We all want a solid, consistent performance from our cars. With many things in life, this can be achieved with a forward planning. Cars function using a series of linked systems so if a single component isn’t working it can have a knock on effect on the overall performance.
To avoid any unnecessary roadside breakdowns the following is a brief guide to help you maintain your car.
Maintenance Record
It’s recommended to keep a record of any repairs done to your car throughout its history. Garages will create and update a record for you when any work is done. You can use it to monitor when regular maintenance needs to be carried out and from keeping a record you can also take note of the costs of repairs and start to notice patterns and possible weak points of your car. A maintenance record will also increase the credibility of your cars history.
Oil
Oil left to rest in your engine system for long stretches will start to break down. As oil breaks down its acidity will rise and begin to corrode internal components. If left untouched the damage will need extensive work to remedy it. Better quality oils take longer to dissolve and reduce the likeliness of damage.
Depending on how you drive, on average, it’s recommended that you change your oil every 4,000 miles. If your car is not in use for long stretches of time you need to carry out maintenance to prevent oil from settling. Start your car at least once a week and leave it running for quarter of an hour. This will let the oil circulate and stop it from settling.
Cooling System
Like oil, coolants left in your engine can start to break down and cause problems. The damage circulates as the acid in the decomposing coolants produces an electrical charge which can spread to important areas of your engine. This includes fuel intakes at the manifold which can spread to the cylinder heads and gaskets causing damage which will need significant repairs to fix. Coolants need to be replaced and the cooling system needs to be drained and cleared at least every 8,000 miles to prevent impurities from accumulating and damage occurring.
Ultimately, a well maintained car is much more economic to you and the environment.