Drive Smart Blog

A well-cared-for vehicle can easily pass two hundred thousand miles. The key is maintenance tailored to what an older car actually needs.

A timing belt usually gives little to no warning before it fails, and in many engines a failure means severe internal damage.

Spark plugs wear so gradually that you get used to the decline, until a fresh set reminds you how your engine is supposed to run.

Carbon and varnish build up on injectors and intake valves so gradually that most drivers never notice what they have lost.

Conventional, blend, or full synthetic? The most important rule is using the type and viscosity your manufacturer specifies.