Going the distance

Once upon a time, a car that reached 100,000 miles (or more) was thought to be on its last leg.

Today, that simply isn’t true. Cars are built to last, and in some cases, you might even consider 100,000 miles to be small potatoes. Case in point: Million Mile Joe garnered national attention recently when he drove his 1990 Honda Accord to one million miles.

So, what can you do if you want your car to go the distance? Here, we’ve put together a few handy tips:

Use the right gas. For most cars, regular unleaded gasoline will do the trick. (Check your owner’s manual to be sure.)

Avoid idling. If you have to sit tight, it’s usually best to turn off your car and give your engine a break, too.

Keep up with maintenance. Regular oil changes and other routine maintenance will go a long way toward keeping your car on the road.

Take care of your tires. Rotate them regularly, and make sure you maintain proper tire pressure.

Use the right kind of oil. If you have more than 75,000 miles on your car, consider Mobil 1 High Mileage Oil (or something comparable).