When you own a car, it’s important not to neglect regular maintenance. Many tasks are within everyone’s reach and don’t require too much experience or manual dexterity, but they are essential to ward off the danger of breakdowns and problems that can also weigh on your wallet. For this reason, a good driver should be able to observe the car to spot any signs of malfunctions and intervene promptly. Among other important things to know is Ovoko, a web platform becoming increasingly popular for its wide range of used vehicle parts from all brands, including FIAT, Opel, Mini Cooper, Mercedes, etc. In this article, however, we’ll look at some tips to keep your car in good condition.
Taking Care of Your Vehicle to Save Money
You shouldn’t be too “creative” in using your car. The advice is to always use it in a way that is consistent with its capabilities and technical characteristics: for long-distance trips, a vehicle with an engine capacity of over 1.6 liters, or perhaps equipped with turbo or more efficient injection engines, is better, while a compact car is not suitable for off-road surfaces. Another important aspect to consider is the loading capacity: you shouldn’t overload a vehicle to avoid causing stress to the suspension, clutch, or the vehicle’s structure itself. In general, therefore, you need to thoroughly understand the features, strengths, and weaknesses of the car to know how to behave.
Warming Up the Engine? Not Just for Old Cars
There is often a tendency to believe that the practice of warming up the engine should only concern older vehicles, but this is a mistake. An improperly warmed engine, when called upon for rapid accelerations or abrupt braking, risks suffering greatly and sustaining damage. Oil, for example, requires heat to act properly, otherwise its properties may be ineffective and fail to adequately lubricate the engine’s mechanical parts. Similarly, turbo engines also need oil at temperatures above 50°C to function at their best, but a good level of heat is also useful for lubricants in the transmission housed in the gearbox and differential.
Being Methodical with Inspections and Maintenance
To ward off the danger of sudden breakdowns and malfunctions, the best strategy is to be proactive with maintenance and monitor the conditions of various parts as indicated by the manufacturers and industry experts. Although with some variations that may depend on the models, their quality, and the characteristics of the vehicle, it’s good to know what the best times are for routine maintenance. For brakes, for example, every 30/50 thousand kilometers would be ideal, while for the clutch, you shouldn’t go beyond 40 thousand, and the same goes for the air and fuel filters. For transmission oil and suspensions, advisable preventive maintenance is every 50 thousand kilometers, while for tires, in addition to seasonal changes and regular pressure checks, the limit is usually 60 thousand, as it is for belts and flexible hoses. For the battery, there is more time: preventive maintenance is usually recommended every 80 thousand kilometers.
Don’t Delay Repairs Too Long
Some parts of the vehicle, unlike those seen in the previous paragraph, do not require so-called routine maintenance, but they could still present problems without any prior notice. Among the essential vehicle parts that are at risk of causing nasty surprises without any warning are the radiator, alternator, water pump, and oil pump. In these situations, the advice of an expert is essential: the best solution, most likely, is not the cheapest one, but it is worth considering that sometimes there is no alternative to replacing the part, possibly with an original or high-quality alternative.
Driving with Care
A proper driving style can help preserve the good condition of the vehicle. It seems trivial to say, but it is true, and this goes beyond accident prevention. Driving carefully means, for example, avoiding too rapid accelerations and keeping the engine speed at more regular levels, but also managing fuel better and, consequently, the operation of the entire injection system. Similarly, trying to brake gently and not abruptly is a good way to avoid overheating of the brake discs, just as correct use of the gearbox would involve shifting from one gear to the next (or lower) and not “double jumps.” Even the approach to potholes and rough roads can make a difference: traveling at excessive speeds can greatly stress the entire suspension system and the steering wheel.
Other Useful Precautions to Preserve Your Car
Our driving behavior significantly influences the health of the vehicle. Regarding the gearbox, for example, it would be good to avoid too high gears at too low speeds and vice versa, but also not to spend too much time in first gear: changing gears frequently and at the right time has a positive impact. Another useful suggestion is not to overload the car: suspensions, engine, and clutch are stressed, but fuel consumption also increases. In general, it is also always good practice to carefully observe the car to spot any signs of wear, while a bad habit could be driving with your foot on the clutch, even lightly pressing the pedal unintentionally.
