The Long Way Home

After property, your car is one of the largest investments you will make. While not strictly an investment, a car is a major purchase and you will want to get the most for your money.

To keep your car running and maximise its lifespan, it is important to take care of it.

Service your vehicle regularly

Sometimes it is easy to put off a car service – there always seems to be something to spend money on! However, regular servicing will prolong the life of your vehicle. Servicing involves a thorough check of the car’s safety and operating systems, including consumables, such as oil.

If you wait until something fails, there is a good chance it will cost a great deal to fix. Often costly breakdowns can be avoided or picked up before they are a real problem during servicing.

Servicing will also trigger things like rotating tyres, which will ensure uniform wear, and maximise the life of your tyres. On the subject of tyres, keep them correctly inflated – it will also reduce wear and petrol consumption, and ensure optimal braking performance.

Care for your conditions

If you live in a city with a mild climate and make few high performance demands of your vehicle, you can follow the usage/service instructions in your car’s manual. If you drive in difficult conditions on a regular basis, you may need to change filters, oil or other parts more regularly than is recommended on the service schedule.

Use the correct fuel

Check the octane level that your car is designed to use (it will be in the owner’s manual). If you use the incorrect rating, you may be paying too much for your fuel, or not achieving the best performance possible.

Clean out the garage

Your car is susceptible to environmental factors. If you have a garage, clear out the clutter and park your car in there, as it was designed for. The paint work, trim, wiper blades and tyres will all last longer if they are not out in the elements all the time. Similarly, clean and polish your car regularly to protect the paint, and if you have leather upholstery, use an approved leather cleaner to keep it in top condition.

Drive well

Reduce wear and tear on your vehicle (and it’s passengers!) by driving calmly and smoothly wherever possible. Surging ahead and slamming on the brakes uses more fuel, is uncomfortable for passengers and puts unnecessary strain on the engine.