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Ways to Keep Your Vehicle’s Engine Healthy

By: Author Jeff Campbell

Posted on Last updated:

Categories Guest Posts

Your vehicle’s engine can be likened to the heart. It works relentlessly to give you the best driving experience. Most drivers do not think of the engine when they step into the car and start driving. The engine does not require too much attention to function properly, but it is beneficial if you regularly check your engine. 

If you neglect your engine, you are risking your vehicle breaking down unexpectedly, which is just as pleasant an experience as you can imagine. You do not need to do much, but following the tips mentioned below will help you with keeping your vehicle’s engine healthy. 

  1. Oil Change is Essential

Engine oil lubricates the parts of the engine that are prone to wear and tear due to friction and keeps them healthy. Regularly making an oil change in your engine is important for the health of your vehicle’s engine. Avoiding this step should not be a choice you make. 

If you are unsure about when to change the oil, you can contact your engine or Cylinder liners manufacturer for guidance. A quick internet search would also help with this problem. When you change the engine oil, it is also important to change the oil filters for maximum efficiency. The oil filter needs to be changed since it collects all the dirt and fine impurities that can contaminate the new oil if the filter is not replaced.

The filter will also suffer if you wait for the fuel to get low before refilling the tank. With a low level of liquid, the dust and sediments would settle at the bottom. This should not be allowed to happen because the fuel left would be circulating in the engine along with the debris settled at the bottom. In case the dirt goes through the engine, you are looking at an internal problem that can cost you the engine’s health. 

2. The Cooling System should Keep Working

The coolant in your engine works to reduce the temperature of the engine over continued use. The cooling system of the engine is essential for improving long-term efficiency. The cooling system of the engine of your vehicle includes the coolant, the water pump, a thermostat, and a radiator. Make sure your cooling system is running smoothly by having an appropriate amount of coolant in it. The coolant is also called radiator fluid. 

The coolant works when the thermostat detects the temperature of the engine to be too high. The water pump then pumps the coolant from the radiator, through the engine block, and back into the radiator. The coolant can be checked by lifting the hood of your vehicle. The level of the coolant in the engine should be below the maximum mark and above the minimum mark always. 

Be vigilant and take your vehicle to a mechanic in case you feel it is overheating. 

3. Making Checking for Leaks a Habit

You do not have to check for leaks each time to sit behind the wheel. Just add a reminder in your phone to regularly check the vehicle for leaks every once in a while. All you have to do is look beneath the vehicle. The leaks are very visible and easily detectable, so you do not have to be an expert at spotting leaks to do this. 

Leaking fuel or coolant can also be detected by a keen nose. Even though it is not a common occurrence, leakage does happen when the engine comes under high stress from pressure and heat. The leaks happen at seals where two parts are joined through welding or rubber. You do not want fluid where it does not belong in a machine. 

Check for leaks. Look under the hood, check under the vehicle, go to a mechanic. 

4. Refrain from Start and Stop Driving 

It is one thing to shut down the engine while waiting at a stoplight and another to keep turning it off after each short period of waiting. Engines run better when they are in continuous use and stay healthier for a longer time. If you stop and start often, the engine wears down which will affect the performance of your vehicle. 

Whenever you are driving, consider keeping the RPMs and the vehicle speed consistent. This will allow you to experience improved gas mileage and will keep your engine healthier. Less work for your engine means more efficiency. 

5. Spark Plugs and Wires should be Changed

Wires and spark plugs, like other parts of the engine, are also liable to damage. The wires in your engine run from the distributor. They are meant to send current to the spark plugs. The spark plugs, like their name, are used to cause a spark and ignite the air mixture and fuel in the cylinder. 

Apart from spark plugs and wires, also regularly check your cylinder liners. Getting the engine and cylinder liner checked by a professional would help you know when the Cylinder sleeves need to be changed. 

The plugs and wires can be changed without much effort or investing a lot of money. Typically, manufacturers recommend they be changed once every 30,000 miles. However, this is not a fixed limit as different spark plugs, and wires have different durability. This regular changing of wires and spark plugs will help you keep your vehicle’s engine healthy. 

Conclusion

Your vehicle’s engine thus needs to be taken care of through routine checkups. More often than not, all you will need to do is change a part that hasn’t been functioning normally, and your engine will be back to running at its full efficiency. Your engine’s health should never be ignored. This is why each time the Check Engine light blinks; you need to make it a priority to go to a mechanic as soon as possible.

Other tips include changing your fuel, the filter, wires, and spark plugs. Looking for leaks is another way to keep your engine healthy, along with keeping the coolant at the required level. Once you follow these tips, you will see a noticeable change in your engine’s efficiency.

 

Jeff Campbell
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