Posted: 01/04/2022
If you are car or truck owner, it is likely that you have had to deal with the various car parts breaking down. Every vehicle has about 30,000 interconnected parts that all have to work together. Some of these parts are meant to wear down, while others might be more prone to failure early on in a car's life. We'll go over which parts are likely to fail when.
Your car's oil is designed to lubricate the engine components so that they don't grind together, reducing friction and wear on car parts such as pistons or bearings. Proper car maintenance includes changing your car's oil regularly by having a professional technician do it or doing it yourself with the right tools. Not doing so can allow dirt and debris to build up, which will eventually lead to engine failure.
The car's oil filter is responsible for trapping any of this debris before it enters the engine. Though some technicians will replace an oil filter every time the oil is changed, the industry standard is every other time you change the oil. Also keep in mind that synthetic oils are designed to last longer.
Average Lifespan: Around 3,000-5,000 miles for the car's oil and around 10,000 for its filter.
Windshield wipers are essential car parts that most people take for granted until they stop working. They help keep your windshield clear of rain, snow, or debris while you're driving. You can’t drive if you can’t see where you’re going. If you live in a climate with lots of different kinds of weather, then you already know how important your wiper blades are.
Wiper blades should be replaced as soon as they show signs of wear. If your car is equipped with a rear wiper blade, consider replacing that too. You might not use the rear wiper as much or rely on it as often, it still will wear down faster than you expect.
Average Lifespan: Around six months of regular use.
This is probably the first one you thought of, and for good reason. After filters and wiper blades, the battery is one of the car parts that is most likely to fail early on. It is responsible for starting the car and running all of its electrical systems.
If your battery is starting to show its age, you might want to consider replacing it. A good technician will check this often and steer you in the right direction.
Average Lifespan: 4-6 years with normal use with average climatic conditions.
Brake pads are made to wear down, so it should be no surprise that they make this list. They are designed to slow down or stop your car by applying direct contact to the rotor. This contact causes friction, causing them to gradually get thinner with use.
Average Lifespan: 4-6 years with normal use, or around 40,000 miles
Let's talk more about friction. The parts of a car most likely to wear down the fastest are the ones that create or experience friction. Just like brake pads, your vehicle's tires are made to wear down as they provide traction to your car.
Average Lifespan: 6 years, for average use.
Some car parts will wear out over time because of the nature of their job. Spark plugs are designed to create sparks that ignite fuel in a vehicle's engine. This repeated sparking will eventually wear the spark plugs down and they will need to be replaced.
Average Lifespan: 20,000-30,000 miles
Arnold Motor Supply has been a leading supplier of auto parts since 1927. Founded and based in Iowa, we have locations all over the midwest. Order your parts today and you'll be notified via email once your purchase is ready for pickup at your local Arnold Motor Supply or Auto Value parts store.
