BETTER LIVING THROUGH ENGINEERING AND MAINTENANCE
Those of us who enjoy 1986’s classic fantasy action-adventure film Highlander know what it is to ponder immortality. We know we aren’t going to spend eternity engaged in swordplay and awesome adventures like Christopher Lambert’s Connor MacLeod, but would it be possible for us to have a little taste of eternal life?
Can we purchase and then maintain a vehicle to make it last 300,000 miles? How close to forever can we get with our Chevrolet truck?
The service department at McCarthy Chevrolet of Overland Park has some tips that will help ensure your Chevrolet vehicle stays on the roads around Kansas City for a long time. You might want to trade for something new before your odometer hits that lofty mark, but we’re here to help you maintain whatever you’re driving.
TRANQUILITY AND THE SCIENCE OF VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
Consistency, caring, and attention to detail are paramount in our pursuit of a long-lived vehicle. Your owner’s guide will have tips on how to make your car last longer, and our qualified technicians are always happy to chime in with advice, but you’ll have to be a studious caretaker to keep your vehicle on the road for more than a quarter million miles.
Are you willing to make the commitment? Will you read the scheduled maintenance section of your Owner’s Manual? Are you the type to pop your hood and learn about what you see? Will you check your dipstick on the recommend interval? Are you familiar with the dashboard lights that can help you get ahead of vehicle concerns? Have you picked your favorite service advisor from our team yet? They’re amazing at helping with all of your maintenance needs.
MAXIMIZING THE LONGEVITY OF YOUR BATTERY
Your battery, just like the cranium of an immortal in 2000’s Highlander Endgame, is a critical component that must be protected and maintained. Here are a few key maintenance tips for those of you wondering how to extend your car battery’s life.
- Ensure all your lights are off when you exit the vehicle
- Test your battery often – our service team is here if you need help with cold cranking amps, amp hours, or reserve capacity
- Inspect and clean your terminals – you can use a rag and a mixture of baking soda and warm water to wipe away any corrosion you find
There are more tips on Battery Service and Replacement in our old blog posts, so check those out for more help hitting your vehicle life expectations.
THE HEARTBEAT OF AMERICA – HOW TO MAKE YOUR ENGINE LAST LONGER
The engine in your Chevrolet is a finely engineered machine with hundreds of moving parts that, if properly cared for, will serve you for an incredible amount of time and miles. Our team of certified technicians is always eager to discuss maintenance tips and take care of the heavy lifting parts of extending a vehicle’s life, but here’s a list of primary concerns as you tally up those miles on your Chevrolet:
- Change your oil – synthetic and synthetic blend oils are amazing, but you still must adhere to the recommended maintenance schedule in your owner’s guide. Running the same oil for too long can cause irreparable damage and it’s as easy as visiting our Certified Oil Change page to schedule your next maintenance visit.
- Swap your air filter – we love saying engines are powered by tiny explosions, and those detonations need air mixed with fuel to happen efficiently and reliably. A clean air filter will ensure your engine breathes properly and you get all the power and reliability you need.
- Check your belts and hoses – there’s a complex network of hoses delivering air and fluids to your engine, and those will wear out over time. Catching a leak early on can save you money, prevent a bigger problem from developing, and go a long way to making your engine last longer. Your engine may also have a timing belt that will eventually require replacement – you’re not going anywhere without it. Ask a McCarthy Chevrolet of Overland Park service advisor if your vehicle has a timing belt or timing chain to better understand your vehicle and how to keep it on the road as long as possible.
- Check and maintain your spark plugs – this is an often neglected aspect of car maintenance and it’s so important we’ve already blogged about it. You’re eventually going to buy new spark plugs as you treat your Chevrolet like you want it to run forever.
If you fail to properly maintain your engine, you’re opening yourself up to the possibility of a fate similar to Sean Connery’s character in the original Highlander film. (That’s a bit of a spoiler, but they’re permitted on movies that are almost 40 years old!)
TAKE IT EASY TO MAKE YOUR ENGINE LAST LONGER
The way you drive your vehicle can impact its lifespan, and we recommend taking it easy when you’re able. We’re not saying to jump on the highway at 10 MPH under the posted speed limit, but there are some reasonable approaches to driving that can extend your Chevrolet’s life.
Take it easy when accelerating. There are obviously going to be times when you need to put the hammer down to merge or pass someone, but staying under redline can help extend the life of your Chevrolet SUV.
Average speed plays a part as well – 70 is more fuel efficient than 80 and it doesn’t work the engine as hard. We know how fast traffic can move on the roads around Kansas City, but try to avoid going 95 for extended periods if you want to maximize your vehicle’s life.
Hard driving wears out other parts of your vehicle more quickly. It’s an extreme example, but ask a friend or coworker who’s into racing how often F1 cars and other race vehicles change tires, brake pads, suspension parts, and other wear items.
A lower-stress approach can produce a longer life for you AND your vehicle. Try to take it easy like Duncan MacLeod from the Highlander TV series when he’s relaxing in his barge house on the Seine.
WILL THESE CAR MAINTENANCE TIPS HELP ME REACH 300,000 MILES?
No one can guarantee a vehicle will reach 300,000 miles or longer – there are far too many things that could happen on the roads around Overland Park.
We will, however, confidently say that consistently following the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule and partnering with a team of certified Chevrolet technicians will go a long way toward keeping your vehicle on the road for many years to come.
We’re willing to bet you’re going to want a new Chevrolet well before you hit 300,000 miles, but you should maintain your vehicle regardless. Treat it like you want it to run forever, and it will serve you well.
(We’re here to help when the time comes for your next Chevrolet.)
CONTACT OUR CHEVROLET MAINTENANCE TEAM TO EXTEND YOUR CAR’S LIFE
When you’re ready to get auto service completed near Kansas City visit our Online Scheduling Tool or give the Certified Chevrolet Service Team at McCarthy Chevrolet of Overland Park a call at 866-453-2062. Our talented team knows what it takes to maximize the operating life of your Chevrolet vehicle and we look forward to the opportunity to work with you.
When it comes to being the premier Chevrolet dealer and service department near Kansas City our team knows “There can be only one” and it’s the team at McCarthy Chevrolet of Overland Park.
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