Tips on How to Make Your Car Last Longer

We spend a lot of time driving, logging an average of 12,000 miles a year. If your car is made by a company known for high-mileage vehicles, this may not seem like an issue. Sure, your car may need some maintenance now and again—for example, if you have dented 2009 Honda Accord rims, you may have to replace them. Incidents like these are annoying, but they’re usually expected.

Despite these occasional incidents, some car models have long lifespans, but this is only true if you take proper care of your car. It’s important that you maintain your car on a regular basis, not just when something seems off. You should follow a few simple steps to make sure you’re allowing your car to live out its entire lifespan.

Keep It Clean

As fun as it is to pick the color that best suits you, your car’s paint job isn’t just cosmetic: the paint also helps protect what’s underneath it. Keeping your car’s exterior clean will prevent anything from eating through the paint, especially in the winter. Road salt is corrosive and can rust your car if not washed off in a timely manner. Washing your car won’t just make it look good—it will also keep it in prime condition.

Service as Needed

You should regularly change out the necessary parts and maintain your engine fluids to keep your car running to its best ability. This standard maintenance includes:

• Radiator. The general rule of thumb states that you should flush your radiator every 100,000 miles or every five years to remove old antifreeze and other contaminants. You can consult your owner’s manual for exact instructions.
• Air filter. A clean filter allows your engine to receive proper airflow.
• Brake fluid. You use your brakes a lot—especially in traffic. Your brake fluid may eventually begin to absorb moisture and lose its effectiveness, so you can expect to have to change it every four years or so.
• Spark plugs. Regularly changing your spark plugs can help protect your car from misfires.
• Tires. These should be replaced when the tread is worn down or if your tire begins cracking. Also make sure to rotate your tires regularly.

Drive Carefully

Even if you have the most durable tires, you should be careful when driving over rough surfaces. Slow down as you cross train tracks, and always avoid potholes and other potential hazards when it’s safe to do so. Driving carefully will prevent not only tire issues, but also more costly problems such as a bent car frame, dented rims, and cosmetic damage.

Check in with Your Mechanic

You should take your car to the mechanic once or twice a year to have it looked over. An assortment of unseen problems could affect your vehicle and catching them in a timely manner is essential to your car’s longevity.