water pump, air conditioning compressor, air pump won’t work
Belt, timing	Never but don’t risk it	8 years/100,000 mi.	Engine is severely damaged
Brake calipers, wheel cylinder, master cylinder	100,000 mi.	2nd brake job	Brakes stick; fail altogether
Brake pads	5 years/50,000 mi.	3 years/30,000 mi.	Metal-to-metal contact damages rotors; additional cost for machining
Clutch	100,000 mi.	Sooner	Frequent towing and “riding the clutch” can lead to premature failure
Fuel pump	Never	5 years	Gets plugged up by rust, dirt in fuel tank; engine won’t run
Headlight, tail light bulbs	7 years	5 years	Can’t see in dark; others can’t see you; risk tickets
Muffler	100,000 mi. or more	Sooner	Loud, unpleasant noise; exhaust leaks into vehicle; continual exposure to road salts and moisture can lead to premature failure
Shocks and struts	Never	50,000	Handling is degraded
Spark plugs	8 years/100,000 mi	Sooner if fouled	Engine runs rough; misfires
Tires	7 years	5 years	Composite material degrades; worn tires are dangerous
Source: AA1Car.com

 

Michael Chotiner has years of experience running his own business and relying on his vehicle to keep his business running smoothly. Michael advocates staying on top of the maintenance schedule for your vehicle’s oil changes and other routine practices that are often overlooked. Home Depot’s oil maintenance products can be researched online.

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