Every car owner wants to extend the life of their vehicle as long as possible. After taking the time to pick the perfect model, adding special features, and financing your prized vehicle, it’s critical to take preventative measures so damage doesn’t happen on the road.
You don’t have to be an expert in fixing up a car to ensure it’s safe at all times. The key is to educate yourself and learn about what aspects of your car should be checked on regularly. Let’s walk through the best ways to practice exterior cleaning, practicing wise car maintenance, and keeping the professional detailing on your vehicle at the best condition!
Car Cleaning Hacks
- A good tip is to always practice safe driving as an initial precaution. Make sure to never race your car’s engine, especially if it is cold outside, since it can add years of wear on to the system. Instead, make sure to accelerate slowly whenever you plan to speed up on the road so the engine can warm up. Contrary to popular belief, leaving the engine on for a few minutes in the driveway before driving away is not a wise idea. This is because the engine isn’t running at its peak temperature and suffers from oil contamination over time. Through careful driving, you’ll also extend the life of your tires and won’t have to change them as often than if you carelessly wore them down.
- Buy gas from a reputable station that is sourced from clean resources. The station should always have a policy to change their pumps every so often so it doesn’t harm the tanks of customer cars. This ensures that it won’t cause a negative on the amount of car maintenance someone might need in the future. If the station doesn’t have a pump filter at all, if you can spare some extra fuel and time make sure to visit a different location instead. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
- Don’t push your car too hard. If you ever get stuck in sleet or snow, running the wheels as fast as possible could damage the professional detailing on your tires. The extra heat that the action generates causes lots of damage, especially if you run the wheels quickly several times. Instead, opt for gently rocking your car forward and backward until it gets over whatever sediment is blocking its path. If it seems impossible to move the car, it’s more worthwhile to pay a little more in the short term for a tow truck than possibly paying pricy repair fees in the future!
- Don’t load up your keys. Make sure that it’s not attached to a heavy keychain that can weight it down when it’s inserted into your car’s emission. While this seems like a habit nearly everyone does, it actually can lead to long term ignition switch failure and pricey car maintenance issues. To add years of service to your ignition, go for a light plastic or nylon chain instead. If your ignition already seems a bit sticky when you use it to turn on the car, you should visit a shop immediately to avoid an accident.
- Pick a good form of car insurance. Having a good policy from a company that has reliable customer service is critical when you have an accident or need repairs from an event you didn’t cause. Usually, the insurer will pay for the original car parts straight from the manufacturer so you can have peace of mind. Paying for each part out of pocket can quickly add up.
- Keep track of your mileage. It never hurts to log how often you are filling up gas to ensure your car’s health isn’t deteriorating. These days, most cars can automatically record “trips” with the push of the button so drivers can record how far they drive. Think of the log as a health journal for your car, be as accurate and honest as possible so you can prevent future damages!
- Clean and wax your car’s professional details at least a few times a year. While this might not seem necessary, it helps to keep your car’s paint and windshields in condition so it can look as presentable as possible. It also will prevent any dirt or other build up on your mirrors from obstructing your view when driving. If you don’t want to go into a cleaning station and pay for the fees, you can easily wash your car yourself. Usually, using waxing wipes and windshield spray will do the job just as well! Look into what products stores around you offer so you can save some money.
- If you happen be away from your car for long periods of time, take measures to store it properly in room temperature area. If the car is a SUV or larger type of vehicle, prop the wheels on to jack stands so the weight isn’t burdening your tires. Make sure to disengage your car breaks as well to avoid long term corrosion. Finally, remove the battery after disconnecting it so it isn’t drained in idle mode. These tips sound like a hassle but you’ll be happy you took a little extra time to treat your car well.
Moving Forward
Owning a car doesn’t have to be an expensive burden if you put effort into taking care of its professional details. Car maintenance is all about driving carefully, taking care of its interior, and investing time to clean the exterior properly so you don’t cause premature issues. Additionally, there’s hundreds of ways to clean or fix your car without breaking the bank by doing it yourself. Watch out for YouTube tutorials and articles online that can guide you throughout the process!
