This is a sponsored post.
Not only are car repairs one of the most expensive services you’ll ever pay for, but they also happen to be completely inevitable and, unfortunately, they usually occur at short notice and without any warning. As transportation plays such a big part in our daily lives, sudden breakdowns can disrupt our schedules, costing us a hefty sum of money in the process.
For this reason, it’s in our interest to ensure that our vehicles stay well-maintained, serviced and in good condition, as this can improve roadworthiness and reduce the likelihood of having to fork out for costly vehicle repairs.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re driving on a long road trip with the whole family, making a short journey to the shop, or even transporting your vehicle through car shipping companies, without the need to even drive it yourself. Whenever your car is going to be on the road, it will need to be well-maintained in order to perform to the best of its ability.
1. Prevent damage from the elements
As the exterior of your car will always be visible, it makes sense to protect it from any potential damage. Even natural elements like direct sunlight, rain, wind, tree sap, and bird droppings can leave stains, damaging the paint on your car. For this reason, you should aim to use covered parking to protect your car wherever possible.
Avoid parking under trees, particularly when windy, because falling leaves and branches can scratch your exterior, or get stuck on your windshield wipers. If you don’t have a choice but to park outside without cover, clean away bird droppings and any other unsightly stains using a soft cloth as soon as you see them.
And, of course, it goes without saying that you should ensure your vehicle is up-to-date with both its road tax and its MOT, before you drive anywhere. If in doubt, run your registration number through an MOT checker to confirm your vehicle status.
2. Wash your car regularly
Keeping your car clean is one of the best ways to ensure it stays in optimum condition. Cleaning your vehicle can prevent accumulation of debris, which can damage your paintwork.
That said, it’s important to know that you’ll need to use the most appropriate cleaning tools in order to avoid any accidental bumps or scratches.
If you can, avoid using drive-through car washes; often, they’re prone to scratching. Choose a car wash service where you know your vehicle will be washed by hand, using a clean towel to dry each car. If you live in an area with heavy snowfall, commercial washes could even scrub the underside of your car.
Washing your car yourself at home instead? Use car wash soap instead of dish soap, which some people use as an alternative. While using dish soap can remove dirt, it may interact with the chemicals in your car’s paintwork that give it that shiny effect.
3. Drive carefully and smoothly
Never push your car to its limits, unless you want to run the risk of breaking down. As is the case with many things, your car will not take too kindly to abuse. Always be patient, and drive as carefully and smoothly as possible. Avoid frequent sudden acceleration, or hard braking, unless in the case of an emergency.
Before you begin your journey, remove any extra weight from your car, especially if you’ve got a long road journey ahead of you. Detach your roof racks and cargo carriers if you’re not using them, and don’t use the trunk as storage unnecessarily. Remove anything from the trunk that you won’t be using during your journey. The added weight from these items will only serve to exert more strain on the vehicle, driving down fuel efficiency.
Finally, always remain aware of the lit symbols on your dashboard and what they indicate. Paying attention to your vehicle’s signals – and immediately heading to a mechanic if something seems off – may well save you from getting stranded and/or encountering further costs later on down the line.
4. Use the right fuel and stay away from cheap parts
To ensure your car runs optimally, only use the recommended fuel type. If you own a car that only takes diesel, for example, the last thing you’d want to do is to accidentally fill your tank with petrol. Not only would this drastically affect the performance of your car, but you’d probably also need to pay for it be towed to the nearest garage, so the engine could be professionally drained and cleaned out before you’re able to drive safely again.
On another note, if you need to take your car for repair, don’t be tempted to use cheap parts and fluids to save money. Doing so may cost you more in the future, as the wrong oil and fluids can introduce more damage in the long-run.
The use of parts that don’t meet your vehicle manufacturer’s specifications may negatively affect the long-term reliability of your car. If the car is under warranty, for example, you may even find that the terms will be voided if the provider decides that your vehicle damage has been caused by fitting cheap parts.
5. Take care of the battery
Some new car owners tend to make the mistake of leaving their cars unused for an extended period, only to come back to a dead battery. Remember that your car battery will lose charge over time, even if it goes unused for a while.
Most modern vehicles are fitted with multiple computers to control its various functions, and battery power is required to maintain these settings. Therefore, you should aim to drive the car at least once every six weeks to keep the battery charged or, alternatively, use a battery charger.
It’s also a wise idea to clean your car battery cables and terminals to remove any visible signs of corrosion. Do this with a mixture of water and baking soda, and use a non-metal brush for scrubbing; start from the top, then move along the wires. While you’re doing this, if you happen to notice that the electrolyte level is lower than about 0.5 inches deep, add some distilled water to the battery.
Your car is one of your most prized possessions, so it’s only natural that you should want to protect. These tips make for a great starting point in improving the maintenance standards of your car and, in turn, it’s performance, but don’t forget to spend some time studying your car’s manual to learn all there is to know about taking care of it.
What are your best tips for taking care of your car? Share your recommendations with other readers by leaving a comment below.
This is a sponsored post.