DRIVE wIsE

THE WORLD LEADING FLEET AND VEHICLE MANAGEMENT COMPANY
www.leaseplan.co.in
DRIVE wise
J u n e 2 0 13 | Vo l u m e 03 | I ss u e 03
Making driving a pleasure
to function optimally under all
conditions, an engine needs oil.
The oil serves multiple purposes.
It reduces the friction between
various components and reduces
the temperature inside the engine.
Most importantly, it provides the
lubrication to make sure the engine
runs smoothly. Dirty or overused
engine oil and not having enough
oil in the engine can result in a very
expensive engine failure. Make
sure to run a weekly check on the
engine oil level to ensure that it
is within the prescribed level. Get
the oil changed at manufacturer
recommended intervals to ensure
the engine functions optimally.
Seven Car Maintenance
Mistakes – and how to
avoid them
In this issue of DriveWise, we look at the seven most common mistakes that
people make while maintaining their cars, and provide tips on how to avoid
them, and, expensive repair bills.
By Ishan Raghava
Car maintenance can be daunting
for an average consumer who wants
nothing more than to buy and use
one. After all, given the complications
of modern cars, dealing with
components such as the engine
can be quite intimidating. However,
the mistakes that can lead to very
expensive bills are rather basic.
Here’s a list of those basic
maintenance mistakes that one
should avoid. Averting these will
ensure that the car remains reliable
and all components function as
intended. It will also go a long
way in avoiding any expensive
maintenance costs.
content powered by
www.autox.in
Not Checking Engine Oil Levels:
To put it in perspective, oil is as
important for an engine as blood
is for the human body. Just like
the human body needs clean blood
Ignoring the ‘Check Engine’ Light:
In today’s modern automobiles,
a majority of cars now have
sophisticated computers controlling
and keeping a watch on their
vital functions. These computers
help run the vehicle reliably and
efficiently. They’ve also become
smart enough to monitor various
aspects of a car and throw up a
warning if some component is
not working as intended. So if
the ‘Check Engine’ warning lights
up on the dash of your vehicle,
it is advisable to get the vehicle
checked at an authorized dealer
as soon as possible. If the fault is
caught in time, further damage can
be prevented.
DRIVE wise
Not Changing the Air and Fuel Filters:
Dust and dirt is an inescapable
feature of Indian weather conditions.
So it is no surprise that it greatly
affects a large number of working
parts in an automobile. Two of the
components that are most effected
by dust and dirt are the air and
fuel filters. Both of these filters are
designed to prevent dirt and dust
from the air and fuel going into the
engine. If they become clogged due
to excess dirt trapped in them, they
lose their efficiency rather quickly.
This has a direct effect on the
performance of the vehicle. Both the
filters should be inspected at each
service and replaced according to
manufacturer specified intervals.
Driving with an Overheating Engine:
Given the superheated temperatures
that prevail in our country, engines
and vehicles are naturally tasked with
performing in extreme conditions.
Therefore, there is a massive amount
of stress on the engine cooling
system of the car. This system keeps
the temperature within the engine
under control. It also ensures the
engine functions optimally when
the ambient temperature itself is
content powered by
www.autox.in
so high. Failures of the cooling
system are not unheard of and the
chances of such failure increase
with the age of the car. It is always
advisable to keep an eye out on the
engine temperature gauge in summer
months, to make sure the engine is
running in the optimum temperature
range. In case the temperature does
shoot up, one should stop driving
and seek expert help to rectify the
problem. If the vehicle is driven on
an overheating engine, it can cause
considerable damage to the engine’s
internal parts. In extreme cases it
can even necessitate a rebuild of the
engine, which needless to say will
hurt your wallet. In case the engine
overheats, do not try splashing water
on to the engine directly to bring the
temperature down. This can lead to
massive damage or even failure of
major components.
Not Checking Wheel Alignment and
Tyre Pressures: The other often
ignored aspects of a vehicle are
the tyres. These are not given the
attention they deserve, given their
importance in keeping a car on the
road. To make sure the tyres are in
good condition, the tyre pressure
should be checked weekly, as
excessive or low tyre pressure can
lead to uneven wear. A periodic check
of the wheel alignment (every 5000
km) is an important step, which
should be adhered to. This can help
avoid premature wear and tear of
tyres. If performed diligently, these
two steps will maximize the life of the
tyres and avoid premature expense
on replacing tyres.
Not Checking Ancillary Fluid Levels:
While checking engine oil level is
very important, there are a few other
fluids in every car. Their levels also
need to be checked regularly to
maintain the car in prime working
condition. The most important of
these is the coolant level, brake
oil level and if equipped, power
steering oil level. Shortage of either
of these fluids can cause problems
in the safe and efficient running of
a vehicle, so these too should be
checked periodically. Since in Indian
conditions there is increased stress
on the engine cooling system, it is
recommended to have the whole
system cleaned every two years. The
old coolant should be flushed out
and refilled with new coolant. This
will ensure the engine cooling system
retains its efficiency to tackle our
extreme summer weather.
Servicing Not Undertaken at
Authorised Dealers: Since today’s
cars are getting increasingly
sophisticated, it is becoming difficult
to get them serviced properly at
the non-authorised service centers.
Either the service centers don’t have
the required diagnostic equipment
to effectively service the car or
they don’t have enough handson experience to know what the
common issues are and how to solve
them. Even more so with premium
vehicles. The more premium the
vehicle, the more complicated it is
to service and maintain. Secondly,
while the vehicle is in its warranty
period, getting serviced in a nonauthorised service center can
lead to the warranty being void.
Then there is also the question of
whether the independent service
center uses original spare parts or
not. Therefore, it is advisable to
stick to authorized service centers
to make sure the vehicle is given
expert attention. n
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the authors. LeasePlan or autoX are not
responsible for any damage or loss resulting from reliance on or use of any information provided in this newsletter.