When you take better care of your car, your car can take better care of you
1. Say yes to checking your oil
When the petrol attendant asks to check your oil, say “Yes”.
Oil acts as a lubricant that prevents the engine’s metal from grinding against each other.
If your car runs out of oil the engine will seize up and die. If this happens it can damage your engine or even ruin it completely.
2. Don’t rev the engine when it's cold
It’s not likely that most people will wait until the little thermometer light disappears to start driving. The reason people say to wait for your car to warm up is to allow time for the engine fluids to start flowing.
So while most people won’t take the extra time, it’s best to avoid revving your engine until it’s warmed up properly.
3. Be kind to your suspension
Your car’s suspension is always at work, even on smooth roads. Putting extra strain on your suspension and shock absorbers by hurtling over potholes and speed bumps will result in premature damage.
This is the same for overloading your car with excess weight. It’s not only bad for your fuel consumption, but reduces the lifespan of your bushings, bearings, and shocks.
4. Don’t rest your hand on the gearstick
Resting your hand on the gearstick while it’s in gear applies excess pressure to the selector fork and other internal components.
This habit can accelerate the wear and tear of the gearbox components, resulting in noisy or crunching gears or the inability to pick a gear in the long run.
5. Avoid shifting to drive from reverse without stopping
Shifting between reverse and drive (and vice versa) with an automatic gearbox damages the transmission band rather than the serviceable brake discs and pads. Any repairs on the automatic transmission will be time-consuming and expensive.
This is relevant for manual cars too, as crunching the gears will also result in damage. It’s best to come to a complete stop before shifting into reverse or drive.
6. Repair chips in your paint
If you have a paint chip, get it repaired as soon as possible - especially if it's down to the metal.
Corrosion can quickly spread because the exposed metal is no longer protected by the paint.
7. Wash and Wax
Regular car washes (every 2 weeks) not only improves the appearance of your car but helps extend its life span by preventing rust.
If you want to treat your car, having it waxed twice a year will help maintain the paintwork and prevent corrosion.
Taking care of your car will not only make driving it a more enjoyable experience but can help maintain its value if you have plans on selling or trading it in at a later stage.
