Engineering Magazines

There are a number of preliminary steps that should be taken before the automotive engine can be removed and the work started on the vehicle.

First of all locating a place to do the work is extremely important. Adequate work space along with storage space for that vehicle or even set of vehicles, if you are providing for parts cars, is needed. If a shop or garage is not available, then at the very least then a flat, level, clean work surface made of concrete or cement is required. If it turns out in your searches and travels that the only surface available is asphalt, then be sure to remember that most jack stands will tend to sink into your asphalt when it comes time to support an extreme amount of weight especially when it comes time to support heavier sets and types of vehicles – be it SUV’s, older well made heavier vintage cars and of course trucks and busses.

Cleaning the power plant compartment and the engine before beginning the whole removal process and procedure will help to keep your tools and tool chest clean and even well and better organized. Often automotive professionals themselves and those in the trade will suggest and recommend to novice mechanics that the best method and methods for cleaning both the engine and engine compartments is to have them steam cleaned themselves by a professional automobile “detail” shop. As an alternate method most often used by home mechanics is to have the engine itself degreased. You can easily purchase a can of engine degreaser - say at your local Canadian tire store or other big box automotive parts outlet. If the motor and other power train components have an extraordinary amount of dirt, grime and grease you might want to consider purchasing two cans. Why have to drive back to the parts store unnecessarily? There are more than one brand or type of engine cleaner and degreaser to choose from , the best advice here by experienced mechanics and car industry professionals is to be sure that the label of the cleaning product specifically designates the product as an “engine degreaser” not a brake or other type of cleanser.

Before the vehicle is dissembled itself, you can drive the vehicle over to a self service car wash or alternate where you can find high pressure cleaning equipment as well as proper drainage for the dirty water left over from engine compartment degreasing. Make sure that the trip over to the car wash has allowed the engine to heat up to normal operating temperatures to allow the degreaser solution to do its work in softening up and removing the long baked on dirt , grease and engine compartment grime. You can use a few old rags as well as plastic bags to cover areas that you do not want to get wet – for example electrical components as well as distributors and electric coils in older vintage cars and vehicles. Of course this will help the engine to start, and you drive away easily and without fuss after the whole cleaning process are over.

It’s always easiest to work on a clean engine both before, during an engine overhaul as well as the whole process of putting the motor and its automotive components back to the condition where it can be simply driven away – back to automotive owner or car lot where it came from.

What do we all want while driving? To provide for our families, loved ones, and what have you. How do you accomplish this? There are a whole slew of roads to travel, but one main ingredient is a family car that is always 100% reliable. And if driving creates you running errands faster, to save money on gas, and decreasing air pollution, you win twice. Your 1993 Ford Tempo or whichever car, truck, van, or boat you drive needs to be performing at top capacity.

The most important thing you can do for your car is make regular auto maintenance check-ups, service all the automotive liquids. Oh, by the way, be sure to check your car’s liquids every 2 weeks. That means your oil, coolant, power steering fluid, and transmission liquids. Make checking your tires a constant too. My ex-girlfriend recently called me up and cried that one of her tires exploded driving under a freeway. Yikes. Also, don’t forget to maintain a proper fuel tank level according to your particular car’s engine (see car owner manual). A car owner manual is like the bible of your vehicle. If you don’t already have one, get one. You’ll wish you had one if your car breaks down in the desert.

Your car engine will thank you with better performance and quicker reaction times, which is an essential part of keeping you and your family and friends safe on the road. Make yourself aware of this info. It may save the life of your engine one day. It will save you money on gas and auto maintenance.

Choose the right fuel. Your vehicle is designed to take regular unleaded fuel, which will have this symbol (87) on the pump at the gas station. The 87 symbol refers to the level of octane in the fuel. Using lower grade of fuel will jack up your car engine and will cause heavy knocking, which could easily damage your engine. I drive a Ford Tempo, and my car owner manual says to use the 87 grade of gas.

Higher grade fuels will protect your fuel system from rusting and protect against fuel lock in the fuel system (causes engine to hesitate/stall and hard to restart). In addition, it will minimize fuel deposits in fuel injection system, and prevent your engine from knocking/pinging.

Higher grade fuels will also prevent the fuel system from “gumming up” when not run for long periods of time, not to mention help your, Ford Tempo perhaps, start more easily in winter while assisting in help the prevention of freezing fuel lines.

Tips to increase gas mileage include not driving at life-threatening highway speeds can dramatically lower your fuel economy. It maybe fun, but it’s the car that you don’t see that will do the most damage. Gradually increasing your speed will save you precious fuel. And the way gas prices have been, it is nice not having to cram all your money into your gas tank. Extended idling of your engine will lower your miles per gallon.

I hope theses tips allow you to spend more time with your family and friends. As well as save money on gas, and auto maintenance. Enjoy!