How to extend the life of a car? 20 useful tips

The days of buying a new car and driving it for twenty or even ten years are gone. Today, the average driver changes their car every few years and doesn't always decide to get an offer straight from a car dealership. Most choose used cars that have already passed their first youth. Even a perfectly maintained car will require major or minor repairs after several years of operation. Sometimes the condition of the car turns out to be so bad that it will have to be sold for next to nothing or even scrapped. How can this be prevented?

What will you learn from this post?

• How often do you need to change oil and other fluids?
• How to protect individual elements of the car from corrosion?
• How to drive a car so as not to expose the car to malfunctions?
• What sounds in the car should bother you?

TL, д-

We all want our car to serve us as long as possible. Regular workshop inspections are not always enough to keep your vehicle in top condition. Taking proper care of your condition and adhering to several good habitsassociated with both driving and caring for the ATV can significantly extend its life. Keep in mind that some items, even those that seem to work, need to be in place. replaced every few years... You also need to pay attention to disturbing noises comes out from under the hood. Driving safely with extreme caution is also important. Here are some helpful tips to follow if you want to drive your favorite car for as long as possible.

1. Heat the oil.

At the beginning of the trip butter it takes a while to warm up to correct temperature provided by the vehicle manufacturer. Only then will the correct viscosity be achieved and it will be possible to start the engine at higher rpm. It should be remembered that if the metal parts under the hood work in cold weather, the engine will fail, as the temperature negatively affects their friction. Up to 90 degrees do not exceed half the speed scale and half the full load. It is important that the engine is warmed up. during standard driving, under moderate loads. In this case, the engine reaches its operating temperature faster. It is best not to warm up on the spot - it is long and ineffective.

2. Control the rotation

Do not exceed maximum RPM power. It speeds up work of moving parts and causes increased oil combustion, due to which the piston rings cannot cope with its scratches. The upshift should take place before reaching the highest rpm. You should also avoid driving at low revs with a strongly depressed gas pedal. The crankshaft and bushings are heavily loaded at less than 2000 rpm when driving at wide open throttle.

3. Take care of the oil.

Engine oil the most important lubricantwithout which driving is impossible. That is why its quality is so important. This oil should be replace every 10 km or every year. All this so that dirt and metal filings do not damage the drive. Even if we know the engine has fresh fluid, don't hesitate to check the oil level regularly - let's check before every long trip fluid level to prevent a situation where it is simply not enough (then there is a risk of engine jamming). Remember to change the engine oil regularly, taking into account only the fluids recommended by the manufacturer. You can learn more about it in this post − Types of motor oils are synthetic and mineral oils.

4. Pay attention to the sound of the engine.

Unusual engine noises should not be ignored. Used timing belt tensioners and the risk of skipping the chain manifests itself in the characteristic cold rattling, which disappears after a while. This problem primarily affects cars with timing chain. Check the time when alarm sounds are heard after starting the engine. In the case of cars with a timing belt, the situation is not so obvious - very often you do not hear any disturbing noises, which does not mean that it is not time to change it. Deadlines in the car should be systematically replacedas recommended by the manufacturer.

5. Monitor and regulate the LPG installation.

Remember to replace the LPG volatile and liquid filters. Every 15 thousand km or once a year, the injection time should be checked and adjusted. An unmodified and unregulated setting can reduce gas dosage, engine overheating and dangerous manifold shots.

6. Don't ignore leaks

Some leaks are easy to spot if you see them on the engine. mud... Otherwise, wet spots will usually be visible under the vehicle. Most sources of leakage can be eliminated by replacing the clutch or timing belt.

It is not recommended to ignore the leakage of fluids from the car due to the jamming of the gearbox or engine, which can cause this. In addition, oil leakage on accessory belts or timing belt destroys their rubber. A leaky clutch will destroy the clutch disc. On the other hand, from the side of the head, oil flows into the exhaust manifold and is extremely dangerous, as it poisons people in the car, despite the fact that its smell it can be completely invisible.

When correcting the source of the leak, try to wipe debris from the engine. Thanks to this, we will be able to monitor the appearance of the liquid again.

7. Observe the gear shift lever.

Smooth, not too harsh gear shifting extends the life of the synchronizers and the entire gearbox. It usually shouldn't last less than half a second... You should too do not put your hand on the gear lever while driving. Thus, we create pressure, this forces the sliders to press against the switches, which, in turn, threatens to speed up its work and destroys the selector forks. The external gearshift mechanism is not designed for constant load operation and may have backlash. Only touch the jack when changing gears.

8. Do not destroy synchronizers with gear additives.

The gearbox must have only oil recommended by the manufacturer... Additives that maintain bearing wear resistance and reduce friction are detrimental to synchronizers because after use, more force will be required when shifting gears, and thus the synchronizers will be heavily loaded.

9. Keep your foot off the grip and release it carefully.

For vehicles with a dual-mass flywheel, release the clutch pedal slightly more slowly. Unconscious acceleration when releasing the pedal in the final phase of foot movement has a very negative effect on its durability, as it causes collision of both wheel masses with each other... This, in turn, overloads the internal springs. The clutch itself should be used while driving. in the near future... By keeping your foot on the pedal, the release bearing is pushed against the diaphragm spring. This exposes them to constant work, which will soon result in a very costly replacement of this element.

10. Cool down the brakes after hard braking.

After going through a steep section of road or another route that has used frequent and heavy braking, you must drive a certain distance. at low speedbefore parking the car. In this case, the brakes are very hot, and they can be driven without stopping, during which they can cool down. Cooled and ventilated brake discs reduce the risk of glazing Blocks... This extends their durability and service life.

11. Do not brake when driving over bumps.

Braking on pits is highly discouraged. Before driving through irregularities, before the wheel falls into the pit, you must release the brake... This will allow the front suspension to expand and reduce the force acting on its components. It is definitely better to drive into the hole faster without pressing on the suspension springs.

12. Take care of proper tire pressure and wheel balancing.

The tire pressure should be checked every two months and before each longer route... Low air pressure is very harmful to tires as it wears out the sides of the tread and causes the tires to overheat. With uniform pressure, the tire loses its strength by 20%. half a bar lower from the specified. It is also worth remembering the correct wheel balancing... If it is uneven, the vehicle shakes while driving, which significantly reduces driving comfort. This leads to many other errors.

13. Do not overload the starter.

If the engine does not start, do not crank the starter for a long time. Prolonged use may overheat and burn the collector and brushes. It will also drain quickly. battery... The starter must not be cranked for more than 10 seconds. Then take a break and after a minute of trying, wait half a minute until the battery recovers. After self-healing, the time of possible work before discharge will increase.

14. Provide a jack at the designated locations.

Before adjusting the jack, you must use the manual and check where the specially reinforced lifting points are located on the vehicle. Supporting stringers is acceptable if the places indicated by the manufacturer have already corroded. Replacing where not recommended may cause a dent in the floor or in the sill structure. Note that the socket also has specially designated places to replace.

15. Drive slowly over the curb.

Driving too fast on the curb leads to cracks in the inner carcass of the tires, which can subsequently become visible as bubbles on the sidewalls. In combination with excessively low pressure, this very dangerous... In the event of such a defect, the tire cannot be repaired and can only be replaced. To avoid the formation of bubbles, drive over the curb for half clutch, So slow.

16. Feel free to remove any looseness in the suspension.

Suspension clearances require immediate attention replacement of damaged elementsas soon as the first symptoms appear. Failure of one of the rocker arms causes an overload of the others in the form of a chain reaction. Delaying suspension repairs has serious consequences, and delaying them in time will entail huge costs for the mechanic in the future.

17. Drive at minimum speed on gravel roads.

Drive on gravel roads at the lowest possible speed. It is safest to assume that it is in such an episode speed should not exceed 30 km / h... Small stones falling into the chassis are stronger than sandpaper. The sills are rarely bitumen coated, which means that the varnish will flake off the bare metal sheet when you drive faster. Corrosion erupts quickly in such places.

18. Always watch out for puddles.

Always brake in front of puddles, especially when they are really big. Even if there are no pedestrians nearby. Ideally, the car should not exceed the speed before entering a puddle. 30 km / h. You can also try to avoid water entering the road if the maneuver does not present a hazard to other road users. Splashing water is very harmful to the electrical system and generatorsucking water into the motor can damage the drive.

19. Do not overload the machine

Even if the car has a spacious trunk, it is worth evenly distributing the weight in it. Overloading can cause excessive tire wear and is extremely damaging to the shock absorbers. In turn, pulling the trailer with too much pressure on the hook leads to breakage of the springs. You must never exceed permissible load rate.

20. Wash the chassis with salt after every winter.

Washing the chassis after every winter should be a good habit for every driver. Salt is one of the biggest problems for anti-corrosion protection of the body... Having reached the suspension elements, slabs and thresholds, it causes rapid growth in these places. rust... In early spring, you can use a non-contact car wash and thoroughly rinse out all the salt, directing the spear from below.

By properly caring for your car and developing a few healthy driving habits, you can significantly extend the life of your car and its individual parts without unnecessary overpayments. If you need new items for your car, check out the offer Knock out and have fun driving your favorite car for many years.