Some Tips from Number 1 Auto Transport on Extending your Car’s Longevity
Just as humans age, so do our cars. As time passes, cars depreciate, vehicle parts degrade, or malfunction, dents, or other accident-related damage may occur. Eventually, the ever-increasing maintenance cost may exceed the vehicle’s value, prompting the driver to contemplate purchasing a new car.
Though the automobile may have only been purchased six to eight years ago (with the average duration of drivers keeping a new car being approximately six years (DeMuro, 2019) and has more than likely been paid off by that point, the driver ultimately decides to buy a newer vehicle, consequently leaving a dent in the driver’s wallet, does this vicious cycle sound familiar? It does not have to be this way! This vicious cycle can be broken by extending the car’s longevity, saving drivers from exhausting their financial resources by frequently purchasing newer cars. What steps can you take to extend your car’s life expectancy? Please allow me to elaborate:
1. If you are on the verge of purchasing a new car, the first step is to research.
It is essential to research differences in longevity and reliability by car make and model if it is a long-lasting car you desire. While specific makes and models of cars listed as most reliable and longest-lasting may vary yearly, is there a general trend for a specific make and model to consistently rank high in both categories? If so, keeping this particular car in mind for your next purchase is strongly recommended. For example, Toyotas and Hondas have been demonstrated to have the highest percentage of cars that most frequently can be driven beyond 200,000 miles (Bartlett, 2019).
2. The first and most important step to help your vehicle drive better for longer is to follow all maintenance recommendations religiously, regardless of car age.
For example, if your car requires an oil change every 5,000 miles, this mileage must be considered the absolute upper limit between each oil change. Change and rotate your tires as soon as it becomes necessary. Always opt to change filters when needed. Do not neglect or delay maintenance requirements for your vehicle until it becomes necessary. Instead, taking care of any functional concerns sooner rather than later can lengthen the life of your vehicle over time. This includes abiding by the recommended maintenance schedule and bringing your vehicle into a garage when you hear any questionable noises. Time is of the essence when any concerning issues emerge in your vehicle.
3. Location, location, location.
Driving is naturally one of the necessities of life. But mileage is also one of the most important factors that contribute to the aging of a vehicle. Mileage is, after all, a marker of how much life your vehicle has lived. Equipment, including engine parts and suspension components, is not designed to last indefinitely. Accumulated city mileage contributes considerably more to wear and tear than highway or interstate mileage accumulates. Thus, reducing vehicular mileage, mainly city mileage, is key to extending your car’s longevity. Is your commute longer than 20 minutes? Consider relocating closer to your workplace or university. Live in a crowded city? Consider relocating to a smaller suburb of that city to reduce the proportion of city mileage. Live in a small town? Consider leaving your car keys behind and walking to your destination instead.
4. Live on a hill or in a mountainous area?
Unfortunately, this can be hard on your brakes, gearbox, pedals, and steering wheel, contributing to the vehicle’s wear and tear over time. Simultaneously, you may notice the need to refill your gas tank more frequently. Opting to drive on flatter, smoother routes will reduce your car’s wear and tear and save you money on gas. If it is not plausible to avoid hilly or mountainous regions in your town or city, then opt to move as close as possible to the proximity of your school or work location. This will also help reduce the mileage on your car and allow the option of walking to your destination more frequently.
5. Always keep your vehicle tires plump.
Do you notice one of your tires looking slightly deflated compared to the rest? Always carry a tire pressure gauge in your vehicle. Affordable tire pressure gages can be purchased at most drugstores. Check the tire pressure periodically and consistently keep an eye on the tire pressure when one or more tires start to appear deflated. Doing so will increase your miles per gas tankful and reduce your car’s wear and tear.
6. Always keep your gas tank topped off.
Habitually driving your car on or nearly empty means that the fuel pump stays less lubricated, and suboptimal-performing fuel pumps can, in turn, impact the performance of your car overall. The fuel pump also has a filter that collects more sediment, which descends to the bottom of the gas tank when automobiles are habitually driven on empty. This sediment could cause the fuel filter’s blockage, or the fuel filter may take in sediment-filled fuel. Fixing any of the aforementioned issues may easily cost immense money. Skip these risks and keep your gas tank needle away from the empty segment.
7. Reduce the amount of weight your car carries.
Are you lugging around heavy furniture or leaving a significant amount of materials or junk in your car? Time to clean out your car. Your furniture, trash, and other materials belong in your apartment or house, not on the floor of your car or in the trunk. It turns out that cleaning out your car will also save you wear and tear on your car and the amount of money you spend refueling your gas tank!
Finally, you may have noticed a common trend in points III through VII. Any factors that reduce the miles per tankful of gas for your car also reduce your car’s longevity. Implementing these pointers into practice will significantly impact your car’s longevity, saving you a great deal of money in the long run!
Number 1 Auto Transport wants to make sure you know the ins and outs of car buying and maintenance. Save some mileage on your car by shipping it to your destination of choice. Would you please email us or Call 855-422-4141 for a FREE QUOTE on nationwide auto transport?
We look forward to giving you quick answers to any questions you may have.
