I'm buying my first car with over 100,000 km on it. Since I travel constantly, I want to focus on extending the life of the engine and transmission. What do you all pay attention to? How often should I schedule oil changes? Which parts wear out the most during routine checks? Thanks!
What are your maintenance tips?
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Maintenance for a car that has hit the 100,000 km mark is no small task. First thing you need to do is figure out how far behind you are from the manufacturer’s recommended service intervals. While most manufacturers suggest oil changes every 15-20,000 km, I go for 10-12,000 km in engines that run under constant high temperatures. If you're always on the road like you, switching to synthetic oil is a must. If you have a turbocharged engine, dropping oil changes to every 8,000 km makes sense since turbo systems rely heavily on oil quality.
For the transmission, if it's an automatic and you're noticing hesitation during gear shifts, get that ATF changed ASAP. In manual transmissions, the clutch disc, bearings, and synchronizer mechanism usually need checking around 80-100,000 km. But the bearings wear out the fastest, so don’t forget that. In manuals, you should also keep an eye on the drive shaft bearings’ oil levels—if they run dry, you’ll start hearing grinding noises when shifting gears. Lastly, the cooling system, which takes a beating from constant high temps, is just as critical as the engine itself. Check the radiator hoses for cracks, listen for unusual noises from the water pump, and make sure the thermostat is opening and closing at the right temperature.