[Resolved] How to Prolong Engine Life of Your Car?

We hope you love the products we recommend and just so you know that as an Amazon Associate & J&P Cycles affiliate, MyEngineNeeds may earn from qualifying purchases.

Photo by Eduardo Buscariolli on Unsplash

The engine acts like the backbone of a car. Keeping your car’s engine in good shape ensures its longer life, fewer breakdowns, and consistent performance. 

Many people think that changing the oil, coolant, and fluids on time is enough to look after the engine’s health. But unfortunately, it’s just their assumption! 

News flash: Routine maintenance is just the start. Your car engine is a needy component, and it demands much more than that. 

Wondering how to prolong engine life to ensure your car lasts longer?

Here are 6 tried and tested strategies besides regular maintenance that can help keep your engine healthy until it covers its standard mileage. 

Strategy#1: Use Gear Change Indicator

The engine’s life reduces if it is continuously pushed to its redline. Also, if you drive the car in higher gear, the engine shakes and strains the crankshaft.  

Therefore, it is preferable to use the gear change indicator, a feature available in all the new models. It gives a clear signal of the gear you should be driving in. 

It would not only help you get more fuel efficiency out of your car, but it would also lengthen the engine’s lifespan.

Strategy#2: Replace Spraying Water with Mild Degreaser 

To clean the surface, most people spray the engine with water. Spraying water exposes some of the electronics to a greater danger of malfunction. 

Moreover, unless you can wipe it clean afterward or can do it with a proper automobile, the exposed portion of the engine may rust more quickly. 

Therefore, to remove the dust, it is better to use pressurized air, a mild degreaser, and a microfiber cloth to wipe it down until it is spotless. Although it may take longer, this approach would ultimately be better for your engine.

Strategy#3: Refrain Yourself from Speeding Up Frequently

Speeding can put a lot of strain on your engine. If you drive more than the speed limit, your car’s engine will have to work harder as it would have to feed more fuel to the pistons. 

Avoiding excessive speeding is essential for successfully extending your engine’s lifespan. You can reduce your pace at certain places rather than going too fast and save yourself the hassle of reviving your tired engine. 

Strategy#4: Keep the Engine Away from Extreme Weather

People underestimate the harm that severe weather may do to the engine of the vehicle. Extreme hot or cold temperatures will always have an impact on the engine. 

The high temperature may melt some delicate components. In contrast, the abnormally low temperature can cause the engine to freeze, making it difficult to start. 

For the longer life span of your engine, keeping it in a temperature-controlled garage is considerably better. 

Specialized temperature control tarps can help safeguard the engine’s health in severe weather if you don’t have any other options or a garage. 

Strategy#5: Replace the Damaged Parts with New Ones

The old parts, or the parts that have seen some bad days, also impact the engine’s life. The components of trucks like Suburbans and other vehicles that carry heavy loads are mostly worn-out.  

Purchasing new parts is one of the best ways to extend the life of your engine, more if it is already near the end of its useful life.

Before you do that, inspect your engine and all its parts. When you become sure that there is long-term and permanent damage, you should replace and invest in new parts for your car. 

Strategy#6: Do an Engine Flush and Fluid Replacement

In addition to lubrication, engine oil serves as a coolant, a sealer, and a preventative against rusting of the parts. 

Most of these fluids deteriorate over time and with use. Replacing all necessary fluids, such as brake fluid, transmission oil, and engine oil, on time ensures the healthy life of the engine. 

However, before changing the oil in your engine, always do a thorough engine flush to avoid the accumulation of carbon and sludge over time.

Pro Tips to Prolong Engine Life of Your Car

You can make the automobile engine run optimally and survive a long time by following these practical tips:

•         Every 3000 to 5000 miles, an engine should receive regular maintenance. 
•         Every 10,000 to 15,000 miles, change the gasoline filters. 
•         Every 2 to 4 years, perform a battery test or replacement.
•         Every 4 to 5 years, replace the engine coolant. 
•         Every 5000 miles, replace the air filter.
•         Every 100,000 miles, spark plugs should be changed (if they are radium spark plugs). 

Consistently practicing the aforementioned strategies and tips will ensure that your engine performs at its very best.