- Joined
- Jun 9, 2008
- Messages
- 5,921
1. Drive gently.
Driving gently, it?s something that will pay huge dividends over the life of the vehicle. Adjusting your driving style to minimize wear and tear on your ride can not only give you a few more years of happy motoring, but it can also save you cash in repairs and replacement parts. It might take some of the fun out of driving, but accelerating gently from stop lights and stop signs, avoiding abrupt braking and completing smooth, non-aggressive turns all play a part in keeping your car in one piece and save you gas too. Please don't mix this up with driving slowly!
2. Keep up with fluid changes.
Checking on your vehicle?s fluids is paramount to its longevity. While some fluids like brake fluid, clutch fluid and coolant may not require attention as often as oil or transmission fluid, they?re just as important. Mark one day on your calendar each month to make sure all of your fluids are topped off. It?s quick, easy and can save you some serious repair dollars down the line. Of course, remember to change those fluids when your service manual requires it, too.
3. Know what weather does to your car.
Do what you can to protect your car from all types of weather especially how we live in a tropical environment. While a garage is the ideal storage solution for your investment, other options exist to protect your vehicle from the sun?s UV rays, drastic temperature changes, water and salt. Look into inexpensive options like car covers or car tents. Small steps like those can go a long way to preserve the appearance and head off rust before it can get started, saving you repair costs and keeping the resale value of your car high.
4. Clean the interior.
Excess dirt and grime can act like sand paper, creating unnecessary abrasion that can wear down upholstery and carpeting. Purchase a good set of floor mats if your vehicle didn?t come with them and vacuum your car on a regular basis. Keeping things tidy inside can keep you aware of problem spots inside, too, allowing you to get them repaired before they grow worse. Also use some good interior products as well !
5. Maintain the paint job.
Your vehicle?s paint job primary job is to protect the car?s sheet metal from corrosion. Touch up any and all nicks before rust can get started and always make sure to wax your vehicle with a high quality product at least twice a year. Doing so will protect the vehicles clear coat and save the paint from fading over time. Also, be sure to use a recommended car wash solution. Paying extra for the good stuff now will come back to you in the form of resale value later. You can use products such as Turtle Wax, Meguiars, Mothers etc.
6. Flush the engine and top it up with mileage-appropriate fluids.
As your vehicle ages, carbon deposits and grime form inside of the engine no matter how well you maintain it. Using a product like Sea Foam engine restorer or BG44K as recommended on the packaging can keep build up in check, improve fuel economy and restore lost power. Also, be sure use the the suitable for your vehicle?s age and use high-mileage oil as your car grows older.
7. Check on your tires and wheels.
If your tires have worn unevenly or your wheels are unbalanced, vibration can cause excess stress on suspension components. Excess stress means extra trips to the mechanic and a hefty bill. Taking the time to keep your wheels clean can alert you to bent or damaged wheels and uneven tread, once again helping you to correct the problem before things get out of hand.
8. Schedule checkups twice a year with a mechanic you trust.
We know how hard it is to find a trusted mechanic in Trinidad. Regardless of how well you think you know your vehicle, a well-trained, trustworthy mechanic can spot things ahead of time that you might miss. Taking the time to schedule a check up with a good mechanic twice a year may seem obsessive, but preventative maintenance at the hands of a qualified professional is cheap insurance. Also, keep all the documentation; being able to provide a potential buyer with all of your service records is a major buying incentive. :angel:
9. Address minor problems early.
It?s easy to hear a strange noise in your vehicle and hope that it will go away. Unfortunately, there aren?t any cars out there that can heal themselves, at least not yet. Don?t put off minor maintenance or easy repair work. Doing so can lead to larger problems and larger repair bills in the end. Bite the bullet, fix what?s wrong and your car will last a lot longer.
10. Be aware of new sounds and vibrations.
Effectively relaying what you?ve experienced in your vehicle to your mechanic is an essential tool to keeping it on the road. The more your service center or mechanic knows about the problem, the more likely they are to fix it right the first time and for less labor costs. Be sure to tell the mechanic as much as you can about the problem, including details like speed, what direction you are turning, the temperature outside and the time of day. It may sound strange, but all of those details can help your mechanic assess the situation and set it right without expensive exploratory work.
Driving gently, it?s something that will pay huge dividends over the life of the vehicle. Adjusting your driving style to minimize wear and tear on your ride can not only give you a few more years of happy motoring, but it can also save you cash in repairs and replacement parts. It might take some of the fun out of driving, but accelerating gently from stop lights and stop signs, avoiding abrupt braking and completing smooth, non-aggressive turns all play a part in keeping your car in one piece and save you gas too. Please don't mix this up with driving slowly!
2. Keep up with fluid changes.
Checking on your vehicle?s fluids is paramount to its longevity. While some fluids like brake fluid, clutch fluid and coolant may not require attention as often as oil or transmission fluid, they?re just as important. Mark one day on your calendar each month to make sure all of your fluids are topped off. It?s quick, easy and can save you some serious repair dollars down the line. Of course, remember to change those fluids when your service manual requires it, too.
3. Know what weather does to your car.
Do what you can to protect your car from all types of weather especially how we live in a tropical environment. While a garage is the ideal storage solution for your investment, other options exist to protect your vehicle from the sun?s UV rays, drastic temperature changes, water and salt. Look into inexpensive options like car covers or car tents. Small steps like those can go a long way to preserve the appearance and head off rust before it can get started, saving you repair costs and keeping the resale value of your car high.
4. Clean the interior.
Excess dirt and grime can act like sand paper, creating unnecessary abrasion that can wear down upholstery and carpeting. Purchase a good set of floor mats if your vehicle didn?t come with them and vacuum your car on a regular basis. Keeping things tidy inside can keep you aware of problem spots inside, too, allowing you to get them repaired before they grow worse. Also use some good interior products as well !
5. Maintain the paint job.
Your vehicle?s paint job primary job is to protect the car?s sheet metal from corrosion. Touch up any and all nicks before rust can get started and always make sure to wax your vehicle with a high quality product at least twice a year. Doing so will protect the vehicles clear coat and save the paint from fading over time. Also, be sure to use a recommended car wash solution. Paying extra for the good stuff now will come back to you in the form of resale value later. You can use products such as Turtle Wax, Meguiars, Mothers etc.
6. Flush the engine and top it up with mileage-appropriate fluids.
As your vehicle ages, carbon deposits and grime form inside of the engine no matter how well you maintain it. Using a product like Sea Foam engine restorer or BG44K as recommended on the packaging can keep build up in check, improve fuel economy and restore lost power. Also, be sure use the the suitable for your vehicle?s age and use high-mileage oil as your car grows older.
7. Check on your tires and wheels.
If your tires have worn unevenly or your wheels are unbalanced, vibration can cause excess stress on suspension components. Excess stress means extra trips to the mechanic and a hefty bill. Taking the time to keep your wheels clean can alert you to bent or damaged wheels and uneven tread, once again helping you to correct the problem before things get out of hand.
8. Schedule checkups twice a year with a mechanic you trust.
We know how hard it is to find a trusted mechanic in Trinidad. Regardless of how well you think you know your vehicle, a well-trained, trustworthy mechanic can spot things ahead of time that you might miss. Taking the time to schedule a check up with a good mechanic twice a year may seem obsessive, but preventative maintenance at the hands of a qualified professional is cheap insurance. Also, keep all the documentation; being able to provide a potential buyer with all of your service records is a major buying incentive. :angel:
9. Address minor problems early.
It?s easy to hear a strange noise in your vehicle and hope that it will go away. Unfortunately, there aren?t any cars out there that can heal themselves, at least not yet. Don?t put off minor maintenance or easy repair work. Doing so can lead to larger problems and larger repair bills in the end. Bite the bullet, fix what?s wrong and your car will last a lot longer.
10. Be aware of new sounds and vibrations.
Effectively relaying what you?ve experienced in your vehicle to your mechanic is an essential tool to keeping it on the road. The more your service center or mechanic knows about the problem, the more likely they are to fix it right the first time and for less labor costs. Be sure to tell the mechanic as much as you can about the problem, including details like speed, what direction you are turning, the temperature outside and the time of day. It may sound strange, but all of those details can help your mechanic assess the situation and set it right without expensive exploratory work.
