MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS

Many of the same elements that attack hoses also attack belts—heat, oil, ozone, and abrasion. Almost all cars and trucks built today have a single multi-grooved serpentine belt that drives the alternator, water pump, power-steering pump, and air-conditioning compressor. Older vehicles may have separate v-belts that drive the accessories. The car care council says chances of a v-belt failure rise dramatically after four years or 36,000 miles, while the critical point for a serpentine belt is 50,000 miles. Any belt should be changed when it shows signs of excessive wear. But many new composite belts don’t show signs of wear until the failure occurs.

Even though we have come a long way in terms of efficiency of a car engine, a lot of energy is lost during combustion in the form of heat. Metals and alloys, which your car engine is made out of, are not very good friends with heat. Always ensure there is ample coolant in the tank as it is very important for heat dissipation. A 1:1 ratio of coolant and distilled water is ideal. Also, it’s a good thing to look at the engine temp gauge on a hot sunny day and shut your car down in case it’s close to overheating

Engines are made up of many moving parts, which is why it’s essential to get these parts repaired as soon as you know they need to be fixed. Engines can be some of the more costly repairs, and the timing of when they get fixed plays a pivotal role. It can mean the difference between a simple engine repair or needing an engine completely replaced

It is recommended that you schedule a tune-up anywhere from every 10,000 - 100,000 miles. Tune-ups are especially important as your car ages. The more miles under its belt, the more your car will benefit from it. Your technician will check fluids, battery, and brakes, as well as a full diagnostics check. The serpentine belts and hoses will also need to be checked and potentially replaced, depending on the manufacturer. your air filter and fuel filter will also be replaced to help ensure cleanliness and fuel economy. Spark plugs and ignition coils, which naturally wear over time, will also need to be replaced.