It’s hard to consider parting with anold carto make way for a newer and slicker model. Sure, it may be getting along in years,the brand-new car smell is only but a distant memory, and perhaps it’s gotten into its own fair share of bumps and fender benders—but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s served you well all this time. It’s got history with you, and chances are, you’ve grown quite attached to it, especially if it’s the first car you’ve ever bought with your own hard-earned money.
That being said, your old car is still a machine, and anysuch equipmentthat’s been running for years will certainly need to be replaced eventually. Thankfully, there are ways in which you can delay the inevitable and considerably extend the operational life of your trusty old vehicle. Here are some of them.
Only use parts bought from a reputable auto parts supplier
When it comes to keeping your old car running for as long as possible, one of the best ways to go about it is to only use auto parts from a trustworthy car parts and auto parts supplier in NZ or wherever you may be in the world. This prevents you accidentally buying low-quality car parts that could affect your vehicle’s performance, or even cause damage to its more delicate components.
Keep your car key ring lightweight
Do you have a lot of keychains or memorabilia attached to your car keys? If so, then you may want to remove some if not all of them entirely. All those things may look cute, but the weight they add to your car key can do a number on your vehicle’s ignition slot. As you can imagine, all that weight is putting stress on the delicate tumblers inside the key mechanism, thus wearing them out faster. This could cause your ignition switch to eventually fail, which means you’ll then have to replace your entire car starter. Prevent this from happening by keeping your car keys on a separate key ring, or simply cut down the number of keychains,other keys, and doodadsyou might have on your main key ring.
Change your engine air filter regularly
Always replace your engine air filter about every 19,000 kilometres or 12,000 miles. Your car’s air filter helps keep your engine cool and running smoothly by allowing as much clean, particulate-free air into the engine as possible. If your air filter is choked with dust and debris, your engine will find it more difficult to take in air, making it run hotter than usual and causing additional wear and tear on its components. You may also find your fuel mileage taking a hit because of this decreased air flow.
Keep your engine clean
Always strive to keep your engine spotless. The grime that can accumulate on its surface can contribute to your engine running hotter, which could then increase the wear and tear on thebelts and hoses due to the excess heat. For best results, use an engine degreaser that you can purchase from reputable auto parts stores for cleaning.
Skip the short trips
You may not know it, but short drives, especially in cold environments, can actually hurt your old car more than long ones. Trips that are less than 8 kilometresoften don’t give your car’s engine enough time to adequately warm up, which means the engine oil won’t reach the temperature needed to lubricate and protect the engine properly. The condensation that naturally forms in the engine also won’t evaporate as it should. All of these could eventually harm your vehicle. As such, consider walking or taking public transportation for these brief trips instead.
Keep to a tight maintenance schedule
Don’t skip on any important maintenance appointments when your old car is involved, especially when it comes to periodic oil changes, tune-ups, cleaning, check-ups, and so on. This helps keep your oldvehicle running as smoothly as possible, as well as allowyou to catch minor problems and issues early before they become bigger. Proper maintenancemay end up costing you a bit, but it’ll certainly pay off in terms of allowing you to keep your car for much longer.
Your car may already be out of style or is sporting its fair share battle scars in its old age.However,that only means that it’s served you well up to this point, and made sure to transport you from Point A to B whenever you needed it to. Incorporatethe above tips into your current routine, and you’ll be sure to further increase the lifespan of your beloved vehicle.