How to prolong the life of your car engine

Car engines are expensive and for this very reason, it will save you valuable money by prolonging the life of your car engine. Scenarios out of your control can occur where you need to replace your engine, however, maintaining your engine usually ensures a longer engine life.

Here, we look into the main tips to extend your car engine’s life for as long as possible.

1. Change your engine oil

Changing your engine oil is vital for the maintenance of your engine. Essentially, the oil acts as a lubricant for different parts within the engine. Your car is made up of parts that work together and against one another. If you don’t top up your oil, parts aren’t lubricated and it will cause friction between these parts, wearing them down until they no longer work.

Cars send warning signals through lights on the dashboard. While the oil light will light up if your engine oil is low, it is recommended to still check your oil levels every few weeks and especially before high-mileage trips. 

We recommend storing your car products in specific storage solutions so you have these items on hand when you need them.

 

1. Avoid constantly driving on a near empty tank

When you’re running on low petrol or diesel, debris will build at the bottom, increasing the likelihood of this material being pushed into the engine when this final bit of gas is used. It is recommended you always have at least a quarter of a tank full at all times.

When debris gets into your engine, this is where the damage is done. The particles entering the engine will block the filters which will prevent your engine from starting altogether. 

 

1. Add a new air filter when required

As you can imagine, your car parts go through a lot. You therefore can’t just let things be – certain smaller parts need to be replaced in order to prolong the lives of the bigger, more expensive items. This is why air filters need to be changed every 12,000 to 15,000 miles.

If your air filter gets blocked, serious engine issues will occur. The vehicle will make up for less oxygen in the fuel and air by burning more gas, resulting in overheating the engine. 

 

1. Change your fuel filter when required

It is recommended to change fuel filters every 30,000 miles, which is approximately 2 years of driving. The importance of the fuel filter is that it halts polluted petrol or diesel from entering your vehicle’s engine. If your fuel filter is blocked, the fuel won’t even enter the engine at all. 

If you are not sure when your fuel filter was last changed, the warning signals include difficulty starting the car, sputtering, struggling when idling, and poor mileage. The engine light on your dashboard is a clear signal something is wrong with your vehicle’s engine. 

Once you are aware of the steps it takes to correctly maintain your engine, this can extend the life of your car’s engine significantly. In fact, if your engine is cared for correctly, the average lifespan is eight years. Utilising these simple tips on car engine maintenance will see you saving money and stress in the long run.