METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS
4 Simple Ways
TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR VEHICLE
Automobiles are significant investments . According to Kelley Blue Book , the average transaction price for light vehicles was $ 34,968 in January 2017 , marking a 3 percent increase from just a year earlier .
The decision to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a new vehicle is not one consumers should take lightly . Once drivers purchase their new vehicles , they can protect their investments and get greater returns on those investments by prioritizing maintenance and taking simple yet effective steps to extend the lives of their cars and trucks .
1 . Drive defensively
Aggressive driving is dangerous and can have adverse effects on a vehicle . When driving , always obey posted speed limits and avoid accelerating and decelerating quickly . Such a style of driving can strain vehicle engines and drive trains while negatively affecting fuel efficiency and wearing down brakes , states the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence .
2 . Maintain a clean vehicle
Car washes do more than just clean a vehicle . Routine washing and waxing can remove dirt that , if left on a vehicle , can gradually scratch paint and contribute to chips and rust . Over time , rust can affect vehicle performance and may even compromise the safety of drivers and their passengers if bad enough frame rust affects structural integrity . Routine washing also can remove road salt from vehicles . Salt can build up during winter when roads are routinely treated during and after snowstorms . Road salt can be extremely corrosive and , if left unremoved from a vehicle , can contribute to rust that ultimately can cause extensive damage to a vehicle .
3 . Routinely check tire pressure
Many of today ’ s new vehicles alert drivers when tire pressure is low . Drivers should not ignore such warnings , as low tire pressure can affect engine performance by forcing it to work harder than should be necessary . Engines that are forced to work harder than they need to likely won ’ t last as long as those that run efficiently . Low tire pressure also negatively affects fuel efficiency , potentially costing drivers substantial amounts of money over time . Drivers of older vehicles without tire pressure alerts should routinely check tire pressure and keep tires adequately inflated . Vehicles that are slow to accelerate from resting positions may not have enough air in their tires .
4 . Adhere to maintenance guidelines
Drivers may have heard that today ’ s vehicles were built to go longer periods of time between oil changes and tuneups than the vehicles of yesteryear . But drivers should still adhere to manufacturer-recommended maintenance guidelines . Upon buying new vehicles , drivers should read their owners ’ manuals to determine recommended maintenance intervals , and stick to those intervals for as long as they have their vehicles .
Cognizant of the sizable investments they ’ re making when buying new vehicles , many drivers want to get as many miles out of their vehicles as possible . Simple maintenance and safe driving habits can go a long way toward keeping vehicles on the road for years to come .
22 • Spring Vermont Home , Garden & Auto 2018