Aside from your home, your car is a significant investment: the average cost of a new car is $0,008 as of March 2023, and you want to make sure it serves you well for the duration you own it.
But everyone knows that as soon as you drive your auto off the lot, it can depreciate massively; it will lose up to 60% of its value within its first three years of being driven.
But despite this, it is still essential that you maintain your vehicle so it’s in good working order not only to retain some of its value but also to ensure it is fit for purpose and safe to drive.
How can car owners protect their vehicles and ensure their car is roadworthy, looks good and drives well?
Story Stages
Keep It Clean
If your car resembles the aftermath of a frat party or is auditioning for the role of the local landfill, then give it a clean. A messy car can hide a multitude of sins: damage to interiors, obstruction of pedals and switches, rust on bodywork, and damage to paintwork, to name a few. For drivers who don’t have legible licence plates because it’s too dirty, it can also land them a fine too.
Clean any rubbish from your vehicle and remove anything that doesn’t need to be there. Then give the upholstery a good vacuum and clean and do the same for the exterior too. You can do this yourself: take it to a local car wash or book it in for luxury detailing to bring it back to life and leave it looking, feeling and smelling brand new!
Drive Properly
Bad driving habits like fast acceleration, turning corners at high speed, and last-minute braking can all impact the conditions of your car and cause additional stress on different parts. Your tires and your brake pads will bear the brunt of bad driving habits and lead to damage, while strong acceleration on a cold engine can cause injury to components, too. So think twice before doing any of these things, and pay attention to how you drive to avoid causing damage to your car.
Don’t Ignore Warning Signs
The lights on your dash are warnings that your car needs some immediate attention and shouldn’t be ignored, especially red warning lights. While some indicators or an amber colour are not as urgent, they should still be dealt with as a priority. From needing to fill up with gas to warnings your engine is overheating, fluid levels are low, your tire pressure needs adjusting, or your check engine light comes on, do not ignore them and check it with your mechanic ASAP.
Change Filters and Oil
Your oil and air filters need changing frequently; neglecting to do this can take years of the life expectancy of your car. You need to hinge your air filters as they collect dirt and debris and stop them from entering your engine. Typically, you need to change your air filters every 15,000 miles.
You should be scheduling regular oil changes every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. Pushing it past this point can cause dirt to build up in your engine, which will cause massive damage.
Regular Maintenance and Services
Servicing your auto regularly means you can keep it in top condition and identify any potential issues you might come across. Your service will typically cover things like an oil and air filter change, fluid level checks, brakes, signalling, lighting checks, oil changes, and spark plug replacements as a minimum. Your service provider can tell you precisely what is included.
As well as getting your vehicle regularly serviced, you should also ensure you get regular maintenance checks and repairs carried out as soon as you need them. If you drive too long without getting minor issues repaired, it won’t be long before they become more serious problems affecting your ability to drive, control and use the car, not to mention putting a massive dent in your bank balance too.
Tires
Your tires are your car’s only contact with the road, and if this contact is compromised, you are putting yourself, your passengers and other road users at risk. Keep your tires inflated or at the correct pressure for the car, rotate them regularly, and never drive with damaged tires or those with tread below the legal limit.
Cars with damaged tires, over or under-inflated tires, or those not the right fit the wheels are at risk of increased accidents, blowouts and poorer handling and can land you a fine if you are pulled over, and your tires aren’t roadworthy.
Don’t Ignore Leaks, Strange Sounds and Smells
If you get in your car auto and something doesn’t feel right, there is an off smell or new noise, check it out. It could be something innocuous, but it can also signify something is wrong, or your vehicle has sustained damage.
Check Your Brakes
You should check your brakes every time you get your tires inspected or rotated or every 6 months.
If you notice any changes in how your car brakes, any noises or squeaking or smells when braking, then get them checked so as not to compromise your car’s stopping ability.
How you treat your car, how you drive, and the products you use can all affect how long your vehicle will last and how well you drive. While cars do have limited lifespan, taking good care of them can help you extend this period and ensure that your vehicle is safe to drive and fit for the road. Check your tires, make sure your fluid levels are topped up all the time and keep them clean to help you ensure that it’s safe to drive and comfortable too.
Additional options such as nesting, getting your car serviced every 10,000 miles or annually, depending on what comes first, and using high-end products and parts for maintenance and repairs will also help you to avoid causing additional damage to your vehicle and keep it road-worthy for as long as possible.
