You’ve recently purchased the vehicle of your dreams. Congratulations! Now it’s time to pamper your ride for an extended lifetime of top performance. Sure, it’s ‘just a car’ but if you’re hoping to get the most out of your purchase, take heed of a few helpful hints.
- Observe the ‘break-in period.’ As you pull off the lot, remember that there is a ‘break-in period’ for vehicles. This is typically the first 1,000 miles. During this time, it’s a good idea to keep your speed at that which is recommended by your car’s manufacturer. Avoid heavy loads on the drive train, such as towing trailers and loading the roof rack or trunk with heavy materials. Also, don’t allow your car to idle for long periods, and use only light to medium acceleration for the first few hours of driving.
- Drive with care every day. Even though the break-in period will soon be over, you’ll go longer without repairs if you take good care of your vehicle. For instance, do not race your car’s engine during start up. This can quickly add years of wear to your engine, especially when it’s cold outside. Accelerate slowly when you first begin to drive, and observe posted speed limits. Avoid fast starts, stops, and turns, as well as potholes and objects on the road. Don’t run over curbs or hit the tires against the curb when parking, and of course don’t burn rubber!
- Watch for tankers. If you happen to see a gasoline tanker filling the tanks at your normal gas station, come back another day or go to a different station. As the station’s underground tanks are being filled, the turbulence can stir up sediment. Sediment in your gas can clog fuel filters and fuel injectors, causing poor performance and possibly creating repairs.
- Have patience when stuck. Particularly when stuck in mud or snow, don’t make things worse by damaging a costly component. If it looks as though you’re stuck, don’t keep throwing your car from forward to reverse, or spinning the tires at high speeds. This can generate lots of heat and create problems for transmissions, clutches, and differentials.
- Lighten up your key chain. If your key chain feels like a brick, you could unknowingly be doing damage to your ignition switch. The weight, combined with the bouncing motion when you drive, can wear out the tumblers inside the ignition and eventually lead to ignition switch failure. To add years of service to the switch, purchase a lightweight key chain and do not carry a dozen other keys on the chain. If your ignition key sticks when you try to turn on the car, it’s a warning sign that your ignition switch is about to fail.
