Posted January 23, 2019 by Ali's Woodinville
Complete auto repair shops like Ali’s Woodinville Auto Repair work to keep many areas of your vehicle running right. The brake repairs and maintenance we do help you stay safe and stop cleanly and efficiently to avoid collisions and hazards. Your car’s electrical system helps keep the windows clear for vision and safety, and it runs many of the systems that regulate your car. A car could not operate well at all with these systems failing, but much like the human heart, a car or truck does not operate at all without a working engine.
Here are five tips for how a responsible vehicle owner can help protect their engine, and what to make sure your mechanic does for each one.
1. Have the Oil and Oil Filter Changed on Time
It’s likely the most common car care tip, and the one thing that must be done if nothing else. Have the oil changed, and make sure whoever does it changes the oil filter as well. The filter is almost as important as the oil change itself. As for the most common question, “How often should I have my oil changed?”, the best answer is to check your car’s owner’s manual and then stay on the early end of that recommendation. Oil changes are a relatively small cost, and getting an oil change from a good mechanic gives them a built-in opportunity to check for all sorts of other issues, like the engine leaks we cover below.
2. Keep Your Cooling System Working Well
Your car’s engine is a heat machine as much as anything. It is, after all, an internal combustion engine. The most important support system for the engine is the cooling system. The radiator, thermostat, water pump and coolant are all vital to keeping your engine cool. Checking your coolant is something you should try to do yourself regularly. You can add more antifreeze as needed to keep the level above the minimum mark and below the maximum mark. Check it with the engine cool, and never open a hot radiator cap.
If your mechanic finds a leak in the reservoir or a problem with the water pump, for instance, don’t hesitate to get it repaired. If the heat isn’t being carried away effectively, it quickly begins to damage the engine and other areas of the vehicle. Heat is the ultimate enemy of your engine and many of its components.
3. Get the Air Filter Changed
Your car’s air filter keeps particles from getting into your engine and causing damage. Your engine, like your heart, needs fresh air to work well. Steady, unrestricted airflow is almost as important as the fuel itself. Don’t wave off your mechanic when they see that a new filter is needed. The filter can usually be inspected quite easily, and the mechanic can even show it to you for confirmation (although you should probably work on finding a mechanic you can actually trust).
4. If Leaks Are Found, Have Them Repaired Right Away
First, of course, someone has to be checking for leaks. Encourage your mechanic to be thorough and honest about any leaks they see, either from your engine or from your cooling system. Hoses, gaskets and seals all break down over time, and many leaks begin very slowly. That’s good, because it gives you time to have them found and fixed.
Often, though, folks won’t see the problem as serious because it hasn’t caused a failure (yet), or they don’t trust the mechanic and think they’re being sold a fix they don’t need. As always, we suggest you find a mechanic you feel you can trust. If you do, take any report of a fluid (or air) leak very seriously, and have it repaired promptly.
5. If the Check Engine Light (or Any Warning Light) Comes On, Get It Looked At
It seems obvious, but many people think that if they don’t notice a problem with how the car is running, they can take their time. Some folks go for weeks before they schedule an appointment for diagnosis. The time you wait could be draining the life out of your engine much faster than normal. The light is, after all, telling you there’s a problem. Most folks are scared it’s always a major issue, but it can actually be something small. Either way, waiting will only make it worse, not better.
If the check engine light is flashing rather than steady, treat it as urgent. A flashing light usually means the engine is misfiring, and unburned fuel can overheat and ruin the catalytic converter. Ease off, avoid hard acceleration, and get the car to a shop as soon as you safely can.
Take Care of the Heart
Just like you take care of your own heart, you want to take care of your engine, even in small ways. On top of these major tips, you can also go easy on stop-and-start driving when you can, and it helps to fill up before the tank drops below a quarter. If you want a car that lasts longer and works better, start by caring for its heart, the engine, and make sure you have a mechanic who is looking out for you and the long-term health of your vehicle.
Live in the Woodinville, Bothell or Greater Eastside area and need a mechanic who will shoot you straight? Come see Ali’s Woodinville Auto Repair and see why folks keep coming back for our diagnosis, recommendations and service. When something does go wrong, our engine repair work covers everything from leaks and overheating to tracking down a check engine light.
Call 425-420-1630 or request an appointment, and we’ll take a look.
