How can I prolong the life of my brake rotors? I just recently changed the brake rotors of my Mercedes Benz 400E due to premature wear. Any good, practical tip?

As much as possible, you'd want to put less stress on your brakes, and this can be accomplished by changing some of your driving habits. Avoid riding the brakes. When you ride the brakes, the pads will wear out faster and rotors can get warped due to the high heat generated from this, especially when you're driving at high speeds. To avoid last-minute, hard braking, just go with the flow of the traffic. Don't breach the speed limits. Maintain a constant speed instead and avoid tail gaiting so that there will be enough time and distance for you to decelerate. This will help curb heat, friction, ad wear, which can warp the rotors. Severe damage on the brakes can be prevented by having the system inspected at least once a year to spot problems early on. For instance, you can immediately replace the pads before they get too thin and damage the rotors. Unloading some unnecessary cargo in the trunk will also help place less strain on the brakes.

Can the schedule for oil change be different to the recommended interval by the manufacturer? I was told the vehicle needs oil change, and it was ahead of the recommended schedule.

Yes, it's possible. The recommended oil change schedule could be for normal driving conditions and not severe driving situations. The life of the motor oil can be shortened if the vehicle is driven in hot weather or climate or you do a lot of short trips. The road condition and driving situation can affect how often the motor oil should be changed. Heavy exposure to heat, moisture, and air can contribute to oil oxidation. You should check your motor oil regularly. See if the oil level has dropped significantly or its condition or quality has been degraded considerably.

Is it true that the thickness of the oil can affect fuel efficiency?

To some degree, yes, it affects fuel efficiency. Thicker oil will require more energy to pump it and circulate it around the engine. This means that more fuel is burned to create that energy. This is why some vehicles are using lower-viscosity oils. Make sure that the vehicle is fed with the right oil so that the engine doesn't have to work harder. Some oil have added friction modifiers, which allow oil to flow more easily around the engine. This type of oil would require less energy compared to the regular motor oil. This could mean better fuel efficiency.

They say that driving in short distances or short trips can shorten the battery life. Is this true or just a myth?

Short trips (of less than 20 minutes) may affect the battery life to some degree. This is because the car battery may not have enough time to get fully recharged. This can then shorten the service life of the battery. Driving habits and the climate or weather in the area affect the life of the car battery.

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