How To Keep Your Car In Good Shape

Getting the most out of your vehicle is the motto of every car owner. And most of us look for every possible way to keep the cars running on the road. Everyone wants to keep their cars in drivable condition as long as possible, or until they can change into some other car with better features. To maximize any vehicle’s lifespan, preventative care maintenance is necessary. Not doing it can bring about serious mechanical issues, which would not have come up if you serviced your car on time. So it’s better to take care of your car from the early days, to keep it running for a long time. 

Here Are Some Tips To Keep Your Car’s Condition Sound

Regularly Maintain Your Car’s Battery

Batteries are among the basic of things that you should never neglect. Just like other parts, it also needs proper care and attention to last longer and function properly. 

It is said to replace your car’s battery every four years to increase its longevity. In doing this, you ensure that your vehicle runs smoothly, without any problems in the middle of the road. Trying to stretch a car’s battery life is useless because it has to be changed one day. And as more time will pass, more problems along with the battery. So it is better to chop off the problem at its base when it is still tiny.  

Another important thing in the battery is its acid levels. Make sure to get the acid level of your battery every six months. Stratification of batteries will lead to the accumulation of electrodes at the bottom, leaving the top starved. Thus, the batteries are particularly at risk. 

In case of low electrolyte levels, you can add distilled water to it very carefully. After topping up the battery levels, you can use a battery charger to recharge the battery. Cleaning the battery and conducting a battery load test can also ensure the battery’s proper working. 

Regularly Change The Filters

With time, the oil and the car’s air filters can get clogged due to dirt and dust. So renewing them is a good idea to keep your car’s condition sound. You can replace both during your servicing schedule of the vehicle, but they are relatively easy jobs. They can be done by you also, once you learn it. So wasting money for it by allowing them to change it during service doesn’t always seem like a good idea. 

You can also increase the air filters’ life by simply washing them even. All the handbooks carry information about washing and fixing filters. You can always consult one for advice. But always remember to use good quality products. Cheap or low-quality stuff can damage the machine in the long run. 

Drive Smoothly

Driving most of the time smoothly and only using any component when necessary results in less wearing the parts. It would help if you practiced mechanical sympathy all the time. Along with knowing how to drive a car, you should also understand how to work your car’s controls.

Reducing car controls’ unnecessary usage will minimize wear and tear and save fuel and make it run longer than usual. Reducing the requirement for sudden breaks also counts in this. Sudden brakes and sudden jerks can also cause irreparable damage to the machine parts, apart from wearing. 

Use Your Air Conditioning From Time To Time

The most common problem faced in air conditioners and AC filters is the blocking and subsequent airflow prevention over cooling coils. Thus, making it a habit to wash those components weekly will not only prevent any stacking up of dust, but you will also get to enjoy the benefits of having a proper air conditioner during summers. You can even replace the filters from time to time if the need arises.

You can also get those filters cleaned during servicing before the arrival of summer. Unusual overheating of the engine can also impact the air conditioning. So taking proper care of the machine is also necessary to increase the longevity of your AC filters.

Don’t Forget About Replacing Leads And Spark Plugs

The increased complicacy in modern cars has made their driver even more unwilling to do some service independently. Replacing high tension lead and spark plugs is another simple task that the driver himself can do. But constantly referring to the user manual and sticking to the maintenance schedule is a must. Doing this will also optimize your engine’s productivity. 

A poorly conditioned spark plug can show wear as time passes or even the engine’s condition. And all these symptoms indicate the need for its replacement. If you can see a noticeable gap between the insulator and the electrode, it can signify less engine use, which you can fix in any local garage. On following any signs of cracks or heavy wear, you should replace the plugs immediately. 

Keep Those Tires In Check

The proper care of tires achieves both mileage and performance, keeping the tires’ pressure under check regularly. Proper tire inflation gives you excellent performance, safety, and also fuel economy. 

You can find the recommended level of the inflation pressure on your vehicle placard or the vehicle owner’s manual. Maintaining proper pressure is the last thing that any car owner can do to increase the tires’ life and durability. 

Overinflation can increase the tires’ stiffness and the uncomfortable feeling of excessive vibrations during a ride. Similarly, underinflation can be harmful. It causes irreparable damage to the tires that may also result in severe cracking or air loss. 

We face many situations where our tires get stuck in snow, sand, or mud. In these times, avoid spinning the tires too much. It can lead to overheating due to friction and tends to wear off the tire, causing irreparable damage. The tires’ gentle forward and backward movement may be more effective than constant spinning in those cases. 

Remove your tires from service when they tend to wear off to a certain level. Many tires have their wear-off levels marked. Not changing worn-off tires can lead to skidding off on wet roads, suffer maximum punctures, and so on. 

Don’t Skip The Schedule Of The Service

From time to time, service is necessary to maintain your car in the best condition. That also helps in increasing the life of the vehicle. The vehicle’s user manual has all the details about the maintenance required for the car. Modern cars even have some lights giving warnings on the dashboard to provide proper reminders about care. A major servicing can also cover air filters’ replacement, spark plugs, and cambelts, depending on the car and its mileage. 

They always observe fluid and oil leaks, tire pressures, and other essential things. 

Keep It Covered To Protect It From Weather

Using a garage or any cover to keep the car covered or under shed will also increase the vehicles’ lifetime. The ultra-modern cars are said to be tough and highly corrosion resistant. But with time, the heat and water can bring about rust on the vehicle, reducing its durability. Keeping the car in the garage also reduces the chances of any accidental damage. 

Conclusion

The bottom line is that taking proper care of your car and its various parts will automatically lead to the car’s longevity. Cars are machines, and you can give engines a new life by replacing or taking proper care of their parts. Maintenance, along with all the above-mentioned preventive measures, can maximize your vehicle’s life and give you the best possible results ever.