Car Maintenance Tips to Increase Your Car’s Lifespan

If you own a car, chances are that you want that car to last as long as possible. Cars require routine maintenance, and if you never perform this maintenance, your vehicle’s lifespan will be much shorter than you had hoped. While some maintenance items are a bit complicated and require a qualified mechanic, there are many things that you can do yourself to extend the life of your car. 

Here are four maintenance tips you must follow to get the most life out of your car!

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Perform Regular Oil Changes


Yes, this one is obvious. However, some people still do not perform routine oil and filter changes on their car. Some mechanics recommend changing your oil every 3,000 miles; however, this is not always necessary. It depends on the type of oil and filter used as well as the way you drive your car. 

Do you drive mostly highway miles or constantly stop and go in the city? You should always follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for oil change intervals. Some cars can go up to 10,000 miles between oil changes, so getting a change every 3,000 is a waste of money! If your car has over 75,000 miles on it, you should strongly consider switching to a high mileage oil at your next oil change. 

These oils can help prevent leaks and greatly extend the life of your engine.


Use a Fuel Injector Cleaner


This is one maintenance item that couldn’t be easier to perform yourself! Clogged injectors can lead to reduced fuel efficiency, poor engine performance, and problems with other parts. Keeping your injectors cleaned is super easy. 

Simply purchase a bottle of fuel injector cleaner and pour it into your gas tank every couple of fill-ups. A bottle of cleaner costs less than $5, and is a simple and easy way to help keep your fuel system performing efficiently and problem-free.


Keep Proper Air Pressure in Your Tires


Tires are expensive, so getting the most life out of them as possible can greatly help your wallet! Keeping proper air pressure in your tires is one key to making them last longer. 

Improperly inflated tires can lead to excess wear and even blowouts! As the weather changes, particularly when it turns colder, the air pressure in your tires will lower. Making sure that they stay properly inflated reduces wear and actually can increase fuel economy. Get your gauge and check that pressure today!


Perform Transmission Flush When Needed


You will likely need to enlist a mechanic for this one, but it is an important one. Make sure that you perform transmission service when recommended by your car’s owner’s manual. Skipping this one can lead to an expensive repair. 

A transmission rebuild can cost $2,500 or more with a total replacement costing upwards of $5,000 in some vehicles. While a transmission flush costs about $250 on average, that is much cheaper than the bill you can expect if you go too long without it. 

Keeping fresh and clean fluid in your transmission is key to preventing overheating, slipping, and other problems with your automatic transmission. Many cars do not require this service until around 100,000 miles, so many people choose to simply sell their car before hitting this milestone. You can contact a cash for cars buyer to get cash for your vehicle and use that money to buy a car with fewer miles.


Conclusion


Performing routine maintenance on your vehicle is key to prolonging its life and driving it for years to come. Many maintenance items are very simple and can easily be performed in your driveway - some of them do not even require any tools! 

Be sure you follow the tips outlined above so that you can extend the life of your vehicle and keep cruising the highway!

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