Auto Mechanics Miami FL
How to Extend the Life of Your Car
How To Extend The Life Of Your Car By DriverSide Staff
DriverSide provides not just information on buying and selling cars, but helps you live with your car every day. In today's economy, we're constantly asked how people can keep their current cars on the road for longer periods of time. While it is expensive to buy a new car every few years, it is also expensive to repair a car that may be on its last legs. We at DriverSide, always being on the side of, you, the driver, have compiled a list of some of our helpful tips to help extend the life of your vehicle and save you money in the long run.
Discover a strange sound coming from your engine? DriverSide can help you find a mechanic . We can also help you get a quote for the repair prices and labor with our Pre-Service Report. Also, if any of these tips spur you to stock up on some parts and accessories, we have an abundance of listings. DriverSide is here to help you with your ownership needs from all angles.
1. Preventative Care and Maintenance
Augie Barone, Service Manager at Pat’s Garage in San Francisco credits regular maintenance as one of the most important ways to add years to your car’s life. “The customers who have the most miles on their car are the ones who are consistent with their service schedule,” he says. “They get a hold of issues before they get out of hand. It helps a lot to maintain the car’s longevity. You can’t just wait for the service light to come on.”
Keeping your vehicle's fluids new and clean is priority number one when it comes to making sure your car hangs around for a long while. Frequent oil changes can prevent the buildup of harmful deposits that rob fuel economy and power, as well as make internal components work harder. A harder working engine is one with a shorter life span.
Even if your vehicle is brand new, it is a good idea to check the oil every few hundred miles. If the level slowly gets lower between oil changes, you might have an issue with your engine. The same applies for your vehicles’ brake fluid, clutch fluid, if it’s a manual transmission, or your automatic transmission fluid.
While keeping an eye on your vehicle's fluid levels is a good first step toward improving your investment's longevity, sticking to the recommended service intervals in your owner's manual is equally important. Different manufacturers allow for different time periods between required maintenance. While it may look expensive to go about replacing your air filter, changing your oil, rotating your tires every few thousand miles, the preventative care saves you money in the long run. For a general idea, you can check out our guide to car maintenance .
Don’t forget to save all your service receipts. Not only are they good to have for reminders, but having them available for potential buyers will also increase the residual value of your car.