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Tobin S.

(10,418 posts) Tue Feb 12, 2019, 01:27 AM Feb 2019

Preventative car maintenance.

I have a 2010 Honda Civic EX that I bought new in November of 2009. It has just over 127,000 miles on it and still runs like new. I have never had a major breakdown with it. The only thing that has happened with it that wasn't ordinary maintenance was that I had a couple of TPMS sensors go bad on it before their time. They were replaced under warranty. The last time I bought tires (about 15,000 miles ago) I went ahead and got four new TPMS sensors put on it. I shouldn't have to worry about that for a while.

So I've just changed the fluids and the filters in it on time and done the routine stuff. I've put new brakes on it once, put a new battery in it once (might be due for a new one soon), replaced the spark plugs once, bought tires a couple of times, replaced those TPMS sensors, and today I had them put a new serpentine belt on it. I should be good to go with just transmission and engine oil changes until 200,000 miles. I'll get there pretty fast unless something changes with the work situation. I drive the car about 450 miles a week right now mostly just going to work and back.

I'm hoping to get 300,000 miles out of the car. I'm not just being frugal. That's what you need to do when you don't have a lot of extra money. A little bit of money spent keeping up on the preventative maintenance will make most cars last a long time.

3 replies

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Preventative car maintenance. (Original Post) Tobin S. Feb 2019 OP

As a professional driver you know bluecollar2 Feb 2019 #1

I have a little 2006 Scion xb. Doreen Feb 2019 #2

I follow the maintenance schedule in my owner's manual Major Nikon Feb 2019 #3

bluecollar2

(3,622 posts)

1. As a professional driver you know

Reply to Tobin S. (Original post)

Tue Feb 12, 2019, 01:53 AM

Feb 2019

How important preventative maintenance is.

I'm a retired aircraft mechanic and still drive a 1999 jeep Cherokee...

Fluids and filters are the lifeblood of machines...keep those clean and fresh and the unexpected failure will be rare.

Machines break...that's part of the deal...but with a good P.M. program one can limit one's exposure.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Doreen

(11,686 posts)

2. I have a little 2006 Scion xb.

Reply to Tobin S. (Original post)

Tue Feb 12, 2019, 01:59 AM

Feb 2019

My first new car and more than likely my last car.

The windshield is a weird shape and can catch rocks easily and it got a crack in it when I had it for only 4 months. Good insurance took care of that. I have a seal at the bottom of my door that needs to be replaced. I got hit in the back and my insurance took care of that and it is just fine.

I did have a really odd occurrence once. I came out one morning got into my car and the roof and seat were wet. I had my sunroof ( aftermarket ) checked and the seals around my door checked and nothing. That was three years ago. Never did it again.

I have my oil changed as faithfully as I can and I never drive it fast or speed around corners and never expect it to go from one speed to the next really fast. Then again if you want fast in any manner you do not get a Scion Xb. I have put almost 115,000 on my car since 2006 and am hoping I can put at least three times as much on it. I am poor but I have good full coverage insurance because there is no way I could finance it with less coverage if anything happened to it. I am really happy with my car and as long as I take care of it I think it will be around for a long time.

I am hoping that I will expire before the car. I really do not want to have to not drive.

Major Nikon

(36,827 posts)

3. I follow the maintenance schedule in my owner's manual

Reply to Tobin S. (Original post)

Tue Feb 12, 2019, 07:53 AM

Feb 2019

Been doing that pretty much forever and haven't had very many maintenance issues. When the car starts to get older it's a good idea to periodically inspect anything under the hood which has the potential to deteriorate like rubber parts and replace before they become an issue.

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