Keeping your vehicle in peak condition and ensuring its optimal performance year-round is an ambition shared by numerous car owners. However, realizing this ambition demands ongoing dedication and meticulous care. To guarantee that your car not only stays in prime condition but also operates seamlessly, it’s crucial to implement a set of simple yet impactful strategies.
This article outlines eight straightforward methods to achieve this objective, providing you with practical advice to maintain your vehicle’s excellence. Want to keep your car running smooth and looking great all year round? Here are 8 of the easiest ways to accomplish that goal.
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1. Get your regular maintenance
Every vehicle requires periodic maintenance. Staying on top of your car’s regular maintenance will keep it running better for a long period of time. This includes things like oil changes, vehicle inspections, brake fluid flushes, new brakes, and more.
Most of the time, you can get your car’s maintenance schedule from your owner’s manual, or you can ask your local repair shop for their expert opinion. If you happen to own a BMW, for example, you can pop into your local BMW repair shop for all of your maintenance needs. Customer service is usually much better and typically more cost effective than the dealership.
2. Store your vehicle in a garage during winter
Winter weather can be unforgiving on your vehicle, especially if you live in an area that gets a lot of rain, snow, or constant moisture. Parking your car in the garage every day during these cold months will go a long way in helping to preserve your vehicle in good condition. It will also make it easier for you to leave when you have somewhere you need to go because you won’t be scraping ice off your windshield or having to use a hairdryer to melt frozen locks and doors.
3. Condition the leather
Most leather needs to be conditioned to maintain its supple nature. If you have leather seats and you don’t condition them, they are more likely to crack and peel from drying out.
A simple cocoa butter and beeswax leather balm is all it takes to condition leather naturally. However, before you start conditioning your leather seats, you should always consult with a qualified automotive detailing specialist to find out if it’s the right move.
To preserve your leather interior, you should also try to park in cool places and not leave your car out in the hot sun for long periods of time when possible.
4. Don’t allow eating in your car
This is one of the best ways to keep your car clean, but it’s also going to be a bummer for your passengers. Still, it’s worth maintaining a rule that people can’t eat in your car. Yes, you might get hungry and want to go through the drive-thru to get food, but if you’re that hungry, park and go inside to eat or take your food home.
No matter how careful you are, there will always be crumbs, dropped French fries that you can’t reach, and random soda spills. Accidents happen and if you want to keep your car clean, don’t make it your secondary kitchen table.
This is especially important if you own a high-end car, like a BMW, Mercedes, or Mini-Cooper. Having crumbs all over the gear shifter and food stuck between the seats will just make it look junky. Even if you can clean it up, that takes effort and it’s just not worth your time. Sugary drinks spilled onto electric switches can also be a costly accident.
5. Check fluids and tire pressure
Maintaining proper fluid levels is vital for your car’s performance. For example, coolant, motor oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and wiper fluid should always be kept at the proper level.
Make sure you know which fluids shouldn’t be depleted. For example, you’ll need to add more coolant periodically, but your brake fluid shouldn’t be disappearing because it’s a closed system. If your brake fluid reservoir is diminishing, it’s a sign that something is likely wrong with your brake system and you should get it checked out immediately. Don’t just buy more brake fluid and add it to the reservoir because you can’t mix brake fluids without risking damage to your car.
Checking tire pressure periodically is also a must to keep your car in great shape. Over time, your tires will lose some air and you’ll need to add air periodically. Most gas stations have a hose for air and water that you can use, but it’s even better to be self-sufficient and buy a small air compressor you can store in your trunk that plugs into your 12v cigarette lighter.
6. Get tree sap removed quickly
Tree sap can do damage to your paint job if you don’t remove it fast. It doesn’t take long for it to harden, and the longer it sits, the harder it will be to remove. Unfortunately, washing your car won’t eliminate the sap.
It’s easy enough to remove tree sap at home, but if you don’t want to bother, just take it to your local car wash and ask them if they have the clay bar that removes tree sap gently.
7. Keep a trash can in your car
The absolute best way to cut down on trash in your car is to have a trash can available at all times. You can get one that attaches to the back of your front seat or one that sits in your center console. It all depends on how big your car is and what kind of space you have. The trash cans you can secure over your seats with elastic bands are by far the easiest to use. Using a plastic grocery bag is also a great idea for an easy trash can.
When you have passengers who need to toss out straw wrappers, empty soda cans, or food wrappers, if they see a trash can right in front of them, they will put their trash where it belongs. When it gets full, just empty it into your household trash and you’re good to go again.
8. Change your air filter
Air filters need to be changed more often than people think. Sometimes they’re entirely forgotten and it’s only when you take your car in to be serviced that you realize you’re overdue.
It’s important to filter out dirt and debris to keep it out of your engine. When the air filter becomes clogged, your engine is at risk. Generally, BMW air filters should be changed every 30,000 to 40,000 miles.
Preserve your car with routine care
Whether you’re performing regular maintenance or just taking care of the small stuff, regular care for your car will go a long way to preserve its performance long-term. Adhering to these eight easy steps can significantly enhance the longevity and performance of your vehicle, ensuring it remains in excellent condition throughout the year.
By investing time in regular maintenance, protecting your car from harsh weather, and paying attention to interior and exterior care, you safeguard your vehicle’s value and functionality. Implementing these practices not only prevents costly repairs but also contributes to a safer and more enjoyable driving experience. Ultimately, the key to maintaining a vehicle that runs smoothly and looks great lies in consistent care and preventive measures.