The Sunday Mail
CAR engines are the vital and central operating units of any vehicle, but sadly, none of us spend much time looking after the engines.
To avoid any vulnerabilities and serious problems, it is essential to regularly check your engine.
However, there are some significant parts and mechanisms that need weekly, if not daily, inspection.
Check the engine’s cooling system
The cooling system in an engine helps it to maintain its internal temperatures and transfer excessive heat out of the engine. The cooling system must not be left unattended every time when you plan a long journey.
A straightforward way to look after and safeguard your engine from overheating is by checking that it has the appropriate quantity of coolant flowing inside the engine’s cooling chambers.
Always keep the coolant level above the minimum level but below the maximum level to avoid any leakage.
Very deeply coloured coolant in orange or red must be replaced with the fresh coolant by flushing out the radiator.
Maintaining the cooling system costs far less than the damage done by overheating.
Clear the engine’s nose
The engine utilises the air to burn the fuel in the combustion chambers and it breathes in just the same manner that humans do. It is vital that you regularly check the vehicle’s air filters. Cars need a continuous stream of air to run efficiently. With the exception of fuel, air is a fundamental component in charging the car engine with energy. The air needs to enter into the engine frequently, without any constraints. Take a glance at your air filter and check that it is dirt-free and free of bugs, et cetera. Swap it with a clean filter if needed.
Regularly change engine oil
To keep your engine clean, you need good engine oil. Regular changes of engine oil are vital. Engine oil lubricates the essential engine parts, preventing them from overheating and reducing wear and tear. If you lengthen the oil changing intervals too much, it can seriously damage your engine and cause permanent harm. Most updated standards suggest changing the engine oil after every 8 000 km.
Fuel filters
Fuel filters play an important role in ensuring clean fuel injection into the engine. This guards the engine against the build-up of damaging deposits and prevents the emergence of specks in the fuel supply. Fuel filters stop any substances or undesirable particles from forming, which can be destructive to the engine. It is necessary to replace the fuel filter to make your engine’s run smoothly.
Get frequent tune-ups
Change the spark plugs and check the cables, ignition wires, cap and rotor. However, newer models need less regular tune-ups, as the majority of modern cars do not have the ignition wires or distributors found in older cars but instead use lifelong spark plugs. The fuel injection system can be tuned up by using the special injection cleaning solutions; this usually helps to improve the mileage of the vehicle.
Tips
Always buy fuel from a reputable place.
Disengage the parking brake to prevent it from the brake corrosion.
If you bought a new car, never exceed the speed of 89 km per hour during first 1 600 km to prevent irregular displacement errors in the engine.
For the first few half an hour of driving, try to keep the engine rpms below 3 000 per minute.
Wash and wax up the vehicle if you are thinking about resting it for a month or longer.
Always watch out for the engine signs and warning lights and respond to them quickly. Problems must be attended today rather than tomorrow. If anything looks out of place, just check it out as early as possible.
Always remember the rule of “BOWfit”. This stands for the maintenance scheduling and its sensitivity, where “B” is for brakes, “O” for oil changes and checking, “W” for the windows cleaning every day and wheel balancing once every year, “F” for the fluids, fuel and filters in the engine, “I” for the ignition and interior cleaning of your car not more than every week and the “T” stands for tyre checking of your car vehicle.
Warnings
Never race your car engine during the start-up and never push it hard for about 20 minutes after starting.
Never fully turn the steering wheel left or right, then hold it for a long time; doing this can seriously damage your steering pump.
Never fill up with fuel if you see that the tanker is filling up the station. The turbulence can steer up the particles in the tanks, which can clog your car’s fuel system. — wikihow.
