How Vehicle Owners Can Keep Their Car Engines Healthy

One of a car owner’s most important jobs is keeping their vehicle’s engine healthy. Discover tips for maintaining a strong and long-lasting car engine.

The engine is the heart of your car, and when there’s a problem with the engine, it compromises the entire vehicle. That’s why it’s critical for you to regularly consider the health and vitality of your vehicle’s engine. Explore how vehicle owners can keep their car engines healthy for longer.

Perform Routine Oil Changes

Oil changes are some of the most important routine services your car needs, as they’re critical to the health of the engine. Motor oil is the lifeblood of your car and its engine, and without a quality supply of clean oil, friction arises and components wear down quickly. You should change your car’s oil every 5,000 miles or so, depending on the vehicle and the motor oil you use. If unsure, you can check the owner’s manual, which will have a recommended service schedule for oil changes.

Upgrade Spark Plugs

The sspark plugs play a critical role in engine performance and health. Without clean and adequately functioning spark plugs, your car’s engine will sputter and struggle to turn over and idle properly. Stock spark plugs’ longevity varies widely, with some requiring replacement after 30,000 miles and others lasting as long as 90,000 miles. If you want to boost your engine’s performance and health, new, upgraded spark plugs will last longer and perform better than stock plugs.

Change Air Filters Regularly

Another simple but effective way vehicle owners can keep their car engines healthy is to swap out the engine air filters regularly. The engine needs clean air to function at its best, but dirt, dust, and debris can clog the engine and eventually cause damage. You should change your car engine’s air filter every 12,000 miles, or roughly every other oil change, for optimal results.

Drive Conservatively

While there are mechanical ways to sustain your vehicle’s engine, you shouldn’t overlook the value of safe and conservative driving. Sudden and intense acceleration, long idling, and excessive top speeds are all hard on the car’s engine. When driving, keep things smooth and consistent—it could add years to your car’s engine and its components.

Listen for Unusual Sounds

Your car and its engine are likely to tell you when something’s wrong by emitting a strange or new sound from underneath the hood. If you notice an odd sound from your engine, don’t ignore it—take a look at things yourself or bring your vehicle in for a professional inspection. Occasionally, you should turn your radio off, avoid distractions, and listen to the engine for anything out of the ordinary. Doing so will help you stay ahead of any potential issues.

Keep these tips in mind to ensure you maintain a healthy and strong vehicle engine. Often, the difference between a well-functioning vehicle and a compromised one is driver attention, so be sure to listen when your car tries to tell you something is wrong.