The secret to the longevity of a car is the maintenance. The better that you maintain your vehicle the more likely it will be to live a long and healthy life. Though this goes without saying most people do not realize the importance of these five simple steps.
1) Change your oil regularly.
The recommendation of changing your oil every 3000 miles or 5000 kilometers is generally viewed as a benchmark reminder to drivers. Most drivers exceed this number but it is important to note that these are the maximum recommended distances between oil changes. You should instead change your oil and oil filter much more often. Every 3000 kilometers is a good safe number to use. By the time the oil gets dark or black the engine is already dirty. By changing your oil more often you can keep the clear and golden hue of the oil which indicates a clean running engine. If you do nothing else to your car to help it have a long life then do this one thing and you will vastly increase the longevity of your car engine and its many integral components.
2) Attend to leaks and drips
Every leak or drip that comes from your car will become a much larger repair down the road if left to deteriorate. A huge aspect of having a car that will reach such high mileage is fixing problems while they are still small problems. A good example of this would be the brakes. If you change your brakes as they are approaching worn then the repair cost will likely be very minor. If you continue to drive with worn brakes the repair can cost ten times as much due to the additional damage that this can cause. If a leak or drip develops then you should diagnose the source of the leak and make a repair or bring the car to a mechanic.
3) Have a regular mechanic
Even mechanics sometimes take their car to the mechanic. Some problems are specific to certain makes and models and some shops specialize in aspects of the car only such as transmission shops. By taking your car to the same mechanic you will have the advantage of one person becoming familiar with your car. This can be a benefit in multiple ways to you in that you can develop a rapport with the mechanic as well as provide them with a technical advantage in that they are familiar with the car should something new develop Make Your Vehicle Last Forever.
4) Oil spray the underside of the car
Especially in winter climate areas where salt is used for the deicing of roads it is critical to the longevity of the car to have it oil sprayed to inhibit the growth of rust before it starts. Often when a vehicle reaches 500,000 kilometers the engine will still be running but the body and frame have deteriorated to the point where the vehicle is not fit to drive. Oil spraying will not eliminate rust from forming underside the car but will reduce it by as much as 90%. Water also causes rust on the underside of cars so oil spraying would be good for any area.
5) Listen. When a car makes a noise, pay attention. Most people ignore or do not recognize a strange noise when driving and this is another thing that is sure to lead to a bigger problem down the road. The advantage of being a mechanic is that you can tend to hear problems developing before they become large problems or a breakdown. Drive with the radio off and become accustomed to the sounds your car makes when it is in good condition. Most importantly when your car does make a new noise you need to think like a mechanic. Many people would try to imitate the noise the car made to hilarious results, but this information is not actually very helpful to a mechanic. There are few noises easy enough to distinguish by a human reproduction of the sound. Instead try to take notice of the characteristics of the sound. Does the noise match the speed of the engine, the tires or the road? If you stay going the same speed but rev up the engine a little does the noise change? If yes then this noise relates to engine speed. For many squawks and squeals try feathering the brake pedal to see if the noise suddenly disappears when you step on the brakes. This is the type of information that can help a mechanic to diagnose your car sight unseen and is much less embarrassing than imitating the sound of a worn wheel bearing.
Facebook Comments