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Originally Posted On: https://www.diydaddyblog.com/four-things-you-should-keep-an-eye-on-with-your-car/

The average age of a car when it is thrown away is about 14, but the average age of a car on the road is more like eight. Also, it depends on the car you drive. But don’t worry. There are simple things you can do, like keeping your car in a garage, to make it more likely that your motor will last a long time.

Keep The Battery In Good Shape

If you don’t drive your car for a long time, the battery will lose its charge and stop working.

If you keep your car in a garage for a long time, you might want to use a trickle charger to keep the batteries charged or a battery conditioner if it seems to hold less of a charge than usual.

When you jump-start a car whose battery is dead, it wears out the battery and makes it more likely that the engine management system and other important electronics will be broken.

If you don’t have a trickle charger, you should drive your car at least once a week, and ideally more often in the winter.

Regular Filter Replacement

The oil filter and air filter in your car need to be changed often because they get clogged up over time.

Even though both should be changed as part of regular car maintenance, especially the air filter switch, they are both pretty easy to do, so you might be able to save money by doing them yourself.

By also cleaning the air filter, you can often make it last longer. Your owner’s manual will tell you how to clean and replace the filter. Only use original parts. Using cheap, low-quality filters could hurt the engine in the long run.

Drive With Care  And Change Your Tyres

You should try to drive with “mechanical sympathy” most of the time. That means you have to use your car’s controls while knowing how they work.

By doing this, your parts will last longer and your gas will go further. To stop quickly less often, you need to do simple things like handle the steering wheel, gearbox, and pedals gently.

But if you never rev your engine all the way to the top, carbon deposits can build up and clog the inlet and outlet, valves, and other parts, reducing performance and possibly causing a misfire.

So, you should let your engine rev all the way to the redline at least once every few hundred miles, but only when the oil is warm and you’re on a quiet road.

Another thing you need to keep your eye on is the tyres. Car tyres can be dangerous if they don’t have the right amount of tread. They can also be dangerous if you aren’t using the correct tyres for the weather.

Change Out The Wires And Spark Plugs

As cars get more complicated, it’s clear that drivers are less likely to do their own maintenance.

But replacing the spark plugs and high-tension leads is another simple thing you can do on your own to make your engine run better.

But don’t forget that you should always start by reading your car’s manual and following the maintenance plan.

Check a spark plug to make sure it has:

• A light brown insulator and electrode that show no signs of wear or deposits.
• A spark plug that needs to be replaced because it has worn out over time can be a sign of how well an engine is running.