Ask any car owner, and they will tell you that their car means way more to them than just, well, a car. It's a special bond! For those car lovers, here are nine ways you can make your car perform efficiently and last longer.

Your car's oil and air filter gets clogged up with use. Cleaning and replacing them periodically is essential. Although they are replaced during regular servicing at the garage, you may choose to replace it yourself as all it requires is a change of filters that are available in the market. However, ensure you select genuine parts when you buy new filters. You must also wash the air filters regularly to increase their lifespan. Refer manufacturers handbook for recommendations on filters cleaning and replacement.

Be gentle while driving. Abrupt braking and hard acceleration will only strain the engine and increase the rate of wear and tear on the mechanical parts. Allow thecar to warm up, especially in winters, before you raise the rpm rate. If the vehicle is new, allow it a proper break-in period. Aggressive driving not only affects the car health but also impacts its fuel efficiency and exhaust emissions.

Keep a check on the spark plugs and leads for signs of wear. A worn out spark plug may result from corrosion over time or may indicate a defect in the car engine. The spark plug consists of a light brown electrode and an insulator; ensure there are no signs of melting or deposits. A gap between the electrode and insulator in a new spark plug points towards a fault in engine as well. If you notice these symptoms, you must consult the nearest garage immediately. Leads with signs of cracks must be replaced quickly as well.

Topping up your car with vital fluids is absolutely critical to maintaining its health and performance. Keep a check on the engine oil levels regularly. Replace if the levels are too low or if the oil looks dark and dirty. You must also top-up the windscreen washer as well as the coolant reservoir with equal levels of distilled water and antifreeze. Ensure all the fluids are of good quality. Read manufacturers manual for recommendations.

One of the most important components of the vehicle that is in continuous contact with the road surface and is crucial to road safety. Keep the tyres inflated at appropriate pressures. Driving on under-inflated tyres will result in their faster wear and tear, and also affect the car's fuel efficiency. Experts recommend swapping the front and rear tyres periodically to ensure they wear out evenly. Keep the tyre tread at 3 mm at least to ensure optimal control and proper driving experience. Finally, ensure your tyres are correctly aligned, balanced, and free of any damage.

Regular and timely servicing is vital to keep your car in efficient condition. The service schedule may depend on the time or the distance covered by the vehicle. Scan through the handbook for due service details. Even when the next service is not due soon, but you see the dashboard warning light on, then you must take your vehicle to the nearest garage for diagnostics and repairs. With new MOT rules that now categorise faults as 'minor', 'major', and 'dangerous', you must get your vehicle checked and repaired for 'minor' and 'major' faults every two years. 

If your car is due an MOT soon, get it to Roberts Tyres Garage in Sleaford. Roberts Tyres offers MOT Holdingham area and several other regions in the surrounding vicinity.

Driving a car with excessive weight, especially if it's not a heavy-duty truck or van, is a bad idea. It significantly affects your car's fuel efficiency and mileage. It puts unnecessary strain on the engine affecting its performance and lifespan. It also strains the essential components such as tyres, brakes, and suspension, increasing the rate of corrosion on them. Keep that boot room light.

Whether it concerns fuel, fluids, or car parts, do not buy and use products of inferior quality just to save a couple of pounds. Using such products could potentially do more harm than good in the future. Opt for original products instead; they come with manufacturer's guarantee. Check the handbook for manufacturer recommendations.

Modification of the car is not recommended. It decreases its reliability and significantly shortens its lifespan. Tuning the engine for that extra bit of power stresses out the engine and its components. This leads to extra wear in brakes, chassis, bushes, and sub frames. Considering the amount you spend in modifying your vehicle, it does not necessarily increase its resale value.

Apart from the steps mentioned above, always keep your car clean and keep it free from grit and grimes. Have you been driving a car for considerably long time? What are your recommendations on steps a motorist must take to elongate the life of his car? Let us know in the comments below.