Here are some tips to give your motor vehicle the best chance of reaching its golden years

Maintain your car’s battery
If you don’t use your car for long periods of time, the battery will degrade and go flat. Consider using a trickle charger to keep the battery topped-up if your car is left stationary for extended periods of time. If your battery does go flat, having to jump start a car puts additional strain on the battery and may damage the engine management system and other delicate electronics which also means an increased in wear. To look after your battery without a trickle charger, you should try to drive your vehicle at least once a week if possible – particularly in the colder months.

Keep your car covered
Parking your car in a garage keeps it dry, clean and safe, reducing the risks of accidental damage, vandalism and theft. It could even reduce your insurance premiums too. If you don’t have use of a garage, consider buying a high-quality car cover instead – particularly if you leave your car parked for long periods of time.

Use your air conditioner
Air-conditioning systems inevitably leak refrigerant gas over time, especially if they are not used regularly. Leaving your aircon off may save fuel, but you could end up with a bill for aircon re-gassing instead.

Change filters regularly
Your car’s oil filter and air filter become clogged over time so it’s important to replace them regularly. They should be replaced as part of your scheduled car servicing.

Replace spark plugs and leads
Replacing spark plugs and high-tension leads will optimise your engine’s performance. You should consult your vehicle handbook and stick to the service schedule. This point doesn’t apply to diesel cars as they don’t use spark plugs so consult your specific vehicle’s handbook guidelines.

Pay attention to your driving style
Driving with ‘mechanical sympathy’ is recommended. Doing so will reduce component wear and you will make your fuel go further. Simple things like using the steering wheel, gearbox and pedals smoothly are key, as well as looking well ahead to reduce the need for sharp or sudden braking.

If you tend to do a lot of short trips carbon deposits can build up and foul the valves, intake manifold and other parts, reducing efficiency and potentially causing a misfire. Its best to get the most out of your car and its fuel economy. Diesel cars may also have problems with clogged diesel particulate filters which are designed to trap harmful exhaust emissions. A longer motorway run once a month could assist to clear them.

Check your tyres
Tyres are one of your car’s most important safety feature so check them regularly. Under-inflated tyres will also increase fuel consumption, so keep them topped up to the recommended pressures listed in your car’s handbook. Also remember tyre pressures may be different for the front and rear tyres for some vehicles.

Top up fluids regularly
Fluids are your car’s lifeblood and failing to replenish them may have dire consequences. Check your engine oil regularly by opening the bonnet – with your car on level ground – and removing the dipstick. Give it a wipe with a cloth then re-dip and pull the dipstick out again. The oil level should be between the minimum and maximum markers with and a light yellowy-brown colour if your car has a petrol engine. Dark, dirty oil should be replaced. However, diesel engine oil accumulates soot as part of the normal combustion process, so dark-coloured oil is not necessarily a cause for alarm with a diesel car. Include regular checking of your coolant reservoir and the windscreen washer bottle.

Have your car rust-proofed
Most modern cars are rust-resistant, but metal corrosion is predominant in older built vehicles. Once it sets in, many won’t be economical to repair. If you see rust spots on your car, don’t wait for them to develop. You could cover the exposed bodywork with touch-up paint before getting it professionally resprayed. You could consider applying a stone-deflecting film to the front of your car to prevent paintwork damage. You could also have the chassis properly rust-proofed, which includes filling the cavities with a waxy substance designed to prevent water ingress.

Maintain your car’s weight
Motor manufacturers are constantly looking at ways to reduce the weight of their vehicles to increase the fuel efficiency and to meet the emissions requirements. So it makes a lot of sense for you to keep the weight carried by your car to a minimum wherever possible. Carrying extra unnecessary weight will increase your car’s fuel economy. You will also put additional wear-and-tear on your tyres, brakes and suspension. A practical solution is to remove any unnecessary items from the car. Just remember to leave the toolkit, jack, locking wheel nut key and a breakdown kit in case of emergencies.

Resist the temptation to modify
Modifying your car is likely to make it less reliable and shorten its life. Tuning the engine for more power puts extra strain on other components, including the brakes if you drive faster as a result. Stiffer, sportier suspension also causes additional wear to the chassis, subframes and bushes. Money spent on modifications probably won’t increase the value of your car either. Indeed, the opposite is often true. Since depreciation is frequently the biggest cost involved in running a car, reducing the resale value shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Stick to the service schedule
Regular servicing is important to keep your car in good condition and prolong its life. Service intervals are based on time or kilometres driven – once a year or every 15 000 km as an example. Consult your vehicle handbook to find out when your car is due for a service and what work is required. Most modern cars have warning lights on the dashboard to alert you when maintenance is needed.

Pay attention to your warning lights
When they illuminate is best to understand why and attend as quickly as possible to their warnings. Leaving problems unchecked could mean a premature end for your car. Your engine, braking and power steering lights indicate some of the most urgent faults that could lead to expensive repair bills or worse, an unsafe driving situation. While brake and steering problems will reduce your control of the car, the engine light could turn on for a number of reasons. It’s best to get anything you’re unsure about checked right away by the experts. The same approach applies to unusual car noises.

Avoid driving over potholes and rough tracks
Potholes are damaging on your suspension, tyres and exhaust to name a few things. The hard edges found on poorly-maintained roads can lead to sidewall bulges, tread separation and in some cases they can deflate tyres too. When driving over crater-like holes, suspension can become misaligned and shocks damaged. Deeper holes may even scrape catalytic converters leading to holes and a loss of power. Where possible it’s recommended to travel on roads with smoother surfaces to avoid wear and tear.

Use your brakes
Engine braking or shifting gears to reduce your speed could damage your drivetrain, especially the clutch and transmission. Using your gears to brake when travelling, especially at higher speeds, can shorten the lifespan of your engine. The damage will be even worse if you shift down multiple gears. Using your brake pedals are best to prevent damage to your gearbox.

Running low on fuel
When you run low on petrol your fuel pump will draw on air, debris and sediment found in the bottom of the fuel tank in an attempt to power your car. The unwanted materials can clog the system and eventually corrode your pump and filters, potentially blocking fuel and preventing your car from starting. Owners of diesel cars should be particularly cautious of low fuel levels as the powerful injectors in their engines draw large quantities of air into the system, which can prevent the engine turning over. Keeping your fuel levels maintained can avoid expensive repair bills further down the line.

Avoid skimping on parts
Using original parts could actually save you money in the long-run by keeping your car on the road. When it comes to classic cars in particular, using original parts is key to future value. Giving your car the best also applies to the fluids you use. Using the engine oil recommended in the handbook and, especially if you have a performance car that needs ‘premium’ fuel then rather use it. That’s what the car has been designed and developed for to run optimally and preserve its life span.

DIY regular checks
One of the most effective ways of adding to your car’s lifespan is also simple routine checks you can easily do yourself as a temporary check.

We recommend checking these as regularly as possible before they develop into a more expensive repair bill and could help you to stop complications arising in the first place:

  • fuel
  • oil levels and quality
  • level of and quality of rubber on your car tyres and wiper blades
  • coolant levels and quality
  • electrics
  • screen washer
  • engine air filter
  • spark plug (petrol engines only)
  • brakes
  • air conditioning
  • interiors
  • exteriors

Washing your car
Keeping your car clean isn’t about vanity, it can extend your car’s life too. Grit gets into moving parts and the chassis, leading to accelerated wear and corrosion. Bird droppings can damage paintwork too and sea salt is especially corrosive too. Automated car washes have stiff brushes that could leave fine scratches whereas a hand wash is usually much more thorough. It’s best to use a proper cleaning solution rather than washing-up liquid before drying the car with a soft chamois. A yearly polish will provide a layer of protection and prevent rust from spreading too.

It’s also a good idea to keep the inside of your car clean with a microfibre cloth and to remove any dirt. Using a protective spray on the dashboard plastics reduces the likelihood of cracking or discoloration. Placing a sunshade in the windscreen on bright days assists too.

Avoid resting your foot on the clutch or your hand on the gearstick
Some drivers tend to drive with their foot resting on the clutch pedal. This pushes the clutch release bearing in contact with the clutch cover, leading to unnecessary friction. Over time, the clutch can wear out prematurely. Some drivers also rest their hand on their gearstick between gear changes, this could apply unnecessary pressure to the selector fork and other internal parts. The added friction speeds up wear and tear on the gear box. Try avoiding these habits.