Maintaining Your Car's Mechanical Health

Owning a car means more than just keeping it clean and shiny. To truly protect your investment, it’s crucial to maintain the mechanical elements—like the engine, gearbox, and chassis. Whether you’re driving a modern car with the latest technology or a classic with simpler, older systems, regular mechanical upkeep will help to prevent costly repairs further down the line.

Keep Your Engine Running

The engine is the lifeblood of any vehicle, modern or classic. For modern cars, following the manufacturer’s service schedule is essential, as these engines often come with high-tech components and sensors that require regular inspection. Modern engines tend to run hotter and with tighter tolerances, so oil quality and timing of oil changes is more important than you might think.  

For classic cars, which often lack the advanced filtration systems of modern engines, oil changes every 3,000 miles are common. It’s also worth seeking out a high-zinc oil in most cases to protect older engine parts from wear. Classic engines can also be more prone to leaks, so checking oil levels regularly is important.

Smooth Shifts

In modern cars, automatic transmissions are common and generally require minimal maintenance, but it’s essential to check the transmission fluid level and quality regularly. Most manufacturers recommend changing the transmission fluid every 30,000-60,000 miles for an automatic, but for manual transmissions, this can be less frequent. Again, stick to the manufacturer’s specifications, as modern gearboxes can cost thousands to repair or replace.

Classic car gearboxes, especially manuals, are simple but checking and topping up gearbox oil regularly is advisable, as older gearboxes can sometimes leak or burn oil. Keep an eye on the clutch cable and hydraulic system too, so you can prevent issues before they become bigger problems.

Ensure a Smooth Ride

Suspension and chassis components in the modern automotive world can be absurdly complicated, with adaptive or electronically controlled systems. It’s all still affected by the mechanical components though, so regular inspection of shock absorbers, springs, and bushings is essential to ensure it all continues to work together. If something goes wrong you’ll soon know about it; vibrations or unpredictable car movements will give the game away immediately.

Although classic cars are solely mechanical in their suspension, there’s a lot of hands-on maintenance to be done. Bushings, which absorb shocks and reduce vibrations, tend to wear out more quickly and need regular replacement. Additionally, older suspensions might have greasing points that need lubrication every few months to keep things running smoothly.

Safety First: Brakes

With ABS and ESC, there’s a lot going on in a modern braking system and to keep it working optimally you’ll need to ensure you complete regular fluid changes and brake pad inspections. It’s also worth remembering that brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, reducing braking efficiency, so replace it every two years. Inspect brake pads and discs every 20,000-30,000 miles, too. It’s not too expensive to replace them, and it’s crucial that you do.

Depending on the age of your classic car, you might be relying on drum brakes or early disc brakes.Regular inspection of brake components is critical, as classic braking systems can be prone to leaks and wear. Bleeding the brakes to remove air bubbles and replacing brake fluid every couple of years will also help if you feel like you’ve lost some braking power.