Maintenance Schedule for a low usage car

[Gerardjg]

What type of maintenance should I do for a J used around 1k a year top speed 45 longest trip 3 miles. If you saw my previous posting on the issues I was having with this car it seems to have been a carbon build up problem. Also would it be a good idea to use it a couple of days a month for my highway commute?

[driverdriver]

I basically drive my J when the good weather is around (which is basically late spring, summer and early fall in these parts). In a year I think the most I drive it is 3000 miles.

I keep my car in storage. Because I don't drive it a lot, I'm down two two oil changes a year with a Napa Gold oil filter and Mobil 1 synthetic. Basically one oil change in the fall/winter and one in summer.

I have a trickle charger attached to the battery and I do try to start her up and run her for a half hour every 2 weeks. Most times I take the J for a blast through the back roads.

I change the coolant and transmission ATF out every couple of years. Monitor the brake and power steering fluids.

As for cosmetic stuff, I keep the car clean and wax it at least once a year.

[Victor]

I took an auto mechanics course in college from a teacher who had a PHD in the subject. He recommended taking a car on a sustained high speed run occasionally to burn out the carbon deposits, and also to avoid forming a lip in your cylinders caused by always driving at the same slow speed. On a high speed run the pistons actually go a little bit higher in the cylinders due to stretching of the connecting rods due to centrifigal force and this will wear off the lip. Another thing he mentioned, slowing down for every bump in the road will actually ruin your shocks. You have to take a good jolt every once in a while so the shocks get a full extention and retraction.

[yodawill2000]

Per Q45Techs suggestion I run mine to red line at least once a week on a back road I drive home from work.Leave it in first, run it to redline and let off then repeat several times.Amazing how much pull these ole gals have between 5K and redline.

[driverdriver]

I forgot, keep your gas tank close to full when in storage. It helps prevent condensation.