We save money on maintenance wisely – this is what an auto expert advised

Many operations the car owner can perform independently. But there are times when it is advisable to entrust the car to professional repairmen.

Engine oil

If you want to extend the life of the engine, you need to change the oil more often than the regulations prescribe. Depending on the operating conditions and the quality of the oil, it is better to reduce the intervals between replacements to 7.5-10 thousand km.

The job is easy – you can do it yourself. At least you will be sure that you filled in the oil and installed the filter that you purchased.

But you will need a viewing hole or overpass to get to the drain plug. Many motorists get by with mini flyovers – with their help, the front of the car can be raised by 200-300 mm. And usually that’s enough.

Another way is to purchase a pump for pumping oil through the dipstick hole. At the same time, no more oil remains in the engine than when drained through the sump plug. This option is especially convenient if the oil filter can also be replaced from above or through the wheel arch.

Air and cabin filter

It is easy to carry out these operations on the vast majority of cars. And you can not even coincide with them for large maintenance. After all, the rate of contamination of these elements depends on the operating conditions.

For example, on a car that is driven a little, you can not change the air filter for several years. But it is better to update the salon at least once a year, as bacteria harmful to human health accumulate in it.

In order for the cabin filter to last longer, you need to remove the trim under the windshield once a year and clean the space of the air intake box.

Candles, belts, valves

Replacing spark plugs on some vehicles requires that the spark plug wells be blown out with compressed air and the spark plugs tightened with a torque wrench. There is a tool and a desire – you can not turn to the masters.

What are the advantages of independent work? You can save extra if your runs are low. Namely, change the candles by mileage, and not be tied to a big MOT, as they do in official services.

The same goes for changing the timing belt. True, due to the inevitable aging of rubber, it will have to be updated at least once every 5-6 years. Even if you drive a little. However, the operation is complicated, so most motorists turn to the service.

Valve adjustment on motors where hydraulic compensators are not provided is also preferred to be entrusted to professionals. After all, you need to remove the camshafts and have a set of adjusting cups of the right size. The work is not easy and must be done in a proven service.

Brake fluid

Oddly enough, even a beginner can change the brake fluid. It is enough to remove the wheel, slightly open the bleeder valve and watch how the liquid slowly flows into the substituted container.

The main thing is to add new fluid to the tank in time until a fresh “brake” comes out of all the fittings. From experience, a liter is definitely enough.

The only negative is that such a replacement takes a long time. But if you perform other operations in parallel, it makes sense to get down to business yourself.

Before changing the brake fluid, it is better to pump out the contents of the reservoir with a pear.

Chassis

A complete diagnosis of the suspension and steering can be carried out exclusively on a flyover, inspection hole or lift. Such an operation should be entrusted to professionals in order to accurately identify critically worn nodes and give a forecast of how long the rest will last.

Beware of divorce: often in services they offer to “shake up” the entire suspension. Although it is necessary to change, for example, only the knocking rack of the anti-roll bar. You will pay a lot of money for the work, and it is not a fact that new parts will last longer than those that were installed on the car.

It is really possible to carry out express diagnostics on your own and without a pit or a lift, for example, when changing shoes seasonally. With the wheel removed, you can assess the condition of many elements of the brake system, suspension and steering.

During the seasonal replacement of wheels on the editorial Largus, I found critical pad wear due to the fact that they jammed in the guides. On another occasion, I noticed torn tie rod covers. Both malfunctions were promptly eliminated, and no damage was noted to expensive components.

Body wash

Washing the body under high pressure leads to rapid damage to the paintwork. Moreover, water under pressure penetrates into the gaps between the parts, where it cannot naturally get. In winter, it freezes, which even breaks contact welding points, and in summer it provokes corrosion.

Therefore, wash the car yourself if possible. Either under a little pressure, or the old-fashioned way from a garden hose. Dirt is best removed with a special brush with fluffy hairs or a large-pored sponge, which should be rinsed more often with clean water. Use a detergent that improves slip.

Engine wash

I once suffered from such a service. After washing, the most reliable Toyota Carina-E drove about a kilometer. Interruptions in the operation of the engine began. The car stopped, and gasoline caught fire in the converter, which did not burn out due to misfires.

The cause was water that got under the distributor cap. When warmed up, it evaporated, and then condensed on the lid. The spark escaped along these conductive paths.

Therefore, it is advisable to wash the motor yourself. And it’s better not to even wash it, but to wipe the parts with a rag soaked in kerosene or WD-40.

How to extend the life of a car – 5 important operations after the winter. “Driving” can now be viewed on RuTube.