While you can’t always control ownership costs such as fuel, repairs and insurance rates, one thing you do have power over is making your car last longer and maintaining its value. Here you have a choice: Either spend money on a new car every few years or keep your current car running great and looking sharp. If you decide to go the latter route, follow these 10 tips to help keep your ride rolling.
Breathe easier
Even the most mechanically challenged drivers know to change a car’s oil and oil filter on a regular basis — even if they don’t always do it. But other fluids and filters also need regular maintenance. For example, changing your air filter helps your car breathe easier and the engine last longer. If your air filter is clogged, your engine is not performing properly. It also hurts your fuel economy, and it can harm the engine over the long term.
Keep it cool
Maintaining your car’s cooling system and the proper coolant level is important. A cooling system failure can result in your engine literally melting down. Because of lack of proper coolant and maintenance of hoses, you can have major problems.â€
Pressure check
Tyres are often the most neglected part of a car. Most people don’t pay much attention to keeping their tyres at the right inflation pressure. And it’s not only bad for the car, the tyres and fuel economy, but it’s also a safety issue. The simple step of keeping the tyres up to proper pressure is valuable all the way around and it essentially costs almost nothing.
Fully en-gauged
If there is a problem with your oil pressure, cooling system or even tyre pressure on the latest vehicles, your car’s gauges will tell you — if you’re paying attention to them.
Get regular checkups
Find a repair shop and mechanic you trust. And let that shop service your car all the time. When you get sick you don’t go to a different doctor every time. Your doctor knows you from top to bottom, inside and out. A good mechanic will get to know your car and look over it the same way.
Every now and then, take five minutes and walk around the car and look at it. Check to see if the tyres are wearing unevenly. Open the hood and check out the hoses. Make sure all the lights are working. It only takes a couple of minutes to check things like that.
Get on a schedule
While your owner’s manual will have a maintenance schedule, another advantage of using the same mechanics on a regular basis is they will be able to make sure you stick to the schedule — and take care of things the manual may not include. “If you go to different places each time you have your car serviced, they won’t know the last time you had something done.
Drive smarter
The way you drive has an effect on how long your car and fuel will last. You not only save wear and tear by having good driving habits, but also fuel. Taking off fast and coming to a stop quickly can be bad on a car and affect the engine, the brakes and other things.
Keep it clean
Taking care of the exterior of your car by regularly washing and waxing it is vital. Don’t forget about the interior. That’s an often overlooked area. Spend time keeping it clean and clean-smelling without perfuming it and vacuum the carpet on a regular basis. Get spills out immediately because if you don’t they’re more difficult to remove.
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