Engineering Magazines

Some owners keep their automobiles running like finely tuned Swiss watches. They carefully follow all of the manufacturer’s recommendations in the owner’s manual. They buy premium grade oil, order regular check-ups and rush to the repair shop when they detect any unusual noise.

However, most of us are inclined to skimp a little on maintenance and some of us never see the repair shop until the car quits. Sometimes this is due to finances but most of the time it is a matter of convenience. We need our cars to take us where we have to go and we’re reluctant to give them up even for a short period of time.

But, now that gasoline is still at astronomical prices, we need to re-think our maintenance practices. Letting some things go can cost us money in extra fuel consumption. For instance, repairing a faulty oxygen sensor can result in a 40% improvement in gas mileage. Tuning an engine can increase mileage by 4%.

You should be sure that your air filter is always clean. If your engine is fuel injected, airflow regulates the quantity of fuel that is burned. The process of mixing air and fuel is quite precise so the filter needs to be clean to ensure an efficient mixture. The air filter also protects your engine from impurities, extending the life of the engine as well as saving on gas.

It is also important to check oil regularly and change dirty oil. An engine with clean oil operates at maximum efficiency, which translates into gas savings. You should definitely use the grade of motor oil recommended by the manufacturer. Using one weight oil in an engine designed for a different weight can lower gas mileage up to 2%.

You can also realize greater efficiency from using a high-quality multi-grade oil but if there is a price difference you need to compare the costs involved.

And when your tires are not properly inflated, your gas mileage decreases by 5%. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that millions of American cars run on tires that are not correctly inflated. Correctly inflated tires will also last longer and are safer.

The owner’s manual always states the correct pressure for the tires. If you are driving a pre-owned car with no owner’s manual, you can call a local dealer or research the information on the net.

Radial tires are supposed to improve gas mileage by 5% when driving in the city and by 7% when driving on a highway. So if you don’t already use radials, you might consider switching.

Another benefit of radial tires is that they last longer. However, you should be careful not to mix radials with conventional tires unless the owner’s manual clearly states that this procedure is acceptable for that model car.

In addition, tires need to be properly balanced. Properly balanced tires reduce road friction thereby increasing fuel efficiency.

You also need to check wheel alignment to ensure that wheels are properly aligned. Wheels that are out of alignment also cause your car to burn extra fuel.

Although the savings from each practice might be small, the overall savings is worth the extra effort.

Owning a car is a one time affair for most Indians and they want their car to brand new car always. Though the task is little difficult but not impossible. With regular maintenance and proper care can give your car a long life.

One of the important things to be taken care is to check the engine, oil and coolant changes, brake functions and tires. If you detect any faults get it immediately fixed. Do a weekly check on this. Get your car serviced regularly from good mechanics.

Some of the easy steps to follow that your car runs like a new car is:

1) Follow the user manual instructions. Manufactures will have given specific maintenance instructions for every part. Use only manufacturer recommended lubricants and contact authorized dealers for replacement of spare parts.

2) Check regularly under the hood from firewall to radiator. Most modern cars are packed with expensive components. Any breakdown of these equipments could result in costly expenditure. Notice dents, rusts, cuts, spills in the components. Do not tamper without prior knowledge of repairing them.

3) Check the oil level frequently. Notice the plastic coolant overflow tank. The orange or green coolant should be between high and low marks. If it is not, add coolant after the engine has cooled down. In case the coolant has turned brown get a technician to check it.

Follow the maintenance schedule strictly.

Schedules differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. A recommendation for 10,000 miles for oil change, or 100,000 miles for cooling systems are some of the examples. A trusted technician will help you chart out a better maintenance schedule for you.

1) Inspect tire pressure: Check tire pressure usually in the morning when tires are cold. Check in petrol stations or use pressure gauges. Conduct the check at least once a month.

2) check the lights: Find out if the lights have burnt out. Lights under the hood, trunk space should be kept running at all times.

3) Change oil filter, oil and belts: For every 5000 miles or every three months change oil, filter. Impurities could get clogged in the filter or oil could have burnt excessively. Check belts and hoses regularly. Those that are older than 6 years should be changed.

4) Inspect tire rotation and wheel balancing. Check it after every 5000 miles or every three months.

5) Replace air filters and fuel filters: They could cause major problem in smooth engine functioning. You could add mileage by fitting new ones in place of old. Also service the transmission for every 25,000 miles.

6) Test the battery: replace battery if it is five years or more. Battery tends to get worn out due to over usage.

Ensure that the exterior also reflects the essence of the car.

A few tips include

1) Wash your car daily with fresh water. Dust settled on the exterior dull the shine and need to be washed. Wipe it with a moist cloth as dry cloth could leave minor scratched on the paint.

2) Remove dirt from areas which could not be cleaned during daily wash. The usual spots could be door hinges, wheel arches, nooks, under the bumpers, in front grille and underbody components.

3) Park in shade. Sunlight could damage paint causing it to fade down slowly.

4) Avoid using plastic or vinyl cover on cars during humid days. Due to this moisture is trapped and perfect conditions are created for formation of fungus.

5) Regularly vacuum clean the interiors especially the seats and centre consoles. Spray mild air fresheners to drive away bad odors. The car interiors will feel fresh every time you enter it.

6) Immediately attend to the scratches and dents. Metal could start rusting from the scratches and dents.

7) Those living in mountainous area or sea shore need to be careful about corrosion. Moisture could cause damages and leave the car looking dull.

Regularly clean chrome parts to ensure that the shine is protected. Dust, oxidization and rust could ruin the shine forever.