North American Motoring

Mini Cooper: 5 Tips to Keep Your Car Running for a Long Time

Find out how most car owners keep their pride and joy on the road for the long haul.

By Ryan Christian - June 29, 2016

This article applies to the MINI Cooper (2001-Present).

With the cost of a new car being a substantial investment, everyone would like to keep the car they have on the road longer. Buying a new car is a pain in the neck after all, and besides, you probably love the car you have. If you've ever wondered how to make sure your car won't be on the next truck to the scrap yard, then this article is for you. We'll be exploring five of the most basic tips for keeping your car running for years to come.

The Tricks

#1: Proper Oil Changes

Possibly the most basic of all the things you could do to keep your car running is to keep up with your oil change schedule. This means either changing the oil and filter yourself, or having it changed at a professional shop. Most of these lube shops will recommend you go no more than 3,000 miles between your oil changes, but that doesn't mean to leave your hood latched until those numbers roll over! Make sure to check your oil levels every so often just to make sure you don't have a leak and you're not burning oil.

Figure 1. Make sure to regularly check your oil levels.

#2: Use the Proper Tire Pressure

Keep your tires properly inflated to the correct pressure. You can be sure of accuracy by purchasing a tire pressure gauge to aid you in inflation. Overfilling your tires with air is a great way to damage your tires and possibly even your suspension. The proper PSI for your car's tires is listed on a sticker just inside the door. Follow the pressures listed there and your tires will help keep your car rolling for quite a while.

Figure 2. Pay attention to this sticker. It tells you the right pressure for your car.

#3: Drive Like a Human Being

Unless your name happens to be Ben Collins, there is no reason on this earth for you to be regularly driving like you're running the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Driving hard puts strain on every part of your car from the tires to the turbo, and strain causes breaks. When you're driving on the road, ease up on your accelerator and you'll find that your car is a great deal more survivable than it would have been otherwise.

Figure 3. Just because your car's engine specs says it CAN, doesn't mean you SHOULD.

#4: Let Your Car Warm Up

We've all heard from somewhere that it's good to get in your car, hit the gas, and go, go, go. We should all also know that whoever we heard that from doesn't really know what they're talking about. Any engine that's been sitting for a while, especially overnight, will start up with a lot less oil running through the system, and letting the car idle for a little bit can help keep the components lubricated. The last thing a proud Mini owner wants is to throw a rod because they were too excited to drive their car.

Figure 4. Anyone can get excited about driving a Mini, but for the sake of longevity, you'll need to rein it in.

#5: Pay Close Attention

How many times have you seen the check engine light or heard an unusual sound from your car and thought, "I'll deal with it later?" If you want your car running for a long time, you'll never have that thought again. The check engine light is there to tell you that something in the engine is not behaving like it should, and a quick scan with a code reader can tell you exactly what that is. When your car starts making noises it didn't use to make, it's time to have a mechanic take a quick look under the hood. Just paying attention to these details could be the difference between a minor repair job and a brand new engine replacement.

Figure 5. If you see this light, it means have your codes checked and take care of the issue. Not wait until you get around to it.

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