Mileage

The service life of technical devices is referred to as mileage . Depending on the type and duration of use, the mileage is determined either (for machines) according to the operating time or for vehicles according to the mileage.

As the mileage increases, so does wear and tear and the remaining "life expectancy" decreases. The likelihood of malfunctions and required repairs increases. In general, the higher the mileage of technical devices, the lower their value (so-called depreciation).

Mileage in the car

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The mileage in the car is determined by the legally prescribed odometer in accordance with Section 57 (3) StVZO . In addition, a trip odometer has long been common. Odometer displays are usually six-digit today, but five-digit versions can also be found in older vehicles.

Practical tip: In the case of a five-digit display, the assessment of the actual mileage (how often the maximum display of 99,999 km has been exceeded) must be based on other clues, for example maintenance book (check booklet), information from previous owners, state of wear of the engine, gearbox, chassis, doors, Seats, seat belts, steering wheel, gear lever, pedal rubbers.

Digital odometers can be manipulated using special devices (so-called "speedometer adjustment").

Legal aspects: Since August 18, 2005, manipulating the speedometer has been a criminal offense in Germany. According to Section 22b (1) of the Road Traffic Act (StVG), the "effect on the device or the measurement process" (No. 1), "cancels or affects this facility" (No. 2) or "computer programs whose purpose is inspection such an act is, produces, procures for himself or another, sells or leaves to another ” (No. 3) punishable by a fine and imprisonment for up to one year.

See also: Odometer: Legal

The mileage of vehicles and their engines must be viewed differently. Vehicles and engines can achieve higher mileage through overhaul (renewal / exchange or reconditioning of parts). However, since the engine is usually the most expensive component of a vehicle alongside the transmission, a vehicle that is in an advanced state of wear will usually not receive a new engine, replacement engine or an engine overhaul for reasons of cost, so that the service life of the vehicle and engine will in practice align.

Many car engines today achieve a mileage of at least 200,000 km to approx. 500,000 km. Engines with a larger displacement usually achieve a higher mileage. Naturally aspirated engines achieve more mileage than supercharged engines. This results in particular from the lower load on the components, especially more powerful engines (without performance-enhancing features such as charging or chip tuning), which can handle all "normal" loads even at low speeds. In addition, there is often the higher quality construction, choice of materials and processing of higher quality components.

Maintenance and mileage: A topic that is still largely underestimated is the use of wear- reducing engine oils to protect the engine and thus to increase its maximum achievable mileage and service life, which reduces the overall costs for operating the engine. In particular with a cold start and when operating below the operating temperature (e.g. extended warm-up phase during the cooler seasons), thinner engine oils enable faster lubrication of the engine's wear points, reduce internal resistance , abrasion / wear and the consumption of fuel and engine oil.

Starting with mineral standard engine oils with a viscosity of 15W-40 via partially synthetic engine oils with a viscosity of 10W-40, the state of the art is now fully synthetic engine oils with a viscosity of 5W-40 and even 0W-40. Most manufacturers now use oils with a viscosity of 5W-30

It is advisable that the vehicle owner actively participate in the selection of the engine oil. In addition, the workshop should note the viscosity of the engine oil used in the maintenance book (check booklet).

literature

• Hans Jörg Leyhausen: The master craftsman examination in the automotive trade part 1 . 12 edition, Vogel Buchverlag, Würzburg 1991, ISBN 3-8023-0857-3 .
• Hans-Hermann Braess, Ulrich Seiffert: Vieweg manual automotive technology . 2nd edition, Friedrich Vieweg & Sohn Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Braunschweig / Wiesbaden 2001, ISBN 3-528-13114-4 .