Car
Health
Routine Maintenance Explained
Automobile Maintenance Facts
- 38% of cars have low or dirty engine oil
- 54% of cars have low tire pressure
- 28% of cars have inadequate cooling protection
- 19% of cars need new belts
- 16% of cars have dirty air filters
- 10% of cars have low or contaminated brake fluid
Monthly Automobile Check List
Quarterly Automobile Check List
Six Month Automobile Check List
Yearly Automobile Check List
Antifreeze levels must be checked at
the reservoir. NEVER OPEN A HOT RADIATOR
CAP! The reservoir should be at the Hot line when the
engine is hot. If the antifreeze level is low, add coolant mixed
with distilled water at a 50/50 ratio. The right amount of coolant
keeps your car running at the right temperature. Most vehicles' owner's
manuals recommend changing the coolant once a year. This means you
must drain, or flush, the car's cooling system and replace the drained
coolant with fresh coolant. The coolant has rust inhibitors, but
some corrosion will take place and contaminant the coolant with trash.
Draining the radiator removes dirt and rust particles from the system.
These particles can be left behind in the cooling passages of your
engine as the coolant circulates through the engine. The particles
can clog up the cooling system and cause the car to rust from the inside
out! If you need to add coolant often, you could have a leak.
This could be a hose with a crack or hole or it could be a more serious
problem and, if not fixed, could compromise your engine. Check the
coolant's concentration it ensure enough antifreeze is in the radiator.
If the coolant is too diluted with water, it can freeze and crack
your engine! Warning: do not
leave antifreeze where animals can get to it. It has a taste they
love, but it is toxic to them.
When checking the automatic
transmission fluid, only check the fluid level with the engine
running and the transmission in park. Add fluid if needed.
Change the fluid every 2 years or 24,000 miles unless directed otherwise
in your owner's manual.
Check the battery to ensure it is
mounted properly and securely fastened down. The battery cables
should be checked to make sure they are tight, clean and free of
corrosion. Batteries that are older than 3 years should be tested
and replaced if needed.
Check the car's belts for looseness and
wear. Belts need to be replaced when they become deeply cracked or show
other signs of excessive wear. Normal replacement is between
60,000-90,000 miles. Worn belts can lead to a breakdown or even
engine damage. Belts run the water pump, power steering pump and
other engine components. Most modern cars have one belt that
drives everything. Older cars will have more than one belt.
A belt breaking can cause a car to have power steering failure or cause
the car to overheat. Avoid engine damage and change the belts if
they look bad.
Brakes, drums, rotors and linings need to
be inspected at least once per year and replaced if you see signs of
wear. Changing the brake pads regularly can save further damage to
other vital, expensive parts of the braking system. Obvious signs
of brake wear include squealing or grinding noises when breaking, shaky
steering when stopping, more time to stop, car pulls to one side when
stopping, the brake pedal pulsing when stopping or, most obvious, a
flashing brake warning light. If you have any of these symptoms,
please, have your car checked immediately.
Cabin Air Filters are often
found in new cars. They help reduce allergies and remove dust and
other contaminants from your car's living area. They should be
replaced yearly.
Chassis Lubrication is not
always necessary in newer cars. Many new cars are lubed for the
life of the car. But, some do still require attention.
Please, check your owner's manual and see what it recommends. Many
steering and suspension components that need to be replaced will need
lubricating periodically.
Check Engine Light comes on to show your car has a problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving or comes on and doesn't go
off, you many have an emissions problem or a sensor problem. You
should have it analyzed to let you know where the problem lies. If
the light flashes, this could be an indication of a more severe problem
and it should be checked immediately to prevent catalytic converter or
other damage.
Cleaning your car is necessary for a lasting paint job.
Use only automotive car wash products to prevent stripping the car's wax
finish. Polish the car at least twice a year to maintain and
protect the car's finish.
Engine Air Filters should be
inspected when the oil is changed. They should be changed about
once per year. This depends on the area where you live. If
you live on a dirt or gravel road or do a lot of stop and go driving,
you may need to change the filter every 6 months or even more. If
the filter is too dirty or gets clogged up, the engine will be unable to
pull in enough air which will cause it to lose power and it could begin
to run roughly.
Engine Oil and the Oil Filter
should be changed every 3 months or 3,000 miles. Your owner's
manual may have a different guideline for you to follow, so please refer
to it and change as directed. Make sure that you only use the
grade and weight of oil specified in your owner's manual.
Also, you may want to change your oil earlier than recommended if you
drive in a lot of stop-and-go traffic, you live in a very hot or cold
climate, you drive on dirt or gravel roads, haul heavy loads, or if your
engine is old and burns oil faster than it should. Oil breaks down
due to the high operating temperature of the engine. As it breaks
down, it is not able to lubricate the engine as well as it should.
This causes the moving parts inside the engine to rub against each other
and to wear each other out, thus shortening the life of the engine.
The Exhaust System should be
checked for leaks, damage or broken supports.
Exhaust leaks can be dangerous and
should be repaired immediately!
Fuel Filters should be inspect at
every oil change and should be replaced if they are dirty or water has
accumulated in the reservoir. If your car has a carburetor, you
should change them at least once per year. Fuel Injected cars
should have the fuel filter replaced every 2 years or 24,000 miles.
Hoses should be checked out at each oil
change and they should be replaced if leaking, swollen, cracked or they
begin to look brittle.
Lights should be repaired immediately if
a problem is observed. Replace bulbs or inspect the wiring to
ensure your complete safety. But, first check the fuse box.
Often a fuse blows and can be replaced in a matter of minutes.
Oxygen Sensors should be replaced
as recommended in the owner's manual. A faulty oxygen sensor can
cause your car to fail its emissions test. Some cars have a light
that tells you when the sensor needs to be replaced. All cars made
since 1996 will have more than one oxygen sensor.
Power Steering Fluid should
be checked while the car is warm. If fluid has to be added often,
you should check for leaks in the system. Changing the fluid
eliminates tiny particles of seals and O-rings that break off as the
parts wear out. If you don't change the fluid, these particles
contaminate the fluid and cause the power-steering pump to work harder
and wear out faster. It's harder to pump particles and fluid than
just fluid. Power steering pumps can be hundreds of dollars
depending on your car and it is hard to drive without it. A
whining noise when you turn the wheel can signal that you have a problem
with your steering and your pump may be going out. If you have to
add fluid to the steering system, check for leaks.
Spark Plugs should be changed
between 30,000 and 100,000 miles, depending on the car and the type of
spark plug. Check your owner's manual for its recommendations.
Spark plugs create a spark that ignites the gas and air and the
combustion it creates the power for the car. If the spark plugs
need changing, your engine will begin to run poorly and the emissions
will increase. A blackened plug can tell you the engine is not
running correctly.
The Steering and
Suspension System should be checked annually for wear, leaks,
damage, and loose mounting hardware. This includes the shock
absorbers, struts, ball joints, tie rod ends and all other components.
The Timing Belt is very important.
The timing belt turns crankshaft which drives the camshaft which opens
and closes the valves which keeps the engine pumping. The timing
belt is necessary for the engine to run, but won't cause permanent
damage if it breaks.
Tire Pressure and proper inflation
are necessary for the safety of you and other drivers on the road.
Check the pressure of all tires when you change the oil.
Don't forget the spare! You
want your spare properly inflated if you need it. Also, check the
tread for uneven wear or damage. Fill the tires to the
manufacturer's recommend psi.
Tires Rotation should be
performed every 5,000 miles. You don't have to do this, but it
ensures even overall tire wear. Meaning that all your tires should
wear out at about the same time. And, if you have one tire that is
wearing, moving it to another location will even it out. Follow
the guideline in your owner's manual for the method of rotation.
If you have directional tires, you must move the tires in the correct
fashion or you can ruin the tires. Tires do not need to be
balanced if you are rotating them unless you have a vibration.
Windshield Washer Fluid
should be checked monthly and only use washer fluid. Do not use
water!
Wiper Blades should be replaced
every 6 months or if they become cracked or torn. Streaking can be
a sign that the wiper blades need to be cleaned or replaced. |
