News

The average age of a car on the roads in the United States is now 11.8 years. There are a few different ways to interpret that statistic. One is that cars are clearly made better today, with better machining, better build quality and engineering. That’s compared to vehicles from the 70s and 80s, when interior materials would oxidize and disintegrate, bodies and frames would rust and engines would wear prematurely.

The more likely reason for that higher average longevity, though, is that more people are reluctant to take on debt and car payments and are more inclined to get more miles out of their vehicles. Indeed, those cars from the 70s and 80s only had five-digit odometers, hinting at a service life of 100,000 miles and no more. Today, 200,000 is “the new 100,000” – and at Pueblo Tires & Service in Edinburg, TX, we’d like to offer up a few suggestions on how to get the longest life out of your wheels.

·         Oil Changes: It’s been true for as long as cars have been around…oil changes at regular intervals are one of the best ways to get the most miles out of your engine. Your engine relies on clean motor oil, to reduce heat and to serve as a film of lubrication that cuts friction. Combustion generates a great deal of contaminants, though, and they will make their way into motor oil where they can cause premature wear and can build up on crucial assemblies. As the formulations of motor oil and additives improve, the interval between oil changes has stretched. It’s still crucial, though, to stick with a 5,000 mile oil change for conventional oil and a 10-12,000 mile oil change for synthetics. NOTE: past 100-120,000 miles, it’s advisable to switch to synthetic, synthetic-blend or high-mileage motor oil.

·         Fluids: Regular changes of transmission fluid can cut heat buildup and accumulation of varnish and other contaminants from oxidized automatic transmission fluid. It’s also advisable to perform a coolant flush at manufacturer’s recommended intervals, to head off corrosion.

·         Finish: Regular wash-and-wax jobs can help head off corrosion and rust, and can prevent your vehicle from shedding paint as it ages.

·         Driving habits: This one’s a biggie. Go easy over bumps and railroad tracks, avoid jackrabbit starts and don’t idle for too long at a time. And consider this…a taxicab is usually considered a bad bet for a used car, while a state trooper’s patrol car is a better buy. Why? Because highway miles are great for a car, and constant stop-and-start driving is terrible for them.

·         Timing belt: If your vehicle is equipped with a timing belt, make sure that it gets changed at its recommended mileage (usually around 60,000 miles). A snapped timing belt can mean a wrecked engine!

At Pueblo Tires & Service in Edinburg, TX, we’re here to serve you with the best auto repair and maintenance in the Rio Grande Valley. We want to help you keep that beloved set of wheels on the road for as long as you want to keep driving it. Make an appointment with us whenever you need maintenance or auto repair, and we’ll do our best to make sure your car stays running great for a long time to come!