Some Tips to Extend the Life of Your Car! Merry Christmas! You Got a New Car!

Believe it or not, extending the life of your car starts with what you do when it’s brand new! So before you sign up for car payments for the next 5 years of your life, there are some things you should try to remember as you pull out of the dealer’s lot:
• A car has a “break-in” period, and it lasts for about the first 1,000 miles. During that time, keep your speed under 55 mph (yes – that’s what we said – 55 mph; start leaving earlier), or whatever speed is recommended by the car’s manufacturer. (go look in that “manual” in your glove compartment that we keep telling you about!)
• During those first 1000 miles, don’t put heavy loads on your drive train, which translates to: don’t tow trailers, and don’t load up your roof rack or trunk with heavy construction equipment.
• Don’t allow your new car to idle for long periods. This is actually good advice throughout the life of your car, but especially important while you’re breaking it in. The oil pressure generated by doing this may not be sending oil to every part of your engine.
• Ease up on the gas pedal; use only light to medium acceleration. Please, resist the urge to put the “pedal to the metal,” at least for the first few hours of driving it.