Why You Need a 4X4 & How To Maintain One!

There are so many reasons to buy a 4WD!. Firstly, they are much higher than other cars which provide better visibility and help drivers feel safer. Next, they have huge amounts of storage which is great news for anyone with kids/pets. Lastly, they can handle just about any terrain you throw at them, so whether it’s snowy on the school run or you find yourself off-road, you know that your vehicle will be able to cope. 

Of course, to get the best performance out of your 4×4 and maintain its value you need to take good care of it. Fortunately, you can read all about how to do this in the following article. 

Take care of the aesthetics

First of all, if you want to keep your 4WD in the best condition you will need to pay attention to its aesthetics. This means above all else regularly cleaning it inside and out. Now, you may think that a bucket of water with dish soap will do this job, but you will need to go a little further than that. Instead, invest in the proper brushes and sponges as well as some high-performance car shampoo. Be sure to rinse thoroughly too and then add a layer of hydrophobic wax later once dried as this will help keep your paintwork looking great for longer. 

When it comes to the inside of your car keeping it clean and dust-free is also important. To do this using a car vacuum and dust-catching gel/slime can help make things a lot easier. Especially in those hard-to-reach nooks and crannies that can be a nightmare to keep clean otherwise. 

Basic maintenance tasks 

Having the know-how to perform basic maintenance tasks is vital when it comes to owning a 4×4, especially if you want to make sure it retains its value. The first task that you need to be able to complete is checking the fluid levels in the engine. The reason for this is that your brakes require enough fluid to work correctly so if you don’t keep it topped up you risk damaging your car and having a less responsive stopping time. Similarly making sure you know how to check and top up your oil is especially vital for a 4×4 because they are so often driven off-road. 

Tire maintenance is crucial to keep your 4WD safe and efficient too. This means both rotating your tires and making sure they are balanced. Rotating your tires (and wheels) means changing their position so they all get equal wear and tear. The benefit of this is that it can help to increase the life of your tires and wheels because no one is being put under undue stress for long. 

Balancing your tires, on the other hand, is all about ensuring equal weight distribution around the circumference of the tire. Without balancing all sorts of damage can occur, not to mention the issues with the comfort it can cause. Be sure to balance your tire regularly as well as after rotating, repeating, or fitting new wheels or rims. 

Another important task is to regularly change your air filter. This is because a damaged air filter won’t allow enough air to get to your engine, which in turn limits its performance. 

Take the opportunity to upgrade when you can 

Another way that you can keep your 4WD looking and driving at its best is to take the opportunity to upgrade different aspects where possible. In particular, investing in the best 4×4 wheels can make a huge difference to the performance of your vehicle. Not to mention help keep the price as high as possible when it comes to selling it on or trading it for another.

Other elements on your 4X4 that you may wish to upgrade during your ownership include skid plates and winches. New exhaust systems are also popular, especially the stainless steel variety. Oh, and adding additional lights for your bull bars and bumpers can help you get more from your vehicle and ensure it reaches the highest price when you resell. 

Protect from rust 

Although many 4WD are designed to function in more extreme conditions, one thing that can be a big problem is rust. Indeed, rust on the bodywork of your 4×4 isn’t just an aesthetic problem, as it can threaten the overall structural integrity of your vehicle as well. 

One way to deal with this is to keep an eagle eye on your bodywork when you wash it. Although, protecting your car from the rain and using specialist treatments can help to prevent rust from establishing itself in the first place is the best approach. 

 

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