How to keep your car on the road as long as possible

1. Change filters regularly.
   1. Your car’s oil filter and air filter become clogged over time, so renewing them regularly is important.
2. Drive smoothly.
   1. Driving with mechanical sympathy is something you should practice regardless of whether the engine has warmed up or not.
3. Use your air conditioning.
   1. ‘Use it or lose it’ is a phrase that could be applied to air conditioning.
   2. Air conditioning systems inevitably leak refrigerant gas over time, particularly if they aren’t used regularly.
4. Replace spark plugs and leads.
   1. A spark plug in a poor condition can either indicate wear over time and needs replacing, or can hint at the condition of your engine. 
5. Top up fluids regularly. 
   1. Fluids are your car’s lifeblood and if you fail to replenish them it may have other consequences.
   2. Dark, dirty oil should be replaced. However, dark-colored oil isn’t a cause for alarm with a diesel vehicle.
6. Check your tire pressure.
   1. Tires are your car’s most important safety feature. Checking them regularly for once a week could save you from a bad accident. It could also save you money.
   2. Flat tires will increase fuel consumption, so keep them topped up to the recommended pressures listed for that tire and vehicle.
7. Stick to the service schedule.
   1. Regular servicing is important to keep your car in the best condition and prolong its life.
8. Keep your car clean.
   1. Keeping your vehicle clean isn’t simply about cleanliness but it can also prolong the life of your vehicle. 
   2. Cleaning your vehicle which helps to slow down wear and corrosion.
   3. Winter road salt is a corrosive product and bird poop can mess up paint.
   4. You should clean your vehicle yourself because car washes can have stiff brushes that may leave scratches. They also can miss spots. Use a proper cleaning solution rather than washing-up liquid and dry the car using a soft towel.
   5. It’s also important to keep the inside of your car clean.
   6. Using a protective spray on the dashboard plastics reduces the likelihood of cracking or discoloration. Placing a sunshade in the windscreen on bright days helps here, too.
9. Keep it covered.
   1. Covering your vehicle with a cover or parking it in the garage keeps it dry, clean, and safe. Ir reduces risks of accidental damage, vandalism, and theft.
10. Keep the weight down.
    1. Carrying extra weight can cause your vehicle’s fuel to rise.
    2. You can also put additional strain on wear-and-tear parts such as tires and brakes.
11. Maintain your car’s battery.
    1. If you don’t use your car for long periods of time, the battery will degrade.
12. Don’t use scrap parts.
    1. Using original parts saves money in the long-run by keeping your vehicle on the road.
    2. When it comes to classic cars in particular, originality is key to the vehicle’s future value.
    3. Using what your vehicle’s handbook recommends makes your vehicle’s life prolong. 
13. Have your car rust-proof.
    1. Modern vehicles are very rust-resistant for the most part, but metal corrosion is the number-one killer of vehicles built in the 1990s or before.
    2. Once it rust in a vehicle, it is very hard to repair or not repairable.
14. Resist the temptation to modify.
    1. Modifying your car is more likely to make it less reliable and shorten its life.
    2. Tuning the engine for more power puts extra strain on components, including the brakes if you drive faster as a result.
    3. Adding a sportier suspension causes additional wear to the chassis, subframes, and/or bushings.
    4. And the money spent on modifications usually won’t increase the value of your vehicle. 

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