5 Easy Tips to Make Your Car Last Longer

You’ve taken the bold step of owning a car. But buying a car is only the first step. Other factors influence how well and how long the car will serve you.

You might think you need the skills of a mechanic to make your car last longer. Not at all. All you need is the right information and the right actions when it comes to car care.

Knowing your engine well and maintaining a certain regimen can make your car achieve a high sense of accomplishment. Even more beautiful is that you will accomplish all these without having to spend a lot of money.

How would you feel if you could watch your car become a classic while remaining in perfect condition? The feeling is heavenly. Without further ado, let’s appreciate these 5 easy tips to make your car last longer.

Washing and Waxing on a Regular Basis

A dirty car does not just look bad; it also speaks volumes about how much you value and care for your vehicle. This may appear simple and mundane, but washing your car is not just about aesthetics.

Failing to wash and wax your car frequently and regularly allows dirt and foreign bodies to collect on its body. As time passes, that coat of dirt will begin to eat through the clear-coat. Soon, the paint begins to oxidize and become rusty.

If you do not wash your car at this point, the rust will penetrate deeper into the metal work.Once the metal work is compromised, your vehicle is finished.You won’t believe how quickly the rust will spread.

Rust may eventually penetrate the chassis and frame, making the car a ticking time bomb to drive.

“Well, I live in Southern California and am immune to rust-causing elements.” “Why should I shampoo my car?” You might be wondering I agree, but the other dangerous phenomenon is the breeze that flows from the salty beaches. The salt will do what dirt does to the clear coat of your car.

The best practice is to wash your car thoroughly once every 2-3 weeks. You can seek the services of professional drive-through car washes. However, I would recommend DIY hand washing any day.

The former are extremely abrasive and can cause permanent damage, such as swirling and scratches. Your automobile can also benefit from an additional wax job once or twice per year.

Change Engine Oil Immediately

Are you one of those who religiously follow the mantra created by engine oil change companies that set it at every 3000 miles? Or are you the one who waits until the engine starts to beg for a lubricant makeover?

Either way, you are putting your car at risk of a diminished lifespan. The best way to go about it is to read the owner’s manual and follow it religiously. I know many of us throw the manual into our glove box and forget about it.

The manufacturer of your car model knows the requirements for its engines to optimize performance and longevity.

If you wait longer than the recommended oil change intervals, the oil will have too much metal and dirt in it. This can spell doom to the components of your engines. It will overheat, and this will be a harbinger of disaster.

Transmission Fluid Replacement Is Just As Important

If you are inexperienced with car parts and mechanics, you might easily think that transmission fluid is the same as engine oil. An engine’s oil is a lubricant, while transmission fluid is a hydraulic fluid. The two may appear similar, but they perform very different functions.

Engine oil helps enhance engines’ general performance and fuel efficiency. Transmission fluid, on the other hand, supplies power to the hydraulic parts and the car’s transmission.

Transmission fluid lubricates all the moving parts in your car’s transmission system. The fluid also serves as a coolant and a power transmitter, or channel, from the engine to the transmission.

If you let the transmission of your car get too dirty and old, then such contaminants could block the fluid flow. The consequence of this is a reduction in the hydraulic power to stay in gear.

In summary, you need to change your transmission fluid for a few reasons, all of which determine how long your car will optimally serve you. Better fuel economy, better engine runs, prevention of engine lock-up, and savings on professional mechanical services are the major benefits.

You’ll find many different types of transmission fluids, especially for manual transmissions. Examples include regular motor oil, heavyweight haploid gear oil, and automatic transmission fluid. You need to be careful to use high-quality transmission fluid for the best outcomes. Carneedit reviewed some transmission fluids you can check them out.

Your Tires aren’t Just Legs.

Car maintenance goes beyond engine oil and transmission fluid changes, along with shampooing. Your tires are the legs on which your vehicle stands. When they aren’t right, the structural integrity of the car is in big trouble.

If they aren’t properly inflated and balanced, you will be at greater risk for a blowout and increased potential for road traffic accidents. Also, you will get worse gas mileage.

Aside from proper inflation, you must also practice proper tire rotation as recommended by your manufacturer. Since tires wear unequally, rotating them regularly will increase their lifespan and make your car last longer.

Dirty and Clogged Filters Kill Cars

I will confess. Before I understood the importance of changing my car air filters when advised to by quick oil change joints, I thought it was all a scam. While it is a great virtue to be skeptical, changing the air filter is crucial.

Dirt and debris from the air may clog your car’s air filter and deliver impure air to the engine with catastrophic effects. Such particles may directly harm your engine, slicing several years off its life.

Your manufacturer will definitely include information on the air filter change interval in the user’s manual. However, driving in certain environments may mean an increased frequency of air filter changes.

That makes a regular check of the filter crucial for prompt replacement. Normally, I’d expect your owner’s manual to recommend changing your air filter every 15,000-20,000 miles.

Here’s an Additional Pro Tip

“Just because your car moves does not mean it is healthy. Pay attention to those little complaints your car registers. Funny rattles and other new noises may seem trivial, but soon you may get used to them. You might even ignore the “check engine” light.

These little and seemingly common signs could be signs of a major underlying problem or problems. Therefore, it will pay lots of dividends to get the car checked as soon as possible. Doing so will guarantee your car a longer life.” This tip is given by Larry Henderson from all about tools.

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