The economy is rough and gas prices are on the rise. So it comes as no surprise that you want to keep your car running in tip-top shape for as long as possible. After all, not everyone has the funds to drop on a new vehicle in today’s economy.
Keeping your car in the best running shape possible is not that difficult. It just takes a little time and effort on your part. If you are willing to invest in your investment – your car – your automobile will have a long and happy life.
1. Use common sense when driving – Instead of adding unnecessary wear and tear on your car by racing away from every stop sign, accelerate gently. Not only will you use less gas, you will lessen the wear on your brakes. Make all of your stops in one, long trip, rather than taking your car out numerous times throughout the day.
2. Pay attention to your choice of gas stations –Choose a reputable gas station when buying fuel. The damage you can do to your car from cheaper, possibly watered-down gas will cost you much more than a few extra cents on quality fuel.
3. Take care when choosing an insurance provider – Yes, you can find the minimum required insurance for a low cost – everyone has seen the T.V. commercials. However, you get what you pay for – if your car is damaged in an accident, you want the best coverage possible to ensure repairs are made.
4. Keep your key chain light – Heavy key chains can cause damage to your ignition – so lighten the load and have only a minimal amount of extras on your key chain.
5. Write it down – Keep track of your mileage at every fill-up. If you notice your mileage decreasing, it could be a sign of a problem.
6. Keep it in the shade – Park your car in the shade to minimize possible sun damage to your car’s interior.
7. Check your gauges – Keep your gauges clean so you can always see them with ease. The last thing you want is a scratched, dirty gauge that prevents you from seeing a warning light.
8. Keep it clean – Not just the outside, but also the interior of your car. Dirt and grime can cause damage to your car’s interior. So when you wash it, vacuum and clean the interior, too.
9. Be careful if you are stuck – Use caution when trying to get your car unstuck. You can damage your motor or transmission if you get too rough. If you cannot get out right away, call for help.
10. Take care with storage – If you need to store your car for an extended period of time, do it right. Add a wax and finish to protect the exterior, make sure the parking brake is not engaged, and stuff a rag in the tailpipe to keep moisture at bay.
11. Utilize floor mats – They protect the carpet in your car. While they may not be the prettiest, they keep the mud and dirt away from the flooring in your car.
12. Fix leaks right away – If you notice air or water leakage around your doors, replace the weather-stripping as soon as possible to prevent any damage. Park in the same place – do you see drip marks? They could be a sign of low fluids or cracked/broken hoses and belts.
Fixing leaks right away is a great idea. My uncle would always ignore the leak and just replace the liquid till it impacted the car. I’ll have to share this with him.
You mentioned keeping your car in the shade. It is recommended to always park your car in your garage or make sure that it isn’t parked in direct sunlight. This should help prevent fading of your paint or possible cracks on your dashboard or interior. I will certainly make sure to take heed of your advice every time I will be parking my vehicle. Thanks.
Thank you for the 12 auto repair tips to extend the life of your car. I definitely like the idea to avoid unnecessary wear and tear on your car. Accelerate gently, brake earlier to avoid jerking to a stop, etc. Simple things like that can increase the life of your tires, your fuel consumption and even the engine and brakes of your car.
Purchasing car, is like a feeling of excitement. But after purchasing what we want, is to keep it in good condition as always. To keep your car reliable and safe as the miles add up, We have to follow some tips. Cleaning of anything is always matter, to keep it in top condition. Hence keep it clean not only the exterior parts but also the interior parts, use vacuum for interior cleaning. Keep it in the shade- Try to park your car in shade area to avoid heating of car and it also protects our car from interior damage.
Your suggestion to make sure to keep the interior of your car clean seems like a good idea to keep your whole car looking and working well. I have a Mercedes, and it’s currently making a weird banging noise whenever it turns over. I think that I’ll have to find someone who does Mercedes repair, but in the meantime, I’ll make sure to keep it clean and follow your other tips.
Thanks for sharing this informative post.This article is really very helpful for the users.These tips are awesome……….keep posting!
I think something you could add to this is knowing the basic function of each major part in your car. You don’t have to know how a car is built or exactly how it works, rather knowing what does what can help you know what to tell the mechanic. For example, when the transmission is out, it can affect your brakes and the sound your engine normally makes!
I had no idea that when my vehicle got stuck, it has a transmission concern. I’m not that rough but yesterday I tried to force it. Thanks for the tips, I guess I need to ask a mechanic to check on this. It might be needing a transmission repair to avoid more issues.
I really appreciate this article this very detailed all my question are answered