How to make your car last longer
After your home, the chances are that your car is the next most expensive thing you own. With that in mind, you’ll want to take care of it. You don’t need to be a motoring expert to do this. Here are a few tips on what you can do to make your car run more efficiently and last longer.
For further information about what checks you can carry out to make sure your vehicle is safe, look at https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-safe.
Drive smoothly
It may seem common sense, but the way you drive has a big impact on the condition of your vehicle. Driving sensibly is not only more fuel efficient, it also avoids premature wear and tear on parts such as tyres and brake pads.
Change filters
Oil and air filters should be changed regularly as part of your normal service, but they are a simple and inexpensive job you can do yourself. Always check your handbook and be sure to use genuine parts. Poor quality filters could cause damage to your car in the long term.
Replace spark plugs
Although many of us never look under our car’s bonnet, just like filters, spark plugs are another item you can easily replace yourself. You should look to see if it has a light-brown electrode and insulator, with no deposits or signs of damage. If it is in poor condition, it will need replacing. Signs of wear or damage to relatively new spark plugs could indicate that your engine is under performing. If this is the case, take your vehicle to an expert mechanic to get it checked out.
While you’re performing these tasks at home, it’s a good time to check other items you may have which could benefit from some similar TLC. For example, your lawnmower may also benefit from a mini MOT to check it also runs smoothly. Blades should be clean and moving parts well-oiled and rust-free. Check the engine in a similar way to your car to ensure good performance.
If you need spare parts, ensure they are genuine, such as Briggs and Stratton parts supplied by https://www.briggsbits.co.uk/
Top up fluids
Among other car-care jobs that you can do yourself is the topping up of vital fluids. Engine oil, coolant and screen wash are all essential to the performance and safety of your vehicle.
