With the average cost of a new car approaching $35,000 – and many cars costing much more than that – it’s not surprising that people are interested in ways to make their cars last longer. As a collision center and auto body shop in Massachusetts, we have a lot of expertise in this topic, and are sharing our top tips with you.
Tip #1: Wash Your Car
Massachusetts has terrible winter weather. To alleviate this, road crews put lots of salt and chemicals on the road. These materials help clear the roadway, but they also splash all over the body and underside of your vehicle. There, these corrosive materials do their very best to break down the body and frame of your car. Counter this by washing your car frequently. We recommend weekly, but if you feel your car needs more frequent washings, go for it – you won’t damage your car keeping it too clean.
Tip #2: Pay Attention to Warning Lights
Car manufacturers install a number of warning lights to alert drivers that something is going wrong with the car, or that something is about to go wrong with the car. Unfortunately, many people don’t respond to warning lights promptly, generally because they’re afraid that fixing the issue will cost a great deal of money. However, based on what we’ve seen in many years of auto repair, it turns out that ignoring warning lights never, ever fixes the problem. In fact, ignoring the warning lights can lead to a small problem becoming a large one. Some issues could even be quite dangerous and contribute to you being in an accident. If you want your car to last a long time, get in the habit of paying attention to warning lights.
Tip #3: Have Your Oil Changed As Needed
This isn’t exactly our wheelhouse – but for the long term well being of your vehicle, have your oil changes performed according to manufacturer’s specifications. If your car doesn’t have enough oil in it, or the oil has been in your car so long it has deteriorated, you’re going to discover that the vehicle won’t last as long as it should.
