10 tips every Pinoy motorist should bear in mind to help their cars last longer

Updated Oct 19, 2020

Stay longer with your beloved car with these 10 simple maintenance tips.

1. Checking and changing the oil and filter regularly

Today's cars tend to have engines inside the hood, so they can operate smoothly. Periodically checking all fluid reservoirs such as engine oil, brake fluid, coolant, power steering oil or clutch oil will ensure that your car is always operating at the top condition.

Here are some simply tips to check if your car needs an oil change.

man changing car engine oil

 Periodically checking all fluid reservoirs ensures your car is always operating at the top condition

2. Using the proper motor oil

Some special cars can only use their own types of oil. Choosing the right type of oil will make your car more durable and less damaged. In every manual from the car manufacturer, you can easily find help which includes which kind of oil is the best for your vehicle. Don't be lazy enough skip this or you may suffer a significant loss for maintenance later.

Mobil oil

Choosing the right type of oil for your car will make your car more durable and less damaged

3. Paying attention to your tires and wheels

Some cars today feature a tire pressure monitoring system. If your car does not have this system, carry a handy gauge to ensure that your wheels are always adequately inflated. You also need to check the wear of your tires. Flat or unevenly-worn tires can cause difficulty in controlling and handling your car, especially in bad weather conditions. You can also make better use of your car tires by doing tire rotations.

Car wheel

Flat or unevenly-worn tires can cause difficulty in controlling and handling your car, especially in bad weather conditions

4. Having your car warranted

When you buy a new car, you will have insurance for your new car which is extremely needed for you when you encounter any hassles caused by the manufacturing. Take your car to a warranty center or a dealer to check if you recognize any abnormalities and ask for warranty benefits as they are all enclosed in the deal.

Car insurance paper

Take your car to a warranty center or a dealer to check if you recognize any abnormalities

5. Being heedful of warning lights on the dashboard and strange noises

Each orange or red light on the dashboard has a certain meaning, such as the lid of the gas tank or the door being not tightly closed among other important issues. Pay attention to and fix them as soon as possible. When you are familiar with car sounds such as engine, air conditioning or fan sounds, strange noises can be a sign of a problem. You need to find out reasons to make your car work smoothly.

car's dashboard

Each orange or red light on the dashboard has a certain meaning to warn their owners

6. Keeping invoices or service receipts

The receipts for warranty or repair is not only the records to remind you what your car had to suffer in the past. In fact, invoices or service receipts are essential things every car owners should preserve since they will be the clues to increase the value of your car when it is sold. Plus, with these papers, you can track down your car syndromes and fix problems in the future.

7. Getting your car active at least twice a week

If you do not use your car for a long time, it will degrade severely. The tires are prone to cracking and deformation while it is difficult for the engine to operate due to dry gasoline, or it can be damaged. Note that using your car at least twice a week can help protect its critical parts.

angular rear of a black car

Let your car work at least 1-2 times per month to evade cracked tired and deformation

8. Washing your car regularly

Dirt and air pollution can corrode metal and car paintwork. Don't let this happen regularly. Your beloved car needs to bathe to gain its beauty. Who doesn't love the one who looks exotic, right? Also, getting rid of corrosion and dirt is critical to lengthen your car's lifespan. 

These 10 easy steps guide to wash your car at home on Philkotse.com might be useful for you.

9. Doing periodic car maintenance

Every motorist is advised to do periodic maintenance for his/her car to keep it in the best condition by instantly detecting unusual syndromes and faults in the vehicle. With timely checks and maintenance, you should never be worried about the sudden deaths of the engine or other unexpected incidents while traveling.

>>> Must-read:

Repairing a car

Doing periodic maintenance works wonders to increase the lifespan of your car

10. Getting more information on the Internet

The Internet is a great source of consultancy in terms of every field. Speaking of car help and advice, there are a multitude of websites or forums you can totally rely on to become a smart car owner. Don't be idle enough to give every problem to the hands of the mechanic while the internet is an ocean of information that you can sail in for tremendous help. Besides, you can call your car dealer for help as well.