How to make your car last longer

As anyone who has shopped for a used car knows, the condition of two identical models can end up quite different once they have accumulated some miles under their tyres. They can come from the same factory, be the same age and have similar odometer readings, but one example might look and drive like new and another might be a dog-eared, clunky mess.

So how do you ensure your car stays spanking-clean long after you drive it out of the dealer forecourt? Here are seven tips to make your car last longer.

Your car has parts and fluids that are essentially consumables requiring periodic replacement. Even its ‘lifetime’ parts require ongoing checks and adjustments. Your car’s factory service schedule takes this into account and prescribes the necessary mechanical attention to ensure it runs reliably and efficiently for as long as possible. Not servicing your car correctly – either by missing or delaying services – is a sure-fire way to hasten its decline, so stick to the schedule.

Even a properly serviced car can develop issues between services. If you want to increase your odds of detecting any issues when they develop, schedule regular simple checks of your car’s fundamentals – think oil/coolant levels, battery condition and tyre pressure/condition. If something is amiss, refer to #3.

A car’s mechanicals are often interconnected, which means if one issue isn’t rectified other problems can crop up down the line. If you hear, feel or suspect something isn’t quite right or your own checks show up something out of the ordinary, don’t wait for your next service and a potentially bigger list of repairs – get it checked ASAP.

Car manufacturers invest big dollars engineering and testing the parts in your car to ensure they not only fit and work properly but are reliable and durable. While budget aftermarket parts are money savers, they can be harder to fit, less efficient or durable and even cause issues elsewhere. Servicing at a factory dealer – or, if you can’t manage that, insisting on genuine or original-quality aftermarket parts – means your car will still adhere to its original specifications years down the track and drive the way it should.

Long-term exposure to the outside environment can play havoc with a car’s condition.

Dirt, mud and grime can encourage corrosion if they accumulate in unseen places. Dirt, dust, tree sap and bird droppings can turn gleaming paintwork into a blotched, peeling mess and trapped dirt can damage carpet, trim and other fragile fabric fibres. Letting your car become a complete mess before you clean it is essentially opening the door to quicker deterioration, so treat it to a regular car wash. Even better, invest in some wax polish, which will add a barrier to your paint between applications. Or, if you can afford it, a ceramic coating.

Read more: All your car questions answered

Australia’s punishing UV is a car killer; fading paint and damaging plastics and delicate cabin trims. If you want to avoid the sun’s perilous long-term effects, keep your car under cover whenever you can. If you have access to a garage, carport or undercover parking area, use it. If you don’t, try to find a shady spot.

How well a car hangs together ultimately has a lot to do with how it’s treated. An engine that is driven gently until it is warmed up is going to last longer than one thrashed from cold start-up, and the same applies to a manual gearbox that is finessed rather than slammed through the gears. If you thrash it over rough roads and potholes, its suspension and body will wear and loosen more than one driven sympathetically. Treat your car with kindness to mitigate chances of wear and tear.

^Disclaimer

^{Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd (“Viva Energy”) has compiled the above article for your general information and to use as a general reference. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken by Viva Energy in compiling this article, Viva Energy does not warrant or represent that the information in the article is free from errors or omissions or is suitable for your intended use.}