As simple as using car shades, washing regularly, and checking tyre pressure can go a long way in helping your vehicle reach 200,000 miles, maybe more. Any good car owner knows you don’t just drive your car but take good care of it, too. But take those extra steps, and you should get more mileage than you can imagine possible.
Wash Regularly
This might be a no-brainer, but doing this infrequently can have serious effects. At the very least, your vehicle should be washed once a month.
- Dirt and grime left too long on a car’s body can damage the paint, making your vehicle vulnerable to rust and corrosion.
- Leaving the interior just as messy can invite pests, cause bad odours, and may require professional detailing if the upholstery shows severe damage.
- Wash your car every two weeks if your vehicle is constantly exposed to the elements, parked outside, driven frequently, or you drive in dirty or muddy roads.
- Follow the same schedule if you live near the coast, where the sand and salty air can hurt your vehicle.
- Wash once a week during winter, especially if roads are salted or certain chemicals are used to melt the ice. The components in salt can cause rusting.
- Wash every 2-3 weeks in summer and more frequently when you drive on dirt roads, or your vehicle gets a shower of bird droppings and bug splatters.
Follow Maintenance Schedule Religiously
It’s called maintenance for a reason, and sticking with the prescribed schedule and checklist can increase your car’s longevity.
- Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation or have a qualified mechanic create a maintenance programme specifically for your car.
- Beware the difference between regular maintenance and maintenance by mileage. That is, there are extra checks you need to do before the odometer shows 30,000 miles, 60,000 miles or 90,000 miles.
- Follow recommended service appointments when provided.
Practice Good Driving Habits
Even if you own a vehicle from one of the most reliable car brands for long-term use, it won’t last long with seriously bad driving habits.
- Driving smoothly extends the life of your vehicle, while driving aggressively takes years off its components.
- Maintaining a constant speed while driving contributes to vehicle durability and helps you save fuel. Doing a combo of sudden acceleration and hard braking puts a strain on the engine.
- Avoid frequent trips of under ten miles, which causes engine wear and tear. This is because the distance doesn’t give the engine enough time to hit operating temperature, which means the car is running with a cold engine.
- Don’t leave the vehicle idling for too long, especially if you own a modern car that warms up quickly the moment it starts moving. Extended idling can negatively impact the engine’s efficiency.
Don’t Overload Your Vehicle
Planning to use your car for towing? You should know if and when it’s even capable of doing so.
- Know the specific weight restrictions and what type of trailer is best used with it.
- Identify the load capacity and keep all loads within that limit. Overloading not only hurts your vehicle but also increases the probability of a car accident.
- Overloading can cause the steering gearbox to overheat, tyres to run hotter, and other vehicle components to wear out faster.
Use Synthetic Oil If Possible
If you can, give your car the TLC it deserves by using synthetic engine oil.
- While it’s more expensive than conventional oil, it offers excellent engine protection, better fuel efficiency, and boost performance even in extreme temperatures.
- With the engine kept in good condition, you don’t have to pay much on maintenance. Along with fuel economy, you can save in the long run.
Take Care of the Cooling System
Failure to flush and fill the cooling system at the right time will make your engine prone to overheating.
- Make sure to schedule a coolant flush according to manufacturer’s specifications. This can be every two years or at 40,000 to 50,000 miles. To boost performance, replace the thermostat as well.
- Check the vehicle’s manual as to when cooling components should be replaced and stick with it. More often than not, you’ll need to replace the water pump, hoses, and other parts every four years.
Stay Alert for Any Warning Lights
They light up because they’re telling you that something’s wrong. If you overlook them, your vehicle may not last long.
- A check engine light can mean various issues on the engine and emissions. Minor or not, you should have it checked right away.
- A battery warning may not always mean a flat battery, but something more serious. This is especially true if you still manage to drive with the battery warning light on.
- The brake light coming on might be due to a mistake, such as driving with the parking brake still engaged. But it can also mean low brake fluid or damaged brake pads.
These are just some of the things you can do to spare your vehicle from a short-lived existence. Follow them, and your car could exceed 200,000 miles and still run like new. Ready to show love to your car’s interior? Snap Shades has just the products you need.