Whether your vehicle is your daily commuter, or you take it out of the garage once a month, knowing the average life expectancy of the major parts of a car can be very beneficial. At A-1 Auto Recyclers in Kirtland, New Mexico, we have a highly educated team that can help assess if it is time to replace a part in your car or not. And with thousands of used vehicle parts available to our customers, we can help get you back on the road and back to your life. It is important to know an estimated time frame for the parts in your car in order to maintain a consistent schedule of maintenance and replacements. There are slight variations depending on the make and model of your vehicle, but here are is an overview of the average lifetime of some of the most important parts of your car.

Engine and Transmission

The engine and transmission of your vehicle are without a doubt some of the most important pieces of your working vehicle, and with regular fluid replacement and maintenance they can last even longer. But on average, the engine in your vehicle can last from 150,000-350,000 miles. The life of the engine can also depend heavily on the type of use it receives. If you are driving your vehicle at top speeds consistently, braking and accelerating quickly, or often travel with heavy loads, you are most likely aging your engine a little bit faster than normal. On the other hand, transmissions usually start to really show their age between 120,000 and 149,000, but if maintained regularly, your transmission could last the lifetime of the vehicle.

Brake Systems

The brake system of a vehicle is comprised of several pieces including the brake pads and shoes. If taken care of properly, your brake pads could last up to 70,000 miles but experts suggest getting them checked before hitting that mile marker. There are many factors that contribute to the length of their life including the weather climate and how often you have to apply hard pressure while braking.

Timing Belt

Particularly when buying a used vehicle, knowing if the timing belt has been changed or not is really important. If the timing belt goes out it can cause your entire engine to seize up. This is a costly mistake that you do not want to make! The timing belt can typically last up to 100,000 miles, but it is a good idea to get it checked long before that.

Battery

Contrary to the previous components of your car that we discussed, the battery life is more dependent on an actual measure of time versus mileage. Luckily, even if you come out to find that your battery is dead, a quick jump from another vehicle or a generator should bring it back to life. But on average, a good quality battery should last 3-5 years.

Tires

The tires on your vehicle will typically wear in proportion to their quality, climate conditions, and driving practices. As with some of the other car components, if you are accelerating and braking quickly every day and carrying heavier loads normal, the tread on your tires is going to wear down more quickly. It is also important to keep in mind what weather conditions you deal with regularly. For example, if you live in an area with periods of extreme heat, the life of your tires could be shorter than expected. It is essential to rotate your tires every 6,000-8,000 miles and experts suggest looking into replacement after the tires are 6 years old.
When trying to determine if your car needs parts replaced or not, it is important to take these guidelines into consideration in proportion to the age of your car and its current mileage. At A-1 Auto Recyclers in Kirtland, New Mexico, you can trust us to evaluate the condition of your car parts and suggest a replacement if needed. Our trustworthy and skilled specialists are here to make sure your vehicle runs exceptionally well, and that we find the right part you need on the first try!

Sources:

http://www.bankrate.com/auto/extending-your-cars-life-and-your-investment/

https://www.mccluskeychevrolet.com/how-long-do-important-car-parts-last/

https://visual.ly/community/infographic/transportation/lifespan-car-parts

https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-aging