Every car owner knows someone who drives a car with 300,000 miles on it and it still runs great. These cars start every morning without fail, pass tests without incidents and seem on a never ending journey while others are lame and broken down with only half of that mileage to show for it. The secret is not luck or superior driving ability, but it is following a proper maintenance schedule which treats the car as an asset rather than a disposable commodity.
The difference between the cars that last for decades and those that are prematurely scattered comes simply to a matter of maintenance carried out consistently. This constant attention to the vital system keeps small annoyances from becoming costly failures, keeps everything harmonized and working smoothly and ensures that the car will behave with reliability for the great length of time that is extended to it.
The Basis: Oil Changes and Fluid Control
The changes of engine oil are the basic parts of any maintenance schedule. New oil lubricates the moving parts, cleans away contaminations, and assists in temperature control. Most modern engines will stand longer intervals without changing than their older brothers, but it is the question of the time put in which enables the car owner to obtain the best results instead of cramping the capacity for betterment of stress on the engine break-downs rather than obtaining results before the doors are closing.
The old 3000 miles oil change has undergone some changes of use with improvements in the oil and engine. Most of the cars now call for 7500 to 10000 miles between oil changes with the regular type oil, while the full grade synthetic oil calls for this to be increased still further. But the condition of the drive on these cars that has frequent short runs, driving for the greatest part in dusty territory entail more frequent changes regardless of what the manufacturers’ recommendations are.
Other fluids are also entitled to their share of attention though not as frequently. Brake fluid picks up moisture over time and loses some of its effectiveness and may also cause corrosion to brake parts. Power steering fluid, coolant, and transmission fluid have service intervals that help avert costly system failures when they are followed.
Timing Belts and engine components
Timing belts are one of the most important maintenance items that must be taken care of on many cars. They are especially important on interference engines where a broken belt can cause catastrophic damage. They are rubber belts which have to be replaced every 60,000 to 100,000 miles determined by engine design and operating conditions.
The problem with timing belts is that they show little signs of impending failure. A broken timing belt can bend valves, destroy pistons, and turn a normal maintenance item into a complete engine rebuild. Smart car owners will get timing belts replaced on the manufacturer’s schedule instead of waiting for signs of wear and tear.
On water pumps are routinely replaced at the same time as timing belts because they are driven off the same system and require the same labor to gain entry. It is cost effective for labor time and it prevents the aggravation of having a water pump fail shortly after a timing belt replacement.
Finding reliable sources becomes particularly important for these major services. Quality Toyota Spare Parts in Perth suppliers with knowledge of model specific service can ensure that the proper components are utilized to meet the demands of these major maintenance procedures.
Brake System Maintenance
Brake systems need constant attention for safety and economical reasons. Brake pads wear out gradually providing indications which are easy to note squealing noises or diminished stopping power and vibration while braking. Having new pads installed before the rotors are damaged saves lots of money while keeping stops within safe distances.
Flushing the brake fluid prevents moisture from accumulating inside the brake system, thereby preventing brake fade and corrosion of system components. Most manufacturers recommend changing brake fluid every two years, but most car owners avoid this service until trouble develops. The cost of fluid changes done for preventive purposes is small compared to the cost of the corroded lines and master cylinders which would result from neglect in servicing the fluid.
Brake rotors will usually go through several sets of pads when those pads are changed in a timely manner. Allowing the pads to wear out to the metal backing plates will damage the rotors, making the pad job a more expensive rotor job as well.
Transmission Maintenance
The automatic transmissions are the most expensive of components to replace when they fail. Regular changing of the fluid and filters will greatly prolong the life of the transmission, but this service is neglected by most owners until some shifting problems develop.
Past judgment has stated that high mileage transmissions should not have the fluids changed, for the reason that new fluid is likely to leak due to seals. The modern theory is that if the fluid were changed regularly from the first stage of the life of the vehicle that the accumulation of contaminants which are the main cause of seal degradation would not occur.
Manual transmissions require far less attention than automatics, but their life will be improved by periodic changes effective of gear oil. The intervals for this service are longer than for the normal automatic transmissions, but the low cost of it will make it worthwhile from a standpoint of long-range efficiency.
Engine cooling systems do more work than most people realize as they handle tremendous heat loads while protecting the engine from overheating damage. Over a period of time, coolant strength deteriorates and loses its ability to transport heat efficiently and protect against corrosion.
The newer generation of coolants have a longer life than the older products, but they still require periodic replacement. The cooling system flush removes all the debris build-up and replaces the film of protective additives that prevent corrosion in the radiator, water pump, and engine passageways.
The upkeep of the radiator consists of checking for leaks, seeing that the air supply is plentiful, and determining that the cooling fans are functioning correctly. Failing or clogged radiators or water pumps give signal warnings in the form of temperature gauge rises, leaks of some description and abnormal noises from the engine compartment that are noted and taken care of before massive failure occurs.
Air and Fuel System Care
Air filters prevent contamination from reaching the engine, but plugged filters will not allow air to circulate and performance is impeded. Air filter replacement maintains the proper fuel economy and also protects the internal engine components from clogging and damage from contamination.
Cleaning the fuel systems aids in preventing all carbon build-up and keeps the injectors working efficiently. Although the newer fuels have cleaning agents in them, periodic cleaning with a professional cleaning or the use of a good car fuel system cleaning product will maintain optimum performance, especially in the direct fuel injection engines.
Tire and Suspension Maintenance
The tires of a car will affect every aspect of its performance from safety to fuel economy, ride comfort and handling. Regular rotation of tires results in even tire wear patterns and prolongs the life of the tires. Correct tire inflation pressure will reduce rolling resistance and enable the tire sidewalls to hold up longer before failing.
The suspension elements wear out gradually and they alter the nature of tire wear patterns, effect handling characteristics and ride quality. Worn shock absorbers or struts inhibit the optimum braking efficiency and possibility of tire contact with the road surface as they should be. Periodic inspection will catch these problems before safety implies and here is where expensive secondary repairs can be made.
The Long-Term Impression
The high mileage cars which have had no major problems with them maintain a regular maintenance program because they go by the schedule instead of waiting until problems develop. The up front money initially spent on a regular maintenance job is considerably less than the expensive repair bills that result from neglect.
The record keeping informs the owner as to what has been done and when the next services are due. Most of the newer cars have a service reminder system incorporated in the engine care groups, however, the consumer who knows what each service consists of is in a better position to make decisions regarding timing of services and suppliers.
Successful long-term car owners regard maintenance as insurance against unforeseen mechanical breakdowns and not an elective expense. This attitude changes the routine aspect of car maintenance from a burden to a profit-bearing investment returned in reliability and safety and a lower total outlay for car ownership in general through the vehicle’s longer life span.
