The lifespan of a car depends greatly on our driving habits and maintenance practices. While many of us may have a decent understanding of driving, when it comes to proper vehicle maintenance, we tend to fall short. For example, when it comes to parking our cars, most drivers simply turn off the engine without realizing that this can have long-term negative effects on the engine. However, by spending a few more seconds to take an extra step, a car’s engine life can be extended by more than five years.
So how can we ensure that our cars remain in good condition for as long as possible? Here are fifteen essential driving tips that everyone should know in order to extend the life of their vehicles:
1.Running in Period
Indeed, reducing the frequency of emergency braking can help to increase the lifespan of your car. Frequent use of emergency braking not only places a heavy load on the chassis and engine of the car, but it can also damage the overall braking system, particularly in new cars during their running in period.
During this running in period, it is recommended that drivers maintain consistent speeds of around 80km/h, not exceeding 100km/h, and refrain from using hard braking to avoid undue stress on the engine and braking system.
By avoiding sudden stops or sharp turns, you can minimize the wear and tear on your car’s various components, including tires, suspension, and braking system. This will help to extend the life of your car and potentially save you from expensive repairs. Ultimately, adopting a smooth driving style and minimizing hard braking will enable you to protect your car and enjoy a smooth and reliable driving experience for years to come.
2.Gas Tips
It’s true that many of us want to maximize our fuel efficiency and get the most out of our gas money. One way to do this is by filling up your gas tank at a slower rate, as doing so will reduce the amount of air that enters your tank and allow more gas to be filled.
However, it’s also important to choose the right grade of gasoline for your car. While higher grade gasoline may prevent engine knocking, it can also have negative effects in the long run. If the grade of gasoline is not suitable for your engine, it can cause changes in ignition timing and lead to an increase in carbon buildup in the cylinder, which can ultimately shorten the life of your engine.
On the other hand, using low grade gasoline can also lead to problems, such as increased fuel consumption and engine injector carbon buildup, which can lead to a higher failure rate for your car.
To ensure that your car operates at optimal efficiency, it’s best to refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations and select the appropriate grade of gasoline for your specific engine. This will help to reduce the risk of engine damage, improve fuel efficiency, and extend the life of your car.
3.Wax Two or Three Times a Year
Maintaining the appearance of your car is important not only for aesthetic reasons, but also for its overall value. Unpainted surfaces on the body can give your car a dusty and worn-out appearance, which can affect its value in the long run. One way to protect the surface of your car and improve its appearance is by regular waxing.
Waxing your car can aid in removing minor scratches and reducing the adherence of water droplets, making it easier to clean your car and keep it looking sleek and shiny. Moreover, the sunlight and ultraviolet rays that naturally occur can cause paint to fade and age over time. Using wax can help to create a protective layer that reflects some of the light, thus helping to avoid the aging of the car paint.
Car waxing can also prevent the buildup of static electricity and dust, making the paint look exceptionally shiny. By creating a smooth surface on the car, waxing can reduce the accumulation of dust and particles on the car’s surface, which can maintain the appearance of the car for longer.
To ensure that your car remains in top shape, it is recommended to wax your car regularly. Doing so not only protects the paint and surface of your car, but it can also add value to your car in the long run.
4.Clean Your Car Wheels with Coke
While it is true that Coke can be used to clean certain surfaces, such as rust and grime, it is not recommended for cleaning tires. Tires are comprised of rubber, and the acidity in Coke can actually damage the rubber as well as potentially strip away its protective coating.
Mixing Coke with detergent might be able to remove some dirt and dust from the tires, but it’s not the most effective method. In general, it’s best to avoid using harmful or abrasive substances on your tires, as these can potentially damage the rubber and lead to more problems in the long run. Instead, use a dedicated tire cleaner or a mixture of mild soap and water, and be sure to rinse thoroughly to avoid any residual soap buildup.
In conclusion, while it may be tempting to use Coke as a tire cleaner, it’s not a recommended method and can potentially cause more harm than good. Using gentle, rubber-safe cleaners and avoiding harsh chemicals is the best way to maintain and protect the condition of your car’s tires.
5.Use Nail Polish On Small Scratches
While nail polish may seem like a quick fix for small scratches on your car, it is not a recommended method for repairing car paint. While it may provide a temporary cover-up, it’s actually not a long-term solution and can potentially lead to more damage in the long run.
Firstly, using nail polish may affect the quality of the car’s paint job, as nail polish may not adhere well to the car’s surface and may start to peel or erode over time. Additionally, nail polish is not designed to withstand the environmental elements that cars are constantly exposed to, such as UV rays, dirt, and water exposure, which can accelerate paint damage and decay.
Moreover, if you need to eventually carry out a professional repair, the nail polish will have to be removed beforehand. Although this may seem like a small thing to do, it can actually affect the effectiveness of the repair.
If you want to remove small scratches from your car’s paint, it’s important to seek professional help or use an appropriate car paint scratch remover. These products are specially designed to help remove paint scratches and protect the car’s surface from further damage. In the long run, it is better to avoid using nail polish to repair your car’s paint and invest in quality paint scratch removers to keep your car looking great.
6.Emergency Headlight Cleaning
While toothpaste can be used to clean some surfaces, it is not recommended for cleaning headlights. Headlights are typically made of polycarbonate plastic, which can be scratched or damaged by using abrasive materials like toothpaste. Additionally, toothpaste is not designed to withstand the environmental elements that headlights are constantly exposed to, such as UV rays and dirt, which can result in accelerated discoloration and fading.
If your headlights are dirty or turning yellow, it’s best to use a specialized headlight cleaner or restoration kit. These products are specifically designed to clean and protect headlights and are formulated to work effectively on polycarbonate plastic without causing any damage.
In addition, if your headlights are significantly yellowed, it may be a sign of deeper damage or deterioration, which cannot be fixed with toothpaste or a restoration kit. In such cases, it may be necessary to replace the entire headlight assembly.
Therefore, while toothpaste may seem like a quick and easy solution for dirty or yellowed headlights, it is not recommended and can actually lead to further damage to your car’s lights. Using specialized headlight cleaners and restoration kits, and regularly performing maintenance, can help to keep your headlights looking clear and functioning properly.
7.Put stockings on your wipers
While putting stockings on wipers may seem like a creative solution for protecting your windshield from scratches, it’s actually not recommended. Over time, the stockings can accumulate dirt and debris which can get stuck on the windshield and cause further scratching. Additionally, the stockings may not fit properly on the wipers, which can cause obstruction of the wiper blades and affect its functionality, leading to unsafe driving conditions.
Fortunately, there are effective and safe alternatives to protect your windshield during bad weather conditions. Firstly, regularly cleaning the wipers and the windshield can help avoid the buildup of dirt and debris. Secondly, using specialized windscreen wiper blades designed for harsh weather conditions or winter wipers, which have a rubber boot preventing snow from going on your bare wiper blades, can also help protect your windshield and enhance visibility.
Overall, using stockings as a windshield protector is not a recommended method and can potentially cause further damage to your windshield. It’s important to use approved and recommended products to ensure the functionality and safety of your wipers and windshield, especially during harsh weather conditions.
8.Checking the Gas Gauge
It is generally recommended to keep your car’s gas tank at least a quarter full at all times, to avoid potentially running out of gas while driving and causing damage to the engine. Running out of gas can cause damage to the fuel pump with potential repairs costs of several hundred dollars.
However, checking your car’s gas tank every 14 days may not always be necessary or practical, as it depends on a number of factors such as your driving habits and distance, as well as the fuel efficiency of your car. The goal is to keep your fuel tank at a safe level, avoid running out of gas, and prevent any related damages to the car’s engine and fuel system.
It’s also worth noting that it’s generally recommended to fill up before going on a longer journey, especially if you will be driving for extended periods of time without the opportunity to refuel. This can help prevent running low on gas or running out of gas while on the road.
In summary, keeping your car’s gas tank at a safe level by filling up regularly and avoiding running low on gas is an important part of maintaining the health and reliability of your car’s engine and fuel system.
9.Check tire pressure
Regularly checking and maintaining the proper tire pressure is important for both the safety and performance of your vehicle. As you mentioned, driving with low tire pressure can cause increased friction and heat, leading to accelerated tire wear and potentially dangerous driving conditions.
To prevent these risks, it’s recommended to check your tire pressure every two weeks to ensure it is at the manufacturer-recommended level. You can find the recommended tire pressure in your vehicle’s owner manual or on the driver’s side door frame.
In addition to checking your tire pressure, it’s also important to inflate your tires before going on a road trip or driving at high speeds for extended periods of time. Properly inflated tires can improve fuel efficiency, handling and braking, and extend the life of your tires.
If you are not sure how to inflate the tires, you can ask a professional at a mechanic or tire shop to help you. It’s also worth investing in a quality tire pressure gauge to keep in your vehicle for regular use.
Overall, maintaining proper tire pressure is an important part of ensuring the safety and longevity of your vehicle’s tires. Regular checks and maintenance can help prevent wear and tear, extend the life of your tires, and keep you safe on the road.
10.Interior cleaning and maintenance
It’s important to not neglect the cleaning and maintenance of the interior of your vehicle as it not only keeps it looking fresh and clean, but also helps to protect the interior finishes from aging and wear and tear.
Using neutral or weak acidic cleaners can be a good solution for cleaning the interior of your car. These cleaners are non-corrosive and gentle on surfaces, but still effective for removing dirt, stains, and other grime from all surfaces of your vehicle’s interior. It’s important to read the product label and to follow the instructions carefully to avoid any damage or undesirable effects.
When cleaning the interior of your car, it’s best to follow a three-step process which includes dusting, cleaning, and maintenance. You should start by removing any loose debris, dust, and dirt from the surfaces of the car’s interior using a soft-bristle brush, vacuum cleaner or microfiber towel. Next, use a mild cleaner and a damp microfiber towel to clean the surfaces thoroughly, paying special attention to high-touch areas such as the dashboard, steering wheel, and door handles. Finally, apply a protectant or conditioner to those areas as needed to keep them looking and feeling like new.
Routine cleaning and maintenance of the interior of your car is not only beneficial for protecting your investment, but also for the occupants of the vehicle. Clean surfaces can help reduce the spread of germs and allergens, improve air quality, and keep your car looking good inside and out.