MAINTENANCE
(click on any pic below to stop slideshow and view full size images)
Below is a slide show of images and descriptions showing failures due to lack of maintenance. All pictures and images on this site are of actual vehicles and their parts that I have repaired and photographed over the years.
From low fluid level and lack of maintenance
Preform scheduled maintenance and check ups BEFORE you have a breakdown.
Below you will find some great general automotive maintenance information that applies to most any vehicle on the road today and will help you get the most out of your car.
Fluids
Motor Oil
Let's start with one of the most important fluids of all: motor oil. It not only lubricates the engine, but also cools, cleans and protects it. But the oil itself can't do all of these jobs without some help. Nearly half a pint of various additives are added to the typical quart of oil to improve the oil's ability to resist heat, friction, oxidation and contamination.
Short trip driving is especially hard on oil because the engine never warms up enough to boil off the moisture that accumulates inside the crankcase. The moisture comes from combustion gases that blow by the piston rings (the older the engine, the greater the amount of blow by). Most of these gases are removed by the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) system. But in a cold engine much of the moisture condenses and ends up in the oil. Water reacts with oil to form sludge and acids, and the result is accelerated engine wear.
The only way to get rid of the accumulated moisture, acids and sludge is to change both oil and filter. The filter only removes suspended solids such as dirt, carbon and metal particles -- not moisture, acids or sludge.
The oil and filter change intervals recommended by the vehicle manufacturers vary depending on the vehicle application and how the vehicle is driven. For "normal service" (which means mostly highway driving, NOT short trip city stop-and-go traffic driving), the scheduled maintenance intervals for changing the engine oil and filter range from 3,000 to as much as 7,500 miles, with the time interval being up to one year. Some vehicle manufacturers even say it's okay to replace the oil filter at every other oil change rather than every oil change.
But if you study the maintenance recommendations closely, most vehicles come under the "severe service" schedule, which generally calls for oil and filter changes every 3,000 miles or six months, whichever comes first-which is the same recommendation most aftermarket experts make. Severe service is short trip driving (7 miles or less, especially during cold weather), towing a trailer, or driving in dusty conditions.
If a newer low mileage engine is driven mostly on the highway, you can probably get away with the longer service intervals. But as an engine accumulates miles, it experiences more blow by which dumps more moisture and fuel into the crankcase. For this reason, engines with more than 70,000 miles should not use the extended oil change intervals regardless of how they're driven. Some engines, such as diesels, suffer more blow by than others so they typically require more frequent oil and filter changes. For most passenger car and light truck diesels, 3,000 miles is the recommended interval for all types of service.
Turbocharged engines likewise require more frequent oil changes because of the high temperatures encountered in the turbocharger bearings. A turbo can spin at tremendous speed (over 100,000 rpm in many instances). This, combined with the heat of the exhaust gases passing through the housing, creates an environment that accelerates oxidation of the oil. When the engine is shut off, for example, the temperatures inside the turbo bearing housing can soar to the point where it "cokes" the oil, forming hard black crusty deposits that can damage the turbo. Because of this, the recommended oil change interval for most turbocharged engines is 3000 miles or six months. The motor oil should be "turbo-approved" for such applications.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
Automatic transmission fluid is rarely changed for preventive maintenance, yet is often the cause of premature transmission failure. Considering how expensive a transmission is to replace, the cost of changing the fluid and filter periodically is inexpensive compared to a failure.
Most vehicle owner's manuals do not specify a change interval for automatic transmission fluid-unless the vehicle is used for towing. But most transmission experts say changing the fluid and filter (which is located inside the transmission) every 30,000 to 50,000 miles can significantly prolong the life of the transmission.
Coolant
The antifreeze in the coolant performs three very important jobs: it prevents the coolant from freezing during cold weather, it raises the boiling temperature of the coolant to prevent overheating during hot weather, and it fights corrosion.
Besides checking the level of the coolant periodically to make sure it isn't low (which usually indicates a leak), the strength and condition of the antifreeze should also be checked. Most vehicle manufacturers recommend a 50/50 mixture of water and antifreeze for normal freezing and boil over protection. Up to a 70/30 mixture of antifreeze and water can be used to maximize freezing protection, but higher concentrations should not be used. Straight water or straight antifreeze should never be used in a vehicle's cooling system.
Determining the condition of the coolant is a little more difficult because appearances alone can be deceiving. If the coolant is brown and discolored, it's obviously long overdue for a change. But even if it's still green,yellow or orange, there's no way to tell how much corrosion protection is still in the coolant without measuring its "reserve alkalinity." This can be done with chemically-treated test strips that give a good-bad indication by color changes.
Most vehicle manufacturers recommend changing the coolant every two to three years or 30,000-50,000 miles to replenish the corrosion inhibitors in the antifreeze. If the cooling system is dirty,flushing is required to remove rust and scale.
Differential and Driveline Fluids
Driveline systems today perform at higher levels than ever before. As vehicles are required to carry heavier loads and the need for durability increases, driveline fluids are more and more critical for vehicle reliability.
Front and rear differentials,transfer cases and power take off units(PTU's) and any other driveline fluids are usually serviced around every 50,000-100,000 miles or as needed in some applications due to special use or operating conditions. Failure to maintain proper driveline fluid condition and levels could lead to a "driveline lockup" which could cause loss of vehicle control and is very dangerous.
Brake Fluid
Brake fluid is another fluid that's often neglected. The only time it's is usually changed is when the brake system is opened for repair. Yet brake fluid is hydroscopic and absorbs moisture over time. After two or more years of service, it can become badly contaminated with moisture. This lowers its boiling point up to 25% (which may contribute to pedal fade if the brakes overheat). It also promotes internal rust and corrosion that can damage calipers, wheel cylinders and anti-lock brake system components. Though the vehicle manufacturers have no requirements for changing the fluid, many brake experts say changing the fluid every two years for preventive maintenance would greatly prolong the life of the hydraulic components in the brake system and improve safety.
Changes aside, the fluid level should be checked periodically to make sure it isn't low. The fluid level in the master cylinder will gradually drop as the brake linings wear, but a sudden drop usually means a leak and a possible loss of hydraulic pressure.
Power Steering Fluid
Like brake fluid, power steering fluid is rarely ever changed unless a hose fails or the steering gear has to be replaced. There usually is no recommended replacement interval for preventive maintenance, but the fluid should be replaced if the pump or steering gear has failed and is also being replaced. It's also important to check the fluid level in the pump reservoir periodically (a low fluid level usually indicates a leaky hose or seal somewhere in the system).
Filters
Air Filter
The air filter keeps dirt out of the engine, so its service life depends on its operating environment. If you do a lot of driving on rural gravel roads, you may need a new filter every couple of months. A city dweller, on the other hand, might go a year or more between changes.
To assure a proper fit, it's recommended to replace your filter with an OEM brand filter instead of a value brand. They are usually constructed of much high quality materials and will filter more dirt and last longer than an aftermarket filter. The couple dollars you are saving could cause very costly engine repair.
Cabin Air Filter
If your vehicle is equipped with a cabin air filter that cleans air entering the passenger compartment, the filter should usually be replaced every 15,000 to 30,000 miles or as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. Refer to your owners manual.
Fuel Filter
For reliable engine operation and fuel system performance, a clean fuel supply is absolutely essential. The fuel filter is the fuel system's primary line of defense against dirt, debris and small particles of rust that flake off the inside of the fuel tank. If not trapped by the filter, such contaminants can plug fuel metering orifices in a carburetor or prevent valves from seating. In fuel injected engines, fuel debris can clog the injector inlet screens and starve the injector for fuel. And if debris gets inside the injector, it can wear or jam the pintle valve and seat.
With diesel engines, clean fuel is even more important because of the extremely close tolerances inside the injection pump.
The typical OEM recommendation today for fuel filter replacement is every 30,000 miles and is a good way to prevent fuel-related problems.
PCV Valve
Pvc valve (and/or breather filter on older cars) is a very commonly overlooked important engine component. Here is what it does and how it works.
Blow-by gases are generated when a small but continual amount of gases (air, unburned fuel, combustion gases) leak past the piston rings, that is, blow by them, and the piston ring gaps to end up inside the crankcase, causing pressure to build up in there. Additional sources of blow-by that contribute to this effect are gases leaking past the turbocharger shaft and in some cases the valve stem seals. The blow-by gases, if not ventilated, can condense and combine with the oil vapor present in the crankcase forming sludge or cause the oil to become diluted with unburned fuel, degrading its quality and decreasing its effective life.
Additionally, excessive crankcase pressure can lead to engine oil leaks past the crankshaft seals and other engine seals and gaskets. Prolonged periods of oil leaks can starve the engine of oil and damage it in a permanent way. Therefore, it becomes imperative that a crankcase ventilation system is used. This allows the blow-by gases, consisting of the combustion products and the oil vapors, to be vented through a PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) valve out of the crankcase.
Transmission Filter
A transmission filter prevents dirt and debris from getting into the gears,valves and other parts of the transmission system. It is positioned above the transmission pan, which collects excess fluid, and below the pickup tube that connects to the oil pump, which regulates the pressure of fluid in the transmission. The filter collects contaminants before letting fluid through to the transmission, stopping the buildup of sludge, which can cause excessive wear on the transmission’s moving parts.
Coolant Filter
Some hybrid and electric vehicles are fitted with a replaceable coolant filter to protect the various pumps and cooled electronics from scale and contamination. Also many modern diesel can benefit from the addition of a coolant filter system to maintain peak engine performance prevent contamination of certain engine components like egr and oil coolers as well as the vehicles radiator.
Climate Controlled Seats
The climate controlled seat system includes air filters that must be replaced periodically. Refer to Scheduled maintenance information in owners manual.
Preventative
Maintenance
Basic Care
Preventive maintenance is the best way of keeping vehicles in good running condition. Checking fluid levels regularly and changing the fluids and filters periodically can minimize the risks of breakdowns and prolong the life of the engine, transmission, cooling system,brakes and other vital vehicle systems.
Routine service,repairs and periodic inspections will provide you peace of mind and added value to your vehicle while its preforming at its best.
Have your belts and hoses checked. New rubber technology has greatly increased the lifespan and serviceability of belts,hoses and rubber components but they should still be checked regularly and replaced or repaired as needed.
A proper running vehicle with a clean air filter and proper tire pressures and alignment will help you optimize your vehicles fuel mileage saving you money at the pump and reduced emissions for the quality of the air you breath. Improper tire care is the leading cause of tire failure and short service life.
Also preforming routine services like injector flushing and intake and valve cleanings will boost fuel mileage,performance and idle quality. Cleaning the injectors,throttle valve and intake service is recommended every 30,000 miles.
Regular testing and inspection of your battery,cables and electrical systems is key to having a reliable starting and running vehicle. If you engine sounds slow to start or abnormal get it checked and repaired before it leaves you stranded. Proper electrical system maintenance is also critical to your vehicles many and ever increasing number of on board computers.A weak battery or low voltage can cause a myriad of symptoms and could lead to costly starter,alternator,and or module failures that may leave you stranded when you least expect it!
Keeping your car clean not only keeps it looking good and new, but lengthens its life as well. Dust, dirt, sand and salt particles stick to your car and can ruin your car’s paint finish. They are culprits for rust and corrosion especially salt, which can hasten the process up to ten times more than normal. Washing your car frequently can prevent the buildup of these particles and keep its parts and paint finish longer. This also prevents costly repairs and improves your vehicle’s performance.
Keeping your car clean also could save you some money. It can save you gas. Dirt and stuck to a car adds extra weight which makes your car use more gas. But this is not just limited to the exterior of the car, but check out the inside of your car as well. Unnecessary items inside the car add extra weight. Do those things really need to be there? If not, do not keep them there. Your car will not only be lighter but will give your more space to breath. And if you plan on reselling your car, keeping it clean prevents its resale value from diminishing.