8 Tips to Maintain Your Car Engine

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You’ve probably heard people say that maintaining the engine of your car is the single most important thing you can do for it.

The way your car works depends a lot on the way the engine functions and ignoring its requirements can lead to major problems.

A car is usually one of the most important investments in a person’s life and it’s a shame when it stops working the way it’s meant to, just because it wasn’t checked on regularly or cleaned promptly.

More often than not, people top up their engines and forget about it. Even though maintaining engine oil levels is an important part of preserving your car engine, it isn’t the complete solution to save it from spoiling.

That’s why in this blog, we’ve gathered all the necessary tips, repair costs, the pros & cons of DIY vs professional engine repairs and so much more. So, keep reading to learn more and watch your engine work for a long time!

What Are the Signs of Engine Trouble?

Slowly but steadily, when your engine is in trouble, you’ll start noticing that it isn’t working smoothly like it used to and some odd smells may also come up when driving.

Whatever the issues may be, here are some signs that your engine needs to be inspected and possibly maintained-

• Starting & Stalling: This is a very common sign and often the very first thing you will notice when your car engine starts having problems. Your car may suddenly stall while driving, and oftentimes it may stop completely and refuse to start again.
• Dashboard Lights Flickering: When you notice that dashboard lights are blinking or dimmer than they seem, it means that your car engine has less power. Especially if you see the check engine light come on, it’s time to inspect it immediately.
• Weird Noises and Smells: There might be burning smells or screeching noises coming from your car. This happens because there isn’t enough fuel in the engine or the filters and exhaust systems.
• Sluggish Performance: A car engine starts lagging and gives poor performance because there are problems such as a clogged fuel filter and other compression issues.
• Smoke Issues: Engine issues such as overheating cause smoke to come out of the car. This happens because the engine has been overworked, the wrong fluids were chosen for the brake or transmission, functioning with a low-quality coolant, and so on.

Thus, these signs show you that it’s time to check your car engine.

8 Tips to Maintain Car Engine

The 8 tips to maintain a car engine are-

1. Topping Up & Changing Fuel

Without proper engine oil levels, the components of the engine will start grinding against each other and cause brutal damage to its insides. That’s why you need to top up the fuel to give the engine sufficient lubrication.

Besides, changing your car fuel promptly is also an important practice to follow to prevent any debris build up in the car parts and to help your engine stay away from lagging.

2. Clean Air Filters

The recommended period to clean the car air filters is every 14,000 miles. Start by taking out the filter and slowly tapping it to lose the dirt on top, you can also go for a deep clean if you see hard debris on it.

This will help your engine function better as it receives the air it needs to cool off at the right time and maintains a healthy air-to-fuel ratio in the car system.

3. Pick the Right Quality Fuel

When picking the fuel for your car engine, make sure that it's of a higher octane rating and has good quality that’s compatible with the workings of your car. This saves it from combustion and knocking issues.

In case you make the mistake of using a lower-graded fuel for your engine, it’s important to replace it immediately to prevent any performance and longevity issues.

4. Maintain Tire Pressure

When the pressure of your wheels is at an optimal level, it takes away a lot of strain from a car engine. It’s one of the things that can be used to increase fuel economy and distribute the weight of the car correctly.

Moreover, maintaining the tire pressure also helps with horsepower and tire resistance on the road while driving. This is because the car doesn’t drag and put unwanted weight on the engine.

5. Avoid Rash Driving

More often than not, people rev up their engines, accelerate too fast, and even do hard braking. This damages the car engine together with the transmission and reduces your vehicle’s lifespan.

Driving aggressively is not safe and should be avoided at all costs, not just for the safety of the engine but also yourself.

6. Tune it Up!

Don’t forget to check your car regularly to fix and repair issues when they arise as it’s critical to avoid them from becoming a bigger problem in the future.

Whether your car needs an engine upgrade or a replacement, you can check usedengines.us to get your free quotation today.

7. Flush Radiator

Take it from us, don’t ever underestimate the power of flushing your car’s radiator. Just by getting rid of debris on it, you can stay away from engine overheating and damage that is caused by build-ups.

Use cleaning solutions such as the liquid radiator flush that is available in a bottle. Another commonly used DIY hack is to make a cleaning solution with baking soda to clean the car’s radiator.

8. Use Car Covers

A car cover can help to protect your engine from environmental moisture that causes rusting and corrosion. It also helps in keeping your car at a normal temperature that can help the engine kick up the pace while driving instead of cold starting.

Moreover, shielding your car with car covers also keeps unwanted particles of nature away such as dust from pollen, debris in the air, tree sap, bird droppings, etc. from its surface.

DIY v. Professional Maintenance

Let’s discuss their pros and cons-

PROS

CONS

How Much Does Professional vs. DIY Car Maintainance Cost?

The average estimated costs for DIY vs. Professional car maintenance are-

• Replacing Brake Pads
  DIY: $15- $50 for parts only.
  Professional: $120- $300 for labor help and parts.
• Rotating Tires
  DIY: Free with the cost of only buying the required tools.
  Professional: $20- $60.
• Changing Oil
  DIY: $15- $40 for filter and oil
  Professional: $40- $100 for oil and filter change
• Replacing Transmission Fluid
  DIY: $50- $150 for filter and fluid
  Professional: $100- $350 for filter and fluid change

How Often Do Car Engines Need Servicing?

It is recommended to maintain your engine regularly and you must check on it for issues every 9,000 miles or at least every year.

You can also check the owner’s manual of your car to see if the maintenance requirements for your car vary depending on its specific make and model. Otherwise, opt for a consultation with a qualified mechanic to fix engine issues.

Conclusion

Car engine maintenance is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly as it can impact the overall performance of your car and these issues can stop it from working in the future, especially when it’s neglected for long periods.

If issues arise, it’s important to read the signs of engine problems and attend to them immediately before they turn into a bigger crisis. You can opt for professional repairs and if the damage is minor, DIY techniques work too.

It’s a known fact that no car works without a good engine or transmission. To upgrade your engine or transmission at affordable prices, check our high-quality and superior-performance used engines and transmissions today!

Contact 1800-518-9776 or visit usedengines.us to get your free quote now.