Care and maintenance for used cars.

As a sequel to my post yesterday on tips for keeping your brand new car in top notch conditions, here are some tips for your used cars.

Being car considerate shouldn’t stop after the break-in(explained in yesterday's post).
Drive with care every day and your car will reward you with longer intervals without repair.

•Do not race your car’s engine during start-up. This is a quick way to add years of wear to your engine, especially if it’s cold outside.

•Accelerate slowly when you begin your drive. The most wear to the engine and drive train occurs in the first ten to twenty minutes of operation because the lubricant hasn't gone round.

•Warming the engine by letting it idle in the driveway is not a smart idea. The engine doesn’t operate at its peak temperature, resulting in incomplete fuel combustion, soot deposits on cylinder walls, oil contamination, and ultimately damaged components.

•Put less strain on your engine and automatic transmission by shifting to neutral at red lights. Otherwise, the engine is still working to push the car even while it’s stopped.

•Avoid driving at high speeds and accelerating quickly, especially when it’s very hot or very cold outside. Such driving behavior will result in more frequent repairs.

•Extend the life of your tires with careful driving. Observe posted speed limits. Avoid fast starts, stops, and turns, it damages the thread of the tire. Don't run into potholes on speed, it damages the structure of the tire and the arms of the car. Don’t do burn out and of course, avoid objects on the road.

•When turning your steering wheel, don’t hold it in an extreme right or left position for more than a few seconds. Doing so can damage the power-steering pump.

•Consolidate your short driving trips. Most of the wear and tear — as well as the pollution your car generates — takes place in the first few minutes of driving. Doing several errands at once, during low traffic hours if possible, will keep your engine happier longer.

Keep a date with me tomorrow, to get some more tips.

Read, comments and kindly share with others.