While some people purchase an automobile with the goal of keeping it for a decade or longer, such a hope can’t be realized unless the vehicle is properly cared for. It is possible to greatly extend a car’s life and minimize mechanical problems if you are proactive and diligent. While you might not reach the 3 million mile mark like Irv Gordon did with his 1966 Volvo P1800, you will endure fewer repair costs and be able to flip your vehicle for more than its Blue Book value. Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to take care of a car.
Wash Your Vehicle on a Regular Basis
While regular maintenance will prolong your vehicle’s life, keeping it clean is just as important. If you fail to wash your vehicle on a regular basis, you’ll eventually notice that it rusts. It can take up to 5 years for rust to actually appear on a vehicle that hasn’t been washed at frequent intervals. Once rust manifests, the value of your car could be significantly reduced.
Aside from preventing rust, a regular car wash is imperative to clean the vehicle’s undercarriage. The undercarriages of vehicles are usually chock full of dirt, salt, oil, dust and other grime from the roads. Over time, these particles can wear away at the bottom of your vehicle and you won’t even notice it until it causes a potentially major problem.
Aside from all of the grime that ends up on a car, consider how the vehicle is constantly exposed to the sun, smog, acid rain, bugs, tree sap and bird excrement. Many of these threats have acid and all of them will eat away at your vehicle’s paint. After the paint has deteriorated, they will attack the vehicle’s metal. Don’t let your vehicle corrode. Maintain its re-sale value by washing it at least once per month. Then detail it after the wash to make it as clean as possible.
Check the Tire Pressure and Fluids on a Regular Basis
It only takes 10 minutes to check your fluids and tire pressure. Make sure the engine is cool, open its hood and remove the oil dipstick. Wipe it off with an old rag, put it back in and then take it back out to perform an oil check. If you don’t replace the oil at least every 7,000 miles, it could clog up the engine and eventually force you to purchase an entirely new engine. That will cost several thousand dollars while an oil change will cost a fraction of that ($20 or so).
Be sure to take a look at the brake cylinder reservoir, the power steering fluid level, the transmission fluid level, the radiator overflow reservoir level and the air cleaner as well. Inspect the belts and hoses for indications of imminent failure or excessive wear and tear.
Check your vehicle’s owner’s manual or the inside of your driver side door jamb to find out the proper psi for the vehicle’s tires. Check the air levels every other week to ensure that your tires are properly inflated. You’ll reduce the wear and tear on your vehicle while improving its fuel efficiency by keeping the tires inflated at the optimal level.
Take it Easy During the Start-Up
While some people claim that slamming on the gas immediately after starting a vehicle helps it “warm up”, this is a misnomer. If your vehicle is idle for 5 hours or longer, its engine is considered “cold”. A cold engine will have hardly any oil remaining on the moving parts as it has seeped down into the oil pan. Give the vehicle some time to pump oil into the engine for proper lubrication. During this period you should keep the engine’s RPM as low as possible. Ideally, you’ll let the vehicle sit with the engine on for a full 30 seconds before putting it in drive and pressing on the gas pedal. If the vehicle has sat for more than a full day without being used, give it even longer to warm up.
Follow the Service Schedule
Although this tip seems fairly obvious, you would be surprised to find out just how many drivers fail to adhere to their vehicle’s maintenance service schedule. So pull out your owner’s manual every couple of months to check the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule. Don’t follow the dealer’s schedule as they did not actually make the vehicle. Your vehicle might require a new air filter or another adjustment after a certain number of miles. Don’t neglect the service schedule and assume that the vehicle will operate regardless of how it is treated. Aside from switching filters in and out, regular servicing will give auto technicians the chance to inspect your vehicle for other red flags that you might not have noticed.