If you maintain and treat your car right, it will not only save you money on repairs and prolong its life, but it will also reduce your environmental footprint. Even an older car can be reliable with a little TLC.
You may be wondering what you need to pay attention to when it comes to extending the life of your vehicle? Here are six of the most important car hacks you should know.
1. Get repairs done as soon as possible
You should replace worn or broken parts immediately. If you don’t, it could create a knock-on effect that causes damage other parts of your vehicle. By replacing parts as soon as they wear out or break, it will prevent other parts from failing, thus extending the life of your car.
2. Don’t ignore the maintenance schedule
Regular maintenance includes things like topping up or replacing fluids, changing the oil, checking the brake pads, suspension, and steering, and replacing oil and air filters. To work out how often you should do these maintenance tasks, consult your vehicle handbook.
A good rule of thumb is to service your vehicle every twelve months or 10,000km, whichever comes first. If you’re a high mileage driver, or you have an older vehicle, aim to service it every six months or 5,000km. Keep records of any work you’ve had done and hold on to your receipts.
3. Don’t neglect your tyres
A few minutes spent once a month checking your tyre pressure can save you a headache down the road. Tyre pressure influences several important characteristics of vehicle performance such as driving comfort, directional stability, cornering, braking, and general handling. Sadly, many people don’t think about their tyres until they blow while you’re on the road!
Tyres naturally lose air pressure at a rate of about 1 to 2 psi (pounds per square inch) per month, so be sure to monitor them regularly to ensure optimal performance and your vehicle’s longevity. You should also check the tread depth of your tyres to make sure it’s at least 1.5mm and rotate your tyres regularly.
4. Watch out for the engine light
If your engine light comes on, don’t ignore it. If there’s nothing wrong with your car, it wouldn’t come on. The same goes for unusual noises or smells coming from your vehicle. If this happens, take your car to your mechanic, so they can investigate the cause. Even if money is tight, it’s important to remember that repairs done later are likely to be more expensive than repairs done now.
5. Get windscreen chips fixed quickly
Get the chips on your windscreen fixed sooner, rather than later. If left unattended, chips can turn into cracks and, ultimately, shatter your entire windscreen.
6. Simplicity is key
High-end cars tend to depreciate more quickly because the luxury gadgets and electronic gizmos they come with mean there’s more that can go wrong over time. An easy way to avoid this and extend the life of your vehicle is to buy a simpler car in the first place.
Also try to avoid adding extras after you buy your car, like an aftermarket suspension kit that lifts or lowers your vehicle. That’s because altering your suspension adds extra stress to the axles, CV joints, and other components because they’re operating outside the heights and angles they were designed for.
You should also be cautious about what aftermarket electrical components you add to your vehicle, such as stereos and LED headlights. While these upgrades are nice additions to your vehicle, they can add load to your electrical system and cause failures that may be difficult and costly to identify and fix.