Tips On Keeping Your Automobile In Optimum Condition

When purchasing a vehicle, the new owner commits a significant amount of time and money. People need vehicles to drive to work, take their kids to school and run errands. A car may only need a check up every few months, but there is more to maintaining an automobile than taking it to the local technician. There are many ways to elongate the life of a vehicle and most are fairly simple and hassle free. Just be observant and don't wait to make repairs or replace malfunctioning parts.

First, watch over the battery closely. Especially in cold temperatures, owners will find the battery feels less powerful than in warmer months. In freezing weather conditions, the power source has about half of its usual cranking power. For a traditional battery, carefully remove the plastic caps and check the fluid. If the fluid is at a low level, add distilled water. For unconventional batteries like those found in hybrid cars, frequently check the displayed gauge. After about five years, the power source may not keep charge or show other signs of weakness. It should be replaced accordingly.

Inexperienced drivers and car owners often forget to check their oil regularly, but oil maintenance is one of the easiest and most effective ways to maintain a vehicle. Depending on the season, it may be appropriate to use a winter or summer safe formula. Winter oil products are typically labeled with a W, but for those who prefer to have technicians change the oil, simply ask for a cold weather safe product. Be sure to replace the filter as well to facilitate maximum flow.

After checking the oil, focus on the tires. Avoid driving in a way that increases stress on the tread. Make slow turns and take plenty of time to accelerate or decelerate. Sometimes, roads will have potholes or other miscellaneous debris. Where possible, safely circumvent these items. Nails or any small sharp object can get lodged in the tires and cause a leak or flat. Check the air pressure regularly to detect problems early. Follow the car manual guidelines on tire rotation and care, but continue to monitor the tread in case the tires should be replaced sooner than average.

When purchasing a new car, allow for a break in period over the first 1,000 miles on the road. The manual may recommend some limitations regarding speed, idle time or weight. Furthermore, the vehicle will need to warm up during the first 10 to 15 minutes of driving. This short window is responsible for the majority of engine wear so avoid excessive stress.

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Exploring Suspension And Steering Components

It takes a sequence of different suspension parts and steering components to keep your vehicle running smooth and efficient. Regular maintenance on the drive shaft, suspension and tires are all important.

There is an old saying that the most important part of a car is the tires, but what about all the parts that get those tires turning? These parts are generally referred to as your suspension and steering components, and they play a vital role in keeping your vehicle on the road. Beyond just getting power to the wheels, they respond to input from the steering column and transmission, as well as absorb imperfections in the road surface like bumps and potholes. In modern front-wheel drive cars, these parts will generally be found between each front wheel and the bell housing of the transmission.

A drive shaft or CV shaft extends from the side of the transmission to the wheel hub providing power to each wheel independently. Because of the constant velocity joints on each end of the shaft, the wheels are able to move up, down and side to side to absorb or avoid changes in the driving surface, as well as give the other parts of the suspension system room to move.

Directing these shifts and movements requires an additional set of components. In the double wishbone suspension commonly found on newer cars, two steel plates called control arms and shaped a bit like wishbones hold the wheel in place. Each of these control arms meets the wheel hub using a sealed ball joint that can shift in several directions, much like the socket joint in your hip.

Sudden jolts and shaking aren't just comfortable. They can do significant damage over time. Because imperfection in the road surface and occasional instability are mostly unavoidable, a large spring is mounted between the control arms on each side. The shaft you can see in its center works like a pump to dissipate forces from bumps and potholes or uneven road surfaces.

To hold all these parts together and allow the car's alignment to be adjusted, tie rods run from the steering knuckle mounted on the wheel hub to a center link that runs the width of the vehicle. Often trucks and some cars will have a second bar running between the lower control arms called a sway bar or anti-sway bar to keep the suspension stabilized against itself at high speed or under heavy load.

Every one of the parts of your vehicle's suspension work together to react to steering and acceleration inputs, withstand changes in the road surface, and keep your ride smooth and comfortable. Each one of these components requires care and maintenance to continue operating efficiently.

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