A Few Tips to Keep Your Car Running Forever
With the prices of both new and used cars increasing almost daily, if you have a vehicle in running condition, it’s to your advantage to keep it running for some time to come. To help you, here are five tips that will keep your vehicle running, if not forever, at least, hopefully, for several more years.
- Drive Your Vehicle Regularly, But Be Sensible
There’s certainly something to be said about using public transportation when available. But if you own a vehicle, you don’t want to let it sit for long periods of time without being driven. Truth be known, you need to crank your engine and drive regularly to keep the fluids warm and the moving parts in good running order. Also, leaving your vehicle undriven for long periods can cause hoses and gaskets to crack and leak.
On the other hand, be sensible when driving your car. Don’t gun your motor when you first start it, and keep long road trips and ventures on rough terrain to a minimum as they put a lot of strain on your vehicle. Also, avoid stowing heavy objects in the back of your car, as that’s also a source of strain.
- Make Sure to Change Your Oil Regularly
Oil is the lifeblood of your engine, and it’s vital to change the oil on a regular basis. But what exactly is a regular basis? The old rule of thumb was getting an oil change every 3,000 miles or so. Thanks to improvements in automotive engineering, today for many models it’s safe to go 7,500 – 10,000 miles between oil changes.
Check your owner’s manual for your manufacturer’s recommendation, and if you don’t have an owner’s manual, do some online research for recommendations for your make and model.
- Mind Your Tires
Buy the best quality tires you can afford and check the tire pressure regularly. Keeping your tires properly inflated will maximize your miles-per-gallon and save wear and tear on them and limit the risk of flat or overly worn tires.
- Check Your Coolant
Coolant keeps your engine from overheating, both in summer and winter. Unlike engine oil, you don’t have to flush your radiator and change your oil after a certain number of miles. But with age, the chemical makeup of antifreeze changes, and that could damage your engine. Again, check your owner’s manual or do online research for recommendations on changing your engine’s coolant.
- Don’t Ignore the Check Engine Light
No one wants to see that warning light come on, but when it does, don’t ignore it. The fix could be something as simple as tightening the gas cap or it could be something more serious. We know the prospect of spending money on repairs is not very attractive to most of us. But it’s better to engage in a little preventive maintenance and fix a minor mechanical issue before it becomes a major – and much more expensive – problem.
Quality Parts from New Cats Auto Parts
Speaking of repairs, when they’re needed, you can save a lot of money buying high quality used parts at New Cats Auto Parts. Our Blue Island salvage yard covers acres, and whatever your make or model, foreign or domestic, the chances are we have the part or parts you need.
So, there’s no need to pay dealer prices for parts. For the very best selection of quality used parts that Chicagoland has to offer, come see your friends at New Cats Auto Parts.