10 good habits to TRIPLE your car’s life

The price of the automobiles has increased like anything over recent years but they have become much more modern and reliable compared to the older counterparts. Most modern automobiles are built to last a lifetime and if you maintain these vehicles properly, they can even outlive you. But how should you care for your vehicles? Here are a few tips that will definitely help you to take care of your automobiles properly.

Do warm-up

Just like warming up before exercising keeps your body safe from injuries, warming up the engine has the same effect. Since it is a machine, it does not takes a long time to warm-up properly. Older-generation vehicles, especially the diesel-powered ones needed to be put on idling for a few minutes to do a proper warm-up but modern cars do not require so much of time If the engine is shut for a few hours, starting the engine and keeping it idling for a minute or two ensures that the engine oil, transmission oil and other lubricants coat the metal surfaces properly and reduces wear and tear greatly.

Never skip a service

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Servicing your vehicle ensures that an expert gets a proper view of everything in your car. Since there are thousands of moving parts in an automobile, driving it for a few thousand kilometres will loosen up a few bolts and nuts. During servicing, such parts are tightened, air filter, oil filter and other such consumables are replaced. Also, proper lubrication is done to ensure the smooth operation of your vehicle.

Find the sweet spot

Every engine has a sweet spot which offers maximum torque. While on the highways, try to stick around that rpm range of the engine and it will allow you to cruise most efficiently on the highways. This way to ensure that the engine does not overwork and ensures that the life of the engine increases over time.

Balance and alignment

It is one of the most important services that most people avoid to save a few hundred rupees. Every vehicle should go for wheel alignment and balancing every few thousand kilometres of run. If you drive on bad road surfaces often, you should go for the alignment and balancing more often. Doing alignment and balance of the wheels ensure that you get maximum fuel efficiency, put less stress on the engine and transmission and also longer life of suspension.

Be kind to the suspension

Taking a vehicle at high speed over a rough patch of the surface may not sound as bad in a new car but if you keep doing that, things will change over time. It is always a good idea to be gentle on the suspension and slow down on the rough patches or while going over speed breakers. Not doing so will badly affect the suspension and will also affect the alignment of the wheels. In extreme scenarios, even the alignment of the chassis can go for a toss.

No short trips

If you’re going to take out your car for reaching a destination that’s only a kilometre or two away, it is better to walk. During such short distances, the vehicle does not get enough time to get warmed up and it may cause more harm to your engine. Also, it is best to avoid slow-moving traffic whenever possible as it puts extra pressure on the car’s clutch, engine and transmission.

Stick to a good fuel station

Even though the quality of the fuel is ensured by most fuel pumps, it is always a good idea to choose a fuel pump and stick with it. Find a fuel pump that remains busy or ask for a quality check which most fuel pumps readily provide, if you buy more than five litres of fuel from them. On the highways, it is a good idea to stop at the fuel pumps where you see a lot of trucks getting refilled.

Be smooth

The smooth operation of a car ensures that it stays healthy for a longer time. Always modulate your left foot on the clutch in a way that the gear changes are smooth. If driving an automatic car, be a sedate driver and accelerate smoothly. Changing the gears and releasing the clutch with a jerk and applying the brakes suddenly will translate into high wear and tear.

Keep it lightweight

Do not overload your vehicle with extra weight and remove the objects that you do not use in the vehicle. Extra weight means extra effort made by the engine to move those kilos and it also puts extra pressure on the tyres, brakes, suspension, and the other parts. It is best to keep your car neat and clean and get rid of your things fortnightly.

Rust is the most dangerous enemy

If you spot small rust marks on your car, be very careful and remove it as soon as possible. Rust can eat away the metal in your car over time and make the body of the vehicle vulnerable. If you live near a sea, make sure that the vehicle gets a proper wash, especially the underbody, once every week.

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