When you purchase a vehicle, the hope is that it will last for a long time. Then, once you've driven that vehicle for a few years ,you may be even more in love with it, which means you're even more dedicated to keeping it in good condition. There's certainly an element of luck in determining how long your vehicle stays on the road, but you can also make intelligent maintenance decisions that give your car a much better chance of running well for a long time. To significantly extend the life of your vehicle, be mindful of these tips.
Follow the service schedule
This is simple advice that will pay off throughout the life of your vehicle. Check your owner's manual to find the recommended service intervals as laid out by the car's manufacturer. This should tell you when preventative maintenance is required, which could prevent you from causing serious damage by driving with worn parts. Late-model cars will also have advanced monitoring systems that will warn you when maintenance is needed, including when your oil needs to be changed. So, there's no excuse for missing these regularly scheduled maintenance intervals.
Tire pressure and fluids
Even if you have a newer vehicle with an oil life monitoring system, it's still a good idea to periodically check the oil and other fluids yourself. Wait until the engine is cool before you pop the hood and pull out the dipstick. While you're under the hood, take a moment to check the radiator overflow reservoir, power steering fluid and the brake cylinder reservoir too. You can also inspect the belts and hoses for signs of wear and tear. It's important to keep an eye on transmission fluid levels too, but those should be checked after the engine has warmed up. All of these checks should be performed at least once a month. Checking your tire pressure is another important precaution and should be checked every 2 weeks or so, or anytime the outside temperature changes dramatically. Remember to let your tires sit and cool to get an accurate pressure reading and follow the recommended psi listed on your vehicle's door jamb, not the psi listed on the tire's sidewall.
Don't stress a cold engine
Your vehicle's engine plays a significant role in the life of the vehicle. Avoid putting undue stress on it by letting it warm up before driving. That doesn't mean you need to let your car idle in the driveway for 10-minutes before you put it in gear, however. In a cold engine, which refers to one that's been sitting for more than 5-hours, the oil will mostly have seeped into the oil pan, leaving little on the moving parts. It only takes a few seconds for the oil pump to remedy this problem, but that means you shouldn't be driving at a high RPM immediately. The longer your car has been sitting, the longer it will likely need to warm up, so keep that in mind when you return from a long trip, or start your car after winter storage.
Listen for strange noises
Most of us typically drive around town with the radio on, which makes it almost impossible to hear the engine or other noises our vehicle might be making. Every now and then, turn off the radio and listen for strange noises that may occur while you're driving and while you're idling. These may alert you to minor problems, like a nail in your tire, or a need for new brake pads. Or, they could alert you to more major problems connected to a noise you can't identify. Taking the time to listen, however, could allow you to fix the problem before it causes a breakdown.
Don't drive hard
Even if fluid levels and tire pressure is perfect and your engine is warm, it's still not advisable to brake and accelerate hard. That's going to happen in the course of normal driving, but limiting it will increase the life of your vehicle and increase your fuel efficiency. You can also avoid over-stressing transmission components by shifting in a more disciplined way. Even with an automatic transmission, it's important to shift into reverse only when the car is completely stopped, and shift back into drive once you've stopped again.
Even by using these tips, your vehicle is still likely to break down and need repairs from time to time. That's to be expected, however, as parts and components don't have lifetime warranties. By taking care of your vehicle, you reduce the risk of parts failing before their time and increase the life of your car.
For help keeping your BMW, Mercedes and Hummer H1 in peak condition, come see us at Benzin Motor Works. Our expert technicians can help you pinpoint issues, or perform routine, preventative maintenance to keep you on the road.