It is a well known fact that to own a car requires a major commitment from yourself and no matter how much time, effort and money that you put into maintaining it the cost is still going to depreciate until you either sell it or scrap it. Using your car regularly means that it is open to a certain amount of wear and tear which reduces its lifespan, regular maintenance of your vehicle is necessary to extend the lifespan on your car. There are also other things that you can do to extend the life span of your car;

Keep a clean Car

The first and most important aspect of extending the lifespan of your car and keep it looking great is to always keep it clean. You should was your car regularly (at least once a month if not more), this way you can remove grime and stains before it has the chance to settle in and causes damage to either the paint job or the material. When doing this remember to also clean the underbody of the car, it’s all well and good to have a shiny car but if the underbody is not properly maintained then you run the risk of accumulating dust dirt and other debris that end up causing problems down the line. You can use a pressure washer to clean as much dirt and you can to prevent rust and corrosion. Finally, do not forget to clean your carpets. They have the most traffic and are the major culprit when it comes to trapping dust, dirt and other allergens. It might be worth investing n rubber carpets because liquid can not seep in to cause rust of corrosion on the frame of your car.

Repair damages immediately

As soon as you notice anything out of place on you car you should address it immediately, it is only natural to consider the financial aspects involved with taking your car in to get repaired but if you do notice even a major damage and do not address it as quickly as possible then you are running the risk of creating larger performance problems in the future. A small ding might just be considered a little imperfection but dings are also prone to rust and corrosion, depending on the extent of the of the rust you might be able to fix if yourself with a body filler kit. You should also touch up any scratches immediately with paint, make sure that the paint matches what was used on the car.

Car Fluids

Changing and checking the various fluids in your car regularly makes all the difference when it comes to the determining the lifespan of your car. Regular fluid maintenance is essential to the smooth running on your car, you should consult your owner’s manual if you are ever confused as to what goes where. Remember that different cars require their oils and other fluids changed at different intervals so you should be sure exactly how often you should be changing them. In most cases a majority of cars require an oil change every 4000 miles, driving over the suggested intervals opens your vehicle up to overheating among other things. Also remember your transmission fluid, brake fluid, wiper fluid, and coolant.

Replacing Parts

Some parts of your car never change no matter how long you have been using it for, for the other parts you should make sure that you are checking and testing them regularly to confirm that they are still doing what they are supposed to. Parts like brake pads, belts, suspension and tyres are consumable meaning that after long-term use they’ll wear down and be due for replacements. When considering replacements for your tyres you should be sure of the size of your tyres as the sizes depending on the make of the car. If you are replacing your tyres you should consider replacing them with Run Flat Tyres, they are specially designed to continue running for a short distance after a puncture allowing you to drive home or to a close-by garage for repair.

Image by Michael Hicks