Can We Guess How Long Your Car Will Last Based on Your Maintenance Skills?

AUTO

By: Ian Fortey

5 Min Quiz

Image: Dave & Les Jacobs / DigitalVision / Getty Images

About This Quiz

You know that little sticker in the corner of your windshield? The one with the numbers written on it? If you don't know what that is, then that's a problem right there. There are lots of tips and reminders around your car that let you know when maintenance needs to be done. You've got the sticker from the last time you were at the garage, the warning lights that pop up on your dash and, of course, your owner's manual, which spells out pretty clearly exactly when and how you need to maintain your car. 

In an ideal world, everyone would memorize that manual and keep their car in tip-top condition all the time. But that doesn't happen, does it? Sometimes we forget things. Sometimes we can't afford things. Sometimes we just don't care, because if everything seems to be going fine why bother taking it to a mechanic to tinker around with something that isn't broken? All of those approaches are going to affect the lifespan of your vehicle eventually. If you want to know how much time your car has left, tell us a bit about your maintenance habits and we'll let you know just when that car is going to drive its last mile.

How would you check to see if your tires are wearing a little thin?

Advertisement

When do you typically wash your car?

Advertisement

Have you ever had your car detailed?

Advertisement

Do you own a car vacuum?

Advertisement

Do you know what kind of oil your car takes?

Advertisement

Let's say you got a flat. Before you bust out the jack and raise your car, what's a good thing to do?

Advertisement

Have you ever actually changed a tire before?

Advertisement

What kind of fuel do you put in your car?

Advertisement

How often do you replace your engine air filter?

Advertisement

Do you know when your oil filter was last replaced?

Advertisement

You need to keep those tires properly aligned. When's a good time to do that?

Advertisement

What are you going to check when your electrical systems are working poorly and you smell burnt plastic?

Advertisement

What's a good sign you might need your battery replaced?

Advertisement

How often do you clean the windows inside your car?

Advertisement

What happens when your check engine light comes on?

Advertisement

Do you know where to look on a tire to determine its width?

Advertisement

Have you ever washed your engine?

Advertisement

Motor oil will be labeled something like 5W-30. Do you know what that W means?

Advertisement

How many miles are in a set of tires, give or take?

Advertisement

What color should your brake fluid be?

Advertisement

You have purple washer fluid in your car but you need to top it up. Can you pour in some green stuff?

Advertisement

What's a good mix for coolant and water in your radiator?

Advertisement

Do you eat in your car?

Advertisement

If you had a flat and put a donut on, how far could you drive with it?

Advertisement

When do you rotate your tires?

Advertisement

You've gone 5,000 miles without an oil change but the color still looks good. Will you change it?

Advertisement

Do you ever buy fuel injector cleaner?

Advertisement

Do you know how to check your own oil?

Advertisement

Do you know what the proper air pressure is for your tires?

Advertisement

When are you going to flush the coolant from your radiator?

Advertisement

Explore More Quizzes

About Zoo

Our goal at Zoo.com is to keep you entertained in this crazy life we all live.

We want you to look inward and explore new and interesting things about yourself. We want you to look outward and marvel at the world around you. We want you to laugh at past memories that helped shape the person you’ve become. We want to dream with you about all your future holds. Our hope is our quizzes and articles inspire you to do just that.

Life is a zoo! Embrace it on Zoo.com.