Nothing lasts forever. Pretty much everything goes through wear and tear, naturally or otherwise. The same thing is true with cars. Make that, especially with cars because it’s used often and on various road conditions. Add to this a reckless and uncaring driver and a vehicle will deteriorate more quickly than it should.
What are the telling signs that your ride is nearing the end of its life? According to experts, you’ll know if visits to garage are happening frequently and with repair costs becoming part of your monthly expenses. How quickly a vehicle age, however, depends on various factors, including model and manufacturer. Tests showed that Japanese cars would only need repairs at age 13, while Italian vehicles is likely to visit a mechanic at 3 years old.
What about a car’s engine?
There is no clear cut way to calculate how long an engine will last. But there are factors that can shorten or lengthen its longevity.
The materials used
Engines are made of different metals, such as iron-block and aluminum, and each component will have a say on its life. Between the two materials, iron block is said to be more durable and longer-lasting, because it can withstand the intense heat that the engine produces.
How a car is driven
The harder the engine works, the shorter its life span. Extreme acceleration and deceleration done repeatedly can further shorten its lifetime as well as towing heavy loads, driving at top speed for a long time and revving the engine.
Frequency of maintenance
Anything that is well-maintained often lasts longer than those left uncared for. The same thing is true with a car’s engine. If you really want to keep it in good condition, always keep fluids clean and fresh and clean air filter regularly.
Generally, your car will be good to you if you take good care of it as well. So don’t wait for anything to go wrong, before you start caring.
