Did you know that the lifetime of a car on the road has reached an all-time high of almost 12 years?

That’s right!

The market research firm, IHS Markit, began tracking the age and lifetime of cars on the roads of USA in 2002. In the last 2 decades, the average lifespan of a car has increased from just over 9 years to almost 12 years as reported in 2020 by Forbes.

Now, you may be wondering, how will the cars and roads of the US compare to the vehicles running on the roads of Bangladesh.

You are right, however that doesn’t mean we cannot use it as a point of reference.

Don’t start to worry if your car is showing signs of the end at 4 or 5 years. We’re listing some of the simplest yet highly effective ways to extend the life of your car.

1.    Routine Checks For A Better Performing & Longer Running Car

The first and most important tip is the simplest one – routine checking!

We often underestimate the effectiveness of these small things that ensure that our car is running better and for a longer time.

Now, you may take it for servicing, or a workshop of your choice regularly as suggested by the car manufacturer. We’re recommending DIY inspections on monthly basis. If you detect something is not right, you should get it checked by a mechanic and fixed, as necessary.

The following are the DIY things that you should be routinely checking:

• Rate of fuel consumption
• Engine oil level and colour
• Tyres & Wipers
• Coolant and other liquids like screen wash
• Electric controls
• Filters such as air filter, oil filter, etc.
• Spark plugs
• Brakes
• Air conditioning

Making these checks won’t magically improve the life of your car, but it will allow you to detect issues before they turn into bigger problems.

2.    Changing Filters Regularly

Now, this is critical to drivers in the subcontinent, or in fact in any part of the world where the air pollution is high.

The air filters of your car are not just important for your car, but also for your own health. You may be thinking that you are doing your best to protect your family from the pollution by having the windows closed and the AC running, but you’re not.

The air filter is a crucial component and is one of the things that need changing to make sure that contaminants continue to be filtered out and you can breathe fresh air inside the car. We should be changing air filters more often since we live in a highly polluted environment.

The other filter of the car is the lifeline of your car’s engine – the motor oil. It is not enough that you use a reliable engine oil but you must also change the oil filter regularly.

As the oil burns, the filter wears out and so the oil filter is unable to remove the sludge from dirty engines to keep them clean for smoother and quieter drive. While a fully synthetic oil such as the Shell Helix Ultra can provide exceptional protection and cleansing, even at the longest manufacturer-recommended oil-drain intervals; most others only offer about 5,000 KMs.

So, be sure to get the oil filters changed regularly as necessary to avoid causing long-term harm to your vehicle’s engine.

3.    Smooth & Safe Driving

It is not a myth and is proven that when you drive with a calm mind – you drive safer. If you drive safely, then your braking and speeding will be smoother and more effective.

You also need to watch out for potholes, and other damages on the road to cause less strain on your tyres, suspension and engine. In doing so, you will ensure that your car’s engine is not under any undue stress and as a result, it will have a better, extended lifeline.

As a bonus, you will also save fuel with moderate braking and speeding. When you use less fuel, you also leave a lesser carbon footprint on the environment making it greener and safer for all.

4.    Replacing Sparkplugs & Leads

Although it requires a bit more of a clear understanding of your vehicle, you can easily check the sparkplugs and leads of your car.

The sparkplugs directly impact the ignition and engine performance. You should replace them as necessary and if it is frequently wearing away, then there may potentially be other underlying engine issues.

The leads such as the battery plus and minus, need to be checked for signs of erosion, melting, deposits, etc. It is a straightforward check that will ensure proper performance and unexpected repairs.

5.    Make Sure All Fluids Are Topped Up

Think about all the fluids that go into your car – from the engine oil to the windshield washer fluid. You need to ensure all of these are always topped up to a good level.

The engine oil is to your car, what blood is to our veins – yes, it is that important!

Get a premium engine oil to ensure peace of mind, improve performance and enhance the lifetime of your vehicle.

“Shell’s (Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40) ultimate active cleansing technology allows up to five times more effective at removing sludge from dirty engines than mineral oil.”

– Shell Bangladesh

You also have to ensure all other fluids such as the radiator water, brake oil, screen wash, even your fuel is topped up accordingly. Experts agree that driving with low fuel causes extra strain on the engine.

That’s how simple it is to keep your car running safely for longer!

Okay, so maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but following these 5 simple tips will ensure you are safer on the roads. Not just safe for yourself, but also for your car.

Be sure to seek expert advice for any vehicle related issues from a funny noise in the engine to a funny smell. In any such case, seek expert advice from a service centre, workshop or mechanic. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

Drive safely!