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Why do cars last longer now than they used to?

Why do cars last longer now than they used to? Today’s cars are safer and more dependable than they have ever been. Most cars can go 100,000 miles without any major problems. Just think about cars from the 60’s and 70’s were wore out by the time they reached 75,000 miles. The secret to this longevity is the electronics and the type fluids that are used in our vehicles. Thanks to modern electronics the automobile has replaced carburetors with fuel injection. This enables our engines to get the precise amount of fuel that the engine needs, during cold or hot weather. Engines don’t “Flood Out” and fill our oil pan with gasoline. When you add that today’s engines run at 200 (F) to 225 (F) degrees this help evaporate the acids that are formed in our oil. Acids can cause sludge in your engine oil and ruin your engine. Changing oil every 4 to 6,000 miles is better for your pocket than replacing your cars engine or buying a new car. Using synthetic oils and fluids in your car engine, transmission, power steering, etc will save you money at the gas pumps. Less friction is being produced by the cars moving parts as you drive. Less friction means less heat, this means less wear and tear on your cars engine, transmission, differentials and power steering components. One of the most neglected fluids on our car is brake fluid. I think this is due to lack of understanding what it really does. The job of brake fluid is to allow our brake pads and shoes to stop the car when we push down the brake pedal. This sounds simple enough in theory, yet brake fluid does so much more. It allows the hydraulics to lubricate the moving parts in a very hot, high pressure environment. It does a great job of handling all this heat and pressure when the brake fluid is new. After a couple of years the boiling point of the brake fluid drops from around 500 degrees Fahrenheit to around 250 degrees Fahrenheit. This is due to the nature of brake fluid being “hygroscopic”; this word means “water absorbing”. Water produces rust and hinders the lubricating properties of brake fluid on the metal and rubber parts of the brake system. Moisture lowers the boiling points of the brake fluid. When brake fluid boils it produce air bubbles in your brake lines. These air bubbles may cause a lower than normal brake pedal and a serious safety concern when stopping around town or when stopping at high speeds To avoid premature brake problems and costly repair bills make brake fluid exchanges a scheduled maintenance item. A good rule about brake fluid is to replace it every 2 years or 30,000 miles. Your brakes will stop better and last longer, allowing you to get more miles out of your automobile. Live long and prosper! James Morris


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