Purchasing a car isn’t cheap, and when you invest in a vehicle, you certainly want to get the most for your money. Fortunately, taking proper care of your car isn’t difficult. It just takes close attention to detail and adherence to a regular maintenance schedule. Keep reading for a few helpful tips on how you can help ensure your car enjoys a long life, and you get the most miles for your money.
Regular Maintenance
If you’re in the habit of waiting until your dash lights illuminate to take your car in for maintenance, you’re asking for trouble. Take a peek at your vehicle owner’s manual. Inside, you’ll find a manufacturer-recommended maintenance schedule. That schedule is designed to keep your car functioning optimally, and when you follow it to the letter, you’ll extend the life of your car. Generally, you need to have your car professionally serviced about every 5,000 miles, and your owner’s manual details the type of service recommended for each mileage interval. Along with factory-recommended maintenance, you’ll also need to have regular oil changes at 5,000-mile intervals. Being proactive with taking care of your car’s basic needs is critical. Waiting until you notice a problem with your car to take it in can be more costly than taking it in regularly.
Detailing
Thorough detailing not only makes your vehicle appear well taken care of, it actually helps extends its life. Detailing involves meticulous cleaning of both the interior and exterior of your vehicle. If you have a leather interior, you’ll need to pay special attention to how to care for it properly to avoid cracking and fading of the material. Paying attention to the condition of your car’s exterior paint is another important consideration. When you keep a close eye on the aesthetic state of your car, you’ll notice small issues before they become glaring problems.
Store It Safely
Where you park your car is more important than you might realize. Depending on your location and climate, weather can have a huge impact on the life of your vehicle. If you live in a hot, humid climate, relentless heat and UV rays can quickly destroy a perfect paint job and leave your vehicle susceptible to rust. Plus, if your windows aren’t tinted, sunlight can actually bleach the interior of your car over time. Conversely, cold, snowy climates can be very tough on the internal working components of your vehicle, potentially leading to early failure. If you have the ability to park in a garage or covered parking space, take advantage of the opportunity. Parking in a protected space helps shield your car from harsh conditions that can decrease its life.
If you take care of your car properly, there’s no reason it can’t last hundreds of thousands of miles. Early failure is almost always due to improper maintenance, so it’s important to be diligent with your care schedule and pay close attention to small, emerging issues. As long as you tend to minor issues before they become huge, glaring problems, you can enjoy your car for years to come.
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