Nowadays, having a vehicle to move around the city is a necessity. Fortunately, there are several ways to access a car loan , so the only thing that should be a priority for you is to keep it in good condition. In the end, we all want our car to run smoothly and have a long lifespan.
In that sense, there are several measures that can help you extend the useful life of your vehicle. In the following article we give you some tips to take care of your car in a simple way.
1.- Replace the filters
Filters are one of those parts of the car that you don’t pay much attention to until it’s too late. These are responsible for preventing impurities from the environment and other harmful materials from entering the engine.
Vehicles typically have two types of filters: air and oil. The former clear dirt and dust, while the latter trap abrasive sediment. Your car’s manual may detail how often these parts should be changed, but that’s not set in stone.
For example, if you tend to drive your vehicle in an environment where dust and dirt are a constant, you will have to change filters more frequently. It is usually possible to install a new filter each time the oil is changed, which brings us to the next point.
2.- Change the oil
The oil is responsible for lubricating and caring for all those parts inside the car’s engine. Despite this, many people tend to forget to change it, which leads to a considerable reduction in performance efficiency and eventual engine failure. At this point, the ideal is to follow the recommendations of the vehicle manual.
3.- Pay attention to the change of fluids
Oil is not the only fluid that needs attention. Other details that you should check periodically are the transmission fluid, the radiator coolant, the brake fluid and the power steering fluid. Now, if you own a four-wheel drive vehicle, you need to take transfer case fluid into consideration as well.
Therefore, the next of the tips for car care is to check the level and condition of the fluids every two weeks. In this way, it is possible to anticipate and avoid problems such as leaks, which could cause serious problems if not remedied in time.
4.- Check your tires
Tires are the point of contact between your car and the road. Therefore, it is important to regularly check the air pressure and its general condition. This helps improve fuel efficiency and driving safety. This also helps them last longer and let’s face it, no one likes to change tires frequently.
5.- Do not postpone repairs
Sometimes work and life at home force us to postpone car repairs. However, this could cause further damage. For example, driving with a faulty water pump can cause the vehicle to overheat and damage the engine. Likewise, ignoring brake noise will reduce braking power.
Paying attention to engine noises while driving or the slightest change in vehicle performance will help you avoid potential problems. At this point, keep in mind that applying the corresponding car care not only extends its useful life, but also your safety.
6.- Drive smoothly
So far we have seen technical issues that can increase the life of the vehicle. However, the way you drive also has an influence on this matter. In general, it’s a good idea to avoid turning the engine on or off suddenly, as this puts stress on the car’s components, increasing wear.
Similarly, erratic acceleration and rapid braking use more fuel, which can end up costing a bit more. Treat your car gently and it will perform optimally for longer.
7. Apply a layer of wax
Our car can be constantly exposed to stains on the paint, as well as its deterioration by agents such as the sun and rain. It is highly recommended to wax the car from time to time to restore the protective film and keep the paint in good condition. In addition to this, there are other things you can do, such as covering the car with a tarp or under a roof to reduce the effects of the weather.
8. Maintain the brakes
It is advisable to visit the workshop periodically to check the state of the braking system, which is in constant wear, due to the friction that occurs every time we press the pedal. Having the brakes in good condition will substantially improve the response capacity of your vehicle, helping you to prevent accidents. It would also be good to make sure that there are no objects on the floor of your vehicle that could move and obstruct the way you brake regularly.
9. Purchase an insurance policy
Probably the best thing you can do if you want to protect your valuable assets. An accident, however small, can result in spending hundreds or thousands of dollars out of pocket, if you do not have a full coverage policy. If you want to truly take care of your vehicle, it is highly recommended that you investigate responsible insurance plans. Thus, you will have the total certainty that you will be protected against any unpleasant surprise.
10. Change the fuel filter
The gasoline filter is a very important part for the engine. It is responsible for filtering particles and sediments found in the fuel. A new filter allows the fuel to reach the engine in a cleaner way. It prevents debris from building up and helps the car work properly. In this way, the car will not have extra work burning gasoline or diesel.
11. Shock absorbers
Maintaining shock absorbers in good condition is necessary to extend tire life as well as driving stability. The shock absorbers wear out due to the impacts that a car can suffer during its movement when passing through speed bumps or irregular areas. The shock absorbers help keep the wheels glued to the asphalt, reducing their wear. An indication that your car might need new shocks is when you notice that it makes some noise when moving forward or becomes very unstable when going through a hole. It is also recommended to change them every 60 thousand km.
12. lights review
Although this may seem like a very small thing, many times we do not pay enough attention to that little warning on the dashboard. When the lights come on to check the battery, oil pressure, engine temperature, etc. It is best to take the car to a mechanic who makes a complete diagnosis of the general condition of the vehicle. It may not be a big problem, but if not, the mechanic will be able to diagnose any problem in time.
13.Tank filling
Although the fuel filter is in good condition, after a few years sediment accumulates at the bottom of the fuel tank creating a thick layer. When driving on low fuel, the car ends up using this layer of sludge and some coarse particles will pass into the engine causing damage to the interior. You should always drive with a good amount and avoid reaching the minimum to refuel. The ideal is to stay with a quarter of the total capacity of the tank.
14. Check the condition of the tires
The tires of your car can be exposed to temperatures and bodies that produce a loss of pressure. For this reason, it is important to note that these are at their ideal point of air.
15.Change the air filter regularly
To carry out the combustion process in a good way, it is necessary that the engine has a constant flow of air. The air filter is the one that is in charge of giving this “breath” to the vehicle. This filtration system also prevents insects, particles or polluting elements from the environment from entering the car.
The filter must be changed regularly so as not to saturate it. When the filter does not work well, the air that the car receives is insufficient, which will make the engine work harder and consume extra gasoline.
16.Cooling system
The radiator, pump and coolant are the main elements of the cooling system. This is the way the car doesn’t overheat. Keeping a good amount of antifreeze fluid is very important, no matter if you find yourself in a winter or summer season.
This is a self-regulating mechanism that works by sending coolant material to the engine when the temperature registers very high levels in which the engine could fail due to excessive heating. The pump is responsible for sending the antifreeze from the radiator to the engine site. After this process, the pump receives this liquid back in the radiator to be cooled.
From what we have mentioned, we can talk about the coolant liquid as a very important part for the operation of the vehicle. This liquid must maintain normal levels and cannot exceed the minimum or maximum limits because it directly affects the movement of the entire vehicle.
In the same way, if you find a problem with the vehicle’s temperature, it is best to take the car to a professional to prevent these problems from advancing and becoming more complicated breakdowns.
17.- Read the vehicle manual
If you ever have a doubt about the internal workings of the car, the user manual is that guide that can get you out of trouble. Paradoxically, most people just flip through the first few pages of the manual and then forget it exists until something goes wrong.
Therefore, another of the tips to take care of your car is to always have the vehicle manual at hand. Remember that this user guide contains relevant information related to the frequency of maintenance, the compatibility of spare parts and the use of particular functions, which are different in each vehicle.
If you wanted to know how to take care of your car and extend its useful life, now you have some methods that will be of great help to you. Have you found the vehicle of your dreams? If you haven’t purchased it yet, this might be the best time to do so