1998 Chevy Cavalier Car stopped

Sometimes a car is just a lemon. We call that engine being built on "beer Friday." On the topic you asked, good maintenance is a combination of exactly what the manufacturer suggest and a little extra.

I owned a brand new Dodge Dakota when I was a teenager that only recommended replacing the engine oil filter every OTHER oil change. Any mechanic will tell you that is just a bad idea.

Besides doing EXACTLY what the maintenance schedule suggests for the severe driver schedule, do a complete oil and filter change no more than every 4,000 miles. Spark plugs, even if it calls for platinum or iridium no more than 50k miles. (Copper style every 24-30k)

Either use a reputable gas company like Exxon, Chevron, Texaco or any other big name every time you fill to avoid stale fuel and carbon buildup. And every other year have a fuel injection service performed. Gas treatments are a fine alternative but must be performed more often as they are severely diluted in the gas tank.

Regards,

Thank You for the response.
The manufacturer's handbook that came with the car recommended an oil change either every 12 months or 7,500 miles under highway conditions.
The dealer and every other place I went to have repairs told me that I should have my oil changes every 3 months or 3,000 miles(the Short trip/City schedule in the handbook). Most of my driving was to drive to work on the highway and so I thought following the highway schedule was the thing to do. Now that my car died and you have given me this advice, I plan to get my oil changes for my new car more frequently.
Thank you for enlightening me!