Every driver knows the importance of oil changes and routine maintenance to help keep any car ticking, and air filters clog, brake pads wear out, and serpentine belts stretch as the miles add up. Usually there are warning signs that let you know something is off, but there could be things you?re doing?or not doing?that will shorten your car?s life span.
If you’re the type of driver who wants to keep your car for as long as possible, these are the four things you need to know.
1. Keep It Clean

Washing your car does more than make it look nice. It aids longevity by cleaning away contaminants that cause corrosion. Paint protects your car?s body panels from the elements, but the underside has it rough as it?s continually exposed to water, dirt, and grime that form rust. That’s why it?s especially important to wash your car during the winter when there is salt on the road. Road salt keeps the pavement free from ice but is notorious for eating holes straight through metal parts. Most cars have drainage points so rust-causing water can drip out, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need to give it a good wash every so often. 2. Lighten Up

Colin Chapman, creator of the legendary Lotus sports-car brand, summed up his engineering philosophy as ?simplify, then add lightness.? What he meant is that the less a car weighs, the better it will drive. If you have kids to shuttle to school, materials to haul to a job site, or outdoor gear to take to the trail, you pro...