Get to Know Your car Inside out
For a Great Journey

Buying a car is a major investment. As a result, people are inclined to take good care of their ride to ensure that their car continues to run for as long as possible. Car owners will also undoubtedly be pleased to know that modern cars are built with higher quality materials and made to last longer. With that said, how long can car owners reasonably expect their vehicles to last? The short answer is that with proper care, your vehicle can probably last a decade or more.

According to a recent automotive survey by IHS, the average age of a vehicle in the United States stands at 11.5 years. In Asia, this drops to 6.5 years, due largely to the desire of motorists to replace their cars more often rather than any quality related issues.It is also very important to note that multiple factors can affect the lifecycle of different parts within the vehicle, from the weather, to road conditions and even driving habits. As such, it pays off in the long run to ensure that components within your car are in good working condition at all times.

Here’s a quick look at key components within your vehicle you should be keeping a close eye on to ensure a smooth, comfortable and safe ride.

At the heart of every car is its engine. Keeping your car engine in tip-top shape starts with changing out the oil regularly or every other month, or after every 10,000 km travelled or so. The motor oil lubricates the moving components of the engine, reducing friction between the parts and dissipating any heat in the process that could potentially build up and damage engine components. The oil also removes bits of dirt and dust which may find their way into the engine. With proper care, you can get more than 480,000 km out of a typical gasoline engine – that’s enough mileage to circle the Earth 12 times!

Apart from the engine, other components such as the transmission also requires periodic maintenance. While transmissions in general have a long service life, the oil may age prematurely due to external factors. As such, service experts highly recommend to change the transmission oil and transmission filter at the same time, after 100,000 km or after eight years to regenerate optimum performance.

Often overlooked, a car’s suspension and shock absorbers are the unsung heroes that ensure you get from point A to point B with nary a bump. Together, these devices act to dampen shocks, such as jerks and bumps, from driving on uneven surfaces. When a car goes over a bump, the suspension allows for the wheel to bounce up and down while keeping the floor of the car level. The shock absorber then works to quickly stabilise the car by reducing the bouncing action. By absorbing and distributing forces evenly, shock absorbers help to keep car tyres in contact with the road, ensuring they do not lose their grip.

Look out for signs of corrosion or oil leakage on shock absorbers or springs by turning the car’s front wheels to either side, or check the rubber bushings and mountings for signs of wear. We highly recommended getting your shock absorbers and steering and suspension systems checked after every 80,000 km on the road.

Check your brake pads – which provides the friction to stop your vehicle – every 60,000 km or every two years to ensure you have a good grip on things. Common tell-tale signs that something might be wrong with your brakes include unusual ‘squealing’ noises when braking, or if your car vibrates or shakes when applying the brakes. As we always say, ‘if in doubt, check it out’.

As a global automotive supplier with more than 100 years of innovation in motion and mobility, ZF offers a complete portfolio of products and services to meet the needs of our customers. Contact us for more information today – because a great journey starts with ZF.