How to Keep Your Car Running for the Long Haul

Sep 28
10:56

2009

Joe Kent

Joe Kent

  • Share this article on Facebook
  • Share this article on Twitter
  • Share this article on Linkedin

Taking preventive measures to ensure your car is functioning and looking its best can help save money in the long wrong. Take a look at some of these simple steps to take to prevent costly damage from occurring.

mediaimage

Oil Changes Make All the Difference

Oil is the lifeblood of your car. While they can seem cumbersome within your busy schedule,How to Keep Your Car Running for the Long Haul Articles it’s important not to avoid getting your oil changed at the scheduled intervals says Commercial Trucks Portland ME.  But changing your oil should also include a number of fluid changes, such as your vehicle’s antifreeze as well as transmission and brake fluid. Overtime, these vital fluids fail to lubricate properly or fail to fight against rust and freezing. When this happens, used cars St Louis dealers warn it could take a toll on the engine and reduce longevity. Your air filter should also be replaced regularly to keep foreign debris from building up in the engine, which easily damages vital engine parts. A clogged air filter can even hinder fuel economy since the engine essentially will have to work harder to breathe.

Keep Cool Under Pressure Your cooling system should be checked regularly to prevent devastating damage. Trenton Auto Service says this is especially true in summer months and in warmer climates. Ensuring your cooling system is working adequately helps prevent the engine from overheating and essentially melting down. Chevrolet Cincinnati Ohio agrees that simply ensuring your hoses are in good condition, as well as maintaining proper coolant levels, is a cheap and easy way to prevent inconvenient and costly repairs.

Keep Your Car Rolling

One of the commonly neglected parts of a car is the tires according to Kansas City Used Cars. This is unusual considering that checking air pressure takes seconds, and is usually free to do. It’s difficult to see how neglecting your tires adversely affects your car but this can easily impair fuel economy. More importantly, improper air pressure can also impair vehicle safety. With tires receiving constant wear, it’s crucial to avoid too much wear. To prevent excessive wear, Mazda Service Seaside stresses that you should rotate your tires about every 3,000 miles, which will help the tires wear evenly.

Listen to Your Car

Your car’s gauges can give you plenty of insight into what’s going on with your vehicle advises Pennsylvania Acura. If you choose to ignore them, you may end up paying the costly consequences.

Put Your Trust in the Right People

Locating a repair shop is more difficult than you may think. Sure it’s easy to find plenty within a reasonable distance, but having a mechanic that truly understands your car and won’t overcharge you for repairs is crucial – and hard to come by admits Illinois Hyundai. Don’t settle for just anyone when your car needs repairs, go to someone you trust and can give helpful advice.

Check Ups Keep Your Car Healthy

Getting a check up by a mechanic can solve can help your car in a couple ways. First it allows you to build a relationship with your mechanic, and it familiarizes them with your car. Secondly, Used Cars New Haven CT believe a simple checkup can give your mechanic an opportunity to spot a red flag and prevent future mechanical problems.

Alter Your Driving Habits

Changing the way you drive can make a huge impact on your car. By accelerating slowly and braking early, Allentown Auto Loans suggests that you can improve gas mileage and increase the longevity of your brakes. Also, by consolidating errands and making fewer short trips, you can greatly reduce wear and tear on your vehicle.

Decrease the Extra Baggage

Just as shedding some extra weight can improve your energy, losing weight can have the same effect on your car. Carrying around heavy or unnecessary cargo can add weight, which impairs aerodynamics and adds strain on the engine. One St Paul used Ford dealer warn that this increases wear and tear and dramatically reduces fuel economy.

Don’t Forget to Wash

A clean car isn’t just an attractive car hints the Vallejo Collision Center. By cleaning your car regularly, not only will it look better in the long run, the it will also become more aerodynamic which can impact your fuel economy.

Cover Up Whenever Possible

Weather and nature can easily damage your car. According to Ford Pittsburgh, keeping your car in a garage or carport can help you avoid harmful elements that impair the look of your vehicle.