Preventative Maintenance

1. Preventative Maintenance Chapter 20 Section 1

2. Preventative Maintenance • Routine care that you give to your car • Day to day care • Changing oil • Filling tires with air • Checking fluid levels • Routine servicing • Follow the schedule of preventative maintenance in your owners manual

3. Tire Maintenance • Easiest part of the vehicle to monitor, although they are often overlooked • Easier to change a tire at home than on a busy street • Take the time to research the best tires for your vehicle • Never mix and match tires • Should be of equivalent size, quality, and tread design

4. Tire Maintenance (cont.) • Inflation • Help the vehicle to grip the road evenly and wear at the same rate • Overinflation • Only the center of the tire grips the road • Harder ride • Faster wear • Underinflation • Outer edges of the tire grip the road • Steering is more difficult • Heat buildup • Decreases fuel economy • Faster wear • Tire pressure should be checked once a month • Measure when the tires are cold • Make sure you check the spare

5. Tire Maintenance (cont.) • Wear • Make sure you check the tread of the tires and make sure they are not bald • Bald tires=no traction • Can lead to punctured tires • Tread should be no less than 1/8 inch • Get your tires rotated for equal wear • Should be rotated on a regular basis • Switching tires from front to back and side to side

6. Fluid Levels • Lifeblood of your vehicle • Check them regularly • Also check under the vehicle for signs of leaking • Color of the puddle on the pavement indicates the type of fluid leaking out • To make leaks easier to see, leave a white sheet of paper under the vehicle overnight

7. Fluid Levels • Oil • If you suspect a problem with your oil or the oil gauge light comes on, stop immediately • Can damage the engine • Check oil at least once a month • More frequently in older vehicles • Change the oil at least twice a year or every 3,000 miles • Depending on the type of driving you do

8. Fluid Levels • Oil (cont.) • Check when the engine is cool and not running • Remove dipstick, wipe it off, reinsert, remove again and check oil level • Don’t only rely on the oil gauge to tell you when to change the oil • By the time the warning lights are on, its too late • Transmission Fluid • Bright, cherry red • Should be changed every 25,000 to 30,000 miles, depending on type of vehicle

9. Fluid Levels • Brake Fluid • Check fluid levels in the master cylinder • Should be checked every time you have oil changed • Replace it at least once a year • Attracts water from condensation and humidity in the air, causing corrosion • Coolant • Check levels in the radiator overflow tank • Levels that are too low can cause the engine to overheat • Start the car and add coolant • Prevents cracking of components from a sudden temperature change • Water alone can be used in warm weather if antifreeze is unavailable • Other Fluids • Windshield washer fluid • Battery fluid • Power Steering fluid

10. Belts, Hoses, and Wires • Belts • Loose belts • In the engine can cause the electrical system to malfunction • Can contribute to inefficient cooling of the engine and problems with the power steering and air conditioning • Belts should feel tight when you push them • If you can push them down more than ½ inch • Hoses • Check hoses and hose connections for leaks • Wires • Wires that are loose, broken, disconnected, or that have cracked insulation, should be prepared • Check battery cables and make sure they are tightly connected

11. Brake Pads • One of the most important features of your vehicle • Should feel firm resistance • Should come to a smooth, direct stop • Shouldn’t have to put the pedal to the floor • Get them fixed if: • Have to depress the brake very low • If the vehicle pulls to one side • One tire locks when braking • Grabbing or uneven braking • Squealing or chattering noises

12. The Engine • Quickest way to diagnose problems with your engine is the exhaust • If blue or smoky white, engine damage is occurring or have already • Foul, sulfuric smell like rotten eggs, may be the catalytic converter • Defects in the exhaust create noise and increase the amount of carbon monoxide poisoning for the vehicle’s occupants • Keep an eye on the temperature of you engine • Overheating can result from the breakdown of your water pump or from a malfunctioning thermostat

13. Steering and Suspension • Be alert to problems with you vehicle’s steering • Vibration of the steering wheel • Excessive “play” in the wheel • Difficulty in steering • Wobbling or pulling to one side • Sway when driving over a bump or turning corners • rattling

14. Routine Maintenance Schedule • Keep records of when and what type of service work is done • Keep track of whether you do it yourself or have a mechanic do it • Owners manual will outline a specific schedule to follow

16. Refueling • Keep an eye on the fuel gauge • Don’t let the vehicle run out of fuel • Dirt can clog up the fuel filter • If the filter becomes blocked, your engine will not receive the fuel it needs for combustion to take place in the cylinders • Turn engine off before refueling

17. Protecting the Exterior • Washing your vehicle • Waxing your vehicle • Cover your vehicle