2002 Chevy Silverado

10 Things You Can Do to Make a Vehicle Last Twice as Long

/Updated /41 Comments/in , /by Mary Hunt

Twenty-two years ago, in Sept. 2001, my husband and I bought a new 2002 Chevy Silverado. For 14 of those years, it was our only vehicle. Our goal from day one has always been to make it last longer than any vehicle we’d ever owned—maybe even twice as long.

 

2002 Chevy Silverado

As I write, we still own this truck. It’s moving in on 300,000 miles—still running great and still on its original front brakes.

This truck has turned out to be really cheap transportation. And the longer we drive it, the cheaper it gets, considering its per-mile cost.

Most cars and trucks are built to last far longer than we can imagine. And when all is said and done, the difference between a clunker and a cream puff comes down to how well its owner has taken care of it. 

According to Eric Lyman, chief analyst at TrueCar, “The average lifespan [of a car] is now almost 12 years,” says Lyman. By that statistic, we’re well on our way to even doubling that statistic!

Practice the following, and it’s reasonable to believe you can double your car’s useful life and spend less time visiting your mechanic, all the while putting off buying a replacement car. 

1. Practice preventive maintenance

Research by major car manufacturers reveals that neglect of routine service and maintenance is the number one reason for major car repairs. Routine maintenance doesn’t cost; it saves money, aggravation, frustration, and lives. Pay attention. Anticipate maintenance so you don’t have to pay for repairs.

2. Estimate, estimate, estimate!

When it’s time for a major repair, get at least three estimates before you proceed, if possible. Don’t judge who will make this repair only by the lowest price; judge by competence, ability, experience, equipment, and after-service care. 

 

Bonus Tip

Keep your vehicle repaired and well-maintained. Little things like an oil leak, broken latch, or stubborn window all add up. Take care of things as they happen, no matter how small and seemingly unimportant.

3. Stick with a great mechanic

When you find a good mechanic you trust, stick with him or her even if the prices are a bit higher. All things being equal, you’ll save time, money, and aggravation in the long run. Plus, your mechanic will get to know your car more intimately. 

4. Keep it clean

It’s true. A clean car lasts longer because you are routinely washing away contaminants, which cause corrosion. It feels good to slip behind the wheel of a sparkling, clean car! Drive a vehicle that’s shiny on the outside, pristine on the inside and you find yourself effortlessly treating it with more respect and love!

“When you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good, you do good.”

 

5. Heed the manual

The Owner’s Manual for your vehicle (you can find it online if you’ve lost the original) is your bible for making your car last longer. Read it. Know what to expect and how to head off trouble. And be sure to keep it in the vehicle. 

6. Undercover

Statistically, we know that a garaged car lasts the longest, a carport is the next best, and a car cover is close behind. If you can’t garage, carport, or cover your car, park under trees or any covering to protect it from the damaging rays of the sun and other harsh weather conditions.

7. Take it easy

Avoid jackrabbit starts and stops. Stop and accelerate gradually. This will save gas, and conserve wear and tear on your brake linings, transmission, and suspension. 

In extremely slow or stop-and-go traffic, don’t ride the brake pedal. This wears out your brake linings prematurely and wastes fuel. And it annoys the drivers behind you to no end. It’s best to shift into a lower gear. 

8. Keep it full-ish

Avoid running your car with the tank low on gas. Keeping the tank low increases the chance that sediment dirt, water, and moisture that sit at the bottom of the fuel tank will be drawn into your fuel system. That’s engine damage just waiting to happen. This is bad for your vehicle.

But that’s not the only reason you should always keep the fuel gauge above half. Running out of gas increases the chances of getting in an accident as a result of the sudden loss of power and resulting exposure to traffic should you find yourself in the middle of a lane or even on the side of the road.

9. Mind the oil 

Regular oil changes according to the manufacturer’s guidelines are the most important thing, dollar for dollar, you can do to protect your engine and make it last longer.

Generally, cars and trucks used to require oil changes every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, depending on the make and model. If yours is younger, the requirement for oil change could be quite different. And there you have just one more reason to become intimately familiar with that Owner’s Manual.

Always err on the side of changing the oil too often than run the risk of failing to change it often enough.

 

10. Lighten up

The more a car weighs, the harder the engine, transmission, brakes, and suspension have to work. While cars are designed to carry extra weight, over the long term, any additional strain will unnecessarily shorten its lifetime.

Don’t use the trunk for a mobile garage. That is not a good place to store a 100 lb. bag of sand, that square of roof shingles or every piece of sports equipment you own. Keep it as light as possible.

Follow these suggestions, and you, too can look forward to doubling your vehicle’s useful life! 

 

Updated and Republished 9-5-23

 

Question: Got a great story or vehicle longevity tip or trick? Share it in the comments area below!

 

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41 replies
  1. Arthur Mantzouris says:

    I have to make a correction. My car doesn’t have 185.000 miles. It has 151.000 miles. But in about a 1.000 miles or so I should be getting it first oil change… and to check anything else it needs for its first 150.000 check in…..

    Reply
  2. Arthur Mantzouris says:

    I just bought my first car 4 all cash. It’s a Hdyia sonata 2009 with over 185,000 miles. It was taken care by a mechanic for his daughter. I will keep it for as long as I can…I don’t drive very much so it should last me till over 300,000 miles….I can’t wait till then…it should be a fun trip for me n the car…

    Reply
  3. Jessica Rupe says:

    Lots of great advice. I do have a question about that last part though. I don’t drive myself. But my boyfriend/common law husband is self employed as a private contractor and handyman. He drives a 2006 Ford Econoline van and it’s decked to hold all of the tools he uses for his job. He doesn’t have any other working vehicles. No garage either. Any tips on how he can keep his van in shape despite the extra weight from his tools?

    Reply
  4. Linda Radosevich says:

    Both my husband and I drive 1998 car and truck (GMC and Toyota Avalon) and both have thousands of miles. MY car – the Avalon-is garaged and gets regular maintenance (our excellent mechanic puts a reminder sticker on the windshield at each oil change). We bought both used from colleagues. Husband’s truck has been ‘rode hard and put up wet’ – he hunts and fishes which takes him over rough roads. He usually does his own maintenance unless something is out of his wheelhouse. When we bought the Avalon, the previous owners gave us a file with all the maintenance they had done.
    Excellent tips, Mary and everyone!

    Reply
  5. Janice Sanders says:

    I drive my 1987 BMW 525 with 180,000 miles everywhere I go, including road trips. I love it! Also have all service records since 1987. I often get stopped by someone wanting to buy it —evidently this model is a “thing” with Gen Z types. Every time I think of getting a new one, I stop and think “I know how everything on this car works and how to get to it” so when I get the urge for something more modern, I’ll rent something for a few days.

    Reply
  6. Pat says:

    I thought about trading my car in even though it only has 65,000 MI and is a 2015. When it was appraised he pointed out that the bumper was broken. I never even noticed that and that is the danger of living where it’s winter half the year and snow plowing is not efficient, not to mention the potholes in the following spring. I’m pretty sure I know which one broke my bumper. I have decided to keep it. Fixing it is cheaper than a new car. By the way it is a Hyundai special edition with so many bills and whistles, first car I ever had like that.

    Reply
  7. cheryl says:

    I am the third owner of a 2013 Nissan Altima and it’s got 302,485 miles on it as i type. To say it’s been put through it’s paces is an understatement. I wear out tires with as much as it’s driven on the interstate, back and forth from my house to my mother/grandmother’s house. (2 hours each way.). I change the oil between every 3500-5000 miles. The gas mileage is awesome to me…I can get almost 500 miles out of 1 tank of gas!! Probably Intertstate miles use less gas than in town miles. I had a 2001 Toyota Camry that had 250,109 miles on it when I sold it for $700.00 to a friend. I will attest that regular oil changes go a long way to helping a car last!

    Reply
  8. Ingrid Asta says:

    My 2000 Tahoe is also close to 300,000 miles. I routinely change the oil every 5000 miles and only use synthetic. Only repair ever needed was the fuel pump and starter. Thank you, GM.

    Reply
  9. Judy Becker says:

    How is the mail truck driver doing? He or she didn’t have a medical emergency did they? Nobody asked about the driver of the mail truck.

    Reply
  11. Kitty says:

    Hi Mary. You are so spot on about the maintenance. I get my oil changed on schedule, and I love my Tacoma, about to hit 200,000 miles and still going strong. You also mentioned that we let you know if we like your reader’s questions and your answers – yes, keep them coming. You are the best.

    Reply
  12. Sandra Golightly says:

    That is amazing about your truck. My husband drives a 2003 Dodge Ram pick up. He bought it new and it now has 290,000 miles. For the most part we have done necessary repairs. It has been a tough truck and we plan to get another one. We got both kids through college. Two years ago just when we thought it was his turn for a new vehicle, COVID hit, the transmission went out in my car and could not be repaired and our AC unit for our house had to be replaced…all within a month’s time. Once again, my husband, continued to drive his truck. We are about to be in the position to buy a “new to him” truck and I am excited to do so. He has been such a good father, grandfather and partner in life. It’s his turn.

    Reply
  13. Kim says:

    Good advice, Mary, especially for young drivers. I drive a 2012 Ford Escape with 45,000 miles on it and we just replaced the original tires. The brakes are great and don’t need replacing yet. Other than new wipers each year, one new battery, plus other normal maintenance, we’ve not had to do any repairs. My husband is in charge of our cars and does all the upkeep and maintenance (although there are things he can’t do anymore with all the electronics in cars today, so if any of those had problems, we’d have to take it in for repairs). It’s always been parked in our garage, along with our truck, so no worries about birds or trees. When out and about, we try to park it in the shade, or in a parking structure, as sun is very damaging to car interiors. It looks like a new car still; it has no damage anywhere and the paint is shiny and in perfect shape. This car has had all it’s maintenance done as needed, and advised. We keep it clean, inside and out, to not only keep it looking nice, but because a regularly cleaned car lasts longer; hubby just this morning checked it over for an upcoming trip, plus got it it’s regular wash and cleaned the inside. He even regularly cleans under the hood to keep dirt, grease and other gunk off the engine, etc. Barring some unforeseen incident, I plan to be buried in this car….lol.

    Reply
  14. SueMN says:

    My mechanic marvels at how clean my trucks have always been. Vehicles are very expensive and my motto is “take care of your vehicle and it will take care of you!”
    Regular oil changes and maintenance are a must.
    Unfortunately, here in MN if you are a daily commuter on the highways your vehicle will eventually get rust damage no matter how often you go to the car wash.

    Reply
  15. Ingrid says:

    My 2000 Tahoe with 260 000 miles on it is a champ. Everybody always borrows it when their newer cars have to go into the shop. The only major item going wrong was the starter going out. A $700 fix. Love that car.

    Reply
  16. linda griesman says:

    i still drive my 1999 silverado with 254000 miles on her gets good gas mileage i can haul stuff ect the only thing is is that she is picky i am the only one that can drive it she always seems to have a problem when someone else behind the wheel i get in no problems at all she drives like a dream

    Reply
  18. Lori Cole says:

    We have a 2000 Chevy Silverado named Ol’ Blue, with 223,500 miles. We love that truck. It’s pulled tractors, trailers and campers for family vacation. And helped teach many young kids to drive. I can’t imagine not having it on our life’s. Love it that you have the same truck.

    Reply
  19. Sue Ramsey says:

    I agree with and do all of the above. I would also add that I start a binder whenever I buy a new vehicle and put every receipt of everything I do to the car in that binder–pms, oil changes, wipers, accessories–everything! It’s very helpful if taking the vehicle to a new mechanic, etc. It’s also VERY important when selling the vehicle. It puts the buyer at ease knowing the entire history. I also put tiny labels inside the upper left of my front window to remind myself of oil changes, pms, tire rotation, etc.

    Reply
    • Lilia says:

      Sue, Putting receipts and list of other info in a binder are great ideas. I will start using a binder. I also find it useful to jot down on 8 x 11 paper dates of oil change, repairs and other maintenance that were done so that I don’t have to go thru receipts to find info I’m looking for. One time, I had maintenance done and did not realize job was already done a few months ago from a different auto shop. I wasn’t keeping track but now I am. Thank you.

      Reply
  20. Bruce B says:

    We change our cars’ oil every 5,000 miles. Years ago I started changing the oil on the multiple of 5’s schedule…25,000 miles, 30,000 miles, etc. This simplifies remembering when to get an oil change.

    Reply
  21. Amanda says:

    I drive a 1990 Subaru Justy with many many miles on her. My trusted mechanic is my wonderful husband who keeps me on the road. I wholeheartedly agree with all your points, especially the preventative maintenance! I also have a friend who has a tire changer, which saves us about 60% on the cost of tires. We reward him with home cooked meals for his trouble.

    Reply
    • Sandra Golightly says:

      Two years ago our son purchased a Subaru. Another driver ran a red light and hit him head on. He had a few bloody knuckles and bruised shins but we believe the car saved his life. He replaced that Subaru with another one. Then when the transmission went out on my car and couldn’t be replaced, I bought a Subaru and LOVE it. We are forever Subaru owners now.

      Reply
  22. canceledcheck says:

    My 20 year old Tahoe has 235,000 miles on it, It gets a synthetic oil change every 5000 miles whether it needs it or not:-). The engine runs so quiet, sometimes when I am stopped I am not sure the engine is running. The only thing annoying is the fact that our wonderful government (sarcastic) charges me an extra $9 for the age of the vehicle!! Just got my license renewed and seeing this charge was a shocker.

    Reply
    • Shannon Robbins says:

      Is the extra charge because of it being considered a “classic” or a “show car”? If so, appeal it. Explain that it’s your everyday vehicle or emergency vehicle and that it’s not being shown as a classic..

      Reply
    • discus/watchdog for God says:

      I have one more suggestion. If you live in a “cold” State with lots of snow and ice and salted streets, be sure to get a car wash at least once a month, more if weather is bad. Go to a car wash that has under body washing to get all that crud and salt washed away. This will help prevent a build up of rust that is the unseen destroyer of cars.

      Reply
      • Veronica says:

        My mother’s ’95 Achieva is still going strong but underbody has rust. I definitely believe that even though you garage your car that in areas that use salt on the road in the winter the underbody needs washing frequently.

    • Sandra Golightly says:

      It’s so frustrating that we are punished for owning and maintaining our older vehicles. My sister now owns our grandpa’s 1974 3/4 ton Ford pickup. Our family inherited it when our grandpa passed away. It was the first vehicle for me and my sisters as we each got our drivers license. It’s quirky but fun to drive. So often people stop to ask “how much”. It will never be for sale. One of us will always own it.

      Reply
  23. kcjmc says:

    About parking under trees: Then you have to decide which is worse, bird poop and/or falling limbs and copious amounts of tree — or the sun.

    Reply
    • LILIA says:

      Thought about the same things kcjmc. Birds in my parking area are notorious for dropping their poop on my vehicle (yuk). I also get nervous of falling limbs parking under trees especially during a rain storm.

      Reply
      • DD says:

        Bird poo is also extremely acidic. Tree sap is another major problem parking under or near trees. Both destroy the finish on a car!

  24. PatriotPeg says:

    mary, thanx for all the tips u provide each day. i tried your link for the are and maintenance of the fire extinguisher. link is not working. pls see if this is the correct. thanx again. peggy

    Reply
  25. PattiHath says:

    I drive a 2003 Honda Accord with 240k miles on it. I do synthetic oil on a schedule and use Marvel Mystery oil with every gas fill (at the beginning) which really makes a difference in how well this car drives. It may not look great but I’m confident I’ll give it to the next person and they will get many more miles as well.

    Reply
  26. Kathleen Hicks says:

    I have 480,000 miles on my Toyota Prius. I took it to the dealer while it was under warranty for all scheduled maintenance and I get the oil changed every time it is due. I just took it in for a tune up and to check the AC. It looks like it will make it to 500,000.

    Reply

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