6 tips to keep in mind to protect your car from wearing
6 tips to keep in mind to protect your car from wearing
Given the fact that it is not easy for everyone to change their car very often, proper car maintenance should be a priority for every driver. Especially when not even visits to the repair shop are a joy for anyone, car protection from wear helps you save a lot of money on a long and medium term. Please find below 6 things to take into consideration to protect your car from pronounced wearing.
1. Use the parking break
Even though many drivers rely only on keeping the car in gear (or in P for an automatic drive) after stopping the engine, the parking break or hand break should be used every time you park. This is especially recommended to secure cars parked on a hill.
Aside from car security, you will also protect the gearbox which will otherwise be under additional pressure.
Also, hand break should be used solely to secure the car and not for controlled drifting which wears the engine components.
2. Avoid "race starts"
One of the most common practices, especially for drivers in a hurry is shifting from reverse to another gear without pause. No matter how rushed you are, every time you shift from reverse to another gear, make sure that your car has a full stop before the change.
Otherwise, transmission will be affected: for manual transmission, the clutch, the pressure plate and bearing will wear faster and in the case of automatic transmission the insternal system of the car will suffer.
3. Pay attention to the sounds your car makes
Just like a baby that cries when something hurts, your car will make noises that can indicate possible engine defects. An unwritten rule says that any knock, creak or friction noise indicates a problem. You can find an article here with the most frequest 7 noises that indicate a possible engine malfunction.
It is very importnant that each time an unusual noise appears you make a visit to the repair shop, thus protecting your car from advanced wearing.
4. Rotate your tires periodically
Changing tire position is very important in reducing their uneven wearing, thus extending their lifespan. The recommended rotation cycle is twice a year or every 9.000 – 10.000 km driven.
Tire rotation is generally made diagonally: the front right tire is switched with the back left tire and the front left tire is switched with the back right tire. Pay attention to your car’s drivetrain and to the tire type. In this respect, check the car’s instruction book to see details and how they recommend to rotate the tires.
5. Wash your car regularly
Polution, dust and mud can lead to a pronounced wear of your car’s exterior. Rust generally appears at sill levels because of mud or non-skid materials found on the road in winter.
Regularly visit the carwash or (in case you have the possibility and you like doing it) you can wash your car yourself and you will not only have a nice looking car all the time, but you will also offer long term protection from wearing.
6. Change the engine oil and filters in time
Engine oil and other consumables like breaking fluid, plugs, air and fuel filters are key components for the maximum performance of the engine. Respect the change intervals recommended by the car manufacturer for these parts. Also, the recommendation from Star Lubricants is to schedule at least 2 visits/year to check the possible issues before escalating to a major malfunction.
Insist on your car maintetance and you will manage to enjoy a longer comfort brought by the investment in your car. Keep in mind the advice above to protect your car from accentuated wearing.
Also, to find out what type of Mobil 1 oil is suited for the engine you have, click here and use the "Which Lubricant" application developed by ExxonMobil, available in Romania through Star Lubricants. You will be able to make an easier choice of the oil that will protect your engine.