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how-to-make-your-car-last-longer

A recent study found that&nbsp;the average age of a car in the UK was 8.4 years old – the highest since records began. But why exactly is that?

Well, with the cost of living rising fast, keeping a car for another year or two rather than trading it in for a new one can make a lot of financial sense.&nbsp;

But as with any ageing vehicle, there can be some downsides to doing this – most notably because you're likely to see a decline in its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2022-what-car-reliability-survey/n23397">reliability</a>.

So, here we run through the best ways to help minimise the risk of a breakdown, while also giving you some helpful tips and advice on how to keep your car in the best possible condition.

How to make your car last longer

Skipping service intervals might seem like a good way of saving money, but doing so is likely to cause problems further down the line and increase the risk of the&nbsp;car breaking down.

In most instances, a car needs a service every one to two years, or every 12,000 miles – whichever comes first. It’s worth checking your car’s handbook to verify this.

During a service, a technician will change the oil filters and the oil. Oil is crucial because it keeps all the moving parts in the engine lubricated. If the oil isn’t changed or the wrong oil is used, dirt and debris can build up, and parts can wear down and damage the engine.

Other parts that are changed during a service include air filters. They ensure that the engine 'breathes' better, and stopping contaminants getting into it.

Servicing a car should also help to maximise the car’s resale value because service history is a key element of the car’s value. Most buyers of second-hand cars will look and check the history to see if the vehicle&nbsp;has been well maintained and serviced regularly.&nbsp;

After completing a service, it’s important to make sure the garage stamps your service book and that you keep the receipts as history of what has been carried out during the service.

1. Stick to the service intervals

One thing you can do at home is to check your car’s fluids are topped up. It's easy enough: you just lift&nbsp;up the bonnet and check the engine oil level with the dipstick (if there is one), or check the coolant level against the 'minimum' line on the reservoir.

If your engine oil level is low, it’s important to top it up so the engine is fully lubricated when it’s running. If the oil level drops below the minimum level again soon after it's been topped up, it's&nbsp;likely that there's a&nbsp;leak or some other underlying issue that needs to be diagnosed and fixed.

Engine coolant, also known as antifreeze, helps to keep the engine at the optimum operating temperature – especially during hot or cold weather. If the engine overheats, parts can become damaged or warped – so keeping coolant topped&nbsp;up is very important&nbsp;too.

2. Keep the fluids topped up

It’s important to know whether your car's engine uses a timing chain or timing belt, and to&nbsp;check the condition of it regularly. If the chain or belt breaks, it can spell the end of your engine and result in a very expensive repair bill.

A timing chain or belt does exactly what it says on the tin, because it helps keep all the engine’s pistons, valves and other components synchronised and in time. If the car has a timing chain and has been serviced regularly, the chain can often last for the lifetime of the engine.

However, a timing belt (also known as a cam belt), wears over time and needs to be changed when it does. The regularity of the change will depend on the car, so it’s important to check with the manufacturer.

In most instances, the timing belt change can be scheduled every 40,000 to 100,000 miles, or every four to 10 years.&nbsp;

3. Service the timing chain or timing belt

If your car has an automatic gearbox, it’s important to service it regularly. Most gearboxes are ‘sealed for life’ by the manufacturer, but&nbsp;the gearbox oil usually needs to be changed to help it shift gear as smoothly and quickly as possible.

If the gearbox isn’t serviced, components can wear and gear changes can become hesitant or clunky.

As with all serviceable parts, it’s important to check how often the gearbox needs servicing. In most cases, it’s appropriate to do it between the 80,000 and 100,000 miles mark.

4. Service the gearbox

Keeping engine revs as low as possible will not only minimise consumption of fuel, but also engine oil.&nbsp;

Constantly revving an engine to the red line means the engine is working much harder than necessary, and minimising that will help limit the strain on the engine and its moving parts.

In manual cars, ‘riding the clutch’ can cause damage in the long term. Riding the clutch is where you’re not fully pressing the clutch pedal down or not changing gears smoothly.

Resting your foot on the clutch or your hand on the gear lever can also cause parts to rub and wear.

5. Drive smoothly

Car parks and tight parking spaces are the enemy of a car's bodywork. Being extra careful behind the wheel can help to minimise scrapes and scratches – especially when parking.

Of course, some scratches and dents are unavoidable and can be caused by other road users.

Whatever the&nbsp;cause,&nbsp;if scratches or scrapes are left untreated, it can leave the bodywork more exposed and lead to rust build-up. Getting these fixed quickly can help to minimise big repair bills further down the line.

6. Drive carefully

Washing and waxing your car regularly is not only a great way of keeping your car looking shiny and fresh, but also a great way of minimising corrosion.&nbsp;

During colder months, salt and grit is spread on the roads to help improve traction (salt is used because it lowers the freezing temperature of water).

One of the downsides of salt spreading is that it speeds up the process of corrosion. Washing your car regularly – especially in winter – is a great way of slowing down the process.

7. Clean it regularly

Although you can’t see it, the underside of a car is very much exposed to the elements – including the substructure, suspension and exhaust systems.

One way of minimising corrosion on components is to rust-proof them. For example, covering the underside of your car with a layer of wax or a product such as Waxoyl creates a barrier to protect the car from the elements. Some cars are rust-proofed from the factory, but&nbsp;the coat can wear off over time.

During an MoT test, a technician will check for rust and general corrosion. If it’s deemed that rust has started to impact the safety of the car’s structure, the car will most certainly fail the test.&nbsp;

Also, if the cost of repair is estimated to be more than the car’s value, there is a&nbsp;chance the car will be written off.

8. Rust proof it

A great way to minimise long-term corrosion is to store your car in an enclosed garage. This not only shields the car from the elements, but also minimises the risk of theft. So, if you have a garage and it’s currently filled with boxes and clutter, it could be time to make room for your car with a few trips to the tip.

9. Store it in a garage

When a warning light appears on your dashboard, it’s important to get your car checked, diagnosed and fixed quickly as soon as it appears.&nbsp;Keeping on top of small issues can prevent bigger and more expensive problems later on.

10. Don't ignore small problems

You might think that leaving your car parked up is good because it keeps the mileage down, but leaving a vehicle for&nbsp;long periods without driving it at all&nbsp;can cause problems. Most notable of these include the battery draining, corrosion of the engine, corrosion of the bodywork and the tyres going flat.

Also, condensation and mould can build up inside the car if window seals begin to crack and corrode.

11. Drive it regularly

Checking tyres is not only important for the longevity of your car, but also for your safety. It’s important to check them regularly – especially if you do a lot of miles each year.

Key areas to check include the car’s tread pattern. If there’s uneven wear or the tyre is bald, it will reduce the car’s grip and increase the chance of an accident.

The legal tread depth for tyres in the UK is 1.6mm, and the best way to measure that is with a 20p coin. If the tread depth is lower than the outer edge of the coin (which is 2mm), your tyre’s tread is likely to be below the legal limit.

Under-inflated tyres also increase your car’s rolling resistance, therefore increasing fuel consumption. If your car’s engine is working harder to pull the car along, it causes more strain on the engine.

12. Check the tyres regularly

The more weight you have in your car – including people, luggage or general clutter –&nbsp;the more weight your car’s engine has to pull around. So, if you find that you frequently carry around items you don’t use or need, removing them can help minimise engine strain.

13. Move unnecessary weight

Running out of fuel can leave you stranded by the side of the road, but can also damage the engine. That's because the fuel pump can suck dirt and debris from the bottom of the petrol or diesel tank into the engine.

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<h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/awards/used-car-awards">Read more: Check out the winners of our 2023 Used Car of the Year Awards &gt;&gt;</a></h2>

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