By GAVIN BENNETT
The lifespan of mountings, bushes, balljoints and other steering and suspension components is determined primarily by road surface, service disciplines of snug/tight fit and appropriate lubrication. With gentle driving on good roads all these parts can last almost indefinitely. On rough roads or with service neglect, the rate of wear and tear can be very severe.
Overloading is also a prime cause of premature wear and failure. There’s no “normal” lifespan in this instance.
The electric motors in a vehicle — wipers, fan, window winders — should last the vehicle’s lifetime. Severe maltreatment, decrepit wiring or physical damage are the causes of failure. Dirt and rust (causing jamming/overload) are a danger for electric motors, especially in door panel cavities.
Occassional cleaning and lubrication is the preventive remedy. Some attachments like rubber seals may deteriorate over time. Wiper blades will need frequent replacement if they spend much time in sunshine and are not cleaned daily.
Good quality upholstery and trim can remain in reasonable condition for the life of a vehicle, though some wear-and-tear on seats and carpets is inevitable. The accelerators of damage are primarily dirt, direct sunshine and, of course, physical mistreatment. Dirt is not only unsightly; it is also abrasive.
LONG-LASTING OPTION
Regular vacuum cleaning or gentle brushing of seats and carpets, and occasional sponging with a carpet shampoo, and cleaning of plastic parts with a purpose-formulation will keep the insides looking better – and lasting longer. Always use rubber overmats on the floor and park in the shade wherever possible.
Modern car paintwork can look good for decades, if it is regularly and properly cleaned and occasionally wax polished. Dirt, sunshine and maltreatment (not time) are the damaging factors. Conventional paints can be restored using T-cut and polish. Improved paint chemistry and application techniques make respraying to a good standard a viable and quite long-lasting option.
Transmission parts - gearbox, clutch (friction and pressure plates), prop shaft joints and differentials will wear only very slightly if kept serviced and used properly, and can last the lifetime of a vehicle. Clutches are the most likely to fail, and most likely through ill-treatment. Premature gearbox and diff failure indicate poor lubrication, extremely severe driving conditions, or rank bad use.
Modern engines — serviced and driven properly — should last at least 100,000km, and readily twice that distance before wear and tear seriously degrades them. At that stage they can often be viably overhauled (bearings, piston rings and cylinder liners are usually first to need replacement, and valves can become choked with carbon deposits).
A well overhauled engine should have about half the life of a new one. Harsh driving, overheating and failure to follow stipulated service intervals (using good skills and oils) are the engine killers. In diesel engines, the sulphur content in fuel can accelerate wear and, in Kenya, even so-called “low-sulphur” diesel is a long way from the international optimum.
If any defects in the cooling system are left unattended, deterioration and failure can be very rapid (leading also to engine damage). Hoses, radiator pressure caps and thermostats may need replacement after many years. Fanbelts are now very long lasting if well adjusted. The life of the whole system, and especially the radiator core, is longest if anti-rust coolant additives/formulations are used.
Cleanliness and regular service checks are, as with most components, key extenders of long and reliable life.