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Everything mentioned so far is important on an old car, but I would have to say "Steering." Something breaks in the steering and you could be dead.
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What are the most critical preventative maintenance parts on older vehicles?
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For an oddball car with OEM parts no longer available, would it be better to leave the old OEM parts on? Like say the shocks are ten years old, but show no bounce or problems, wouldn’t it be better to leave the OEM on rather than risk subpar aftermarket?
Yes, shocks aren't routine maintenance items replaced at regular intervals.
Many OE shocks can go shockingly long and high miles and still be in good shape.
Cooling hoses. Not the bigger radiator hoses but the smaller ones under manifolds and such.
The age of a vehicle doesn't change the criticality of any PM. Parts wear out and should be replaced or repaired. The car is either well maintained or it isn't.
If it has points change them. Weather cracked tires and bad shocks must go. Actually a couple hours of going over everything is time well spent.
At about 20 years, any rubber part that's in contact with high heat or constant movement could likely be near end of life. Many seals might still be sealing, but if you touch it the rubber will break apart. Noticed this on one of the oil cooler O-rings.
Heat makes a huge difference in general. Was changing my camshaft + crankshaft seals while doing the timing belt, and the lower crankshaft seal was discolored and noticeably harder than the upper camshaft seals, just from how much more heat there was down there.
Heat makes a huge difference in general. Was changing my camshaft + crankshaft seals while doing the timing belt, and the lower crankshaft seal was discolored and noticeably harder than the upper camshaft seals, just from how much more heat there was down there.
Yeah, tire shops try and tell you there's a mileage marker for replacement like every 50,000 miles or so and they always want to replace struts and shocks
There was a book written many years ago called "Why Trade It In" that suggested time/mileage preventative replacement.
I have used that theory for a long time now. I call it pre-emptive maintenance as I keep my cars for the long time.
Setting a schedule and replacing something before it leaves one stranded always seemed like a good idea. Lots of useful information in it still
Definitely would suggest belts, hoses, rubber as it rots and is weakened by heat and time.
I call my version "pre-emptive" with five and 10 year schedules. At 10 years old all the rubber hoses [including AC and heater], plugs etc were replaced. It's been another five so it will be gone through again. 100,000 miles, I'll consider shocks and struts. I have heard too many stories of junk struts and shocks being sold and only lasting a couple of years these days. And I'm only at 75,500 miles after almost 16 years. Should hit 100,000 miles by 2025. Then I may well have the timing chain tensioner and chain itself inspected as it's a GM Ecotec 2.2 4 cylinder. Known potential trouble area.
Knowing areas of weakness in the particular brand, generation and model of your car will help plan your preventive maintenance attack.
Not trusting the "lifetime" OEM claims for service is another factor as my idea of "lifetime" is way different than the manufacturer's as well as the definition of "severe duty". Light occasional use is "severe duty" but it's rarely thought of that way. It's why some elderly "cream puffs" become unreliable when pressed into more regular usage. Things just rot, get crusty, freeze up from lack of use.
I have used that theory for a long time now. I call it pre-emptive maintenance as I keep my cars for the long time.
Setting a schedule and replacing something before it leaves one stranded always seemed like a good idea. Lots of useful information in it still
Definitely would suggest belts, hoses, rubber as it rots and is weakened by heat and time.
I call my version "pre-emptive" with five and 10 year schedules. At 10 years old all the rubber hoses [including AC and heater], plugs etc were replaced. It's been another five so it will be gone through again. 100,000 miles, I'll consider shocks and struts. I have heard too many stories of junk struts and shocks being sold and only lasting a couple of years these days. And I'm only at 75,500 miles after almost 16 years. Should hit 100,000 miles by 2025. Then I may well have the timing chain tensioner and chain itself inspected as it's a GM Ecotec 2.2 4 cylinder. Known potential trouble area.
Knowing areas of weakness in the particular brand, generation and model of your car will help plan your preventive maintenance attack.
Not trusting the "lifetime" OEM claims for service is another factor as my idea of "lifetime" is way different than the manufacturer's as well as the definition of "severe duty". Light occasional use is "severe duty" but it's rarely thought of that way. It's why some elderly "cream puffs" become unreliable when pressed into more regular usage. Things just rot, get crusty, freeze up from lack of use.
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I forgot what saved my Olds Calais 2.5 from death: Blackstone Labs oil analysis discovered coolant in the sample and subsequently a cracked head.
So yeah, regular oil analyses can head off trouble and help plan a regular maintenance schedule for your particular vehicle
So yeah, regular oil analyses can head off trouble and help plan a regular maintenance schedule for your particular vehicle
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