A car is a costly expense every month and one that will only go up if you’re not paying attention to its maintenance or upkeep through regular servicing at the garage.
With a lack of effort to keep it in good shape, it’ll likely cost you more money and have a shorter shelf life too. Cars certainly depreciate over time, which is why you’ll want to try and do more to keep it in good condition so that you can get good value for the money you invest in it.
This guide will take a look at several tips that help to keep your car in good condition all year round.
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Check car fluids
First and foremost, check your car fluids. These are the liquids that keep your car nice and lubricated so that it can run on the road with ease and very few problems.
From engine oil, to the coolant, to the brake fluid or windscreen wash, every car fluid type is important to keep topped up and at the optimum level so that it’s not doing harm to the vehicle.
Every car is different, but there are usually levels to indicate when you’re running low or you’ve overfilled the various tanks under the bonnet. If you’re unsure of how much should be topped up into each tank/reserve, then consult your manufacturer’s handbook.
Otherwise, you might want to consider taking it into a garage to have it done as part of the servicing you hopefully get on a regular basis.
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Get your car serviced regularly
Speaking of servicing, keeping your car in good condition requires you to be mindful of how often you get the car looked at professionally.
All cars will require an annual MOT, but servicing is a separate service that digs deeper and identifies all the problem points within the car’s health. This isn’t just things you may be aware of, but also what might be underlying that you had no idea existed.
There are plenty of garages that offer car servicing, and so it’s definitely worth looking at when your car last had a service and adding this to your to-do list sooner rather than later. Servicing can sometimes be costly depending on how long it’s been and what problems might crop up as a result, but it’s an investment that’s worthwhile for your car’s longevity on the road.
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Protect the paint
Protecting the car’s paint work is important because not only does it impact its appearance if the car rusts in parts, but it can also deteriorate the quality and performance of your car in general.
By protecting your paint, you’re doing two things: keeping its appearance fresh and clean, as well as improving the car’s performance in general.
Alongside servicing, you should consider protecting your paint, and there are a number of ways to do this. You could get it painted the same colour, or you could wrap the car with a cover that works just like paint, but some prefer it as it is often more durable.
There’s also some fun and creativity you can have with wrapping, depending on what colours or patterns you might want your vehicle to have this time around.
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Wash and clean your interiors regularly
Washing and cleaning your interiors regularly is useful to help keep all the dirt at bay and to ensure your car lasts longer as a result.
The interior part of your car can be subject to damage through wear and tear. Accidents can happen in the car, especially when little children are in it, so it’s good to keep on top of any spills and damage done to the car by washing it regularly.
It’s good to do yourself if you have the right products and tools needed for your car, specifically, but there are also some great car detailers within your local area that could do this all for you if preferred.
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Store your car properly and securely
Storing your car properly and securely is going to help keep it protected and safe from harm. You might want to look at keeping the car in a garage if you have one, as this can be the safest option possible. It can also be handy when you want to bring your car insurance down too.
If a garage isn’t available, then a gated driveway is often the next best thing. You might find adding an additional alarm to your car or a car wheel lock will deter any criminals from stealing the car, too.
The more you can secure your car, the better it will benefit you as a driver and hopefully save your car from getting damaged or stolen.
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Watch your dashboard carefully
Your dashboard is often a clear indicator for when something is wrong, so you want to be watchful over this at all times. Be mindful that when something flashes up on your dashboard, it’s often because there’s something wrong and that it might be fairly serious, that it needs addressing as soon as possible.
From engine problems to low fluid levels or tire pressure, it’s all going to appear on the dashboard. Modern cars will also have accompanying messages just in case you miss the dashboard icon lighting up at first.
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Be mindful when driving
Being mindful when driving is definitely something that’s important to do, especially as it can influence how well your car performs and in what condition it ends up being at the end of your leasing or ownership of said car.
Drive smoothly when on the road and avoid any erratic driving too. Don’t overload the car and avoid driving with low fuel where you can to stop clogging the fuel system.
Keeping your car in good condition is a cost-effective way to get more out of your car in general. Use these tips to make sure you keep your car in good condition all year round. By doing so, you’ll have longevity with the car that’s more significant rather than ignoring the problems when they crop up.
