No matter what you purchase, you want it to last. Everything from your iPhone to your eyeglasses, as long as you take good care of your things, they will take care of you. The same goes for your car.
Vehicles last longer than they used to, but it’s up to you not to get in the way by neglect and abuse. What can you do to extend the life of your ride? Here are six tips on how to make your car last longer.
1. Regular Maintenance
Whether you have a brand new car or a used one, they all need to visit the shop regularly. Even if you are not having any issues, there are scheduled maintenance tasks that prolong the life of your car. If you are mechanically inclined, you can take care of most of this yourself, but it is way more convenient at a dealership or mechanic’s shop.
Oil changes are a must every 5,000 km on average and tire rotations and alignments. Your mechanic will inspect brakes, belts, fluids and more to ensure your car is in good condition. Dealerships have scheduled maintenance programs that include inspections that keep your car running optimally for years.
Often, many drivers overlook their lighting systems. Yet, they play a critical role when driving in the dark or poor weather conditions. Ensure you maintain the automotive lighting regularly. If the headlights or taillights deteriorate, get them repaired or replaced as soon as possible.
2. Inspect Your Car Tires
Your tires are the link between your car and the road, and they are responsible for safe passage while you go from place to place. Having worn tires can cause major problems like accidents that shorten the life of your car and maybe even you. There can be a sudden loss of air pressure, difficulty handling ice and snow, longer stopping distance ability and even tire blowouts.
How do you know when your tires need to be replaced?
- Low tread depth
- Cracks in the sidewall
- Noisy
- Vibrating
- Wobbling
- Low tire pressure
You should have your tires rotated and balanced regularly and check your tire pressure weekly. Do a visual inspection of your tires before you get into the car and take care of problems right away. Consider buying winter tires for snow and all seasons for warmer conditions.
3. Change Your Driving Habits
How you drive affects the life of your car. If you are always accelerating and breaking aggressively, and driving too fast for the conditions, it can take a toll on your vehicle. Swerving through traffic and taking sharp corners is dangerous, and it’s harder to avoid hazards like potholes and curbs. Also, if you drive a standard, don’t ride the clutch. This will wear it out faster and won’t work at its best when needed.
Take your time and drive defensively. Besides your home, your car is the biggest and worst investment you will make. The value rarely goes up in a car, so you want to treat it softly so it retains as much value as it can. The bottom line, be a calm driver.
4. Floor It On Occasion
I know we just went over how driving defensively is the best idea. This is true, but you need to give your car a good run once in a while.
Everyday driving doesn’t get your RPMs up too high as this helps drivetrain efficiency and fuel economy. The thing is, your car redlines at around 6,000RPM, and the engine should run through the full range once in a while. Carbon deposits build up in the valves, throttle body, combustion chamber, and intake manifold, reducing the car’s performance. Redlining it every 100 km or so will help clear out that carbon and make your engine last longer.
Make sure your car is warmed up first, and you are on a wide, open road like the highway to be safe. Then have a little fun and hit the gas.
5. Respond To Gauges And Alerts
When driving along and a light illuminates on the dash, what do you do? The correct answer is to get it checked out right away. You can look up the warning light in the manual and then go about getting the problem taken care of.
If you notice that the car is heating up on the temperature gauge, pull over and check it out. It could be a case of low fluid or a much bigger problem. The same goes for batteries and other warning lights. Don’t ignore them, thinking it will just go away. The longer you leave it, the worse the problem can become.
6. Clean Your Car
Taking pride in your car will have lasting benefits. It helps to maintain its value and just makes you feel good. Keep up on washing your car to remove dirt and debris to prevent things like rust from corrosive salt. Waxing often will protect the paint by reflecting UV rays instead of absorbing them, and try to park in the shade if possible.
Detail the inside of the car once a year to keep it looking new. This is a positive habit that will benefit you in the long run when it is time to sell your vehicle.
If you are burning out cars faster than sneakers, something is going wrong. Adopt these six tips and see the life of your ride increase dramatically.