If you want your car to last, the most important thing you can do is take good care of it. This means properly maintaining it so that it stays in top shape. Some of the things you should do include:
- Checking your oil often and changing it when necessary
- Changing your air filters regularly so they don’t get clogged
- Keeping your coolant at the proper level
- Ensuring that tires are inflated to the correct pressure
And don’t forget about your car’s exterior. To preserve the vehicle’s paint, it’s best if you store your car in a garage or underneath a carport; at the very least, you should cover your vehicle with a car cover. Keeping your car away from rough weather conditions and direct sunlight will slow the paint oxidation process.
Have Your Car Checked Regularly
It’s important for you to keep an eye on your car, but having a professional look at it routinely will ensure that there are no larger problems you need to worry about. It’s a good idea to find a mechanic you can trust and go to the same one every time. This way they are familiar with your vehicle and know the last time you had maintenance done.
Pay Attention to Your Driving
The more recklessly you drive (driving fast and coming to quick stops), the more wear and tear you’re putting on your vehicle. Need more incentive to drive cautiously? You save yourself fuel when you do so. All that speeding and those abrupt stops waste gas unnecessarily.
Don’t Carry Too Much
Whether it’s your roof load or the interior of your vehicle, extra weight leads to extra problems. Excess weight puts pointless stress on your car and can cause wear. That’s why it’s best to tote around only what’s necessary—remove any heavy items that don’t actually need to be in your vehicle.
Avoid Short Trips
You may think it’s only the long trips that are tough on your car, but in reality, drives under ten minutes can put a lot of wear and tear on your vehicle. On a quick trip, a car’s engine doesn’t get a chance to reach its full operating temperature. This means that the water from the engine combustion stays within your vehicle on a short trip, and can lead to rust and dilution of your car’s oil.
So there you have it! Following these five tips may take a little effort, but you’ll be happy you put the work in.
