Royal Purple

Issue date: 9/16/09 Section: Opinion

Finch [Click to enlarge]

Luther [Click to enlarge]

College students have been forever plagued by a lack of reliable transportation.

This problem, though, is exacerbated by an unwillingness of students to care for their cars.

Two words: preventative maintenance. Basic care for your car can go a long way in preventing more expensive adventures at the auto repair shop.

Luther: The majority of college students have never and will never be able to afford a new car. I myself drive a 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier and it runs like a champ even after 214,000 miles. Most cars can hit the 200,000 mark as long as they are properly maintained.

Finch: This isn’t to say students  can’t have a nice car. My own 1986 Porsche 951 is a good, if extreme, example of what caring for your car makes possible. It’s conservation at its core.

Luther: So how do you get your car to go the extra mile, so to speak? What kind of effort do you need to put in? I promise it’s not as difficult or costly as you think.

Finch: There’s the basic stuff like changing all the fluids when the manufacturer recommends. Replacing suspension bushings and shocks, which wear out and result in sloppy handling/clunky noises, can make your car feel like new again.

Luther: Remember, too, to check your fluids regularly. An older car may burn through oil before your next scheduled oil change. Checking the oil levels every so often can be huge. A properly lubricated engine is a happy engine.

Finch: Of course, a nice car is a clean car. Just don’t bust out the dish soap and the washcloth. It’s  possible to cause immense damage to your car’s paint and trim after only one wash if you don’t use the correct chemicals, wash-mitt and procedure.

Luther: A clean car, though, is not just defined by mechanical or physical condition. To really get the most out of that clunker you’ve got to drive right. Doing e-brake doughnuts in the parking lot at Wal-Mart is not the greatest way to hit the 200,000 mark. I’m not saying you have to drive like a 90-year-old with cataracts, but patience is a virtue. Drive the speed limit, slow down in the corners and don’t ride the brakes.

Finch: Furthermore, if you sense a problem, fix it! An engine that feels like it’s flopping around is probably doing just that ... this is a symptom of worn engine mounts, which places additional stress on fuel lines, exhaust and many other systems. A routine repair can quickly snowball into a nightmare when ignored.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools