How to preserve a car for as long as possible

[Meridivs]

We finally got the van we were looking for a long while. It’s old but well-maintained and in a good shape given it’s age.

Now we want to make it last for as long as possible since it’s out of production for some time now.

Here is the questions:
How can we make it last & enjoy it the longest?
What’s the best way to preserve it when not in use?

Topic

[dan]

while in use keep up with service intervals, change oil and transmission fluid on regular service intervals, keep all components that require greasing greased, when it sets don’t let it set bring it out once in a while take it for a drive let the engine warm up.

during the winter months keep it clean whenever the roads are salted heavy wash the car top and bottom at the car wash, the undercarriage especially in the fender wells and any nooks and crannys salt may like too hide, wax the body too keep the paint fresh and protect it.

put clean oil in the engine and transmission and all other components when putting it in storage leaving a car in storage with old used motor oil is the last thing you want to do because all the garbage can float too the bottom.

[Cameron]

[quote=”Meridivs” post=103607]We finally got the van we were looking for a long while. It’s old but well-maintained and in a good shape given it’s age.

Now we want to make it last for as long as possible since it’s out of production for some time now.

Here is the questions:
How can we make it last & enjoy it the longest?
What’s the best way to preserve it when not in use?[/quote]
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I agree with 13ace.

The best thing you can do for your car is keep all the oils and fluids as fresh as possible at all times. This means:

Regular engine oil and oil filter changes using the manufacturer specified oil (grade and spec) no less than every 5000 miles or six months
Transmission oil changes (whether auto or a manual gear box)more often than the minimum recommended by the manufacturer together with replacement of auto transmission fluid filter
Brake fluid changes every 2 years
Power steering fluid change every 3 years (often totally neglected by owners but once it begins to go slightly dark it should be changed)
coolant flush and change every 2-3 years
Differential oil change every 70 – 80000 miles
Replacement of the engine air cleaner element/filter every 12000 miles. In most cars these are cheap to replace and for optimum MPG and performance they need to be clean.

Servicing of other items as specified by the manufacturer.

Replacement of worn items before they totally wear out or fully deteriorate such as tires, brake rotors, brake pads, shock absorbers, worn and deteriorating steering and suspension bushes, car battery, etc

Checking and adjusting wheel alignment.

Keep up the tire pressures. Just get a small inexpensive light weight 12 volt air compressor that connects to the car’s electrical system. You can pump the tires at home and then adjust the pressure with your tire pressure gauge (when the tires are cold). Always carry one of these compact compressors in your car in any event.

Body work – there are some excellent videos on youtube on protecting the body work on your car. Have a look at those from AMMO NYC (Larry Kosilla)

If the car is left sitting, get yourself and battery charger, remove the high tension leads from the battery terminals and give the battery a charge from time to time. Do this with good ventilation and air circulation – not in a closed up garage.

Vehicle use.
The worst thing you can do to a vehicle is to just leave it sitting for months on end. If you do your battery will also go flat within 6 weeks, probably less, unless you charge it at various intervals. Unless the weather and road conditions are quite bad, take the car out for at least a 10-15 mile drive every week or 10 days when it is not in regular use to get all the mechanical components warmed up and moving again.

If you have an air conditioner in the car, make sure you run it for 5 minutes or so every week or so to circulate the gas and lubricate the seals. Otherwise the seals in the system will dry out and leak refrigerant.

[Lorrin Barth]

People worry about the engine and mechanical parts. But if the vehicle was made in quantity those things will be available for a long time. But try finding a steering wheel for an older vehicle. If yours is worn out they all are worn out. The same goes for upholstery. Sure, you can get seats recovered but it is expensive.

So, I’d say look around now for the above mentioned parts while they can be had from salvage in decent condition

Another big expense that can come along is rust repair. The best way to avoid this is to prevent rust from ever happening. This means checking how the rust preventative coatings on the bottom and in the wheel wells are doing. If not so good you may have to spray on rust preventative oils. The more you can avoid salted streets the better. That and store the vehicle where it is dry and rodent free.

[Pat61]

[quote=”barneyb” post=103875] That and store the vehicle where it is dry and rodent free.[/quote]

+1
I did some electrical work on a Duramax two years ago because squirrels got under the hood.

[dan]

the best way too prevent rust is too wash your car regularly, i mean REGULARLY when its winter, salt eats cars like you will not believe, here in Michigan cars with good engines and transmissions meet there demise with rust…

[Author]

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