Whether you drive a brand new car or an older model, it’s important that you take good care of your vehicle. By performing a few small routine repairs and being more cautious of your driving habits, you can help prevent unnecessary wear and tear on your vehicle. You can easily help your car run longer and more efficiently with these simple tips from our Reno auto body shop. Take a look below to see how!
Routine Maintenance
One of the best ways to prevent unnecessary wear and tear on your vehicle is to have it regularly serviced. Routine maintenance will ensure that all the different parts of your vehicle are continually working and functioning as they should. Not only will problems be addressed sooner, you could prevent issues from arising altogether. And maintaining a regular repair schedule will keep you in line with warranty rules and regulations as well.
Most manufacturers recommend having your vehicle serviced every 15,000 to 20,000 miles. But, you should check your vehicle’s owner’s manual to determine the best time for servicing.
Warm Up Before Driving
You’ve probably heard this tip before and may have thought “this doesn’t actually affect my car.” However, the suggestion that you leave your car to warm up before taking off is actually key to limiting wear and tear on your vehicle. By warming up your car before driving it, you’re allowing the motor oil to warm up so that it can flow through your vehicle more easily. Motor oil is essential to a well running engine because it lubricates all the moving parts in your vehicle so that they aren’t grinding against one another. So, be sure to warm up your car before driving, especially in colder weather.
Regular Oil Changes
Another Reno auto body shop tip we have for you is to keep up with your oil change appointments. By getting regular oil changes you’re doing two major things for your car. First, you’re ensuring that there is plenty of oil to keep your motor functioning properly. And secondly, you’re keeping the oil in your car clean of any metal or dirt debris that can also affect your engine. Having dirty oil in your engine or not having enough oil in the engine can have damaging effects on your vehicle, so be sure to change the oil regularly.
Use the Parking Brake
Every vehicle comes with a parking brake, sometimes called the emergency brake or hand brake, and it’s an important part of limiting wear and tear on your transmission. Typically, most people place their foot on the brake pedal and then immediately put their car in park. However, by first placing your foot on the brake pedal followed by engaging the parking brake and finally putting the vehicle in park, you’ll be putting less strain on your transmission. This method allows the vehicle’s parking brake to shoulder the vehicle’s weight, as it should, and not the transmission.
Check Your Tire Pressure Regularly
Even the tires on your car can affect the longevity of your vehicle. For example, the tire’s air pressure affects the lifespan of the tire and can affect your car’s fuel efficiency. By maintaining the recommended PSI suggested in your car’s owner’s manual, you’ll be able to prolong the life of your tires and even save money on fuel. You can do this by using a tire pressure gauge. Also, getting regular tire rotations will extend the life of your tires as it allows them to wear down evenly. It can also lead to a smoother ride and increased fuel efficiency as well.
Go Easy on the Gas and Brake Pedals
Our last Reno auto body shop tip is to be more cautious of your use of the brake and gas pedals. By braking too hard you’re actually causing unnecessary wear on your car’s braking system which will require early replacement. Fortunately there are ways to prevent premature wear. First, go easy on the gas pedal. Driving faster means you’ll have to use the brakes more in order to slow down. And instead of braking abruptly and forcefully, try to anticipate the need to slow down or stop earlier and brake more gradually over time. By using these tips you’ll prolong the life of your brake pads and discs, allowing your vehicle to run more smoothly.
Your Reno Auto Body Shop
Hopefully these tips for limiting the wear and tear of your vehicle will help prolong the life of your car. We pride ourselves in our ability to provide satisfactory auto body maintenance and repair services. At A1 Body Shop in Reno, you can trust that your vehicle is in good hands. Connect with us today to learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment!