Auto maintenance

Auto maintenance describes the act of inspecting or testing the condition of car subsystems (e.g., engine) and servicing or replacing parts and fluids. Regular maintenance is critical to ensure the safety, reliability, drivability, comfort and longevity of a car. During preventive maintenance, a number of parts are replaced to avoid major damage or for safety reasons, e.g. timing belt replacement. The actual schedule of car maintenance varies depending on the year, make, and model of a car, its driving conditions and driver behavior. Car makers recommend the so-called extreme or the ideal service schedule based on impact parameters such as number of trips and distance traveled per trip per day extreme hot or cold climate conditions mountainous, dusty or de-iced roads heavy stop-and-go vs. long-distance cruising towing a trailer or other heavy load Experienced service advisors in dealerships and independent shops recommend schedule intervals, which are often in between the ideal or extreme service schedule. They base it on the driving conditions and behavior of the car owner or driver. Common car maintenance tasks include: Car wash check/replace the engine oil and replace oil filters check/replace fuel filters inspect or replace windshield wipers check or refill windshield washer fluid inspect tires for pressure and wear Tire balancing Tire rotation Wheel alignment check, clean or replace battery terminals and top up battery fluid inspect or replace brake pads check or flush brake fluid check or flush transmission fluid check or flush power steering fluid check and flush engine coolant inspect or replace spark plugs inspect or replace air filter inspect or replace timing belt and other belts lubricate locks, latches, hinges check all lights tighten chassis nuts and bolts check if rubber boots are cracked and need replacement test electronics, e.g., Anti-lock braking system or ABS read fault codes from the Engine control unit Some tasks that have equivalent service intervals are combined into one single service known as a tune-up. In modern cars, where electronics control most of the car's functions, the traditional tune-up doesn't apply anymore. Maintenance jobs like a tune-up used to mean getting the engine's performance back on track. Today embedded software takes care of it by constantly checking thousands of sensor signals, compensating for worn-out spark plugs, clogged filters, etc. The so-called limp-home function allows driving on limited power when the engine is in trouble. In the old days this might have meant a breakdown.

Basic Tips in Car Servicing

A motor vehicle service is a series of maintenance procedures carried out at a set time interval or after the vehicle has travelled a certain distance. The service intervals are specified by the vehicle manufacturer in a service schedule and some modern cars display the due date for the next service electronically on the instrument panel. Maintenance tasks commonly carried out during a motor vehicle service include: Change the engine oil Replace the oil filter Replace the air filter Replace the fuel filter Replace the spark plugs Tune the engine Check level and refill brake fluid Check level and refill power steering fluid Check level and refill Automatic Transmission Fluid Grease and lubricate components Inspect and replace the timing belt if needed Check condition of the tyres Proper monitoring is essential daily so as to elongate the life span of the automobile. An automobile in good and proper condition guarantees a sure safety over the life of the user. With the above maintenance, the automobile will maintain a good shape and even look more attractive to others and provide more comfort when driven.