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Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

Preventative Maintainence Before Your Motoring Holiday

Before setting off on a motoring holiday it is always a good idea to examine your vehicle thoroughly for any telltale signs of wear or iminent failure. An hour or two spent looking at the vital parts of your vehicle can ensure that you have a trouble free holiday and spend your time touring and sightseeing rather than staring at the back of a tow truck as it brings you back to civilisation.

Some of the essential things you should look at include:

As you first drive your car, start slow and test the brakes, listen for any sounds that are not normal.  Car brakes work as hydraulic pressure is supplied the brake caliper forcing the pads against the brake rotor causing friction to slow the vehicle.  Observe the brake operation and if there are any irregularities inspect the brake system immediately.  With the car stationary press the brake peddle down and allow to return and then check proper brake peddle operation and the distance of travel of the brake pedal, if proper brake peddle operation is not present further inspection is required (do not drive).  If a full service is necessary a typical brake replacement will include a brake caliper, brake pads and brake rotor.

Next, release the hood latch and lift the hood, the hood will only open slightly because all hoods have been designed with a secondary safety latch that must be activated before the hood will open completely.  Inspecting the air filter is a simple process in most cases and typically only involves opening the hood and locating the air filter housing that is usually near the air intake.  Start by checking under the hood, inspect the cooling hoses, vacuum lines and multi rib drive belt for any obvious cracks or breaks and repair as needed.

Water temperature and oil pressure are most important as they monitor your engine’s vital cooling and lubrication systems.  For example: if your car is operated in cold climate conditions the oil will need to be changed more often to help keep moisture out of the engine and engine oil created by condensation.  (Some manufactures like Mercedes Benz use synthetic oil as standard equipment) you can typically add about 40% longer life from a full synthetic oil.  Be sure to recheck the oil level after the engine has been run and add if needed.  First check the engine oil level (if you are changing the engine oil, check the oil level after the oil change has been performed) this engine oil level dip stick is usually indicated by a yellow handle and it will have two marks on the stick – aminimum level and a maximum level.  The distance in between these marks represent a quart, if the oil is in between the marks the level is ok.  If the oil level is below the lower level mark or not on the dip stick at all engine oil must be added until between the inductor lines.

All fluids must be maintained at a proper level, while some are easily checked others will require you to lift the car to access underbody parts.  Next look for any fluid leaks and pin point their source for further repair procedure.  The transmission fluid is used to perform several tasks from holding hydraulic pressure, lubricating bearings and cooling internal transmission components.  Normal transmission operation will cause fluid contamination and if left un-attended will cause premature transmission failure.  Brake systems with ABS (anti brake skid) control systems add extra usage that will break down the fluid chemically.  When brake fluid looses it composition it can cause brake component failure such as a brake caliper or ABS main valve system.  Flushing the brake system removes all used brake fluid and replaces it with new fluid.  At the same time, check the windscreen washer fluid.  It helps to use the right fluid (don’t put washing-up liquid in it as it will leave a residue on your screen that will impair your vision). I personally use clean water with about 10% metho in it.

If your car has a diesel engine, you may already be aware that water collects in the fuel tank.  For this reason, diesels have a fuel filter fitted (normally in the engine bay – check your handbook) to trap water and prevent it from entering the engine.  Water that collects in the fuel filter can freeze in low temperatures, so it is a good idea to drain it off.  Whether you have a diesel or petrol engine, always make sure that you have at least a quarter of a tank of fuel.  That way, if it’s difficult to get to the filling station, or there are fuel supply problems, you’ll always have some to keep you going.  Some vehicles have no external fuel filter, these vehicles fuel filter are located in the fuel tank attached to the bottom of the fuel pump.  A well maintained car means improved fuel economy as well as a car that is easier to operate.  Any fuel filter (including the new ones) can clog or be exposed to moisture and rust–so don’t fall for the lifetime fuel filter story.  You would be surprised at the amount of dirt and other junk that is prevented from going into your vehicle because of fuel station pump filters.

Engine exhaust is a poisonous gas that in concentrated amounts is deadly so it is important to perform an inspection of your exhaust system annually.  If an inspection reveals any rusted holes or broken exhaust pipes replacement is required.  This system needs little maintenance but a visual inspection is needed to ensure the proper operation.

Then, inspect under the vehicle to observe suspension components and drive line universal or ball joints, replace any components that exhibits excessive wear or torn lubrication boots.  Also inspect for “rust dust” on any frame member, universal joints, sway bars, locating arms, strut rod mounting bolts and any other main frame or suspension components.  This rust colored dust is created from metal on metal friction with no lubrication and is indication that the components has failed.

As with health care, preventative car maintenance is the best thing you can do for those dependable vehicles that get you where you want to go everyday.  With preventative car maintenance you might invest a little here and there, but in the end, you will always save yourself time, money and the aggravation that comes with a vehicle breakdown.  Auto maintenance,  learning how to maintain your car in safe condition, is an important aspect of learning to drive.  You must determine the kind of driving your car is put though and adjust the maintenance schedule accordingly.  Safety is the number one reason to invest a little of your hard earned money in preventative car maintenance.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 15th, 2009 at 8:11 am and is filed under expert motoring advice, motoring advice, motoring tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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