Extend the Life of Your Car or Truck

The benefits of getting the longest possible life out of your car or truck are obvious. You save money, enjoy getting to continue driving the vehicle that you’ve had for years, and steer clear of the hassle of finding a replacement. To keep your current vehicle out on the road for as long as possible, there are a few key ideas that you should keep in mind. We’ll outline those points below for you to consider.

As you review the tips below, you’ll quickly find that working with a qualified auto shop on these points is going to make life much easier. For those in the Sandpoint area, Taylor & Sons Chevrolet would be a great pick for these services. We offer an experienced team, fair prices, and prompt service. Call today to learn more or to schedule your appointment.

It Starts with Good Habits

One of the best ways to make it possible to drive your vehicle for a long time is to be nice to that vehicle with your driving habits. If you drive in a controlled, responsible manner, you won’t be so hard on the car or truck, and it will be more likely to last a long time.

Specifically, this means not accelerating aggressively and not braking so hard when you come to a stop. Instead, do your best to ease onto the throttle as you speed up and ease onto the brakes as you slow down. Of course, the occasional emergency situation will come up from time to time that requires you to drive more aggressively, but those moments should be the exception rather than the rule.

Not only is driving your vehicle gently good for the condition of the car or truck, but it tends to be safer, as well. Waiting until the last moment before harshly applying the brakes is just asking for trouble and accelerating aggressively can lead to a loss of control, as your tires may spin (especially on wet surfaces). Given the long list of benefits associated with careful, conservative driving, this is certainly the way to go.

Oil Changes Are Essential

Along with driving carefully, having the oil in your vehicle changed regularly is one of the best ways to extend its useful life. Oil is the lifeblood of a car, and if you don’t supply it with fresh oil regularly, problems are going to arise. Old oil doesn’t lubricate engine parts as effectively as newer oil, meaning more friction is present when the engine runs. That friction creates heat, and heat can break down some of the important parts that keep everything working.

To stay up with your oil change schedule, partner with the team here at Taylor & Sons Chevrolet to have the job completed in a timely manner and for a fair price. We have an expert team on hand that is ready to handle oil changes effectively, so you can get in and out of our service department without any unnecessary delays. There is a cumulative effect of wear and tear that comes with falling behind on oil changes, so don’t let that happen to your vehicle.

Other Ongoing Maintenance Points

In addition to your oil change schedule, also work on keeping up with the various other things that need to be done to keep a vehicle in good condition. Often, these are designated by a list of service points that should be completed at set mileage intervals. So, whether it is 30K, 60K, 90K, or beyond, making sure to have the vehicle serviced in a manner consistent with the recommendations in the owner’s manual is a great step in the right direction.

Also, don’t allow little issues to linger for long without being addressed. If you notice that something isn’t right about how the way your vehicle is operating, bring it into Taylor & Sons Chevrolet for a visit as soon as possible. Often, it’s the case that dealing with subtle issues right away will work out better than letting them hang around until they turn into something bigger. We are always happy to hear about whatever issues you may be seeing in your car or truck so we can offer our insight and work toward finding a suitable solution.

Think About Storage

If you are serious about getting the longest possible life out of your vehicle, you might want to think carefully about finding a way to park that vehicle indoors. With the harsh weather that exists for parts of the year in northern Idaho, leaving your vehicle outside is sure to take a toll. The impacts might not be felt immediately, but they can add up over time. Eventually, you’ll find that the weather has worn down some of the parts of your vehicle, and you might not be able to use it for as long as you had hoped.

Ideally, you’d be able to park your vehicle in a garage when it is not in use. This is the best form of protection and will keep the elements at bay – in addition to making it more comfortable to get in and out of the car during the fall and winter months. In fact, parking in a garage is even more comfortable in the summer, as the interior temperature won’t be scorching when you climb in for a drive. If you don’t have a garage available, consider looking into the possibility of adding a carport to your property. A carport doesn’t offer the full protection of a garage, but it does put a roof over the vehicle and can still do a world of good.

With some sound decisions and good habits over the years, you may be able to get an impressively long life out of your vehicle. Those odds will improve even further when you work with a team like Taylor & Sons Chevrolet who is always going to put the best interests of your car or truck at the top of the priority list. We’d love to serve you so reach out today to get started!

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