There are many ways to help increase your vehicle's longevity and keep your peace of mind intact. Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of one of your largest investments.
Make It Your Routine
Just as regular check-ups with your doctor are important for your own health, heeding regularly scheduled maintenance intervals as determined by the vehicle manufacturer is also an essential step to help keep your vehicle healthy. Taking your vehicle in and having it regularly maintained helps to make sure your vehicle has what it needs to keep it running. Of the overall maintenance regimen, one of the most frequently missed maintenance tasks is the oil change. By changing your oil as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer, you can help maintain the performance of your engine. Regular maintenance and recommended intervals are typically outlined in a vehicle's owner's manual.
Take It Easy
To make sure your vehicle can stand the course of time, it is important to avoid unnecessary strain on the engine.
"A vehicle that has been sitting for an extended period of time will have next to no oil left on the moving parts of the engine, as it has accumulated in the oil pan," says Hsu. "Allowing your engine to warm up by easing into acceleration will help the oil flow quicker and decrease the amount of wear and friction-related damage that may occur."
Maybe even more important than taking it easy on startup is making sure to not overexert your vehicle. Constant, high RPMs, short braking, high-speed driving and other severe types of driving can lead to accelerated engine and transmission wear and potentially more substantial issues.
Keep It Clean
"When trying to keep a vehicle running and to extend its life, it is important to not overlook the body of the vehicle," says Hsu.
Consumers' vehicles likely take a beating throughout the year with the months of harsh winter conditions and corrosive elements. High temperatures, bird droppings, tree sap and UV rays in the warmer months can also cause damage to the interior and exterior of a vehicle. Keeping vehicles clean can help protect them from the chemicals and dirt that may attack the car's finish and undercarriage.
Make Sure It's Covered
Having your vehicle covered for any issues that may arise is important, and extended warranty programs are becoming more and more prevalent. Last year alone, Americans bought 250 million extended warranties, according to the Service Contract Industry Council. There are also different types of aftermarket warranties available to consumers through the products they use; but there is only one program that offers motorists a full warranty and the possibility to receive a cash reward.
Quaker State has recently updated one of the longest running, easiest to use and most comprehensive motor oil warranties available to motorists, the Quaker State Lubrication Limited Warranty. The Quaker State Lubrication Limited Warranty, which is free to qualifying consumers who use Quaker State products, protects 15 engine parts from lubricant-related failure and provides motorists' vehicles with coverage for up to 10 years or 300,000 miles, whichever comes first.
In addition, if your vehicle does end up making it to the 300,000-mile marker under the Quaker State Lubrication Limited Warranty program, you can receive the cash value of your vehicle as part of the Quaker State Cash Back Bonus; a program designed to not only reward those motorists who view their vehicle's mileage as a badge of honor but also incentivizes them to keep their high-mileage vehicles and maintain them.
Following these simple tips can help promote a long life for your vehicle. For more information about the limited warranty program, Cash Back Bonus Program and the full line of Quaker State products, visit www.quakerstate.com.
