We’ve already shared the first 5 of 10 tips to keep your car up and running as long as possible. Your day to day usage of your vehicle comes with normal wear and tear, so here’s 5 more important habits to help prolong your car’s operation.
Habits to Help Extend Your Car's Lifetime
Practice good driving habits
It may come as a surprise, but your driving actually has a huge impact on the longevity of your car. Slamming on breaks, stomping on the gas, and hitting bumps, potholes, and other hazards on the road increases wear on your vehicle. By driving a little smoother, you can minimize this wear, save on gas, and most importantly, keep you safe.
Keep it clean
The convenience of fast food and drive-through places can sometimes lead to a collection of leftover wrappers, containers, in your backseat. While a little bit of trash every once in a while isn’t going to kill your car, if it is allowed to build up, smells and stains can seep into your upholstery. You won’t want to spend too much time in a smelly car, and neither will others, so it can bring down the value of your vehicle significantly. Just as it’s important to keep your interior clean, it’s also important for your exterior. Regularly visiting the car wash will help keep damaging elements like dust, dirt, and salt from eating away at your paint job.
Watch the weather
In a place like Iowa where we see all extremes of weather from blistering heat and wild summer thunder and hail storms to unforgiving, cold winters and snow, ice, and slush, your vehicle can sustain quite a bit of damage. The outside elements also damage your paint job, which is important for rust protection and your vehicle’s value.
Invest in your car
Your car is one of those things that are worth investing in. It can be tempting to try and save some money by choosing cheap parts, products, or to forgo maintenance, but you’ll only end up spending more money in the long run. Everything, down to how you wash your car, can end up having a huge impact on your vehicle’s wellbeing and value. Spending a little extra for quality parts, products, and services will keep your car running its best and keep you from having to shell out cash when a cheap part fails on you.
Watch for warning signs and take preventative measures
Not only is getting out ahead of your repairs a good investment, but preventative care on your vehicle will help you keep your car in the best shape possible. It’s important to watch for warning signs like your check engine light and take action as soon as you can. You’ll thank yourself later when you avoid a huge breakdown paired with a hefty service bill.
