Permanent guest in the car repair shop and incessant problems with your own vehicle? All this does not have to be, because if you start early enough to keep your car in good shape, such annoyances are almost impossible. In today’s blog post, we’ll show you how to best protect your vehicle from wear and tear with our 3 expert tips.
Tip #1: The perfect care for your tires
It is important that you check the pressure of your tires every 4 weeks, because the right pressure is of vital importance. Especially before longer car trips, a tire check is almost indispensable. In addition, it can also ensure that you save fuel during the journey and therefore get from A to B cheaper. No matter whether the tire pressure is too high or too low, both lead to faster wear of your vehicle and significantly worse driving dynamics. The correct tire pressure can usually be found on the information on the fuel filler flap. Sometimes, however, this information can also be found on a sticker inside the driver’s door. It is equally important that you always adjust the tire pressure to the corresponding load in the vehicle.
Worth knowing: With up to 0.2 bar more air pressure than actually specified, you will save even more fuel on your next car trip.
It is also important to take a look at the tread depth of the tires at regular intervals. Summer tires should be replaced at a tread depth of 3 mm at the latest. For winter tires, the limit is 4 mm tread depth. However, the law stipulates a residual tread depth of only 1.6 mm. Last but not least, you should replace your car tires with new ones every 8 years at the latest.
Tip #2: Correct engine use and care
As we all know, the engine is the heart of any vehicle. When you get into your car early in the morning and start the engine, it is still completely cold and therefore a lot more sensitive. It is therefore important to protect the engine as much as possible by first slowly warming up your vehicle after the so-called cold start. It is therefore better to avoid high engine speeds at the start of your journey. Even on the highway, you should not go straight to full throttle. As soon as the engine of your vehicle is warm enough and thus fully operational, you can see this from the temperature display.
Worth knowing: If you want to park your vehicle after a long drive, you should wait another one to two minutes at idle, because this allows the engine to cool down gently. This procedure ensures significantly less wear and tear in the long run.
Engine oil and cooling water
To ensure that the engine’s drive system is always well lubricated, you should regularly check your vehicle’s oil level. The optimum interval is every 30 days. It is important that there is neither too much nor too little oil. It is equally important to use coolant that is always in the right mixing ratio. After all, it protects your vehicle’s engine from unnecessary agony in both cold and hot conditions. Optimally, have the cooling water replaced by a professional every two years. That way, you’re on the safe side.
Tip #3: Regular care of the gearbox
Regardless of the type of transmission installed, repairs to it can cost quite a bit of money. In the case of particularly serious defects, the entire transmission may even have to be replaced. However, with a few helpful tips, you can prevent the whole procedure in the best possible way. In the following, we will tell you how you can easily prolong the life of your transmission.
Make sure that the fluid level is correct, because this is not only important for the engine of your vehicle, but also for the transmission. Therefore, have the transmission oil checked at regular intervals, because shifting gears is only smooth and precise with the right lubrication. As soon as you notice any strange noises when shifting gears, you should visit your nearest auto repair shop as soon as possible. Unfortunately, even minor gearbox damage can quickly turn into an expensive affair.