When purchasing a car, you see it as an investment that you hope to use for many years to come. You also want to maximise the resale value should you decide to upgrade your vehicle at any stage. As such, we have created a list of tips on how to maintain and take care of your car as long as possible. By using these tips, you will be able to ensure the longevity of your vehicle as well as maintain it to its safety standard to keep yourself and your passengers safe.

1. Keeping your vehicle clean
   
   

Of course, the first thing you must do all the time to maintain your car’s existing look is to make sure it is clean. This can be done by yourself or taking it to a car washing service. Your car's exterior can be exposed to many particles and substances like the various weather conditions, bird poop, tree leaves etc. Some of these things can damage the exterior of your car overtime, which is why we recommend washing your car often.

Another reason why it is important to regularly clean your car is because the accumulation of leaves and debris in areas like the boot sill and corners of the bonnet (next to the engine bay) can lead to a buildup of rust due to water not being able to flow freely to the ground.

Secondly, the interior of your car should be treated with extra care. Depending on the material of your car seats, stains can develop if you drop food on it. It also will make your car smell if you keep dumping rubbish in your car and forgetting to throw it out. As such, it's best to keep any rubbish away from your car or get rid of it soon as possible to have an enjoyable driving experience.

2. Check tyres regularly

Tyres are one of the most key features of a vehicle and something that you must keep an eye out when planning on driving. You should check your tyres regularly in case of under or over inflation, as this can be a safety hazard if not monitored properly. The recommended pressure for your car should be in your car’s handbook. A flat tyre can be hazardous to your vehicle and you. Experts recommend rotating your tyres every 5,000 - 10,000 KMS by switching them around so that the wear on the tyres are evenly distributed and this can also prolong the tyres' life. By doing this, you will reduce the risk of a blowout and save yourself money in the long run.

3. Change oil and check other fluids

One of the essential things to do to extend the longevity of your car is by maintaining the proper amount of oil in the engine. The oil lubricates the engine parts, ensuring that they don’t grind on each other and become dysfunctional. It also transfers heat away from the combustion cycle. As such, your car must have the right level of oil in order to function properly, as the car can heat up and stop working if there is not enough oil in it. With no oil the car can eventually overheat and blow the engine which can be awfully expensive to fix.

To ensure that this doesn’t happen, it is a good habit to check your engine oils regularly. Don’t forget to wait until your engine has cooled down before going in and checking the or take it to a mechanic/service centre if you are unsure.

There are various other car fluids that you need to check as well in order to maintain your vehicles' life capacity. This includes:

• * Coolant

• * Power steering fluid

• * Brake fluid

• * Transmission fluid

A leak from one of these fluids can interrupt the vehicle's operations and can become a safety hazard. Most of the leaks can be determined by colour and this will allow you or your mechanic to identify the issue and how to fix it.

4. Clean windshield

Make sure your windshield is clean all the time as this can obscure your view of the road and you can be in a dangerous situation because of this. This is vital after a long trip somewhere or travelling on the highway for a while, as many bugs can get splattered on your windshield. Don’t forget to also clean your wipers as well and ensure that they are working adequately.

This goes for small cracks and stone chips as well. Most windscreen repair workshops can easily fix a small crack or chip with minimal fuss (and cost!) but leaving a small crack or chip unattended can cause it to spread which ultimately leads to a need to replace the whole windscreen - increasing the cost significantly for you the owner.

5. Be aware of all the warning signs
   

Take a read of your vehicle's manual book to understand the various signs on car and what they mean.

It is recommended that you take your vehicle to the mechanic as soon as possible if:

• * A warning sign on your dashboard is on for a while and you are not sure why

• * There are unusually vibrations or sounds that don’t seem right

• * The oil pressure gauge reads low

• * Your car is acting weird e.g. brakes are feeling different, the car to steering to a certain direction

• * Smoking up

6. Take your car for routine checks at the mechanic
   

Lastly, don’t forget to take your car to the mechanic/service centre for its routine check. This will help your car to prolong its life as a professional will be able to take a look and fix any problems with it.

It’s also important to make sure that you are insured properly and have roadside assistance to provide help when in need and also give you a peace of mind knowing that you are covered in case of an accident.

This concludes our 6 tips on how to take care of your car. If you are unsure of something, take it straight to the mechanic and they will be able to help you with any questions or concerns you may have.