Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2000 17:21:57 -0500
Reply-To: "Howard G. Bernier" <hbernier@MC.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Howard G. Bernier" <hbernier@MC.NET>
Subject: Maintainance: Good Advice
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"
I saw this article and thought it was timely enough since its the
Spring of the year and we're all out cleaning up.
Regards,
Howard Bernier
hbernier@mc.net
85 GL 1.9l (Custom) "Wilma"
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T H E D O L L A R S T R E T C H E R
"Living Better...For Less"
April 3, 2000
Volume 5, Number 14
http://www.stretcher.com
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PUBLICATION INFORMATION: Copyright "The Dollar Stretcher,
Inc." 2000. ISSN 1527-2974.
All Rights reserved. Copies may be distributed without alteration
electronically free of charge. This newsletter may be reproduced, without
alteration, for non-commercial purposes without prior permission. "The
Dollar Stretcher" is distributed via email each week between Sunday 8PM
and Tuesday 8PM United States Eastern Standard Time. The newsletter runs
approximately 34k in length. All articles are printed with the author's
prior consent. It is assumed that any questions, tips or replies to
questions may be reprinted. The name and email address of the sender will
not be used unless specifically requested or approved. All letters become
the property of "The Dollar Stretcher, Inc".
"The Dollar Stretcher" and Dollar Stretcher, Inc. does not assume
responsibility for advice given. All advice should be weighed against your
own abilities and circumstances and applied accordingly. It is up to the
reader to determine if advice is safe and suitable for their own
situation.
Lengthen Your Car's Life
courtesy AutohausAZ
The old fashioned tune-up to improve your car's performance is nearly non-
existent these days. With electronic ignition and fuel injection came
computers that took over control of engine settings. Early versions allowed
for some tinkering, but today's engines require advanced equipment and
training.
You can, however, replace normal wear items and still have a beneficial
effect on engine performance. Most new engines still use distributor caps,
rotors, spark plugs, and plug wires.
Here are the common maintenance items you can replace on your own to
significantly improve your car's performance:
Spark Plugs - Your car's spark plugs are good indicators of engine
condition. Removing and inspecting the spark plugs can tell you a lot about
how well the engine is running and what may be causing problems.
It's also important to note that all spark plugs should be removed and
checked every 30,000 miles -even if your car is a "low maintenance" vehicle
where you don't need to change spark plugs until you hit 100,000 miles.
This prevents the plugs from seizing in the block, causing expensive
repairs down the road.
Always note which plug came from which cylinder. This can tell you if a
particular cylinder has a problem. New spark plugs can make a difference
in a vehicle's performance, but only if replaced with the proper
replacement plug - the original equipment manufacturer's (OEM) plug is
always recommended!
Distributor Cap & Rotor - Both the distributor cap and the rotor are
usually plastic and, thus, deteriorate with age and use. Cracks may
develop, allowing moisture in; the metal contacts on both can then corrode,
causing misfiring. These parts should be replaced at recommended
intervals or if showing any excessive wear.
Spark Plug Wires - Spark plug wires have become less of a problem than in
the good old days. New materials and sizing have reduced the failures.
Electronic ignitions have increased the operating ranges.
These should be tested for proper resistance before replacement. They are
no longer replaced routinely with the cap, rotor, and plugs.
Filters - According to experts, changing your filters on a regular basis
may have more to do with your car's longevity than any other single factor.
Oil Filter: Oil filters are easy to replace and help prevent unnecessary
engine wear. The job of the oil filter is to remove soot, rust particles
and other solid contaminants from the oil. Oil filters should be replaced
every 3000 miles, as should engine oil.
Air Filter: Air filters remove dirt by trapping the particles as air
passes through. They also protect the carburetor in older vehicles,
preventing dirt from clogging the air bleeds and metering jets and protect
fuel injectors in late-model vehicles. Air filters should be replaced
every 20,000 miles but more often if you live or drive in dusty conditions.
Any filter that looks heavily loaded should be replaced regardless of the
number of miles, as should any filter showing damage.
PCV Breather Filter: The PCV breather filter assures that only clean,
filtered air is drawn in through the PCV breather. A clogged breather
filter prevents the PCV from siphoning away the blowby gases and moisture
created by engine combustion, resulting in oil breakdown and sludge
buildup. The PCV breather filter should be replaced every 30,000 miles;
however, yearly replacements are good preventative maintenance.
Fuel Filter: A number of contaminants can get into your fuel system and
if not trapped by the fuel filter, they can clog the injector inlet
screens. If dirt reaches the injector itself, it can clog or damage the
pintle valve and seat. In older vehicles, dirt can plug the carburetor's
fuel metering orifices. If the fuel filter is not replaced on a regular
basis, the fuel flow to the engine will become restricted, resulting in
stalling, a loss of high speed power and hard starting. The fuel filter
should be replaced every 30,000 miles; however, many professionals
recommend a yearly fuel filter change and a change whenever other fuel
system parts are replaced.
Automatic Transmission Filter: Properly filtered transmission fluid
transmits energy and cools/lubricates the moving parts of the transmission.
A clogged transmission filter can produce transmission slippage,
engagement problems, and hesitation. Many professional technicians
recommend this filter be changed every 12,000-15,000 miles; doing so will
extend the life of your automatic transmission.
Other Maintenance Parts - Among the parts needing occasional replacement,
many are mistakenly seen as non-critical. Though not true tune-up parts,
the functions of these items can definitely affect the benefit of any tune-
up. Plus, as emission laws have gotten more stringent, these parts have,
indeed, become critical -if you want your car to pass emissions the first
time around!
O2 Sensor: The O2 (oxygen) sensor can and should be replaced at the
recommended intervals. A worn oxygen sensor drastically changes engine
settings!
Vacuum Hoses: Many of your vehicle's major systems depend on manifold
vacuum for signals and/or function. All vacuum hoses should be checked and
replaced as needed. Even a slight leak can cause major problems with
performance; in some cases, the car won't even run if there's a vacuum
leak!
Temperature Sensors: Temperature sensors for the various engine functions
can also be a good weekend project. These sensors control the fuel
injection system, the cooling system, and even the exhaust system. And
they can cause performance problems.
Things to Remember - Heed the following maintenance tips and you're well on
your way to extending the life of your car and improving its overall
performance on the road-especially gas mileage and emissions:
General overall cleanliness of your engine is the best preventative
maintenance you can perform on your car. A clean engine runs cooler and is
much less likely to cause premature failure of other parts. It's also
easier to work on!
Regular routine replacement of all filters, lubricants, coolant, and the
other items noted here is critical. Use the mileage guidelines shown as
your benchmark. Sensing and mechanical tolerances have become so tight
that even slight variations can create drastic performance changes!
Know your vehicle's systems and any particular requirements before starting
any repairs. Do not attempt to fix what you don't understand!
Remember that some repairs may not take effect right away if your vehicle's
computer is designed to learn and adjust. The computer may need to see
various parameters before making any permanent setting changes.
Your Tune-Up Parts Shopping List
Here is the list of tune-up parts you should consider when performing
maintenance work on your car:
Spark plugs
Spark plug wires
Distributor cap and rotor
Oxygen sensor
Oil filter
Air filter
PCV breather filter
Fuel filter
Transmission filter
Vacuum hoses
Temperature sensors
Lubricants
Coolant hoses
Belts
*These technical tips are designed only as a starting point. We recommend
you seek the assistance of a professional auto mechanic for all automotive
repair problems beyond your capabilities.
________
reprinted courtesy of AutohausAZ <www.autohausaz.com>. Your warehouse
source for factory-original parts at 20 to 70% off. If you have trouble
finding parts for your import car visit AutohausAZ. Or call 1-800-240-4620