The useful life of a car is 14 years, as described by the experts of car repair company Carglass. However, this depends on each driver’s situation, the use of the vehicle and other circumstances. As for the mileage, Cars usually have a lifespan of between 300,000 and 500,000 kilometers.

There are factors that may indicate that it is time to switch vehicles, but if your intention is to extend the life and usability of the transport, it is preferable to be aware of certain conditions and to carry out constant revisions. “The ideal is to do an overhaul every 5,000 kilometers, but people tend to extend the time a little bit so as not to spend money, which will ultimately harm them,” says Taller Vera’s manager, Bolívar Vera.

During the rainy season, cars can be more affected by changes in weather and road conditions. Vera points out that potholes, bridge crossings and overpasses eventually damage cars’ suspensions, so it should be reviewed every 3 months.

Tips to extend the life of your vehicle

Pieces don’t last forever. Just like a car, car parts don’t last forever and need to be replaced.

The gas. Prevent impurities that are in the lower part of the vehicle from reaching the engine, so it is preferable that the car has more than half the tank full. Likewise, the fuel mixture also affects the car, Vera indicates that this can cause damage to the fuel pump, filters and lines.

Pedro Villota, an automotive engineer, makes several comments and warnings against the artisanal blend of gasoline. Explain that gasoline is not normally mixed because they have different additives that prevent them from coming together. For this reason, he explains, if people want to mix gasoline in the tank, they must do so by meeting at least two parameters. The first is to put an equal number of liters of one and the other (four liters of super and four liters of ecoland or extra). But they also need to add an emulsifier that allows for mixing. “Otherwise, neither the quality nor the economic benefit nor the care for the sought-after engine would be obtained,” he says.

Take care of the tires. After five years or more of use, have your tires checked by a professional at least once a year. When checking every 5,000 or 10,000 kilometers, or when changing the oil, you can choose to rotate and align the tires. Rotating means swapping the tires from back to front and vice versa to try for even wear; that is done with alignment and balancing.

Good use of the gearbox. The gearbox can have the same service life as the vehicle. Try not to rest your hand on it or shift aggressively while driving.

Cleaning. Not only do you have to clean the cabin of the car, the accumulation of dirt can also affect the body.