Believe it or not, it’s not every little thing that goes wrong with your car that needs a mechanic to fix.
Your car will develop problems once in a while, and not only will it be inconvenient to give it up for repairs everytime it does, but it might also require time that you do not have to spare. Truth is there are so many things in your car you can fix yourself or simply do to prevent a problem from escalating, which is why you need to know your car.
Just some simple tips, a toolbox and the confidence that your car will not go up in flames just because you touched something will get the job done.
…do it yourself
PREVENT AN ENGINE/OIL SLUDGE
An engine sludge could start from something small but end in major destruction of the powerhouse of your car- the Engine.
A sludge happens when the motor oil breaks down, thickens and gets contaminated thus infecting your engine (like a virus). This will prevent oil from flowing properly to lubricate parts of the engine that should be lubricated which could cause the engine to overheat or even knock completely.
Some oil sludge notifiers are:
- Blinking or constantly lit engine or oil notification lights.
- The presence of dark, thick, clumpy oil splatters on your engine surface once the hood is opened
- The oil pan should be clear and the underneath visible even with oil in it. A sludge in the oil pan highly signals a sludge in the motor.
…a sludged engine
Some easy ways to prevent sludges are:
- Changing the engine oil and oil filters regularly. The first cause of a sludge is linked to how often the oil is changed. The standard auto advice is to have your engine oil changed after every 3 months or 3,000 miles. Oil filters which keep abrasives from getting into the oil and contaminating the engine should also be cleaned regularly and changed when the need arises.
- Closely associated with the above point is the application of the wrong oil to your engine. Off brand oil tends to add more harmful deposit into your engine than recognized brands which have more detergent in their mix. Using the right type of oil is just as important as changing it regularly.
…change with branded oil regularly
- Avoid excessive idling and short commutes (fewer than 10 miles) that are very typical of city driving. This can encourage sludge buildup, as these conditions can prevent your engine from reaching its ideal operating temperature. As a result, the motor oil does not flow properly and over time it becomes sludge. As an alternative, you can take a stroll or public transportation to short distance destinations.
- Should your car engine already have sludges that are not out of proportion yet, you can purchase sludge removers. Apply them to the old oil and let your engine run idle for 10-15 minutes without driving the car. This dissolves the sludge and draws some part of it into the oil. The oil should be changed after this so the sludge is taken out with the old oil.
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