After changing the oil, be sure to replace it with a high quality synthetic motor oil. Synthetics are formulated to maintain viscosity over a wider range of temperatures, and to avoid high temperature breakdowns and boil off. They produce fewer carbon deposits, and retain their viscosity for up to three times longer, and offer generally better protection throughout their cycle.

The other place where routine work and careful driving can greatly extend the life of your car is the transmission. Drive gently – avoid making sudden starts and stops. After you're done with the break-in period, try to maintain a constant speed when you drive. It doesn't save any time to accelerate and break suddenly, but it does wear the engine out faster. Likewise, only change gears when you need to – this prevents wear and tear on the transmission. Like the advice above about engine oil, use a high quality synthetic for your transmission fluid, and replace the transmission fluid early on a new car, for the same reasons you do your first oil change after 1500 miles.

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