Car Tips #114: Car Maintenance For The Long Haul

Image: mynrma.comIt used to be common when drivers would get “new car fever” after two or three years and start shopping for the latest and greatest automobile. But times have changed and more car owners are holding on to their cars much longer through regular car maintenance.

But wanting this to happen and taking steps to actually make it happen are two different things. Just what can car owners do to keep their cars running strong and healthy for the long haul?

One easy to do tip is to keep the interior clean. If you’re constantly leaving junk, food wrappers, and other garbage in the car, this not only degrades the condition of the car, you probably won’t be motivated to take care of other car maintenance tasks either.

Use a Good Car Sealant

Let’s face it, not a lot of car owners enjoy the job of waxing their cars; most people try to put this off for as long as possible because the whole process starts all over again in just a few months. But if you want your car to be optimally protected against paint degrading over time, it means waxing your car often.

But there is a way around this. Modern technology has come up with polymer sealants that not only look as good as a genuine wax job, but can protect the finish of your car for about a year before reapplying a new coat.

And the good news gets better—you can typically do this in under a half hour.

Check and Change Fluids

When stopping for gas, why not take the time to do a quick check on the fluids of your car? In about a couple of minutes you can check the oil level, transmission fluid levels, brake fluid levels, and coolant levels.

You can spot any trouble by visually checking, and this may save you some expensive car repairs by following this routine. Some suggest that it’s a good idea to swap out all fluids in the car every 30,000 miles, outside of oil changes.

Keeping It Pays Off

General preventive car maintenance is not only a smart thing to do, it will allow you to keep your car for a long time and ultimately save you thousands of dollars in new car taxes, fees, and new car insurance rates.

Older Cars

If your car is approaching or has passed the 100,000 mile mark, congratulations! You have entered a select group of car owners. But hitting the 100,000 milestone means your car may be ready for some needed car servicing such as replacing the spark plugs, doing a radiator flush or changing out the transmission fluid for a fresh batch.

If your car is in reasonably good mechanical shape, performing routine maintenance chores is a good way to keep your car running for a very long time.

Source: Yahoo Autos
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