3 Top Ways to Maintain Your Vehicle's Value

Your car paint is one of the most visible aspects of your car, and you want to keep it in good condition. Damaged paint can quickly lead to rust or corrosion if water seeps into the metal underneath. Worn or damaged paint also isn't aesthetically pleasing. We'd like to give you a few important tips on how to take care of the paint on used cars. more 3 Ways To Protect Car Paint on Used Cars Regular Washing Dirt, mud, and other filth from the road can build up on your car and must be removed to protect your paint. Dirt can cause scratches, and surface paint damage can allow liquid from water, mud, or snow to penetrate the protective coating and damage the paint beneath. Washing your car will remove all these substances and prevent them from damaging your paint job. Use the hosepipe to hose down your vehicle and remove most contaminants. We then advise using high-quality car soap and water to wash your car and rinse it thoroughly. Don't use dish soap, as it can be abrasive on the paint. Dry your car with microfiber cloths or towels rather than allowing it to air dry in the sun, as this can leave streaks behind. Use Car Wax Your paint job consists of multiple layers, with a clear top coat that protects the paint beneath. Once your car has been washed, waxing helps to provide an additional layer of protection. Wax forms an invisible film over the paint and guards against harmful UV rays from the sun that can cause the paint to fade. Always choose a high-quality wax, as a good wax provides longer-lasting protection and won't damage your paint. Carefully apply the wax and gently rub it into the surface. Your car doesn't require waxing as often as washing, but for best results, wax your car at least twice a year. The best time to do this is in spring and fall, as summer and winter conditions cause the most damage to your paint. Park Carefully One of the best ways to protect your paint is to reduce its exposure to sunlight and other potentially damaging situations as much as possible. Parking in a garage or under a carport provides the best protection. If they're not available, a good car cover that allows air to circulate can help keep your paint safe. Parking under a tree provides partial shelter from the elements but also exposes your car to bird droppings or splatter from falling fruit. Bird droppings and fruit pulp are acidic and can eat into the paint if they aren't cleared away quickly. If you'd like more advice on protecting your paint, contact us today at Rath Auto Resources Fort Smith in Fort Smith, AR.

The question of how often used cars should get an oil change depends on a number of factors: type and age of the vehicle, what kind of motor it has, and driving style and usage all come into play. The good news is that not only is oil service a ​quick, affordable, and simple ​service, but it's also one of the best ways to keep the heart of your car running smoothly and performing its best for years to come. more Mileage, Months, and Usage Your car should have a sticker from its previous oil service with two indicators: one for a mileage at which to change the oil, one for the date at which the next oil service should be scheduled. It's important to change the oil whichever comes first and not to wait for both. Oil degrades both with use and with time. Additionally, your vehicle's owner's manual will have guidance on oil type, change frequency, and more. The Importance of Clean, Fresh Oil and Filters Motor oil performs several crucial functions in your car's engine. First, it helps cool the engine, preventing overheating. More importantly, it lubricates the moving parts, ensuring smooth operation. It also helps remove any particulate buildup, including tiny metal shavings, contaminants, and more, which then is filtered out by the oil filter. When oil is left in a motor for too long, it can cause sludge buildup and damage, and if it runs out, the engine can seize, necessitating expensive repairs. Conventional, or Synthetic? Both conventional and synthetic oil have their advantages. Conventional oil is more affordable, though the longevity of synthetic oil tends to offset this. Synthetic oil may be a better choice if you drive hard or drive off-road, experience extreme heat or cold, spend a lot of time in traffic, or if you tend to take short trips (since synthetic performs better in cold engines). Your maintenance team can help you make a great decision either way. Your Car Shouldn't Burn Oil No matter how old your car is, an engine burning through an excessive amount of oil isn't normal. If you find yourself putting in quart after quart between changes, there may be something else wrong. Be sure to tell your technicians if your engine burns through oil so they can correctly diagnose the problem, whether it's a slow leak, a valve stem issue, or something more serious. When it's time to change the oil, it's time to have the job done right. Bring your car in for service at Rath Auto Resources in Fort Smith, AR, and let our team of professionals get the job done quickly, affordably, and correctly.

When you're in the market for a vehicle, we know it's sometimes hard to decide whether to go the new car route or not. If you're ever in this position, and you're weighing pros and cons, be sure to remember that used cars can be just as reliable as new cars if you take good care of them. By showing your investment some love in the form of preventative maintenance, you'll ensure your car will return the favor. more Keeps You Safer Ward off any potential issues by having a trained professional look at your car's parts and systems that are most likely to give you issues and hazards on the roads. This includes the brake system, tires, the battery, fluids, and filters. If you or a mechanic aren't taking a look, chances are you won't know there's an issue until your car has failed you until you're in an accident or stranded on the side of the road. They'll Last Longer With Upkeep All of the care you put into the individual components of your car will add up, helping you keep it on the road for longer. If the systems are kept happy with proper fluids and upkeep, they will work more efficiently, which will lead to fewer issues over time. Saves You Money In the long run, it's going to cost you less money to perform maintenance than it would have otherwise cost you to replace an entire system due to an easily preventable issue. Also, the more efficient your vehicle is, the better its fuel economy will be, which will save you even more at the pump. Overall, the more use you get out of your car, the longer it will be before you are in a position where you must replace it. More Money in the Form of Trade-In Value So, when the time eventually does come for you to part ways with your properly cared for vehicle, it will be in relatively better shape than had you neglected its health. Your car's overall condition will positively affect how much you can get for it when trading it in. This goes for both its appearance and what's under the hood. With this list of benefits, and the fact that there are some more not even listed, we think the time and effort that go into preventative care for a previously owned car is more than worth it. This is why purchasing used is a great option. Stop by Rath Auto Resources in Fort Smith, AR to check out our current inventory. Also, be sure to find out how our service department can help you achieve the benefits listed above.