An older person needs to go to the doctor more often than someone in their 20’s. This makes sense, because they have a lot more health issues and things that could possibly be affecting them. You don’t hear about a young person having knee trouble or cognition issues nearly as often as a senior citizen. The same holds true for cars! Older vehicles, also known as high mileage vehicles, require the same service as newer cars and then some.
A quick look across the roads will tell you that not all cars are new cars. How do cars continue to run for 10 years, 20 years, or even longer? By keeping up with their maintenance needs! Whether you have a vintage car you absolutely love or an older vehicle you can’t afford to replace with a newer one just yet, you need to learn all you can about what the Nissan service center in Wallingford, CT will do to keep your vehicle running. More people are holding on to their old cars longer than ever by following a few pieces of expert advice:
Every 3,000 Miles
Change the oil, and replace the oil filter
Check the washer fluid level
Add fuel injector cleaner to fuel
Every Six Months
Check the power steering fluid level
Wax the car to extend the life of the paint and to prevent rust
Every 10,000 Miles
Adjust the clutch if your vehicle has a manual transmission
Inspect the belts
Rotate the tires
Every Year
Inspect the brakes
Inspect the hoses and clamps
Clean the battery connections
Check the brake fluid level
Check the manual transmission fluid
Check the coolant strength
Back-flush the radiator
Rinse off the air conditioner condenser
Buff the plastic headlight assembly
Replace cabin air filter (if your car has one)
Periodically
Inspect the spark plug wires
Replace the spark plugs
Replace the distributor cap and rotor
Change the transmission fluid
Replace the oxygen sensors (for vehicles manufactured late 1970’s to early 1990’s)
Inspect the shocks for leaks, and perform bounce test
Replace the PCV valve
Clean the throttle body
Flush the coolant system
Check the battery electrolyte level
Replace the fuel filter
Inspect the brakes
Inspect the accessory drive belts
Replace the timing belt
Have the front end alignment inspected and checked
Inspect the U-joints
Replace the oxygen sensors (for vehicles manufactured after mid-1990’s)
Replace the rear axle lubricant
Are you going to do all of this yourself? Probably not. As you can see, it’s a lot to keep up with. It is all important though if you want your older, high mileage car to run well. When you keep up with taking your car to the Nissan service center in Wallingford, CT on a regular basis, your vehicle will continue to drive for years to come! Treating it well with proper maintenance will lead to a rewarding long-term ownership, saving the expense of buying a new vehicle sooner than necessary.