I’m a driving expert… follow five quick steps to keep engine running smoothly – it could save you thousands
A DRIVING expert has revealed five quick and easy steps to keep your engine running smoothly.
Joe Capraro, who has experience as a professional mechanic, shared his top tips for taking good care of your motor.
Writing for Slashgear, Joe said: “Many DIY auto maintenance tasks can be handled with a basic set of wrenches, screwdrivers, and ratchets, and purchasing a factory service manual for your vehicle will give you step-by-step guides for routine maintenance jobs and repairs.
“Repair costs vary widely by model and location, but most engine rebuilds or replacements will [cost thousands], meaning you’ll want to do everything you can to extend your engine’s life as long as possible.”
First of all, Joe recommended regularly changing your engine oil and the filter it passes through.
This can be done at most garages for a small fee or you can even just do it yourself.
All you need is a set of spanners, a pan or bowl to drain the oil into and an old towel or rag to clean up with.
Oil changes should be carried out every 5,000-7,000 miles, while the filter should be swapped on every second oil change.
Exact ranges for the make and model of your car can be found in your owner’s manual.
In a similar vein, Joe urged drivers to look after their radiators and keep them stocked up with coolant.
If you notice the temperature running high or leaking coolant, which is usually light green or pink in colour, you should get it checked out.
Again, regularly changing the fluid is beneficial and this should be done every two years or 30,000 miles, whichever comes first.
However, he warned pet owners to be careful as ethylene glycol, a key ingredient in coolant, is “enticing” to animals but extremely toxic if ingested.
It’s also quite difficult to dispose of coolant properly, so get advice from a trusted local mechanic or the council.
Another item which needs to be regularly changed is the spark plugs.
They can last up to 90,000 miles but you should really consider changing them after 30,000.
You also need to make sure they are clean and properly gapped to ensure better fuel economy, which will save you money in the long run.
Fourthly, Joe advised varying your revs to keep all your engine’s moving parts in working order.
In general, you should try and keep revs on the lower side to reduce the stress put on the system.
However, doing this all the time can still be harmful as revving the engine close to the redline for a few seconds can clear carbon deposits from valves and cylinders.
Just be sure to do this somewhere safe, like on the motorway before changing gear, and only very occasionally.
Finally, perhaps the most basic but often forgotten tip of all was to put the right fuel in your car – you are what you eat after all.
Obviously, this applies to petrol vs diesel but some cars also require different types of each.
Some engines need premium petrol and will usually have a sticker on the fuel filler door informing you of the minimum octane requirement.
Adding lower-quality fuel could cause some serious damage to such vehicles.
It comes after a motors whizz revealed how she saved £2,000 on her car insurance with just the click of a button.
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