Want to keep your older car running strong for years to come?
More and more people are keeping their vehicles for longer periods. In fact, according to S&P Global Mobility, light vehicle average age has risen to a new high of 12.8 years throughout the United States. There are millions of cars and trucks on the roadways right now that desperately need attention if they are going to stay looking great.
The good news is that keeping an aging vehicle in showroom condition isn’t difficult. Follow these tips to prolong the lifespan of your car and maintain its value.
What you’re going to learn:
- Why you should pay extra attention to your aging vehicle
- How to protect your vehicle’s exterior from damage
- Tips to maintain your vehicle properly
- Fixes that will save you money in the long run
Why You Should Pay Extra Attention To Your Aging Vehicle
As your vehicle ages, wear and tear start to show in ways other than mileage. Paint fades. Body panels develop dings and dents from shopping carts and careless door openings. And rust begins to spread around wheel wells and door jams.
BUT IT GETS EVEN WORSE…
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for Motor Vehicle Maintenance and Repair have risen 43.6% since January 2019.
What does that mean for your wallet? Everything you fix on your vehicle is going to cost you more than when your vehicle was brand new. Doing little repairs before they become big problems is the best way to care for your vehicle.
If you let the cosmetic things go, your car or truck’s value will begin to go down. A small ding that has chipped the paint will allow rust to form. Once rust forms, it will spread and cause structural damage. Structural damage is not something you want to deal with because your repair bill will be through the roof.
Prevention is your new best friend when you own an aging vehicle.
How To Protect Your Vehicle’s Exterior From Damage
Keeping the inside of a vehicle clean is important, but maintaining your vehicle’s exterior is just as vital.
Cars and trucks aren’t going to stay dent-free forever. Forget about trying to keep your vehicle free of dings and dents. Parking garages, shopping carts, hailstorms; they’re all things every driver has to deal with. What you can do, however, is minimize vehicle damage by addressing dents as soon as they happen.
Paintless dent repair is a great way to fix small dents and dings that haven’t cracked your paint job. Professional paintless dent repair removes dents without filling or repainting. This is important because the original factory paint will always look better and last longer than a paint job.
Protecting your vehicle’s paint job is key when it comes to prolonging the life of your vehicle’s exterior.
Here are some other tips:
- Wash your vehicle frequently to prevent dirt and other contaminants from ruining your paint job.
- Wax or seal your vehicle every few months to give your paint that extra layer of protection.
- Always try to park in the shade or use a car cover. The sun is one of the biggest factors in fading your vehicle’s paint.
- Address stone chips and scratches immediately to avoid rust.
Simple tasks like these can help you keep your vehicle looking like it just rolled off the lot. And they don’t have to cost you anything.
Tips To Maintain Your Vehicle Properly
When maintaining your vehicle, not all jobs are created equal. Some tasks will give you a better return on your investment.
Here are the things you should focus on.
Fluid Changes
Oil, Transmission Fluid, Coolant, Brake Fluid… these all need to be changed regularly. Fluids degrade over time; keeping your fluids fresh is one of the most important things you can do for an aging vehicle. And by regular, that means MORE often than your owner’s manual suggests.
Tires and Alignment
Worn tires and poor alignment don’t just make your vehicle handle badly. They put unnecessary stress on other suspension components and cause premature wear. Leading to expensive parts that need to be replaced.
Rotate your tires regularly and get your alignment checked at least once a year.
Brakes
Brake pads and rotors don’t fail overnight. Most people wait until they hear or feel a problem before taking their vehicle in. By then, half the brake rotor is probably already gone. Get brakes checked regularly, and problems will be easier (and cheaper) to fix.
Battery and Electricals
Electrical problems are a common ailment for an aging vehicle. Corroded battery terminals, failing alternators, and worn wiring can all cause big problems. Have your battery tested every time you get your oil changed.
Smart Fixes That Will Save You Money
The thing most vehicle owners don’t realize is that spending a little now can save you thousands later. It’s all about knowing what fixes are worth doing and what you should leave.
Vehicle dent repair is one of those fixes that always pays for itself. One little ding may not seem like a big deal but over time those dings can really add up and lower the resale value of your vehicle. It’s always cheaper to fix the problem while it’s small.
Here are some other examples.
- Rust Prevention: Spotting rust early and treating it costs you next to nothing. Ignore it, and you’ll be buying a new panel.
- Windscreen chips: Who knows how they happen, but if your windscreen gets chipped, get it repaired asap. Waiting will only make the chip spread, and you’ll end up having to replace your entire windscreen.
- Weatherstripping: Door seals are cheap. Water damage is not. Replacing your weatherstripping is always cheaper than repairing water-damaged seats and flooring.
- Headlight restoration: Nobody wants to drive around with foggy headlights. Buy a restoration kit, and you’ll improve the aesthetics of your vehicle instantly.
Keeping Your Vehicle Maintained
Having a simple system is the best way to keep track of maintaining your vehicle. Keep a logbook or use a smartphone app. Writing down when you performed services and when the next service is due will take the guessing out of vehicle maintenance.
Here’s a simple schedule you can start with:
- Change your oil and filter every 5,000 to 8,000 kilometers
- Rotate tires every 10,000 kilometers
- Inspect brakes twice a year
- Check your fluids during every service
- Do an exterior inspection for vehicle dents annually
Summary
Preventive maintenance is the best way to keep your vehicle running smoothly. Protect the exterior of your vehicle from damage and do small repairs when you first notice them.
With vehicle ages increasing year after year, and repair costs skyrocketing. The people who come out on top are the ones who take the time to care for their cars.
An older vehicle that’s well-maintained can run just as well as a brand new vehicle off the lot.
It just takes diligence and doing the small things.
