InFocus | Automobiles
Want years of reliable drives?
Maintaining your car and keeping it in top condition gives you significant benefits such as good fuel economy, long vehicle life, driving enjoyment, safety, reliability, warranty coverage and above all compliance with government regulations.
- By Latha Krishnan, Gulf News Report
- Published: 00:00 November 19, 2006
- Image Credit:
Then it is crucial that you maintain the engine, exterior and interior in top condition
Maintaining your car and keeping it in top condition gives you significant benefits such as good fuel economy, long vehicle life, driving enjoyment, safety, reliability, warranty coverage and above all compliance with government regulations.
"On the one hand, if traffic snarls that we encounter mean our cars are idling for a long time, then on the other hand, high speed driving has become the norm on free ways.
"Both conditions put a lot of strain on our vehicles. In addition to this is the high temperatures and sandy environment here, which make it very important to see that our cars are serviced regularly and kept in tiptop shape," says B. Sumod, Assistant Senior Manager, Marketing, Dynatrade Service in Sharjah.
You can be sure to have smooth, trouble-free, safe and economical driving when you follow the maintenance schedule listed in the owner's manual of your car. It will also help you avoid exorbitant repair bills.
Get your vehicle serviced only at authorised service stations. It is advisable to leave the complicated service procedures that require special tools and skills to qualified technicians.
Most car dealers keep a record of the maintenance on your car and you can keep a similar record to send your car for service at the right time.
To prevent engine deterioration, it is imperative that the engine maintains the amount of oil it is programmed to receive. Negligence in this will lead to deteriorating engine performance, resulting in falling mileage.
Engine oil and oil filter are to be changed at regular intervals of 5,000 to 10,000 kilometres on the odometer. Cooling and heater systems hoses and connections have to be inspected and replaced if worn, every 40,000 kilometers.
Spark plugs get the same treatment. Other systems such as the fuel filter, air filter, choke system, etc., have to be checked and replaced whenever necessary. Always use genuine spare parts.
Checking the engine oil level, coolant level and tyre pressure and replacing them if necessary are some of the do-it-yourself maintenance jobs that manufacturers deem safe for owners to carry out.
Keep tyres inflated to recommended pressure. Check for cuts, bulges and excessive tread wear. Uneven wear indicates tyres are misaligned or out of balance.
Owners can also check their car battery's condition, recharge it, replace fuses if necessary, add washer fluid and replace light bulbs.
If the battery is corroded, wash it off with a solution of warm water and baking soda and coat the outside of the terminals with grease to prevent further corrosion. If the level of fluid in a battery that is not maintenance free is below the lower level in any of the six cells then add distilled water to those cells.
Add windshield washer fluid if needed in the tank provided and replace light bulbs using the right tools carefully, avoiding breakage and injury.
It is important to preserve the paint finish of your car's exterior by washing it often with water. Use a soft clean chamois or a cotton towel to avoid scratches and water spotting.
Within the car, the top of the instrument panel and other vinyl or plastic surfaces can be wiped clean using a solution of mild soap and water or a commercially available cleaning product.
Fabric can also be vacuumed and wiped but with difficult stains such as, coffee, fruit juice, ketchup, etc., it is advisable to use a special interior cleaner or baking soda and water.
If you want your car to give you years of reliable, safe and comfortable journeys, it is crucial that you maintain its engine, exterior and interior in top condition.
Share this article
