When you talk to anyone that’s owned their vehicle for a long time and ask about how they kept it in good shape and made it last as long as it has many of them will tell you the regular maintenance performed is one of the most important aspects of longevity. While a regular oil change and the following of the scheduled maintenance does make a lot of sense, there are other ways to help make your vehicle last longer on the road than you might expect. Here are some easy way to help your car last as long as you want it to.
Keep it Clean – The elements and road debris can get on your paint and eventually cause corrosion, but the underside of your car is engaged in a never-ending battle with the road as well. During the winter months, in areas that put salt or treatments on the road to help keep roads from icing over, you must wash your vehicle and the underbody on a regular basis. This will help you have a car that will continue to perform for you and provide you with the ride you’re looking for. Give you exhaust and suspension a break with a good wash on a regular basis.
Lighten the Load – The less weight and clutter you add to your vehicle the easier it is for it to perform for you. If you’re in the habit of carrying around a load of junk in the back of your car, get rid of as much of the gear as you can and let the car have it easier. Yes, you can carry extra weight at times, but don’t do it all the time. Lightening the load will also have a positive effect on the fuel mileage you enjoy on the road as well.
Start Slow – If you’re in the habit of starting your car after you’ve put on your seatbelt and made all the adjustments needed, reverse it. Put the key in and start it up right away. Doing this will allow the fluids to circulate through the engine and warm up. You only need to do this for about a minute in modern vehicles, unlike older models that require several minutes to fully warm up. After you put on your seatbelt and are ready to go you can head out knowing you’ve given your car the warm up it needs.
Floor It – The rev range of your vehicle needs to be run through on an occasional basis to clear the carbon build up and help clean out some of the gunk. This is similar to why cleaning your oven is done with added heat. What you need to do is make sure you’ve run the car for a while before doing this and then run through the redline range of the car to make sure you reach all the revs and the engine can clean itself of these contaminants. You will waste some gas doing this, but it’s a good idea to perform every few hundred miles.
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