Buying a new car is a proud moment for many, and naturally, everyone wants to take care of their pride and joy. It's one thing to look after the exterior, paying particular attention to any minor blemishes and parking ever so carefully. However, to really get the most bang for your buck, it goes a long way to make sure that you look after your car as well. Here are our tips to help you stretch the life of your new car.
Keep on top of service
Manufacturers specify a regular service interval for your car because they know best. It's not a matter of squeezing every penny out of you from dealership service. No, it's about making sure that your car is looked after and runs at its most optimal level.
In most cases, manufacturers will recommend that you take your car in for service every 10,000km or 6 months, whichever comes first. However, an increasing number of manufacturers also have extended servicing periods, allowing slightly longer. Nonetheless, you want to make sure that any potential issues are identified before they arise, that's why servicing your car regularly is so important.
Keep your tyres in top shape
There are a few things to be on the lookout for when it comes to keeping your tyres in top shape. First, wheel alignment and rotation is crucial to ensure that your car is calibrated correctly and doesn't put undue strain on any particular individual component. Of course, your tyres should have sufficient tread, not showing any signs of bald spots.
Arguably one of the more important things overlooked however, is ensuring your car tyres have been inflated to the appropriate pressure level. If you don't get this correct, not only will you potentially wear your tyres down earlier, but you're more likely to consume extra fuel, which will mean replacing your fuel filter sooner. Make sure you don't overdo it when inflating your tyres either, because that could compromise grip and potentially lead to safety issues.
Go easy on your brakes
Crucial for your safety, and others on the road also, brakes need to be kept in top shape to ensure that your car has a long life. This means the pads, sensors, rotors and callipers all need to be inspected closely to ensure there are no signs of wear, corrosion or rust.
The other thing you will want to get in the habit of doing is not riding the brakes while driving. This is an all too common occurrence when driving downhill, and some drivers have the habit of sitting on their brakes. The reality is, however, this will put significant strain on your brake system, so try to minimise it where possible.
Minimise those short trips and restarts
Every time you start up the engine, your car experiences some of the highest levels of strain on your driving trip. That's because start ups will put your ignition system under the pump, while also testing the quality of your oil. The more short trips you take, the more stress is likely to be felt across the ignition system and the more oil changes you'll need.
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