Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our cars didn’t wear out? If we could squeeze twenty years plus out of them? Well, it’s actually not as outlandish as it sounds.
Don’t you often see old-timers driving around in vehicles that came off the production line a generation ago? In times past, when motorists found a car they liked, they tended to stick with it.These days, people want the latest, flashy models and trade them in long before their useful life is over.
The old timers probably had the right idea.
Traditional mechanic’s skills are no longer widely held by motorists. One look beneath the bonnet of a modern car is enough to confuse and baffle most – with computers and complex engine management systems taking care of the car’s functions, it’s hard to know where to start.
But the good news is, there are plenty of things you can do to optimise the lifespan of your car. Read on for the skinny on getting your wheels to just keep on running down the road…
Protect Your Investment
A car is a big investment and needs careful attention. A reliable vehicle is at the heart of many a busy family’s life and if this essential pillar in the support network suddenly goes kaput!, chaos soon follows.
The driver successfully keeping cars on the road indefinitely, has two important bases covered: maintenance and driving habits. These two issues have direct influence on how long your car keeps rolling.
Look After It
Car maintenance is really not rocket science – a lot of the basics you can do yourself, thus saving on hefty garage bills. The regular jobs that need doing include: checking oil, hoses, belts, tyre pressure, battery, air filter, brakes and coolant or anti freeze.
It sounds like a long list, but don’t be intimidated, most of this stuff is on page one of the mechanic’s manual. Familiarise yourself with the handbook of your car which contains information on maintenance issues – failing that, Youtube has a legion of generous car nuts regularly uploading instructional videos on anything from topping up brake fluid to changing the air filter. Simply type in the model and year of your car and wait for helpful and illuminating results to appear.
Don’t forget the non mechanical parts of your car. Rustproofing the exterior to protect it from corrosion is a great way of securing its long-term future. Salted roads in winter play havoc with car bodywork, so get yourself to the vehicle DIY store and invest in anti-corrosion treatments – it’s money well spent. Having done that, keep the paint finish sparkling with regular washing and waxing.
The tyres on your car influence its handling and performance. Worn treads on tyres are not only unsafe, they attract fines and penalty points if you are stopped by traffic police. The legal limit for tyre tread depth is 1.6mm but it is not a great idea to go that thin – after 3mm of tread, water displacement is adversely effected, making driving in the wet more dangerous due to increased stopping distances.
For busy households who use their car as a workhorse, finding a convenient time to stick it into the garage for new tyres is a challenge. Many drivers opt for the cost effective and convenient alternative that www.bktyres.co.uk offer. At BK Tyres professional and efficient fitters come to you, either at work or home, with pre-ordered tyres to put on your vehicle. With competitive prices and a wide range of tyres available, this method of tyre change is increasingly becoming the first choice of busy, car-reliant consumers.
Don’t Thrash It
Driving techniques are the second area you can boost your car’s chances of long life. The constant braking and gear-changes associated with town driving add to the wear and tear on the car’s engine. Adopting a smooth driving style and anticipating braking events so that gradual pressure is applied, makes more sense. Selecting the correct gear for the conditions and accelerating smoothly are other key ingredients to a healthier and longer lived car. And don’t forget there is an added bonus when using smoother smarter driving techniques – you use less fuel and tyres, brake pads and other components degrade less quickly.
If you want your car to push on for years, it needs nurturing. Simply take care of regular maintenance schedules (either yourself or at a garage) and nasty surprises and costly bills won’t happen. Team that with driving techniques aimed to minimise stress on the engine, and you’ve got yourself a great plan going forward. Doesn’t that sound like a green light for adding years to the life of your car?