Regular Vehicle Maintenance Tips to Boost Your Car’s Lifespan

The average car in the UK lasts for about 200,000 miles or 14 years (based on the average driver travelling around 14,000 miles a year). However, the lifespan of your vehicle will be significantly reduced if you don’t carry out some routine maintenance tasks. In this guide, our mechanics in Cheltenham share their regular vehicle maintenance tips to boost your car’s lifespan.

Regular Servicing

Although servicing isn’t legally required like an MOT is, we still recommend getting your car serviced at least once a year. This is a full inspection of your vehicle to check for faults, potential problems, or dangers, and includes an oil change, replacement air filters, and spark plugs.

This helps avoid major breakdowns and keeps your car running smoothly.

Check the Battery

Keeping your battery in good condition helps minimise the risk of damage to your car’s electrical system. To stop your battery from going dead, run your car at least once or twice a week. Having to jump your battery causes unnecessary damage to the battery itself and the electronics.

Check the Wheel Alignment

Every 15,000 miles, get your wheel alignment checked at your local garage in Cheltenham. If your wheels are unaligned, it will cause issues with the steering and tyres, which can lead to accidents.

It’s quick and easy to get your wheels aligned at your local garage and can be done during your routine servicing.

Replace the Car Timing Belt

Your car timing belt will need to be replaced once every four to ten years. We know that’s quite a large time range, so you can get it checked from time to time to make sure it’s still in good working order. If your timing belt snaps while driving, it can cause serious engine damage.

Keep Your Fluids Topped Up

Every couple of weeks, check on your coolant, oil, and screen wash to make sure they’re topped up between the minimum and maximum markers. Low oil and coolant levels are massive risks to your engine, so check these at least once every two weeks.

Low screen wash won’t cause issues with your engine, but it can be dangerous if you need to wash your windscreen to remove any obstacles while driving.

Adopt Good Driving Habits

Good driving habits will help to improve the lifespan of your car drastically. Drive as smoothly as possible, avoid harsh braking and excessive revving, and take corners slowly.

It’s easy to adopt good driving habits, and they make a world of difference to the health of your car.

Bring Your Car to the Garage When You Spot Issues 

If you spot an issue with your car or a dashboard light comes on, bring it to our garage in Cheltenham immediately for a free assessment. Small issues are usually quick and affordable to fix, but if they’re left, they can turn into costly problems.

To book your service to talk to our mechanics about any issues with your car, call us today:  01242 523 310