Basic Car Maintenance Checklist

Perhaps the best maintenance method for your car is preventive maintenance. Aside from prolonging the life of your car, it can also ensure that your car is in top condition especially during times when you need it the most. You’ll only need to check the basic components of your car regularly to achieve this and set a general checkup schedule that would best work for you and your car.

Each part of your car plays an important role, but without the tires, your car literally won’t run. Check your car’s user’s manual to find out how much pressure the tires should carry for efficient performance. Filling your tires with the correct amount of pressure can also help prolong their lifespan. It’s also advisable that you have the tires rotated after every 7 thousand miles the car travels.

Checking under the hood is perhaps the easiest part of maintaining your car. Simply by looking for signs of tears on the belts and hoses, you’ll be able to tell if there’s a problem or not. Keep an eye on the level of both the transmission and engine oil as well. A darker color in the fluid should tell you that it’s time for an oil change.

When checking the brakes, there are three important things you should observe to find out if it needs some fixing. The first one is when you hear a squealing noise each time the car slows down to a halt. The second one is when the pedal goes all the way down when you step on it, and the last one when the car pulls to only one side when stopping.

If you hear a squealing sound each time you go for a break, it means you should replace the pads. If your problem is with the … Continue reading >>>>

Automobiles Aren’t Submarines, But Car Engines Can Survive Some Water

Unless you own an amphibious vehicle your car has no business being in more water than a puddle. Unfortunately, this can’t always be helped as accidents and natural disasters sometimes occur. The question is, what do you do with a car after it has been submerged in a lake or caught in a flood? While most would simply say dump it there is a chance to save it or at least salvage some of the parts.

The biggest issue is the auto’s engine. If the engine gets submerged, the first thing you need to find out is what type of water did the damage. If saltwater is the culprit, you have some big problems, but if it was fresh water you at least have a chance.

Before starting the car you need to do the following:

  • Remove the car battery. This should be pretty obvious, electricity and water don’t mix. I recommend you trash the battery and get a brand new one.
  • Remove the spark plugs. Just like the battery, I recommend you replace these too.
  • Remove the air filter. I recommend that you dump this for a new one as well.
  • Let the motor oil drain for at least 12 hours. This will allow all the water drain. This is a very important step.
  • Soon after 12 hours, add new motor oil and transmission oil.
  • Install the new battery.
  • Install the new spark plugs
  • Install a new air filter

If you followed the steps above, you should be ready to start the engine. Once you do so, let the engine run for a while. If you see blue smoke coming out from the engine, you have another problem – you need to change the valve seals. This is a more experienced step and I would recommend you take your … Continue reading >>>>