Maintaining your Vehicles

10 Ways to Prolong your Vehicle’s Life

Vehicles are an integral piece to many people’s lives. They help us get to work, run errands, and have social lives. With proper care, cars can last quite a long time. However, with improper care, it is much more likely your car will break down or be involved in an accident on the road. Here are a few tips on how to make your car look good, feel good, and keep you safe from injury.

1. Keep your gas tank filled

Try to avoid having your car’s gas tank on empty. This strains the car and can make the fuel pump dry, which can create failure or breakage within your vehicle. The car also has an increased risk of breaking down if you run out of gas.

2. Wash your car

Keeping you car clean will not only maintain the physical appearance of your car, but will also prevent rusting, corrosion, and other damages. Keeping your car washed will help maintain its value.

3. Change your oil

It is important to change your car’s oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. Doing this keeps dirt and grime out and extends the life of your engine.

4. Check fluids and replace them every two years

It is beneficial to maintain your fluids within your car such as antifreeze, oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and brake fluid. All of these are components involved in ensuring that your car drives smoothly and efficiently. It is also important to flush these fluids every two years or so and fully refresh them with new product.

5. Take care of your tires

Make sure that your tires are inflated to their recommended air pressure. When your tire pressure is low it decreases your gas mileage and can also cause tread wear. It is also important that you have your tires rotated every 6,000 to 7,000 miles; this ensures that tire wear is evenly distributed and increases the life of your wheels.

6. Keep your car in a garage (or at least away from the sun)

A garage is an ideal place to park your car because it helps protect your vehicle from all weather damage. If a garage is not accessible it is still important to park in a shaded area or to use windshield shades to prevent sun damage and cracks in the dashboard.

7. Limit Driving

The less stress the engine has the longer it will last. This can be done by carpooling, bulking errands together, and so carpool, bulk errands together, and using other modes of transportation when convenient.

8. Drive a reasonable Speed (No Pedal to the Medal)

When the engine is revved to the max it adds a lot of stress to the engine. These kinds of speeds also waste gas and are unsafe.

9. Use your parking brake

Your parking brake is very useful not only to prevent rolling of your vehicle, but it also helps the brakes stay adjusted in the rear. Be careful about using your emergency brake in the winter however, because it may freeze preventing you to drive the vehicle.

10. Clean battery posts and terminals

Maintaining your battery by keeping its posts and terminals clean will help it last longer. This is a very integral part of the vehicle and should be properly taken care of.

Bonus Tip: Read your car manual, this is a custom guide on how to maintain your vehicle the best way possible.

With a maintained vehicle, you will not only extend the life of the car, but you will be protecting yourself from injury due to a broken part or an unmaintained piece. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident and needs legal help, please contact Rob Levine & Associates.  Our experienced personal injury lawyers will review your case to help you understand what your next steps should be.  Getting legal help can put your mind at ease and let your focus on getting better.

At Rob Levine & Associates we are experienced in personal injury cases in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Our team is available 24/7 to help you. Contact us at 888-533-7507 or visit our website for more information.