Let’s talk about what factors have the most serious impact on a car engine, and how to extend engine life.
As a rule, drivers drive their vehicles in the manner they are accustomed to, thinking little about the mistakes they do, which can lead to an internal combustion engine (ICE) overhaul.
How to extend engine life?
Follow 10 simple recommendations:
1. Owners should break in the car to give the engine time to adjust and operate evenly.
2. Choose the right engine oil and other fluids, and change them in a timely and correct manner according to guidelines.
3. Monitor the operation of the ICE’s cooling system, electronics, ignition, and power supply. Any deviations from the norm are a reason for an immediate visit to a service station.
4. Quickly identify and fix problems. Make necessary replacements of powertrain parts – drive belts, rollers, spark plugs, filters, and other consumables. Regular computer diagnostics help in this.
5. A responsible driver must check the level and condition (smell, look) of technical fluids (oil, coolant) at least once a week. Minor or intense leaks through pipes, covers, seals, or gaskets are the reason to inspect the engine at the service station.
6. Choose the optimal driving mode and the correct gear.
The optimal operating mode for the car engine is its full warm-up and reaching operating temperatures. Don’t allow the powertrain to idle for a long time: after the arrow of the coolant temperature gauge begins to rise, you can start moving.
Any engine does not like extremes – too high or low revs. A high load on the ICE with an aggressive driving manner shortens the engine life.
To extend engine life, keep the tachometer in the middle range, timely switching to the desired gear depending on road conditions, speed, loads, and other factors.
7. Refuse to use additives in oil or fuel.
As practice shows, the benefits of using additives to the engine lubrication system or other flushing fluids are doubtful. High-quality engine oil already contains necessary additives.
8. Monitor the operation of the fuel system, as problems in it lead to unstable engine operation.
9. Periodically clean the injector (nozzles) to detect deviations in the operation of sensors in time, avoid problems with mixture formation, and also maintain injectors in working order.
10. Keep the fuel level at least half a tank.
The habit of driving with an almost empty tank to use up leftovers causes engine life-shortening.
Sediment, dirt, and condensation accumulate at the bottom of the gas tank during operation. When driving with an almost empty tank, those pollutants occur in fuel filters and clog them.
Moreover, some contaminants pass through the filter element and enter the combustion chamber, forming deposits inside the ICE.
To avoid it, you must always keep the fuel level at least half a tank. This will save the fuel pump and extend the life of the filters, reduce the number of condensation in cold weather, and the risk of unwanted impurities from the gas tank entering the engine.
Remember: only an effective combination of quality service and professional troubleshooting allows the engine to easily go thousands of miles before major repairs.
