Maintenance for your Car
Better safe: this maxim applies to almost everything in this life and the car is part of our daily life, so it is not exempted from complying with the said. We all know you have to change the oil, the wheels ... but other elements are not so obvious and yet, replace them is equally important.
The tips I'll give below are general; the ideal is that you check the manual of your car or maintenance (also called service book), which will specify the plans and sometimes a "check list" with the points we need to review and how often we do.
The first thing to know is that some components of your vehicle not only wear out with use: well over time, so periodic maintenance plan revisions are every 10,000 miles or one year, for example. Although not make you reach 10,000 km in a year, you should inspect them equally.
Brake fluid every 2 years
This is one of the aging over time rather than kilometers elements. Most brake fluids used in the automobile are composed of a hydrophilic alcohol (its molecules have great affinity for water); this makes it go absorbing water in the atmosphere, producing two very dangerous effects:
Low boiling point, which boils at a lower temperature and can stay without brakes by excess heat down a port: the pedal becomes fluffy and just stops the car. It is known as fadding brake fluid.
Water promotes the formation of oxides and can emulsify the liquid, causing damage to the braking system.
Having an accident or repair the ABS valve body is infinitely more expensive to change (inevitably) the brake fluid within a period of two years. A liter of DOT 4 costs about 10 dollars and one hour of labor; a hydraulic power unit 30 can be multiplied by that amount.
The same fluid is commonly used for the clutch mechanism on cars with hydraulic control: we must also replace, taking advantage we do the same with the brakes.
Everyone knows that changing the oil should also replace the filter (every change, not every two, as I have seen sometimes in a workshop ... the average price of an oil filter is 12 dollars, for that amount not worth dirtying the new oil by passing it through an old filter). Although he is best known, is not the only filter the car.
It is surprising that until 1978 nobody (was Saab) occurred to him that if an air filter on the engine to prevent damage to the cylinder by the entry of impurities becomes, not a bad idea "sift" the air they breathe passengers, far more important than a propeller. Thus, the Swedish brand pioneered by incorporating a filter at the entrance of air into the interior.
These filters can quickly fill (especially in cities), because to increase its effectiveness are electrostatically charged to trap dust, pollen, etc. Should be replaced every year. If you ever see the state traditionally found, you will understand the important work they perform. In addition, a cabin filter in disrepair may cause damage to the HVAC system, odors and increased energy consumption -at reduce the flow of air.
In the car we find the following filters:
Oil filter: must be changed every time the oil itself is replaced; in a modern car is usually every year or 20,000 km, which reach before. In most veteran models, the change should be done every 10,000 km: check the maintenance plan your vehicle.
Engine Air Filter: often sufficient to clean and "blow"; should be checked at least once a year, but usually hold more, depending on how dusty it is the area in which we usually move.
Fuel Filter: it is normal to be replaced every 4 years or 60,000 km, is very important in modern engines with direct fuel injection, in order to avoid damage to the high pressure pump and injectors.
Cabin air filter: must be replaced once a year and avoid the proliferation of mites and allergies.
Oil Filter in automatic gearbox: is vital for the life of the gearbox, change along with the hydraulic fluid every 60,000 km.
liquids will expire
In the car there are several fluids that age with the miles, but also temperature changes, dirt and time eventually cause them to lose their properties, so it is convenient replacement.
Coolant: currently used organic coolants that are "for life". However, it is not more change and make a flushing (cleaning with another liquid) cooling circuit to keep it in perfect condition. In my opinion, should be done every 10 years. If your car is older and uses a conventional antifreeze based on glycol, you should change it every 2 or 4 years maximum; otherwise lost properties and can break the engine block ... or cause freeze heaters in summer, repairs that can multiply by 100 the price of antifreeze.
Engine oil: in modern cars has greatly lengthened the interval for oil change. A good synthetic oil can easily exceed 15,000 km (although you might check the level every 1,000 km or monthly). The service book will show you the recommended period. Follow it to the letter.
Differential oil and manual gearbox: these fluids are marked in the car manual as "maintenance"; in theory should last a lifetime. I'm not quite agree with this statement and I heartily recommend that you change every 100,000 km or 10 years.
Automatic transmission fluid: it is important to replace the oil in automatic transmissions, especially those operating with a torque converter, as temperatures reach important. Do not spare a penny into a liquid shoddy or lengthen their replacement, since repairing an automatic transmission can be ruinous. Typically, to be replaced every 60,000 km or 5 years maximum, but check the manual for your car.
Steering fluid: slowly, electrical addresses are blurring the hydraulic assistance, but still exist and must change the fluid every 100,000 miles or 10 years to prevent damage to the seals.
LHM fluid Citroën: the unique hydropneumatic suspension Citroën need in perfect condition the LHM fluid to avoid problems. Follow the maintenance schedule to the letter.
Motor peripheral
There are elements in the motor to be changed to prevent breakage that can we stop lying or cause serious damage. It is very sad how your trip will crash when the crane takes your car with something as banal as a broken alternator belt. Usually pieces whose cost is relatively cheap and it compensates anticipate its ruling.
Auxiliary belt: the rotational movement of the crankshaft is used to move more to the car wheels; also drives elements such as the alternator, water pump, air conditioning compressor, etc. On some cars it is a single belt that moves all auxiliary, in others there are several straps. Typically, 100,000 km are changed, but it is worth that you check every year for cracks or were stained with oil, which damages. If you hear a kind of squeak when accelerating, it is likely that the belt is slipping and can be broken, leaving pulled or causing serious damage.
Coolant Thermostat: Thermostat is responsible for opening the passage of coolant from the engine to the radiator to cool down. If damaged, water is not cool and can break the gasket or even gripar mechanics. Just costs 40 dollars, change it every 10 years or 100,000 km.
Water Pump: a great forgotten until it fails and we have a problem. It can last a lifetime, but worth it changed before you take a fright, especially when our car moves through the same belt that distribution: in this case, water pump seized to do jump distribution. Replace it with the timing belt forever.
Timing belt: it is vital not to rush his return, sooner rather than later to the manufacturer's recommendation. Typically, come prepared to be replaced every 100,000 km or six years, but check the manual for your car: replacement intervals vary between brands.
Rubber hoses and tubes: modern engines work more like a plumber than a mechanic, are full of tubes and hoses by circulating coolant, air, gasoline ... Over time, the sleeves lose stiffness and swollen; also brittle. Check your state frequently and begins to "suspect" from 10 years or 200,000 km. Many problems misfires due to air intakes caused by cracks in the corresponding pipe of the engine, you will not be first to switch a flow of more than $ 500 because of a hairline crack in a rubber of only 4 dollars . Check them and replace them at the first sign of old age.
The tips I'll give below are general; the ideal is that you check the manual of your car or maintenance (also called service book), which will specify the plans and sometimes a "check list" with the points we need to review and how often we do.
The first thing to know is that some components of your vehicle not only wear out with use: well over time, so periodic maintenance plan revisions are every 10,000 miles or one year, for example. Although not make you reach 10,000 km in a year, you should inspect them equally.
Brake fluid every 2 years
This is one of the aging over time rather than kilometers elements. Most brake fluids used in the automobile are composed of a hydrophilic alcohol (its molecules have great affinity for water); this makes it go absorbing water in the atmosphere, producing two very dangerous effects:
Low boiling point, which boils at a lower temperature and can stay without brakes by excess heat down a port: the pedal becomes fluffy and just stops the car. It is known as fadding brake fluid.
Water promotes the formation of oxides and can emulsify the liquid, causing damage to the braking system.
Having an accident or repair the ABS valve body is infinitely more expensive to change (inevitably) the brake fluid within a period of two years. A liter of DOT 4 costs about 10 dollars and one hour of labor; a hydraulic power unit 30 can be multiplied by that amount.
The same fluid is commonly used for the clutch mechanism on cars with hydraulic control: we must also replace, taking advantage we do the same with the brakes.
Everyone knows that changing the oil should also replace the filter (every change, not every two, as I have seen sometimes in a workshop ... the average price of an oil filter is 12 dollars, for that amount not worth dirtying the new oil by passing it through an old filter). Although he is best known, is not the only filter the car.
It is surprising that until 1978 nobody (was Saab) occurred to him that if an air filter on the engine to prevent damage to the cylinder by the entry of impurities becomes, not a bad idea "sift" the air they breathe passengers, far more important than a propeller. Thus, the Swedish brand pioneered by incorporating a filter at the entrance of air into the interior.
These filters can quickly fill (especially in cities), because to increase its effectiveness are electrostatically charged to trap dust, pollen, etc. Should be replaced every year. If you ever see the state traditionally found, you will understand the important work they perform. In addition, a cabin filter in disrepair may cause damage to the HVAC system, odors and increased energy consumption -at reduce the flow of air.
In the car we find the following filters:
Oil filter: must be changed every time the oil itself is replaced; in a modern car is usually every year or 20,000 km, which reach before. In most veteran models, the change should be done every 10,000 km: check the maintenance plan your vehicle.
Engine Air Filter: often sufficient to clean and "blow"; should be checked at least once a year, but usually hold more, depending on how dusty it is the area in which we usually move.
Fuel Filter: it is normal to be replaced every 4 years or 60,000 km, is very important in modern engines with direct fuel injection, in order to avoid damage to the high pressure pump and injectors.
Cabin air filter: must be replaced once a year and avoid the proliferation of mites and allergies.
Oil Filter in automatic gearbox: is vital for the life of the gearbox, change along with the hydraulic fluid every 60,000 km.
liquids will expire
In the car there are several fluids that age with the miles, but also temperature changes, dirt and time eventually cause them to lose their properties, so it is convenient replacement.
Coolant: currently used organic coolants that are "for life". However, it is not more change and make a flushing (cleaning with another liquid) cooling circuit to keep it in perfect condition. In my opinion, should be done every 10 years. If your car is older and uses a conventional antifreeze based on glycol, you should change it every 2 or 4 years maximum; otherwise lost properties and can break the engine block ... or cause freeze heaters in summer, repairs that can multiply by 100 the price of antifreeze.
Engine oil: in modern cars has greatly lengthened the interval for oil change. A good synthetic oil can easily exceed 15,000 km (although you might check the level every 1,000 km or monthly). The service book will show you the recommended period. Follow it to the letter.
Differential oil and manual gearbox: these fluids are marked in the car manual as "maintenance"; in theory should last a lifetime. I'm not quite agree with this statement and I heartily recommend that you change every 100,000 km or 10 years.
Automatic transmission fluid: it is important to replace the oil in automatic transmissions, especially those operating with a torque converter, as temperatures reach important. Do not spare a penny into a liquid shoddy or lengthen their replacement, since repairing an automatic transmission can be ruinous. Typically, to be replaced every 60,000 km or 5 years maximum, but check the manual for your car.
Steering fluid: slowly, electrical addresses are blurring the hydraulic assistance, but still exist and must change the fluid every 100,000 miles or 10 years to prevent damage to the seals.
LHM fluid Citroën: the unique hydropneumatic suspension Citroën need in perfect condition the LHM fluid to avoid problems. Follow the maintenance schedule to the letter.
Motor peripheral
There are elements in the motor to be changed to prevent breakage that can we stop lying or cause serious damage. It is very sad how your trip will crash when the crane takes your car with something as banal as a broken alternator belt. Usually pieces whose cost is relatively cheap and it compensates anticipate its ruling.
Auxiliary belt: the rotational movement of the crankshaft is used to move more to the car wheels; also drives elements such as the alternator, water pump, air conditioning compressor, etc. On some cars it is a single belt that moves all auxiliary, in others there are several straps. Typically, 100,000 km are changed, but it is worth that you check every year for cracks or were stained with oil, which damages. If you hear a kind of squeak when accelerating, it is likely that the belt is slipping and can be broken, leaving pulled or causing serious damage.
Coolant Thermostat: Thermostat is responsible for opening the passage of coolant from the engine to the radiator to cool down. If damaged, water is not cool and can break the gasket or even gripar mechanics. Just costs 40 dollars, change it every 10 years or 100,000 km.
Water Pump: a great forgotten until it fails and we have a problem. It can last a lifetime, but worth it changed before you take a fright, especially when our car moves through the same belt that distribution: in this case, water pump seized to do jump distribution. Replace it with the timing belt forever.
Timing belt: it is vital not to rush his return, sooner rather than later to the manufacturer's recommendation. Typically, come prepared to be replaced every 100,000 km or six years, but check the manual for your car: replacement intervals vary between brands.
Rubber hoses and tubes: modern engines work more like a plumber than a mechanic, are full of tubes and hoses by circulating coolant, air, gasoline ... Over time, the sleeves lose stiffness and swollen; also brittle. Check your state frequently and begins to "suspect" from 10 years or 200,000 km. Many problems misfires due to air intakes caused by cracks in the corresponding pipe of the engine, you will not be first to switch a flow of more than $ 500 because of a hairline crack in a rubber of only 4 dollars . Check them and replace them at the first sign of old age.
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