Car Care Essentials: 5 Tips for Protecting Your Investment
Photo: Julia Nastogadka / Unsplash
If you’ve purchased a classic car or special vehicle, it makes sense that you would want to protect your investment. It can be tough, however, to know how to properly care for vehicles that aren’t driven every day. They need to be looked after differently to how you do with a daily drive, so it’s a good idea to know what you need to do to protect your investment before you bring it home.
Keep Your Car Covered
The first thing you’re going to want to do is find a safe and secure place to keep your new car. This needs to be indoors, both for security and for the health of your vehicle. Cars don’t appreciate being left out in the weather, as it can damage their paint and cause rust. If you don’t have access to a garage, it’s wise to look into affordable storage units for cars. That way, if it’s going to sit for an extended period of time, you’ll know it’s safe from the elements and protected from potential thieves and vandals.
Stay On Top Of Servicing
Even though you’re not driving your car all the time, it’s still going to need regular servicing. This helps keep your engine in top shape and prevents oil from becoming old and sludgy. The manufacturer of your vehicle will set guidelines for how often the car needs to be serviced, and you should follow these guidelines regardless of how often you drive it. As a general rule, once every twelve months is the longest you can wait between services, but your owner’s manual will let you know the ideal timing.
Use The Right Grade Fuel
When you do drive your vehicle, it’s important to use the correct grade of fuel. Manufacturers put fuel grade requirements on their vehicles, as there are certain ingredients and octane levels that vary between grades. Using the wrong kind of fuel can damage your engine over time – something that is particularly concerning if you’ve purchased your vehicle as an investment or showpiece. So be sure to always check the requirements and follow them every time you’re at the pump.
Clean The Vehicle Regularly
Paint can degrade when dirt and other pollutants have been left to sit on it. Bird poo, for example, will eat away at your car’s color, as will any drizzles that escape while fueling up. Even cars that are kept undercover in a garage or storage unit will get dusty over time, and although it may seem innocent, dirt can be coarse enough to scratch up your paint job in some instances.
To avoid this, wash your car often so it stays in top shape as it ages. Be sure to pay attention to the cleaning section of your manual, as this will tell you whether your car has any special requirements, such as touch free wash only.
Ensure It’s Insured
Finally, no one wants to think about bad things happening to their pride and joy, and it can be tempting to skip insuring your vehicle if it’s only going out for shows. However, this is a bad idea. You cannot predict the future, and it’s impossible to know if something ever will happen. So learn from the mistakes of others and insure your vehicle. Yes, it’s an extra expense, but you’ll be thankful for the cover if anything does happen.
Your new pride and joy needs to be protected and properly cared for if you want it to stay in top shape for years to come. These car care essentials should help you enjoy your vehicle for many years to come.
