Taking care of your car may sound like a lot of work, given the numerous tasks that you need to remember. That said, it can make the difference between having your car in a great state for a longer time and being forced to regularly make expensive repairs. Read on to see four little-known tips that could help you take better care of your car and secure this major life investment for a long time to come.
1. Fuel at Reputable Gas Stations
A tip for taking care of your car that’s often overlooked is to make sure you use quality fuel and fuel only from reputable gas stations. If you can find one whose quality is assured, it’s a good idea to stick to it. This is because some gas stations don’t change their pump filters on a regular basis. This is an important step to take because it ensures that the gas that ends up in your car is clean and free of sediments.
This is also the reason why you shouldn’t fuel when you see the tanker filling up the reserves at your gas station. Sediments in your gas tank could lead to a number of issues down the road for you. With good fuel quality, you’ll have a more efficient car that responds well while you drive. You should also improve your fuel efficiency by taking advantage of actions like dropping your speed from 70 mph to 60 mph. This has been found to increase your fuel efficiency by a factor of about 17.2%.
2. Clean Your Car Thoroughly
Next, you should keep your car clean because this will not only ensure that it looks great, but can also minimize wear and tear. Dispose of any garbage that you accumulate while you drive and you will likely enjoy your driving life a lot more. The climate of the place you live should dictate how often you clean your car’s exterior.
Cleaning it will get rid of the grime, grease, tree sap, bird poop, smog, dead insects, and salt that accumulates on your car from daily driving. These can all damage your car irreversibly over time, lowering its possible resale value and generally minimizing its aesthetic appeal. You will also keep the effects of extreme weather to a minimum with regular cleaning. Weather, which is a factor in around 21% of all auto vehicle crashes in America, can leave your car worse for wear in a short time if you’re not careful.
3. Avoid Overloading the Car
Your car has been made with the ability to handle a certain load for maximum efficiency and lifespan. By going over this limit, you’re wearing your car a lot faster than you should, the results of which you’ll start to see in a relatively short time. Overloading your car includes towing extreme loads and over-packing it as well as boarding too many passengers, a risk to road safety in itself.
4. Drive Carefully
Finally, it’s important to drive safely, because doing so not only helps improve your own safety but also extends the life of your car. From accelerating and decelerating gently to maintaining the speed limits, there are many ways to be a safe driver. Note that an accident will serve a major blow to your driving as well, with the average cost of a car accident depending on where the accident took place, according to the latest figures from the New York State Department of Transportation. On the lower end, an accident costs about $15,000, while on the higher end, it costs about $63,000. Most accidents fall in the $30,000 to $40,000 range.
Use these tips to take care of your car. You will be glad that you did so when you keep it in a great state for a long time and minimize the expenses that you get while using it.
