Hilltop Tire Service’s Guide on How to Make your Car Last Longer

Here at Hilltop Tire Service, we get asked all the time how to make your car last longer. Because of the car shortage and high prices at the dealerships these days, Iowa drivers are looking for ways to make their car, truck, or SUV last a long time, and we’re here to help you do just that!

Luckily, there are simple things that you can do to be proactive and help your car last longer. With everyday wear and tear, cars these days easily make it to 100,000 miles. Imagine if you could make your vehicle last to 200,000 miles or more…now that’s a few more years of driving and more money in your pocket!

7 Tips on How to Make Your Car Last Longer:

• Preventative maintenance. The best way to make your car last longer is to simply keep up on routine car maintenance. Think of it like brushing your teeth, washing the dishes, or doing the laundry. If you don’t keep up and do these routine jobs, gunk builds up and eventually damages your teeth, dishes, or clothes. The same goes for your vehicle. Things like oil changes, tire rotations, fluid flushes, alignment checks, and brake inspections all go a long way in extending the life of your vehicle and will save you money down the road.
• Wash it. Keeping your car washed and clean isn’t all about making it look nice. A good scrubbing can help protect your investment in the long run. Dirt, dust, grime, and road salt left caked on your vehicle will corrode and rust your vehicle. Allowing rust to form is like letting termites into your house, the damage will spread, and your vehicle will deteriorate.
• Inspect and Rotate the tires. Tires are an important part of your ride – they are the legs that carry the entire weight of your vehicle. Regularly check the tires for signs of uneven wear or damage. Check the tire pressure. Underinflated tires not only wear out faster and decrease fuel economy, but it puts you at greater risk for a blowout. Rotating the tires will help them last longer too.
• Keep an eye on the fluids. Changing the oil is the most important fluid you need to change. However, other fluids need changed or flushed periodically such as a transmission flush, brake fluid flush, coolant flush, and power steering system flush. These fluids are like the lifeblood of your vehicle. Over time, dirt and dust build-up causing your vehicle to work harder. Check your owner's manual to find out when these fluid changes are due.
• Change the filters. Another way to make your car last longer is to change the engine air filter and cabin air filter every 15,000 – 20,000 miles or once a year. Just like the fluids in your vehicle, over time these filters get dirty and clogged. Dust, dirt, pollen, and bacteria clog the engine air filter and the cabin air filter which restricts the airflow to the engine or heating and air conditioning system, making them work harder than necessary.
• Don’t drive your car like a racecar. Quick acceleration, hard braking, and sharp turns all take a toll on your vehicle and will wear it out prematurely - not to mention your fuel efficiency will decrease and with the high fuel prices these days, that’s something you will want to consider. Braking hard will wear down your brake pads quickly. Taking corners at high speeds causes unnecessary stress on your tires making them wear unevenly. Take it easy on your vehicle and it will thank you with a longer lifespan and better gas mileage.
• Don’t ignore the little problems. So, the check engine light comes on, but you’re busy and don’t have time to deal with it, hoping it will disappear, but it doesn’t. Don’t leave it until it causes long-term damage. If you hear an unusual noise or notice a dash light come on, don’t ignore it. These are all warning signs and it’s a good idea to pay attention to them and get them looked at properly, you’ll save yourself a lot of trouble and money down the road, not to mention your vehicle will last longer.

All three Hilltop Tire Service locations in the Des Moines area offer automotive preventative maintenance and repairs for your vehicle. If you want to make your car last longer but don’t know where to start – bring it over to Hilltop Tire and Auto. We will do a thorough digital inspection that will show you if anything needs to be repaired. If everything looks good, we’ll tell you that too! We pride ourselves on doing business the Hilltop Way. That means giving honest opinions, trustworthy workmanship all the while keeping safety our number one priority.