7 Must-Know Maintenance Tips for Classic Car Enthusiasts

If you are like most classic car owners, you probably don’t put a lot of miles on your ride. As a result, you shouldn’t wait every 3,000 to 5,000 miles to change your oil in a classic car. If you only drive your classic car in the summer months, you should change your oil when you take it out of storage for the season. Keep track of your miles from there, if you get close to adding 3,000 to 5,000 miles to your odometer, go ahead and change the oil again. 

Many mechanics suggest changing your oil every 5,000 miles. A lot of classic car owners change their oil a little more frequently than every 5,000 miles. Some classic car owners change their oil every six months while others perform a change before and after the summer driving season.

Now, if you do drive your classic car year-round or if you put more than 3,000 miles on it each year, you should change your oil accordingly. Maintaining a regular oil change schedule is important for prolonging your engine’s lifespan. Oil acts as a lubricant for the rapidly moving components that make up an internal combustion engine.

Another benefit of having clean oil is getting better gas mileage. This happens because the engine runs more efficiently with proper lubrication. Clean oil also helps prevent your engine from overheating because it is running cooler with less resistance between the moving metal parts.

Ignoring oil changes can cause serious long-term damage to your engine. Old oil turns into a gel-like sludge over time causing it to break down inside your engine. This sludge evaporates rather than helping lubricate your pistons. When left unchanged over longer periods of time, old oil can even cause complete engine failure known as a seized engine. Always make sure you are using the correct oil and oil weight for your engine when you do change it.

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If you own a classic car, you already know they have some quirks from time to time. Many classic car owners insist their rides are temperamental and have personalities of their own. Sometimes they even like to mark their spot.

If you notice oil stains on your garage floor or after leaving a parking spot, you already know it’s time to check your oil or other fluids. Even without signs of a potential leak, you should be checking your oil every two weeks. As you learned above, your oil plays an important role in prolonging the lifespan of your engine.

That’s why you don’t want to risk running your engine without the proper amount of oil in it. You can cause serious engine damage if you have too much oil or not enough oil while the car is running. 

Checking your oil every two weeks will give you peace of mind while helping you foresee any potential issues if your oil consumption increases. You might as well check your other fluids at the same time. Your classic car might even reward you by marking less spots once you give it some TLC. It’s a win-win.

Storing your classic car in a garage when you’re not driving is wise if you want to preserve the vehicle’s paint and exterior finish. From sunlight to hail, keeping your classic car outside will ensure it is eventually exposed to potentially harmful weather or elements.

Prolonged sunlight exposure damages the paint, tires, and weather stripping on classic cars. It also damages the interior as the sunlight leaks in through the windows or windshield while heating it up inside. From cracking your dashboard or seats to fading the interior, you want to minimize the amount of time your classic car spends sunbathing. 

Wind exposure will also have a similar effect on the exterior of your car. From drying out your tires to blowing debris directly at your paint, keeping your ride out of the wind is a good idea. Some classic car owners have a professional apply ceramic coating to help protect the paint while others prefer their original finish with a few coats of wax. In either case, keeping the vehicle out of the elements will help you protect your classic car even more.

Keeping your ride out of the elements also has other benefits. For example, internal combustion engines (ICE) use a series of belts, hoses, and other components made from rubber, silicone, or metal. One of the most common materials for radiator hoses is ethylene propylene rubber because of its ability to withstand extreme temperature fluctuations. 

Although these hoses and components are engineered to be durable, they still show signs of wear and tear over time. If you find a leaky hose, don’t panic, it’s normal. However, you should replace any hoses that show signs of wear before they begin leaking whenever possible.

While wear and tear is natural to many components of a classic car, wild fluctuations in temperature or humidity provide the ideal conditions for your hoses and weather stripping to dry out and crack more frequently. Hoses are designed to handle the vibrations, extreme temperatures, and high-pressure conditions from the fluid running through them, but they don’t last forever. 

As a general rule of thumb, mechanics recommend you change your hoses and clamps every four years or 50,000 miles. Inspecting them regularly will help you stay one step ahead of any potential problems before they occur. 

As far as belts are concerned, pay attention to them and replace them accordingly as they begin to show signs of wear. For example, if your battery is not charging as you drive, you might want to consider checking the alternator belt before replacing the alternator or battery. Many older cars feature a lot of belt-driven components under the hood. Always inspect the belts when you check your hoses.

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Similar to hoses, your tires can dry out or crack over time on top of normal wear and tear from driving. You want to visually inspect your tires regularly for any signs of wear and tear every driving season. Don’t forget to check your tire tread depth either, it’s important for your driving safety. 

To inspect the tread depth of your tires, it’s best to use a tread depth gauge. If you don’t have a gauge handy, an old trick is to use a penny. 

Place the penny between two tread ribs and turn the penny so Abraham Lincoln’s head is facing you. If you can see all of Honest Abe’s head, then you need to replace your tires. Do this for all four tires individually because they can wear unevenly.

You need a tread depth of at least 1/16 of an inch for normal driving conditions. In the end, good tires mean better grip which is good for everyone on the road or at the track.

If your classic car is for show only or part of a serious collection, you may not have the time to inspect it, drive it, or start the engine on a regular basis. Many amateurs think they can purchase a collector’s car and just let it sit to preserve the value. Unfortunately, in the real world, that’s just not how it works.

If you do not plan on driving your classic car regularly, you should still start the engine at scheduled intervals. The reason for this is simple: when an engine sits, oil settles out of the places it needs to be for the next startup. This can cause serious long-term engine damage or even worse, a seized motor, if overlooked.

When a classic car sits for several years without being started or driven, mechanics often have to do a complete engine rebuild before you start it again. This is because a simple oil change is not enough to ensure your engine has proper lubrication upon startup.

Another risk of letting your car sit for prolonged periods of time is engine seals and other important seals drying out. This happens because oil is not where it needs to be to help preserve the seals. When seals dry out, they crack, which leads to leaks and oil stains.

That’s why classic car collectors with large collections often have an on-site mechanic to keep their vehicles well-maintained and ready to be driven. They also know what it costs to preserve the car’s value versus having to restore it. It’s always more affordable to keep it well-maintained compared to letting it sit in the long run.

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At the end of the day, just remember, that cars were built to be driven. They are tools, not just toys or collector’s items. If you have a classic car, it’s okay to baby it but it’s also okay to drive it occasionally. After all, that’s what it was made to do.

When you get behind the wheel of a classic car, it can give you a time-bending experience. Take in the smells and sounds because that’s what makes it a nostalgic memory. It’s also a moment younger generations of your family will remember forever if they are along for the ride.

Whether you were a kid when that classic car was new or you are experiencing a vintage ride for the first time, a simple Sunday cruise can transcend you back in time. Classic cars are all about catching feels, that’s what makes them so special. 

For many, driving a classic car is like taking a vacation that’s always available. You might as well roll the windows down and hit the open road to get a taste of yesteryear along the way. That’s called maintenance of the soul, which is the most important tip of all for classic car enthusiasts.

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