You know, we love an old beater; a trusty, beloved old banger. We love cars with a name, all their own little quirks, and owners that are genuinely attached to them.
If you’re a driver – not even a petrolhead – you’ll have had one yourself. The one that was with you through thick and thin. The car you brought your kids home in for the first time, that you moved house with. The one that saw you through job changes, family holidays, and all those little moments in between.
It’s more than a car now. With starship mileage, it’s earned a place as a member of the family, albeit an old one.
In the UK, anything over 75,000 to 100,000 miles is considered high mileage, but the number alone isn’t the whole story. With the right care, even a car with 100,000 miles or more on the clock can easily see 150,000, 200,000, or even beyond.
Keeping a high mileage car on the road takes a bit more thought than just chucking it in for an MOT and hoping for the best. You have to actively monitor the condition of things, and be a little more on it.
And it depends on how you use your car.
A well maintained car that’s done most of its miles on the motorway is often in far better nick than a town car with half the mileage that’s spent its life in stop/start traffic.
So, let’s go over the ins and outs of high mileage car care, and how to get more out of your mile muncher.
START WITH THE BASICS
The fundamental servicing tasks don’t change – they just become more important.
OIL CHANGES
The most important thing you can do for an old engine is keep the oil fresh. As an engine ages, internal parts wear and clearances open up. Clean oil is the only thing standing between those parts and a breakdown.
If your car’s done over 75,000 miles, it’s well worth switching to a high mileage oil formula. These oils have seal conditioners to help keep ageing gaskets supple, reducing the weeps and seeps that older engines are prone to. They also have extra detergents to help clean out sludge that’s built up over the years.
And check your oil level regularly – at least once a month, or every 600 miles, and definitely before any long trips. High mileage engines can start to burn through oil quickly, and topping it up is a five minute job that could save you a fortune!
DON’T FORGET THE OTHER FLUIDS
The other fluids in your car are just as important. They all degrade over time and need changing.
Gearbox oil (or transmission fluid for automatics) is often forgotten about. In older cars, it should be checked and replaced every 30,000 to 60,000 miles to keep the gearbox lubed and cool. Even if your manufacturer says it’s a “lifetime” fill, that doesn’t mean your lifetime – just the expected lifetime of the car!
It’s worth getting a mechanic’s eye on it if you’re in any doubt.
Coolant should be flushed and replaced every two to three years to stop your engine from overheating, and brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air which can lead to brake failure – so it’s wise to change it every couple of years too.
EXTRA CHECKS FOR AN OLD FRIEND
Once your car’s passed the 100,000-mile milestone, there are a few more things that need a bit of extra love.
THE TIMING BELT
If your car has a timing belt, this is a job you absolutely cannot ignore.
If it snaps, it can cause catastrophic engine damage that costs more to fix than the car’s worth. Usually, a timing belt needs replacing between 60,000 and 100,000 miles. If you don’t know when it was last done, or if your car’s approaching that sort of mileage, get it looked at.
Top tip – a lot of the labour cost is in actually getting to the belt, which means taking other stuff out to access it. You can save money in the long run by getting those parts serviced while they’re out, too!
SPARK PLUGS
Spark plugs don’t last forever. As they wear, they can cause hard starts, a rough idle, reduced fuel economy, and engine misfires.
Most need replacing somewhere between 60,000 and 100,000 miles. A new set is pretty cheap, and can make an old engine feel spritely again.
GASKETS AND SEALS
Rubber gaskets and seals harden with age and prolonged exposure to the heat of the engine.
A little patch of oil on the driveway might not seem like a big deal now, but it’s a sign that things are wearing out. If oil is dripping fast enough to be a problem, or if you’re losing a lot between oil changes, it needs fixing ASAP.
SUSPENSION AND STEERING
A car with 150,000 miles on it is going to feel a bit looser than it did when it was new. That’s because all the bushings and bearings wear out over time, and that “like new” stiffness wears out with them.
Keep an ear out for clunking or knocking noises over bumps, a vague steering feel, or the car pulling to one side. Uneven tyre wear is another giveaway that your suspension or alignment isn’t what it should be.
Check in on this periodically, and don’t wait for your MOT test to flag it.
BRAKES
As the miles rack up, your brakes work harder. Get them checked at every service – not at your MOT.
Squealing or grinding noises, a soft brake pedal, or vibrations when you brake all mean it’s time for attention. Pads, rotors, and fluid lines all need to be checked for wear.
KEEP IT CLEAN, KEEP IT CHECKED
Old cars don’t have to be grubby. By giving your car a regular wash, you don’t just keep it looking good, you give it a regular checkup, too. When you’re up close with a cloth, you spot the rust spots, the bulge in a tyre sidewall, or the crack in a light lens – all the stuff you’d never have seen from the driver’s seat.
It’s one of the cheapest and most effective bits of maintenance you can do for your ageing car.
BOOK A CAR SERVICE FOR HIGH MILEAGE
Looking after a high mileage car is about a change in attitude. Stop following the service book – and keep a constant, gentle eye on how the car feels and sounds.
If you want to breathe new life into your old, beloved high mileage car, then book it in for regular services at Master Tech Autos. We are a garage in Eastleigh that carries out car servicing for cars well past their expected lifespan, helping you dodge the scrapheap for longer!
Give us a call on 023 8061 1161 or contact us to book your next car service.
