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Top Tips on Maximizing the Life of Your New Car

By June 19, 2017December 7th, 2018Insurance

Everyone wants to get the longest life from their brand spanking new car. Below we share some tips from an authorized Ford service center that can keep your car in showroom condition.

Give Your Car Some Time to Warm Up

The biggest mistake that new car owners make is to try to get their car hurtling to full speed shortly after they turn the ignition and set off. This can put stress on the engine of the car as the lubricating oil has not had time to get to the optimal temperature.

We recommend that you drive your car smoothly at the beginning, give it a time to warm up. Adopting this gentle approach lengthens the life of your engine and helps to avoid any on-road breakdowns.

Don’t Slack When It Comes to Maintenance

Every car manufacturer issues standard maintenance guidelines that an owner must adhere to if they want their vehicle to remain in good condition. Don’t slack when it comes to maintenance. Keep up the maintenance of your car, following the maintenance schedule to a tee.

We highly recommend getting your car maintained on a frequent basis at a service center certified and authorized to work on your vehicle make. Being proactive about the maintenance of your car keeps it in perfect running condition and helps you to get you a much better resale value when it comes time to sell.

Avoid Short Trips

A car has to work the hardest when it has to start from zero mph. Cold starts compromise the muffler’s life and can also build condensation in the engine. Try to avoid starting and stopping your car’s engine in short bursts. For example, it is much better for your car if you combine multiple errands into a single, long trip. Adopting such a practice will protect your engine against strenuous wear and tear, and it has the added benefit of being fuel efficient.

Keep Your Car Clean

For some owners, keeping their car clean is a significant challenge. It takes a lot of time and commitment to clean your car consistently, but it is an important aspect of maintaining a car that should never be taken lightly. Frequent car washes remove corrosive elements like salt, keep any rust from building up, and help keep your car’s exterior in perfect condition.

Tires Should Have Perfect Inflation

Under-inflated tires can cause harm to your car. It not only forces the engine to work harder and use more gas, but it also reduces the overall lifespan of the tires. Under-inflated tires can also be rough on the suspension of your car. Therefore, always keep your car’s tires inflated to the manufacturer recommended value.

Keep an Eye on the Fluids

There are a lot of fluids that a car needs to perform perfectly. Brake oil, steering oil, the cooling system and transmission fluid are a few examples. All of these fluids should be replenished after every 40K to 50K miles or more often – check your manual for exact guidelines. Failure to change these fluids on a timely basis will cause significant wear and tear on your car and could result in a breakdown and costly repair.

The Air Filter

It is important to change the air filter in your car periodically. All you need is a single screwdriver and five minutes. A compromised air filter will potentially allow harm to your engine, compromise its acceleration, and reduce its efficiency.

Brake Pads

Keep an eye on your car’s brake pads from time to time. Replace them before they are completely worn out. Worn out brake pads can cause significant damage to the calipers – not only increasing the ultimate repair cost you’ll need to pay but be very dangerous.

Change the Oil Regularly

An oil change breathes a new life in your engine. It keeps all parts lubricated, avoids friction, increases mileage, and increases the lifespan of the car. Experts recommend that the engine oil should be changed after every 3000 or 5000 miles or every 6 months – whichever comes first. Changing the oil on a regular basis can help your engine clock up to 200,000 miles without needing a significant rebuild.

Rotate Your Car’s Tires

It may sound a lot of work but the benefits of tire rotation are worth the inconvenience. Periodically rotating your car’s tires will stop wear from occurring in one particular location. It, therefore, lengthens the overall lifespan of tires. Experts recommend that tires should be rotated after every 6,000 miles or 6 months whichever comes first. Every tire manufacturer has unique characteristics. Therefore, you should always follow the instructions given in the owner’s manual when it comes to tire rotation.

Periodically Get the Wheels Aligned

A wobble or shake at higher speeds can indicate a poorly aligned wheelbase. A perfectly aligned wheelbase keeps the car rooted on the road at higher speeds and traveling straight. This enhances the overall driving experience and also improves the life of the suspension. Keep the wheels perfectly aligned to enjoy a perfect ride and keep your car in excellent condition.