Taking care of your car’s bodywork is a fundamental factor in reducing the future costs of your vehicle. For this reason, you should know some tips to keep your car’s bodywork in the best possible condition.
Performing periodic inspections of your vehicle is essential to prevent your car from wearing out or being damaged quickly. According to Youramazingcar.com, poor care and maintenance of a car can cause the loss of up to 30% of its value.
Keeping your car in good condition will help you drive it more safely and allow you to drive it for much longer and someday sell it. Here we offer a series of tips to keep your car in good condition:
#1. Exterior cleaning
To protect the bodywork, it is crucial to ensure that you take care of the exterior area, as it is not only a matter of aesthetics. For example, some particles are corrosive and can damage the metal areas of your car. For this reason, you should wash the bodywork at least once a month to remove all kinds of dirt.
Washing your vehicle is an essential part of bodywork maintenance; for this reason, you should do it with pressurized water. You should also use specific products to take care of the bodywork.
In addition, you should use microfiber gloves since sponges can help you, but they tend to accumulate dirt particles on the surface of the car. Even cleaning your car with fibers or sponges can damage the paintwork.
#2. Store the car in a garage
A good tip for taking care of your car’s bodywork is to store it in a garage. This way, you can protect the structure from climatic changes or high temperatures in summer since the ultraviolet rays can cause a progressive dulling on the outside of the car structure.
In case you do not have a garage, the best thing to do is to park it in the shade and in a place with enough space. Keep in mind that if you park it under a tree, fruits or bird droppings can stain and damage the outside of the vehicle.
#3. Repair damage as soon as possible
Some people wait until the car has several structural damages to repair them. However, this is not a good recommendation for proper bodywork maintenance since it is convenient to repair the damages as soon as possible.
For example, it is imperative to repair the bumps on the bodywork to prevent the sheet metal from rusting. It is better to repair the bodywork as soon as possible to prevent rust from damaging the structure.
It is also essential to fix the bodywork as soon as possible so that the vehicle’s stability is not compromised. Remember that the bodywork is not only sheet metal, which is the most livable part. Also, remember that damage to the structure can affect your driving safety.
Of course, bodywork should be carried out in a specialized workshop with professionals with extensive experience and the right tools.
#4. Beware of the beach
The salty environment of the beach can be corrosive to the vehicle’s support structure. For this reason, you should be careful when visiting these places.
It is best to wash the vehicle after visiting the beach to avoid excessive accumulation of sand. Also, when you arrive at the beach, try to park your car in a shady place to prevent the high temperatures, sand, and salt from damaging the bodywork.
#5. Drive with caution
Driving is an important aspect of avoiding bodywork damage in the short, medium, and long term.
To take care of the bodywork, you should drive and avoid bumps in the road, bumps when parking the vehicle, and jumps over small walls or obstacles. Any of the above conditions can affect the supporting structure and jeopardize the safety of passengers.
#6. Oil revision
Do you know the reason for changing the oil? The oil loses the properties that allow it to lubricate and keep the engine clean.
When changing the oil, it is necessary to replace the oil filter. Otherwise, the filter may become saturated due to the accumulated impurities, resulting in the circulation of the oil with contaminants, which may damage or accelerate the wear of moving parts.
#7. Tire check
In addition to immediately addressing a problem on your vehicle’s instrument panel, inspect the tires for abnormalities (such as a small tack or nail) and check the tire tread at least once a month.
Some tire retailers will check your tire pressure at no charge. Also, rotate tires every 6,000 to 7,000 miles (or every six months).
#8. Alignment and balancing
You know you need to have your car aligned when you have the sensation of not going in a straight line when driving. That is, it is going to one side.
It can also be evidenced when you are driving and your steering wheel is centered, that is to say, that it stays in its original position, and the car continues in a straight line.
If this happens to you, an alignment and balancing should be done, ideally every six months.
#9. Get an extended warranty
Car warranties have become increasingly important for consumers seeking certainty about their investments.
Once your car’s warranty has expired, and you can no longer use your dealer, finding a reliable mechanic who does not charge you for unnecessary repairs and offers guarantees and reasonable prices is essential.
#10. Verify headlights work
Check the lights and ensure they all work and turn on correctly because if they are out of alignment, they can be dangerous for you and other drivers.
This is one of the most imperative tasks because it allows you to avoid causing or suffering an accident when driving on the roads at night.
It is recommended that you check them frequently and ensure that the lights have the required intensity and are all working correctly.
Remember that the national traffic code prohibits strobe lights, luminous ornaments, or any light that may confuse other drivers.
#11. Check all fluids
Checking the fluids is also vital for the car: windshield wipers, brake fluid, and transmission fluid, among others, should be checked once a week.
Debris from everyday daily driving should be washed off regularly. Failure to wash your car can lead to premature wear and corrosion.
This is especially true in areas where road salt is used. Also, be aware that bird droppings and tree sap can be acidic.
#12. Replace wipers periodically
Changing the windshield wiper blades is advisable because it will allow you to see the road better in heavy rain, especially at night, and avoid a blurred view of the road.
Change them every 12 months or when they are not working correctly.
Importance of protecting the bodywork
The car’s structure is an important part of your vehicle since it is its basic support. That is to say, and the body is the base that will support all the elements that will shape your vehicle, including the passenger seats and the engine. For this reason, it is essential to take care of the bodywork.
On the other hand, it is important to mention that these structures guarantee the vehicles adequate comfort and safety at any time. For this reason, it is essential to provide adequate protection to the bodywork since its characteristics determine the vehicle’s availability for use.
Protecting the bodywork has become a very important factor in improving the safety of your car. Innovations in this field have made it possible for bodywork to be lighter without losing strength to serve as a support.
In addition, the designs of these structures have evolved to offer you controlled deformation in the event of an accident. Thanks to this, they can absorb the energy of a strong impact and thus provide you with a higher level of safety.
On the other hand, taking care of the bodywork is important for you to maintain maneuverability while driving and, of course, comfort, acceleration, and speed throughout the life of your vehicle.
