When I got my first car twenty years ago, I was clueless when it came to maintaining it and keeping it in a roadworthy condition. As a result, I had to pay for costly repairs that could have been avoided if the car had been looked after better. I learned my lesson and started reading everything I could about basic car maintenance. I started this blog to share what I've learned in the hopes it will save other new drivers making costly mistakes. I blog about a variety of topics, such as troubleshooting uneven tyre wear, the benefits of regular servicing and maintaining your car during the winter months. I hope you find my blog useful.
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Getting To Grips With Essential Car Maintenance
Care Tips for Your 4WD Vehicle
Reginald Fox
Four Wheel Drive vehicle repairs are expensive and often preventable. Although 4WD vehicles are built to withstand rocky conditions don't be fooled into thinking they need less care. Properly maintaining your Four Wheel Drive vehicle will often come with a number of benefits, the main being prevented costly breakdowns.
Having a regular service will sort out any issues before they become big problems. As well as this, following some basic 4WD care and talking to your mechanic will help avoid having any expensive diesel engine repairs. Here are a few tips every individual willing to acquire a 4WD vehicle should know.
Diesel Smoke Conveys a Message
A 4WD diesel engine that is in good condition should produce no visible smoke from the exhaust in most daily use. Diesel smoke is a distressing engine symptom and an indication that something is not running well. The service life of such an engine is likely to be shortened noticeably if corrective action is not taken.
Fundamentally, a diesel engine producing smoke is an indication that something is not right. You should take it as a clue that there is an existing (or developing) problem, which will no doubt shorten the engine life, or otherwise result in avoidable costs. Consider this an opportunity to take measures that will save you money now and in the future. It may be your only chance left to act before a calamitous engine failure occurs (e.g. valve failure or piston seizure).
Keeping the Engine Cool
Keeping a 4WD drive engine cool is a simple but very effective way for caring for your diesel engine. Simply keeping or parking in a cooler area rather than leaving your jeep standing over the heat should be enough to avoid having engine problems. Diesel engines generate much more heat than standard petrol / gas engines so good maintenance of the cooling system is essential. A regular 4WD service will check that there is a sufficient supply of water and coolant fluids. It is a quick and easy job but failure to do this can put too much pressure on the engine and if the cooling system does not have the back up of enough water and fluid, then the result will be need for costly engine repairs.
Water Care
One last tip is to be water savvy. If you are frequently doing water crossings then a regular service will make sure there is no damage to the diesel engine from water exposure. When you take your 4WD in for a service, mention that you do water crossings and they can spray your under-bonnet electrics with a water repellent (such as WD-40) and show you how to loosen your fan belt for crossings so that the fan does not act as a propeller and cause potential damage to the radiator.
A regular 4WD service through companies like All Care Car Services will eliminate the need for any diesel engine repairs.
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