5 Tips for Car Maintenance that will Save You a lot of Effort and Money
If you start to carefully monitor the condition of your car, then in the long term you can save a lot of effort and money. In addition to saving on repairs, the driver gets a more durable and reliable car.These 5 simple tips to help any driver reduce unnecessary car costs.
1. Use only High Quality Gasoline:
A car engine requires three things to run: fuel, air, and an electric spark. The fuel used must always be of high quality, otherwise the machine will not work as it should and it may even require repairs. You should buy gasoline only at proven gas stations. At the same time, the well-known name of the fuel company does not guarantee the high quality of the fuel. Also, it is far from a fact that more expensive fuel will be better than cheap one. Drivers should pay attention to fuel markings. Some car models are allowed to refuel with different grades of gasoline (for example, both A-92 and A-95). In this case, it is better not to be greedy, and use the one with the higher octane number. It gives an increase in power and a decrease in consumption. The effect is especially noticeable on injection vehicles.
2. Inspect and Maintain Electrical Systems:
When servicing a vehicle, little attention is usually paid to the electrical system. But it also needs to be monitored, because the problems begin already with the battery terminals. Each time you look under the hood, you should inspect them. Terminals must be clean and free of debris. The wires must not be twisted or bent. The "negative" wire is then connected to ground (body and engine of the car). The place of its attachment to the body must also be clean, and the wire must not dangle. And it should be remembered that in any work with electrical equipment, first the "minus" terminal is disconnected from the battery, and only then the "plus" one. This is very important for the safety of "delicate" electrical appliances.
3. There are no "Eternal" Filters:
Air is as necessary for the engine to work as gasoline. It is sucked from under the hood, where it should be filtered from debris and dust. In modern cars, as a rule, one filter is used. It should be changed at least as often as indicated in the operating instructions. But if the vehicle is operated in the southern regions, where there is a lot of dust, then it should be done more often. Dust clogs the filter and does not allow air to pass through. Because of this, the car loses power and may not even start. You can't drive without a filter either. Grains and debris, getting into the engine cylinders, lead to their accelerated wear, and then further deteriorate the properties of the engine oil. In addition to air, fuel and oil filters also require attention. They should also be replaced according to the manufacturer's instructions. Do not wait for problems with the fuel supply system or deterioration of lubrication of parts. This is fraught with large financial losses.
4. Check Fluids Regularly:
A modern car uses quite a lot of fluids, including engine oil, windshield washer fluid, brake fluid, transmission oil, and heavy lubricants in the chassis. From time to time it is necessary to check their level, as well as quality (purity). The amount of engine and transmission oil is checked with dipsticks, on which the minimum and maximum levels are marked. In order to keep the car longer, it is worth getting into the habit of opening the hood and checking the oil level every time you refuel. The brake fluid reservoir is also located under the hood - on the rear wall of the engine compartment directly in front of the driver. Here it is not worth opening it without a good reason, unless you are going to add liquid.
5. Check the Condition of the Wheels:
Tire pressure directly affects tire life, fuel economy and safety. However, few drivers regularly check the tire pressure. Some newer vehicles have built-in tire pressure sensors that display a message on the dashboard. For the rest, checking the pressure should become standard procedure every time you refuel, or at least once a week. The amount of air pressure varies from model to model. You can recognize it from the plate on the end of the door. On passenger cars, this is usually 2-2.5 atmospheres (bar). Tread wear is another important factor in tire quality. The lower the tread height, the worse the grip of the tires. The braking distance is increased, which makes driving dangerous. The minimum tread size is regulated by law: 1.6 mm for summer tires and 4 mm for winter tires. For tires that are worn out to such a limit, one way is to landfill. To increase the life of the wheels of the car and to ensure more even wear of the tires, they are swapped. Every 10,000 kilometers (or when changing the oil), the wheels are rearranged according to a special scheme: the rear wheels are put forward, and the front ones are rearward, also changing the left and right. At the same time, they also look at the general condition of the tires, checking for the absence of scuffs and bumps.
