No car is built to last forever. But if you pay attention to a few basic things, you can extend the life of your car.
Extending the life of a car
Whoever buys a new car usually wants to drive it as long as possible. After all, the expensive purchase should also be worthwhile. In Australia, vehicles are driven for an average of 10 to 11 years before they end up at the scrap dealer like WA Auto Parts. If high-quality, modern materials were used in the construction of the vehicles, the wear and tear is also correspondingly lower. This means that the expected service life can be as long as 15 years. But if you follow the advice below, you can enjoy your car for much longer.
Regular oil changes keep the engine young
The engine is the heart of your car, so you should make sure it is always well lubricated. Therefore, it is especially important to check the oil level often and change the oil regularly. Depending on the vehicle and model, the oil should be changed after 30,000 to 50,000 kilometers driven.
TIP: When it comes to oil, be sure to look for quality. Oil from so-called “no name brands” often do not meet the requirements for providing the engine with optimum lubricants. Only if the engine is well lubricated can the wear of the components be effectively reduced.
Keeping maintenance appointments
There are maintenance intervals for every car that should be adhered to as far as possible. Only a specialist workshop has the technical capabilities and the experience to detect hidden damage in good time. Of course, maintenance is associated with costs, but it is still worth the expense if it can extend the life of the car. In addition, a repair is usually much more expensive.
Do not wait with repairs
If a repair is still necessary, you should not wait too long. Otherwise, there is a risk of consequential damage that may completely destroy the engine. In addition, a delayed repair can quickly become life-threatening for the driver and other road users. A worn brake, for example, can have devastating consequences.
To find out how you can still save money on a visit to the workshop, read our special article here.
Short trips damage the car
You should not necessarily drive short distances. The bakery around the corner is also easy to reach on foot. The problem that arises with short trips is the operating temperature of the engine. If the engine temperature is too low, the oil will not get hot enough to supply the engine with lubricants. A normal gasoline engine takes about ten minutes to reach the required operating temperature. Diesel units usually take even longer to warm up.
TIP: Until the engine has reached its operating temperature, you should accelerate as sensitively as possible and pay attention to low engine speeds. So-called cavalier starts are detrimental to any engine and only unnecessarily reduce the service life of the vehicle.
Pay attention to engine speed
In general, it is important to pay attention to the engine speed when driving. Too high an engine speed increases engine wear and causes engine damage. However, under-revving can also damage the engine because it puts too much stress on the crankshaft.
NOTE: According to the ADAC, the optimum torque for a normal car is around 1500 to 3000 rpm.
Conclusion
If you take good care of your car and follow the advice, you can extend the life of your car. Some cars reach an age of 15 to 18 years and some vehicles even have what it takes to become a sought-after classic car.
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More exciting articles to help you extend the life of your car:
- Overview of the different types of car engines
- How do I recognize a broken clutch and what do I have to do?
- Defect in the turbocharger
- How can I recognize a broken alternator (LiMa) and what does the repair cost?
- Is my shock absorber broken? What does the repair cost?
- Symptoms and costs of a broken cycling head gasket.
- When do I have to change the timing belt and what does it cost?
- What is an EGR valve and how can you tell if it’s broken?
- If your car does eventually give up the ghost for good, it’s best to take it to a car recycling center near you (see our overview of car recycling centers throughout Australia).