How to Make Your Car Last Longer

Most cars are built to last much longer than most car owners believe.  According to auto experts, the average vehicle’s useful life is ten years (or 300,000 kilometers). By providing proper preventative maintenance, however, a car owner can often double a car's useful life and spend less time taking it to the mechanic for repairs. Here are some tips on how to keep your car in good condition as it ages.

Regular maintenance

Research by the major auto manufacturers shows that the failure to provide routine service and maintenance is the number one reason for major car repair bills. While the owner’s manual will have a maintenance schedule, you can make sure you stick to that schedule by using the same mechanics each time.

Keeping your vehicle covered contributes to its life span. A garaged car last longest, a carport is second best, and a car cover is third. If you’re unable to garage, carport, or cover your car, at least park under trees or other covering to shield it from the sun’s rays.

Take time to regularly inspect your car by spending five minutes walking around and looking at it.  In that time, you can check to see if the tires are wearing unevenly, open the hood and check the hoses, and make sure all the lights are working.

Fluids and filters

Regular oil changes are the most important measure that you can take in order to protect the car’s engine and make it last longer. But other fluids and filters also require regular maintenance. For instance, changing the air filter will enable the car to breathe easier and the engine to last longer. When the air filter is clogged, the engine doesn’t run properly.  It also hurts the car’s fuel efficiency. 

Driving smart

The way that you operate your car impacts how long your car will last. Taking off in burst of speed and coming to a stop suddenly are hard on a car’s engine and brakes. So stop and accelerate gradually. This will save gas in addition to avoiding wear and tear on the brake linings, transmission, and suspension.

Avoid running the car with a tank that is low on gas and with tires that are low on pressure. A gas tank that is only one-quarter full   increases the possibility of dirt, water and moisture getting into the fuel system.  Tires tend to be the most neglected part of a car. When they’re not properly inflated, it’s not only bad for the car, the tires and fuel efficiency, but it’s also a safety problem.

Take care of the exterior of your car by regularly washing and waxing it. Look after the interior as well, keeping it clean by vacuuming the carpet regularly and getting rid of spills before they become difficult to remove.

Follow the above tips and your car will run gracefully into old age.

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