When thinking about your car’s useful life-span, you may be left wondering ‘how long will my car last, really’? The longevity of modern cars has, in fact, been improving as time passes and people today can expect their vehicles to average nearly twelve years, or up to 200,000 miles of reliable service. Differences in make, model, and powertrain of course are critical factors that contribute to the likely longevity of a vehicle, but there are many things you can do to help keep your car a reliable part of your life for many years and miles. So here are four of the most important things you can do to keep you vehicle up and running for years to come.
Follow Your Maintenance Schedule to a “T.”
As you may have guessed, following the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule as closely as possible is by far the most important thing you can do to extend your car’s useful life. Car designers and engineers create those schedules not only to address potential issues before they occur, but also ensure the greatest longevity for the engine, transmission, and other components together. Missing a single oil change can negatively impact the internal components of a combustion engine. If you’ve lost or misplaced your maintenance schedule, you can very liekely find a free digital copy online.
Wash and Clean Your Vehicle Regularly.
Not only does a car wash keep your vehicle looking its best, it also helps remove built-up debris and corrosive elements that could otherwise significantly reduce the functional lifespan of keep parts of your vehicle. And don’t forget about the undercarriage! This is where all your car’s critical suspension components are housed and they may wear prematurely if not kept free of salts and grim.
Always Change Fluids on Time.
Along with following your service maintenance guide, be sure to replace or flush fluids according to schedule. These are usually inexpensive ways to assure the long-term functioning of gears and other components. Fluids kept beyond their recommended service life will cause excessive heat, friction, and wear on these components and, if kept too long, mechanical failure that leads to expensive repairs is inevitable.
Consider Switching to Synthetic Engine Oil.
Synthetic oils hold several advantages over conventional, mineral-based oils. Not only do they require less frequent changes (which may help ensure you replace them on-time!), but they can also tolerate temperature extremes better and reduce engine wear if you are the type to drive your car immediately after starting and before allowing proper warm-up time.