Tips For Ensuring Your Car Lasts For Years
For many of us, our car is our lifeline to the world. Without it, we wouldn’t have a way to visit friends, go shopping, or get to the office each day. When major parts fail (and they will fail), our lifeline can be severed at any given moment. The good news is that your vehicle’s health is largely within your control. By following a few simple tips, you can help ensure that your lifeline to the world remains unbroken for years.
#1 – Check Your Oil And Tires Each Month
These are two of the easiest tasks you can perform to ensure the health of your automobile. Your engine needs lubrication to reduce the friction and heat that can build up when you’re on the road. Under normal circumstances, having the oil changed every 5,000 miles should be enough. However, if your car begins to burn oil or you develop a leak, your engine can become starved of lubrication. That will lead to expensive problems later.
Checking your tire pressure each month is a good idea because air escapes over time. A lot of drivers neglect to check the pressure for months and are surprised when their treads begin to show premature wearing. Keep your tires leveled off at the psi specified in your owner’s manual.
#2 – Start And Wait
A few decades ago, drivers would turn the key in the ignition and let their vehicles warm up for a few minutes. Automobiles are built far better these days. And while there’s no need to let the engine idle for several minutes, you should allow it to do so for at least 20 seconds. The reason is due to lubrication.
If your car has been sitting for more than a few hours, the oil has dropped from the moving parts into the pan below. Turning the engine over, immediately putting your car into gear, and roaring off down the road means that oil hasn’t circulated enough to reduce the friction and heat. Let it idle for 20 seconds. That’s enough time for the pump to send the oil coursing through the engine.
#3 – Stick To Your Maintenance Schedule
Drivers always promise themselves that they’ll stick closely to their maintenance schedule. Unfortunately, it rarely happens. Keep in mind that the automaker provided the schedule because they know the type of servicing their vehicles need in order to maintain their performance. To be sure, it’s no fun taking your car into the shop to have the mechanic check the spark plugs. But, spending a little time and a few dollars upfront can help you avoid headaches down the road.
Every vehicle will eventually need to be retired. They don’t last forever. However, by checking your oil and tires regularly, going easy on the engine, and sticking to your service manual, you can significantly prolong its life.
Tags: Car Maintenance, Car Repair