Cars are one of the most preferred and used automobiles in the world today. Over the past few years, the sale of cars has skyrocketed and the number of people who prefer a car over a two-wheeler or public transport has also increased. There are several reasons for such a trend; however, in this article, we would explain 10 basic things that a car owner could do o increase the engine’s lifespan.
It could simply be referred to as the heart of the car when it comes to car engines. Without an efficient engine, a car is nothing. Most of the cars today come with highly advanced engines, which include sensors and other parts that were never a part of the older cars. In the olden days, people used to take care of their cars in any way possible, today, due to the lack of time, most people neglect it. If you are a person who owns a car and has some time to spare, there are 10 basic things that you could do to increase the engine’s lifespan.
1. Change the engine oil regularly
If heart and blood are two of the most important things in our body, engine and oil are the most important things in a car. Yes, like the human body, the car also has a fluid that should circulate inside the engine to keep it running. As most people know, engine oil is a lubrication fluid that reduces the friction between the moving parts in the engine. Lack of engine oil could lead to constant wear and tear of the engine parts, which could eventually kill the engine. To simply put it, a car engine without oil is like a ticking time bomb. Now, most commonly, every car engine will have engine oil in it, this is not enough. Engine oil is designed in such a way that it can function efficiently only for fixed miles, use the oil above these miles and the oil will lose its property and it could do more harm than good, this is why you must change the engine oil regularly. The best way to do it is to check the user manual or if you have already changed the oil, the product specification will give you the information on how many miles the oil is designed for.
2. Check the cooling system regularly
A car engine will produce heat while ignition and running; the heat produced could increase or decrease based on the miles traveled and the driving. If the driving is too harsh, the engine could be heated within the shortest miles, and car engines are not designed to withstand unlimited heat, this is why car engine comes incorporated with cooling systems. A cooling system is designed to cool the engine and keep the temperature to an optimum level; one of the major parts of a cooling system is the radiator, which requires coolant for functioning. Without the optimum level of coolant oil, the radiator will not be able to function properly and at the same time, the coolant fluid should be changed regularly based on the miles traveled. PS: the color of the coolant fluid is green, most commonly when the fluid changes its color, you should change the fluid.
3. Clean the air filter
Air filtration is one of the most important functions of air filter in a car engine. Most of the new car owners neglect this part, an air filter is very important, and it is like our breathing system. As you know, the engine requires oxygen for efficient fuel combustion, and sucking raw air from the surrounding would kill the engine if it contains dust and other hard particles. This is where air filter comes in, the air that the engine sucks in passes through the air filter and the air filter filters the air passing through it. Now, after one or two months or constant car use, the air filter could get clogged with particles, and it could choke the engine, which could lead to incomplete fuel burning and misfiring. Therefore, it is very important that you take the air filter out and clean it regularly.
4. Never drive on reserve fuel unless necessary
One of the biggest mistakes that most people make drives the car on reserve for no urgent reason. Driving on a reserve while on a long trip or when it is absolutely necessary is okay. But, if you have a habit of driving the car around on reserve then, remember, you might be killing your engine. Gasoline comes with a small amount of sediments, which settles at the bottom of the tank, most commonly, the reserve fuel would have all these sediments. Driving on reserve pushes all these junk into your engine; this, in turn, kills your engine.
5. Check the engine belts regularly
You would find a few belts connecting a few wheels on the engine if you open the hood and explore the engine. These belts are tight and it is an essential part for the smooth and efficient functioning of the car. While driving, if you hear a squeal coming from the hood, then, it means the belts are loose and it is time to replace them. Even if there is no squeal, it is best recommended that you spare some time and check the belts frequently for any cracks or wear, if you find anything, consider replacing them.
6. Oil leaks
Under the hood of a car, there are different parts that are interdependent such as battery, cooling system, brake system, electrical system, and the engine itself. Each of these systems is interdependent, most of them will not function without the other. Few of these systems have fluids in them that serve different purposes, the functions of engine oil and coolant fluid have been explained above, apart from that brake fluid, battery fluid is also important, therefore, if you find any fluid leaks. It is recommended that you solve the issues as soon as possible.
7. Replace the fuel filters regularly
Like the air filters, fuel filters also serve almost the same function of filtering the fuel. As already mentioned above, fuel comes with some small sediments that could kill the engine; this is why the engine come with fuel filters that would remove the maximum sediments. This is why you must clean the fuel filter or replace the filter when required. Remember, a clogged fuel filter could do more harm than good.
8. Do not ignore the warning lights on the console
Most of the cars today come with sensors and alert system that will alert the driver about engine condition. This is why it is very important that you do not neglect the warning lights on the speedometer console.
9. Avoid harsh driving
Most of the cars on the market today, come with an engine that is designed in such a way that the lifespan of the engine increases when it is running at a continuous speed. This is why we recommend that you do not drive your car harshly unless your car is customized for such driving. Harsh driving could fry your engine pistons and kill your engine permanently.
10. Change your spark plugs and wiring
Spark plugs are one of the most important parts of the engine, without an efficient spark plug the engine cannot initiate the ignition of the fuel. Most commonly, after long time uses spark plugs lose its efficiency and at times, they get clogged. The majority of the car manufacturer recommends cleaning the spark plugs at regular intervals and replacing the spark plugs after every 30000 miles. However, if you are replacing the spark plugs with premium quality plugs, then the miles could increase.
Bottom line
An engine is the hear of a car and you must take care of the heart if you want your car to survive for a long time. Most of the cars today come designed in such a way that, majority of the maintenance could be done voluntarily; however, if you are a busy person, read the instructions and tips mentioned above and get help from a mechanic for the maintenance.