Let's extend the engine's life

It's no secret that the heart of any car is the engine, which warms you with its rhythmic rumble even in the cold season. It's a pleasure when the engine runs smoothly and evenly, but that requires giving it decent operating conditions. Below we'll look at a few tips that will help extend the life of your car's unit.

The first thing that comes to mind for any car mechanic is the quality and frequency of engine oil changes. Here you need to be as punctual as possible — that is, change the engine lubricant exactly on the schedule set by the manufacturer. It's worth pointing out right away that there's no need to change the oil every week. Some car owners claim that oil which has darkened has fully used up its potential. In fact, that view is only partly correct, since oil that's worked for just a few days can lose its original clarity. This happens because engine oil contains special detergent additives, whose main job is to remove grime from the engine's parts. Experienced mechanics use a well-known way to check how clean the oil is. With the engine switched off, pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, and dip it back into the engine. After pulling the dipstick out again, check whether you can see the markings through the layer of oil left on it. If you can, the oil is clean enough; if not, it needs to be changed right away.

Another important detail in any engine is the ignition system. For companies that offer bus rentals or other vehicle-hire services, spark plugs need to be checked every 5,000-10,000 kilometres of mileage. If the car is used less intensively, checking once every 15,000 is enough. In general, companies that offer car rentals — say, minibus hire — deal with a number of exceptions to the rules that call for more thorough vehicle care.

Special attention should be paid to the engine wiring. All wires must be clean, dry and flexible. If you notice even the slightest damage to a wire (cracks, cuts), it should be replaced immediately, or temporarily insulated.