Your vehicle’s life span greatly hinges on how well you take care of it. An average car can last well over a decade if it is taken care of properly. Listed below are five tips for making your car last as long as possible.

The Break-in Period

The first 1,000 miles you drive are critical. You should remain under 88KPH (55MPH) and avoid loading the vehicle with extra weight. A new car should not be allowed to idle for long amounts of time, since the oil pressure may not distribute oil properly to all engine areas. Only use light acceleration during break-in and keep the engine RPM below 3,000.

Buy Quality Fuel

Large gas companies generally have quality fuel, but at rural stations you’ll need to be more careful. Check whether your fuel is filtered properly, since many stations don’t have filters. Some stations may even mix fuel and alcohol properly, which can affect your vehicle’s performance and damage it over the long term.

If a gas tanker is replenishing the tanks when you get to the station, either go to another station or come back a different day. When a station’s underground tanks get filled, the turbulence of pouring gas can stir up sediment. This sediment can clog fuel injectors and fuel filters and it is almost as damaging as unfiltered gas.

If You’re Stuck, Go Easy

Drivers who get stuck in snow or mud often make the problem worse by revving their engine too much and damaging a costly component. Gently rocking your car in order to free it is fine. However, if you are truly stuck, don’t push your luck. Revving your vehicle into reverse and spinning your tires generate lots of heat and may cause trouble for the differentials, clutches, and transmissions. Unless you’re an off-road vehicle geek, getting out of the mud may require professional help.

Mind the Ignition

Does your keychain have three dozen other keys hanging off it? If so, that creates quite a heavy load when your key is in the ignition. This weight gets even worse when the car bounces while driving, and it can wear out the ignition tumblers and eventually lead to ignition failure. To keep your ignition lasting for as long as possible, buy a lightweight keychain that allows you to separate one key from all the others.

A Final Word About Insurance

Even the most careful drivers are prone to accidents. Make sure that your car is adequately protected by high quality insurance. The company should be able to replace any broken components with exact matches from the manufacturer, not random spare parts.