Like human beings, our cars need to be in good shape to function properly. They need to be maintained as much as possible and fixed whenever problems arise. Considering they are one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make in your life, it’s in your best interest to keep your car functioning for as long as possible.
The average car today can last for about 12 years. You might consider that a long time, but the reality is that most cars can only last between 80,000 miles to 120,000 miles when not maintained properly. If you use your car by an average of 15,000 miles per year, you at least have five to six years before your car breaks down on you.
And this is already a conservative amount. If you rely on one car in your household, you’d probably use it an average of 20,000 miles per year. That reduces your car’s lifespan by a lot. However, car maintenance and repair is one of the many ways you can keep it running for years to come. It doesn’t have to be complicated either. Here are some simple ways you can maintain your car that anybody can do.
Aesthetic
Your car’s aesthetic will be one of the first things that will fade away. Rust can develop and damage its paint, alongside many other parts of your car. If your car’s looks aren’t maintained, it will damage its overall lifespan. So it’s in your best interest to proactively tackle this problem through various means.
There are various ways you can go about this. One of them is through car wrapping.
Car Wrapping
If you want to keep the paint of your car intact, it’s essential to wrap it. Car wrapping services are better than repainting your car entirely, especially if you want to keep its value. Once you repaint it, you’re at risk of damaging your car’s coating found underneath the paint. Furthermore, car wrapping is cheaper than repainting services out there.
Repainting
So you might ask, when is the best time to repaint my car? The answer to that is not so simple. With car wrapping becoming more available in many countries, many owners opt to get their cars wrapped instead because it’s cheaper and more effective in preserving their vehicle’s looks. However, repainting is still the main method used when restoring vehicles since it applies a new coat of paint over the rusty exterior of an old vehicle. So the answer to your question is that you should consider repainting your car when the main coat has faded away, and it has become a rust bucket.
Buffing Your Car
Occasionally you need to buff your car. It’s a process of polishing its paint and removing dirt that might have stuck in your car for quite some time. However, don’t buy a car bopping machine, because you only need to do this at least once a year. Too much buffing can damage your car’s paint which is something you don’t want to do.
Engine
Your car’s engine is the most protected part of the vehicle because if it breaks down, your car will cease to run. Forever. Replacing an engine is almost as expensive as buying a new car, and in some instances, it can’t be done. So maintaining it is your main priority. There are simple ways to do it. Here are some of them.
Oil Change
If you’re new to owning a car, you’ll have to know that it’s essential to change its oil every three months or every 3,000 or 5,000 miles. This prevents oil from sludging, which is a big no-no if you want it to run smoothly. You also need to change its filter regularly, maybe after two or three oil changes. This ensures that no dirt gets mixed alongside your oil.
Replace old Spark Plugs
Your spark plugs are the main reason why you can start your car. If you’re experiencing start-up troubles, then it’s time to replace its spark plug. Running with an old spark plug can spell disaster for your engine.
HVAC System
Lastly, you’ll have to maintain your car’s HVAC system. It’s quite simple to maintain this part of your car since it only needs some cleaning. Just get it cleaned every three months and replace its filters at about the same time you clean it, and it should be fine.
These are just some of the ways you can keep your car maintained and running smoothly for years to come. If you do these things every year and during the right times, your car can survive its maximum lifespan, helping you save money along the way.