Reports say that the median age for cars on the road is over nine years and that two-thirds have over 120,000 km. In recent years those numbers have continued to rise here in Kelowna and across BC. Many Kelowna folks are keeping their vehicles longer, and the fact that modern cars and trucks are more durable and reliable means that owning a vehicle with a high odometer reading doesn’t have to be a painful experience for drivers.
Kelowna drivers with over 160,000kms on their vehicles often ask us about what service intervals they should follow, so let’s start with the special needs of the older vehicle. The reality is that time and distance traveled will take its toll. The engine and transmission will have more sludge. The fuel, steering and brake systems will have gum and varnish built up. There’ll be more dirt and contaminants in the fuel tank. Corrosion and deposits in the cooling system. And seals and gaskets will start to dry out.
All of this, plus normal wear and tear, means that the engine might not be as strong as new so it just has to work harder to get the job done. so you might need to up the quality of your maintenance products. Consider high-mileage oil formulations for oil changes, transmission service, etc. These special formulations contain additives that condition the seals and gaskets to prevent leaks. They also have more detergents to clean sludge and other deposits. They cost a bit more, but they’re worth it.
In general, if a service was recommended every, let’s say, 24,000kms when the car was new, you should continue to get the service done every 24,000 kms. Talk with our staff about the condition of your engine. We might recommend you adjust your service intervals for oil changes or other maintenance to account for the older engine working harder – but we’ll never recommend anything your vehicle doesn’t need!
If anything, following recommended intervals is more important as your vehicle gets older. Skipping oil changes or other services can lead to problems much more quickly than with a newer vehicle. If you haven’t gotten around to a fuel system cleaning, or replacing power steering or brake fluid, a differential service or transmission service, it’s time to start taking care of those things.
We want to keep your car happy for years and years to come – and we’re just the shop to do it!