How to help your car last longer

If your car is your most prized possession, chances are you want your car to last forever. While "forever" might be an overstatement, there are simple ways to extend the life of your vehicle. Here are 5 tips to help you keep your car, provided to you by local Chapel Hill Tire mechanics.

Car Preservation Tip 1. Maintenance Flush

While many drivers tend to overlook the need for preventative flushes, they are essential to the health of your vehicle. If you want your car to last longer, they become even more essential. Your vehicle requires several different fluid solutions to function properly, including coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and more. Over time, these solutions wear out, become depleted, and become contaminated, making it necessary to clean and replenish them with regular maintenance flushes. 

Car Preservation Tip 2: Regular Oil Changes

Some vehicle services are needed more permanently than others. Perhaps the most frequently needed service in any car is an oil change. It's easy to delay an oil change for as long as possible, but doing so can significantly shorten the life of your vehicle. To keep your car running longer, you need to follow the manufacturer's recommended oil change routine.

Car Saving Tip #3: Park in a Garage

Harsh environmental factors can take their toll on the health of your vehicle. This includes extreme heat, cold, rainfall and more. You can protect your car from these stressors by simply parking it in a secure location, such as a garage. If you don't have a garage available, parking in a shaded area or sliding across the vehicle's surface when not in use can also help prevent weather damage. 

Car Saving Tip #4: Quick Repairs

As you continue to drive your car, it will likely run into a problem eventually. Fast repairs are essential to keep your vehicle safe and reduce maintenance costs. The longer you live with a problem your car is having, the worse it can get. Since all of your vehicle's systems work together to ensure proper functioning, one necessary repair can quickly turn into other vehicle problems if left unattended. To make your car last longer, have it repaired at the first sign of a problem. 

Tip 5 for saving your car

It's no secret that driving style affects the health and longevity of your vehicle. If you drive frequently, you should have your vehicle serviced more frequently. It is also important to consider the road conditions in your area. Dirty roads, for example, can cause excess dust in the engine and the need for additional filter changes. On bumpy, rough, and pothole roads, more frequent tire changes, tire rotations, and camber adjustments may be required. 

Conversely, it's also important that you don't leave your car for too long without proper care. Car batteries and engine oil wear out faster when your car is not in use. Leaving your car parked for too long can also cause its rubber components to rot, including everything from tires to engine belts. You also run the risk of getting rusty parts when your car is left standing for an extended period of time exposed to moisture. Here is a complete overview of the risks of an inactive car from our experts. 

Chapel Hill Tire Local Car Service

If you need help keeping your vehicle in top condition, visit your nearest Chapel Hill Tire service center for leading vehicle service. Our experts have all the necessary skills to help your car last longer. Make an appointment at one of our eight offices in the Triangle area to get started today.

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