As one of the biggest expenditures you’ll ever make, it makes sense to take care of your car so it lasts as long as possible so it is important to understand your car and how it works. There are simple things like keeping it safe and secure so look for classic car storage services so you aren’t leaving your expensive property out on the street. Here are seven things you can do to extend its life and save money in the process.
Keep It Well-Maintained
Probably the most obvious one on the list, but also one that’s often neglected. Modern vehicles can easily go over their recommended service intervals without you ever realising it, but the truth is that by neglecting your engine, you’re doing it no favours. Always follow the suggested service intervals, though if you want to keep the car for a while, there’s no harm in doing them a few hundred miles early or more regularly. A well-maintained vehicle will not only survive longer, but will also use less gasoline, perform better, and retain its value better.
Don’t Start Ignoring Problems
Can you hear a noise that wasn’t there before? When you navigate left-hand turns, do you feel a little bit of grinding? Don’t just turn the stereo up and hope for the best. A wheel bearing that has been neglected and begun to deteriorate might overheat the hub, harming the CV joint, and necessitate a larger, more expensive repair. In traffic, an overheated vehicle with a malfunctioning radiator fan could blow the head gasket. There are numerous instances of components failing and their failure having snowball repercussions. Do not wait to find out what occurs when something fails if you believe it to be on its last legs!
Keep it tidy and clean
Although it may seem silly, keeping your car clean will increase its lifespan. Rust is aided by dirt and grime (particularly in the winter months with salt on the roads). Despite having a galvanised body, not all of your car’s undercarriage parts are immune to rust. Bushings and suspension parts will last less time if they are neglected and left coated in grime, so go outside with the hose and keep everything clean, including the hidden bits! Regular washings and periodic polishing/waxing sessions will keep the paintwork in pristine condition and raise the car’s resale value. Finally, always remove bird droppings from your paintwork as soon as you notice them.
Cool Down
For vehicles with turbochargers, this is particularly crucial. The turbo will be very hot if you were driving “enthusiastically” at higher revs. Drive “off-boost” during the final few kilometres of your route. Instead of shutting off a burning hot engine, which can reduce the life of the bearings in the turbo by heating the oil, doing this lets everything circulate and cool down. Leaving it idle will cause the engine bay to heat up, so you don’t want to do that either. Modern vehicles with water-cooled turbos make this less of a problem, but it’s still a good idea to start and stop each trip gently.
Get Regular Check-Ups
There is never a downside to preventative maintenance. Remove the plastic engine cover (if there is one) and take a close look at all the hoses and wiring to get familiar with your automobile and the engine area. Keep an eye out for fluid leaks and greasy residue that may indicate a leaking gasket. To recognise when something appears to be incorrect, you don’t need to be a mechanic. Check the automobile at least once every two weeks, paying attention to the fluid levels and tyre pressure, and alerting your mechanic to do anything odd.
Complete Workout
Although it makes sense that careful driving can increase a car’s lifespan, constant gentle driving can be detrimental. It is necessary to clean the Diesel Particulate Filters in diesel engines and can assist in removing carbon deposits from older engines (DPFs). To clear the cobwebs and renew the DPFs, get on the highway when there isn’t much traffic and drive for a while at medium to high rpm.
Reduce the workload
What’s in your cargo space or trunk? You probably bring about more crap than you should if you’re like most people. The mechanical and suspension parts of your car, as well as the engine, will be under more stress the heavier it is. It makes sense to make sure you aren’t dragging about extra weight, even though we’re not talking about big gains.