Prolong The Lifespan of Your Car with These Tips
Introduction
Automobiles are expensive yet each serves us for only about a decade and a half before they are scrapped. As such, car owners should prolong the life of their vehicles by taking care of them by taking the appropriate precautions. We’ve done the research and listed 12 ingredients of good car maintenance. Here’s a bonus tip on top of the 12, check out Simply Car Mats for a quick way to protect the interior of your car!
1. Use it or lose it
The car battery will likely go flat if you’ve not been using your car for a while. If you do not have to drive for a while, particularly in the winter, try to drive it once a week. Alternatively, you can invest in a trickle charger to keep the battery charged up.
Similarly, not using the air-conditioning system regularly could cause gas leakage over time. You might save money on fuel only to end up paying more for repairs.
2. Renew these frequently
The air and oil filters should be renewed regularly with quality materials and the appropriate steps. Some car owners switch the air filters themselves to save some extra bucks. However, if you want to ensure the job is well done, we suggest doing them together with the regular car servicing.
Faulty spark plugs can be a sign of an engine issue so do consult a local service if that is the case. If it's just worn over time, then you can simply replace them. Leads that are broken or damaged should also be replaced.
3. Refill fluids frequently
Low oil or petrol levels can damage the engine. Running on low petrol causes contaminant sediments to be dislodged into the system, clogging the pumps and filters. The cheapest solution, in the long run, is to conduct checks on the fluid levels every fortnightly.
While checking the oil or petrol level, check the colour as well to ensure that the oil is not dirty. Dirty oils are usually darker in colour, although it's normal for petrol to be black.
Check the antifreeze levels as well and make sure it is mixed with equal parts water when refilling the coolant tank.
4. Monitor the tires
Tyres should neither be under-inflated nor overworn as those are safety hazards. On top of ensuring that they’re sufficiently pumped, you should also check that the level of tread is 2mm or above. A pro tip is to use newer tires at the front and older ones behind as that increases steering control which could save your life one day.
5. Don’t skimp on servicing
Check when you should bring your car for servicing in the vehicle manual and stick to the schedule. There are generally two kinds of servicing; minor and major servicing. Just for your information, a usual servicing should include a check for leaks, clutch functionality, steering, tire condition, exhaust emissions, lights, horn, and windshield wipers. This may seem like a small task but it goes a long way in helping your car stay on the road longer.
6. Use your garage
Garages keep your vehicles clean, dry, and safe from scratches, theft, and other damages. Parking your car inside can also reduce the premium of your insurance. If a garage is not available to you, invest in a good cover for your car.
7. Keep things light
Cars that are travelling lighter have better mileage and lesser need for fuel top-ups. You may think that you’re already carrying minimal weight but think again. The glove compartment, door pockets, boot, as well as roof bars are some common places where unnecessary weight is added. The idea is to keep only what you need (e.g., breakdown kit) and travel light!
8. Surface maintenance
While rusts are rare in modern automobiles, they could still happen. If it does, send your car for a repaint before the rust spreads. To prevent rust, protect the chassis with a rust-proof sealant and install a film at the front so abrasive objects don't scratch the paint layer off.
Another method to prevent corrosion is to wash your car regularly. We usually recommended hand wash instead of automated ones because the latter can leave scratches and be ineffective. Using the appropriate store-bought cleaning products is recommended while having an annual polish can go a long way.
While you’re at it, why not clean the inside of your cars as well, especially surfaces where dirt and dust can get accumulated.
9. Avoid engine modifications
Modifying your engine for more power causes wear on other components in trying to keep up. Thus, not only is the lifespan shortened, but the value of your automobile is also weakened.
10. Eyes on the road
When driving on rough surfaces or roads with potholes, not keeping your eyes peeled could mean serious damage to your car. It could flatten tires, cause misalignments, scratches, and even power depletion. Prevention is better than cure, so drive on smooth roads whenever possible.
11. Use original products
Why risk paying for pricey repairs by using sub-quality components? Rather than saving this small sum, invest in the original high-quality components and save more in the long run. This applies to the engine oil as well. Follow the recommended oil in the vehicle manual as that is what will prolong your car.
12. Be aware of warning lights
The warning lights do as their name suggests. They warn you when there are issues in the function of your vehicles like the brakes and steering. Importantly, the engine light alerts various issues including loose caps and polluted converters. If you’re unsure of what the lights mean, you should get the car checked out as soon as possible. If you understand the warning lights and know the proper steps to take to resolve the issue, then do so carefully.
Conclusion
With that, we conclude the 12 tips car owners can follow to lengthen the time their car spends on the road. If this is too much information to remember and are looking for a golden rule, at least remember this one thing. Be alert of your car’s condition by conducting fortnightly checks on the fluids, tires, inner and outer surfaces, and lights. With that, we hope that this article has been helpful in your attempt to prolong the life of your car. No one said that being a car owner would be easy.
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Published: 03-Apr-2021
Author: Colin Watson
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