Everyone loves a well-maintained car

Caring for your car definitely puts you in a win-win situation. If properly looked after, not only will your vehicle run more efficiently by consuming less fuel, its emissions will be lower, which is good for the environment. It will also be safer, and will last up to 50 per cent longer.

Did you know that your car comprises nearly 14,000 parts? This means that even if your car is up to 99.9 percent of its ability, there’s still a chance that 14 parts are not functioning properly.

Regular maintenance and attention, backed by common sense and general knowledge about how a car works, are a sure way to get years and miles of pleasurable motoring. Most of us neglect minor rattles because they don’t directly affect the running of the car.

But, over a period of time, such problems can lead to a breakdown that can prove to be far more expensive to rectify than the root cause, had that been attended to at the right time. A well-maintained car will probably never let you down and will always enhance your driving pleasure.

Remember, prevention is better than cure, and this is the stepping-stone to automotive maintenance. If you can prevent or rather slow down the wear and tear of the components in your car, the less time and money you’ll have to spend replacing them.

When you acquire a car, read the owner’s manual carefully as it will give you a fair idea about routine maintenance. Stick to the service specified schedule and keep a daily check on accessible components like the tyres, battery, and lights. A good idea is to maintain a logbook that will give you accurate reports about the fuel consumed, parts replaced and upcoming service dates ready at hand when you need them most.

The life and longevity of your car also depends on your driving habits — the gentler you are with a car, the longer it lasts. Hard, redline revving of a cold engine inflicts untold and unseen damage to the pistons and cylinder walls.

Most cars today regulate their temperature around the optimum level and the engine should be given time to reach this temperature. While jerky starts, with squealing rubber, wear out the tyres and the clutch, sudden, hard braking damages tyres and accelerate brake liner and disc brake pads wear. It’s better to judge braking distances and use rolling resistance and the gears to help you slow down. This not only reduces wear but increases mileage, too.

If you give your car the loving treatment it deserves, you can look forward to years of trouble-free motoring.