With the economy in the toilet, new cars costing as much as houses, and used cars costing as much as used cars used to it’s more important then ever to keep your car running for as long as possible. With a little time and effort you can make sure your car runs in tip top shape for years to come.
A modern car should run for hundreds of thousands of miles relatively trouble free so hit the jump to see how to make it happen!
Tip 1: Reliability starts with how you drive.
If your car is going to last you for years to come you are going to have to take care of it. That’s not to say baby it, cars are meant to be driven. In fact the worst thing you can do to a car is leave it sit. So get out and drive your car. Don’t be afraid to floor it occasionally when conditions and circumstances are safe to do so. Doing so uses parts like the throttle body, valve springs, injectors, and other internal parts to their fullest. It’s good to do so occasionally. Now that’s not an excuse to drive it like you stole it. Driving it hard all the time is just as bad as babying it.
Tip 2: Use all of your car.
You may never put anything in your trunk, but you should still open it occasionally just to keep it in working order. If you do not use it for a period of years it may freeze up. So open you trunk, doors, hood, and sunroof atleast once a month or so.
Tip 3: Maintenance is everything.
Your cars owner manual will have a maintenance schedule in the back of it. Use it. No one knows what needs done to your car when like the engineers who designed it so follow that schedule to the letter. For example if it says rotate your tires every 5k miles do it. Sure it may cost you a little each time but it can save you tons in new tires cost later. There will also be recommend schedule for fluid changes such as oil, transmission, coolant, etc. It’s very important not to miss those recommendations.
Tip 4: Keep your car clean.
A clean car is a happy car. Keeping the dirt and grime off your car, and keeping your car waxed will keep the rust off your car. It will also help keep seals around your doors and windows from cracking and drying out prematurely. You should wax your car ATLEAST once a year and preferably every other month.
Tip 5: Fix problems that arise.
Things will go wrong or break with any car so when they do fix them. Common issues that are often over looked are when a car becomes misaligned. When this happens the car may pull to one side or the other, there may be shaking in the steering wheel, and ride quality is diminished. Get this fixed immediately if it happens. This will save you a fortune in repairs later.
Secondly that yellow light on your dash that looks like an engine means something is wrong. Sure your car may be driving ok, but chances are a sensor such as the O2 sensor is out and needs replaced. This can save you money in fuel and other costly repairs so get it checked out. Most auto parts stores will check “check engine lights” for free.
So that’s it, five easy tips to keep your car running great for a very long time.