Regularly changing your engine oil is one of the single most important factors in maintaining the overall health of your car. As you drive, heat breaks down engine oil and reduces the effectiveness of this important lubricant. Your engine oil is your Infiniti’s lifeline, and if not regularly changed, it can cause increased friction that will prematurely age your engine’s components, resulting in expensive car repairs down the road. Take advantage of Orlando Infiniti’s oil change coupons to ensure your vehicle lives the long, healthy life it deserves.
Irv Gordon owns a 1966 Volvo P1800 with more than 2.8 million miles on the odometer. He holds the Guinness World Record for the most miles driven by a single owner in a noncommercial vehicle. The car still has the original engine (although it has been preventatively rebuilt twice), transmission and radio.
The secret to his car’s longevity? Gordon has always changed the oil and fluids — and performed other maintenance — according to the recommendations in the owner’s manual.
So how do you keep your car in the pink? Whether you’re aiming for a couple more years or a couple hundred thousand miles, the advice is the same.
1. Read the owner’s manual. According to CarMD.com, slightly more than half of people who have owned or leased a car follow a regular maintenance program. Stick to the manufacturer’s recommendations on oil changes (forget the old 3,000-mile rule and go by your book), as well as other regular maintenance. And getting checkups at regular intervals can help spot problems that could imperil your car’s overall health.
2. Use online forums. You want to learn about potential problems before they happen so that you can prevent them — or fix them immediately. Jeff Cuje, of Sag Harbor, N.Y., plans to be buried in his 1986 Mercedes-Benz SL, so he’s taking pains to make it last. His best advice is to find an owners’ forum online and “get on the wavelength of what the problems are as your car gets older,” he says.
Sports cars and classic vehicles have enthusiastic online followings, but you’ll also find lots of sites that cover daily drivers.
3. Become friends with your dealership. Knowing one of the trusting Service Consultants at Orlando Infiniti is key to keeping up with repairs you need.
4. Don’t ignore small problems. Cuje pays close attention not only to his vehicle’s noises but also to its warning lights and even cosmetic things, like a piece of rubber trim that’s loose. Ignoring a problem only allows it to get worse, he says, and parts for aging vehicles only get harder to find.
5. Give your car some love. Wash it, wax it and vacuum it. Treat the exterior and the interior with XZilon, and lubricate plastic and rubber parts. Doing these things protects both the paint and the interior from aging prematurely. Also consider having your car detailed, which typically includes steam cleaning the carpet, shampooing the upholstery, buffing out scratches and sometimes even removing small dents. The cost is usually less than $300. The better your car looks, the more you’ll want to take care of it.
