Kilometres add up for your car
It is part of a normal evolution as long as your car is not left sitting in your garage. Nowadays, though, cars easily reach the 200,000 or 300,000 kilometres mark without much trouble. What is their secret? Beyond keeping up with the scheduled maintenance, some key factors are to be considered to keep your car running for long.
As a reminder, until not so long ago, when a car’s odometer would pass the 100,000 mark, its death would already be upon it and owners would already be considering either selling their car (for scrap metal price) or anticipate on extremely costly repairs. Quite a difference when reaching 150,000 kilometres now is considered quite normal. But keeping your car in good standing and further its life may not be as difficult as you might think.
In a way similar to how companies doing business should keep customers (as it is cheaper than trying to acquire new ones), so is the fact of keeping your car running (well). It obviously requires caring about it and maintaining it properly. Yet, at a time when softwares installed on board cars may be fully accessible and when smartphones can actually replaces all the connected features, your current car finally appears quite packed with benefits.
Follow these 5 tips to increase the life and durability of your car:
Keep an eye on your oil levels
Your body can not function without blood. When it comes to a car engines, oil replaces blood but is essential too. It is absolutely crucial to to change your engine’s oil in accordance with the recommended schedule. Oil allows to facilitate the functioning of an engine’s moving parts and reduce the friction of these. It also allows to extract debris. By regularly changing oil, these bits and pieces get flushed out and your engine can perform to the fullest extent of its capacity.
Please also note that different types of oils exist and their specifics are important (the weight, viscosity, etc.). It is recommended to check which one is the best for your engine by referring to the automaker’s manual or asking your service centre.
Check fluids level and flush them on a regular basis
Beyond oil, cars run – properly – thanks to various fluids. Just pop the hood open and have a look. Between brake and transmission fluid, coolant or even power steering fluid. Those may not need to be flushed as often as oil but it is important to check and replace them on a regular basis too. It will also allow to flush some particles which may damage the engine parts.
Do not wait until it’s too late to replace belts and hoses
Belts are often discussed as one major breakdown threat. With hoses not far behind. These flexible pieces are not easy to check and the usual wear and tear may not be apparent. However, looking is not being.
These parts often come with recommended schedule for replacement. It is crucial to not delay servicing these particular parts in order not to wear down your engine excessively or, worse, face a major breakdown. As much as you do not want your radiator to burst, you would not want a broken belt to turn into an engine write-off. Not to mention the potential consequences of a broken steering belt… . Replacing these parts on time is necessary, not only to keep your engine and car running smoothly but also for your own safety and that of people around you.
Be a reasonable and responsible driver
Aggressive driver or relaxed driver? The more spirit you put in your driving, the more sudden burst of speed and strong braking your car must endure. This behavior increases the wear of your car.
The moment you start your car, you can contribute to keep it in good shape by driving gently and smartly. A car maintenance does not fall only onto the hands of the service centre. Your driving contributes to it too. A responsible driving means avoiding sudden acceleration or braking, sticking to a constant speed and adding anticipation. This is a choice and behavior which allows to not only keep your car healthier but also saves you money on gas – and potentially fines.
You can use your smartphone and the eiver app to get started on responsible driving and rip the benefits by saving money but also profiting from the rewards offered for your good driving.
Take time to choose your car
Every car is different. Beyond the makes, models in similar categories can definitely show major differences. Making the right choice for a car will also have an impact on its durability and good standing. You need to check the make, type and all rankings available. Note that for vehicles in the same category, rankings can differ widely from average to very good, for instance.
Performances are not the only criterion that will matter, rather quality and various mechanical guarantees should be paid attention to. This will impact the maintenance of your car and, potentially, its dependability. It sure is not absolute science but it should still save you a few visits to your neighboring service centre.
With the internet, the opportunities to check rankings and comments are endless so feel free to leverage it to compare cars and automakers’ offers.
These are our five easy advice – simple but absolutely crucial and often disregarded – to keep your car running well and for long.
Now is your turn. What are your best practices when it comes to maintenance?