5 Essential Tips on Making Your Car Last

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. All opinions are 100% mine.

Nationwide provided me with information regarding its blog post.

I have a love/hate relationship with cars. I love them when they run properly and hate them when they leave me stranded.

Here are some great recommendations that will help keep your car running the way it is supposed to even when it is not exactly ‘new’ anymore.

Use only the best

Cars run the best when you treat them well. This is especially true when it comes to oil changes. As oil is literally the lifeblood of your car, it makes sense to use a good quality oil and filter to keep things running smoothly. Also, in many cases synthetic oil will last longer and break down less when the engine gets hot. It also stays more fluid in cold weather.

Keep an eye on fluids

Oil may be the first fluid that people think about when it comes to car maintenance but there are lots of other fluids that can affect the performance of your vehicle such as coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, and even washer fluid.

While the owner’s manual and indicator lights may tell you that the other fluids don’t need to be checked for years, it’s still not a bad idea to check them periodically as I have had sensors fail and fluids gets dirty faster than the recommended intervals. Pay special attention to changes in the fluid color or if it becomes cloudy.

Coddle your car from the start

Oil needs time to circulate through the car. It is always a good idea to let the car run for 30 seconds or so (especially after the car has been sitting for more than a few hours) to allow everything to get lubricated before driving off. Just don’t let the car idle for much longer than that or you will find yourself wasting gas.

Don’t forget about hygiene

This may sound like a strange “maintenance” item but keeping your car clean helps it last longer. Tar, dirt and bugs in the summer and salt in the winter can not only cause your vehicle to rust but can also wear out mechanical parts such as brakes. Washing and using a good wax to protect the finish of the car on a regular basis can extend its life.

Play it cool

Race cars wear out and have to be rebuilt after almost every race. The harder you drive your car, the faster it will wear out. If you pay attention to things like giving yourself plenty of time to stop so that you don’t have to stomp on your brakes, they will last longer. The engine will also not have to work as hard.

If you take the time to treat your car right, you will likely find that your car will last a lot longer than you expect.

For more information, check out 5 Essential Tips on Making Your Car Last.