Extend the life of your vehicle in 10 easy steps

Millionaires drive older cares, because they don't trade their cars in every 3-5 years, like so many of Americans. Which means they have to take care of their cars, to make sure they last longer. Last year, the Today Show, had ten (10) tips to extend the life of your vehicle in 10 easy steps. Perhaps, if we follow these tips, we can keep our cars longer, like the Millionaires do.



1. Don’t let your owner’s manual sit neglected in your glove compartment.

Instead, crack it open and spend a few minutes reviewing the recommended maintenance schedule for your particular vehicle. “Follow it religiously and use quality oil, fluids and parts,” Csere advised.
- Today Show

2. Don’t overwork a cold car.

“You don’t need to engage in a lengthy warm-up, but drive moderately until the engine is approaching operating temperature,” Csere said.
- Today Show

3. Check out your “check engine” light.

It’s quite common for drivers to ignore “check engine” lights when they turn on. People also can go into prolonged states of denial about strange noises and smells coming from their vehicles. Even if money is tight, it’s worth it to get these issues checked out by a reputable mechanic. “None of these things will go away by themselves, and a repair later is likely to be more expensive than a repair now,” Csere said.
- Today Show

4. Protect your car from the damaging effects of the sun.
On the Today Show, they suggested that it is best to park your car in the shade or a garage as much as possible. Doing so they said, would help protect your cars finish.

5. Check your oil and coolant regularly.

Regular oil changes are very important to keep your engine in a good shape.
- Simple Car Maintenance Tips

The Today Show says, that by doing this you can find any leaks sooner, and prevent any problems caused by low fluid levels.

6. Check your tire pressure regularly.
I check mine, not less then once a month. Here is what others say about this specific tip.

If safety isn’t a big enough concern, perhaps money-loss will be. Low tire pressure can be costly. Edmund's estimates that that for every 3 psi below spec, you burn 1 percent more fuel (and add 10 percent more tire wear). It’s not uncommon to be 10 psi below spec, which would waste 3 percent more fuel and increase tire wear by 45 percent.
- 20 Something Finance

7. Pay attention to the way you drive.
The tip they gave on the Today Show here, was to avoid these things, while driving.

Aggressive driving, hard stopping, accelerating to stops and riding the brakes or clutch can make almost everything on your vehicle wear out early and also can hurt your fuel economy.
- Today Show

8. Reduce the number of short trips you make.
This tip, is heard repeatedly, especially since the cost of gas went up. However, it is also great to extend the life of your car.

“Cold starts cause the most wear on your engine,” Csere noted. One way to avoid an unnecessary number of cold starts and save fuel at the same time is to run errands with efficiency. Try saving all your errands for one morning or afternoon and planning out your trip ahead of time. Consolidate drives to locations that are close to each other. If possible, park your car in one spot and walk when you get there.
- Today Show

9. Do you have a brand new vehicle?

If so, it’s a good idea to follow its break-in recommendations with care. “An oil change at 1,000 miles, whether recommended or not, is a good idea to make sure that any impurities left over from manufacturing don’t spend too much time in your engine,” Csere said.
- Today Show

Others agree,

Seriously follow the break-in procedure. Either that or name one major sports car manufacturer that recommends you "drive it like you stole it" straight off the lot. Would you start up your car on a cold day and floor it right out of the driveway? Probably not either... If you take care of the machinery, it should take care of you
- MB World Discussion Forum

10. Keep it clean.

“Keeping your vehicle clean by frequenting a professional car wash every 10 days is one of the best defenses in protecting its finish,” said Mark Thorsby, the International Carwash Association (ICA) executive director. “Professional car washes are gentler to auto finishes than the hose-and-bucket method, and cleaning solutions used are specially formulated for clear coat and other new car finishes.”
One of the most critical times to wash your car is immediately after rain. Even after the lightest rain the acids remain on your car surface. Of course, you can’t prevent acid rain but you do can protect your vehicle from its negative impact by removing acids from the finishes at a professional car wash.
In some regions of the country mud makes a real problem for cars and their owners. Unfortunately few of drivers realize the importance of cleaning mud from the undercarriage. Undercarriage washing, suggested by most car washes, removes caked-on mud that holds moisture to metal and causes rusting.
Snow, sleet and road salts result in the same damaging effects as acid rains. To prevent this damage we highly recommend washing your car during winter. This is especially important in those geographic regions where snowfalls are frequent and heavy.
- Auto Tips and Advice

The Today Show also noted that cleaning also meant cleaning the inside (not just the outside). They also noted that, regular waxing also can help your paint job hold up nicely and can stave off rust and other unsightly blemishes.


Some simple tips from Simple Car Maintenance Tips

Regular oil changes are very important to keep your engine in a good shape.

Wash your car regularly, wax it once in a while to keep the car body shiny and free from corrosion.

Take care of any minor concerns as soon as you can, so it won't cause serious problems and an expensive repair later

Use only original parts
- Simple Car Maintenance Tips

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