Maintaining Your Car and Extending its Life

All cars come with a lifespan. No matter how much fun you have with it or how much mileage you can get out of it, it will eventually run its course. But that is no reason why you can’t try and extend its lifespan. You can get a few more years of use with the right care. We aim to walk you through some basic tips on car maintenance that will extend that expiry date.

Regular Inspections

The idea of doing daily car checks may not be appealing to you, but if weeks or even months go by without an inspection, then any maintenance you eventually do provide won’t be as impactful. Make sure you have an instruction manual handy for checking the gas and fuel readings, and determining the strength and grip of the tyres. If the tyres do need replacing – especially if you’re dealing with treacherous, slippery roads – then you should consider purchasing Ford Alloy Wheels. The manual must always be used during the inspections. Otherwise, you may have difficulty picking up on any contradictions.

Checking the Tyres

You may not be aware of the number of times tyre treads have saved your life when travelling down a slippery road. But they will wear away over time, and the more they do, the less grip they will have on the road. If the treads have little depth, then they will have added difficulty channelling water away from the tyres. If you can barely make out the treads, you should look at getting them replaced. Another thing you can do is clean the brake dust on your wheels. This can accumulate over time and although they won’t hinder your car’s mobility, it can still be an unpleasant sight for anybody who glimpses it. If the grime and dirt is left to bake in the sun, then you will permanently stain your tyres. So regular cleaning is a necessity.

Replacing Lights

It is pivotal to always have fully-working indicators, especially when the winter season arrives and you’re travelling home from work in the dark. If the bulbs break for whatever reason, you need to replace them. Luckily for you, the cars of today come with lighting modules that can be easily replaced without having to pop into a shop. However, a word of caution; make sure you use the kind of bulb specific to your vehicle’s make. And as always, stick to the manual when replacing the lights.

Maintaining the Engine

The engine is the beating heart of your car. Without it, you’re not going anywhere. You will need to check your oil levels, which will entail making sure the car is parked evenly before removing the oil dipstick and wiping it with a clean rag. This way, you can read the indicators without any oil obscurity. Also, take note; oil should not be black, but the colour of amber. Black oil indicates an overheating of engine parts and a possible buildup of sludge. Consult with your manual about changing the right kind of oil.

By looking out for these potential pitfalls, you’ll be able to add more journeys to your car’s lifespan.