Published on: May 31, 2022
Written by Liam Jaxon / Fact-checked by David Rowan

The engine is the most important part of your vehicle, so having it in good condition will ensure its operation and prolong the life of it.

That is why this time we give you 10 tips that will help take care of you and allow your vehicle to always be available when you need it.

What Are Some Signs That My Car Engine Needs to Be Serviced

1. Check Engine Light is On

2. Unusual Noises From the Engine

3. Excessive Exhaust Smoke

4. Rough Idling or Stalling

5. Low or Leaking Oil Pressure

6. Overheating Engine

7. Poor Acceleration or Reduced Power

8. Unusual Vibrations

9. Increased Fuel Consumption

Tips to Care Your Car Engine

1. Change the Spark Plugs and Wires

The wires that run from the distributor lead the electricity to the spark plugs, which generate a spark that ignites the mixture of air and naphtha in the combustion chamber. If the cables are too old or too used your car will not turn on or it will be hard to do so.

When you change the spark plugs and the wires, you allow the electric current to be transmitted without the problem. You must change them as indicated in your user manual based on the kilometers traveled.

2. Avoid Accelerating and Stop

Your engine was made to accelerate, but it works better and tends to last longer when it works steadily. Imagine yourself in a competition where you constantly run to everything and stop completely every five minutes. You’ll eventually get tired of recovering your speed and then stopping in short periods. The same thing happens to your engine. Constant stops and starts, common in the city, really damage your engine in the long run.

If possible, I kept your speed constant and not revving the engine. You will notice better fuel efficiency and your engine will last longer. The more you stop and accelerate your engine will work more. To get more information about tips to care your car engine you can visit Mostpicker.

3. Change the Oil Regularly

Among the most important aspects to take care of the engine is to change the engine oil regularly. This allows vital parts of the engine to stay well lubricated allowing them to not wear out and overheat. Without it, your engine can stop working and if you change it in very long periods, over time you can generate permanent damage to your engine.

The regular period to change the oil can vary by the motor and according to the type of oil, whether synthetic or mineral. In some cases it can be at 5,000 km, others at 8,000 km traveled among others. The most convenient is to see in the user manual or with a specialist. If you do not reach that number of kilometers, remember that it has an expiration date, usually one year after placing it.

In addition to changing the oil, do not forget to change the filter at the same time. This is very important as it traps and keeps out all dirt, debris, and debris that could circulate inside the engine. With a new filter and oil, your engine will work smoothly, it will also give you a good response.

4. Replace the Fuel Filter

This filter protects your engine from harmful sediments and particles that come in the fuel. A new filter will allow the fuel to flow cleanly to the engine. It will prevent the accumulation or formation of waste within it and will work properly.

5. Follow the Board’s Warning Lights

This may sound obvious but many times we ignore those little lights that appear on the board. If the “check engine soon” light, battery, oil pressure, engine temperature, and others are turned on, it is best to take your unit with your trusted mechanic or official dealership to see the reason why. Maybe the problem is not bigger, but if that’s the case you’ll avoid a big setback if you do the review.

6. Check the Engine Belts

Depending on the type of motor is the number of belts used these help to move various vital parts of the engine. The function can vary from one car to another but some allow the fan, the cooling system, the alternator, and the air conditioning to work.

You do not need to know what each belt is for, what if you need is to take care that they are in good condition, that is, that they are not worn, have cracks or are about to break as they would cause strong damage to your engine. Likewise, if a belt slips or you hear a squeal, it is a sign that it needs to be changed.

7. Recharge the Tank Before it Reaches the Minimum

The fuel has a certain amount of sediment, which sits at the bottom of the fuel tank. After a few months or years of refilling fuel several times, the waste accumulates until it really forms a thick layer in the lower part of the tank. The filter will help retain the particles, however, if you drive your unit to the minimum fuel, you will be sucking out most of the accumulated sediment, the filter will not be able to retain them all and some will pass to the engine causing internal damage. It is best to fill the tank when you reach a quarter and not less.

8. Check that There are No Losses

You do not have to be an expert to notice that your car is dripping, either because of the smell or because it stains the floor of your garage. The leaks that your unit can suffer are mainly by oil or coolant.

The intense heat and pressure will cause the engine hoses to fail over time. Observe if the hoses are old, have grooves or are very worn, the coolant or other liquids from the engine can leak out. Also check the seals or unions of the tubes with metal parts or silicone, over time they can also be finished and allow leaks.

Doing this review will help you avoid a big problem, as in the case of an oil leak, because if it is finished it will cause the engine to be damaged very seriously.

9. I Kept the Engine Breathing

When you exercise, be it running, cycling or any other activity you need to breathe freely and that the air is not contaminated. The engine also needs a constant flow of air to operate, without restriction and that is also clean. It is vital to the combustion process.

The air filter will ensure that the air flows and stays clean, retains insects, particles, dust among other things to prevent them from entering the engine. That is why you must change it regularly since it becomes saturated and in doing so does not allow the constant flow of air, which will make your engine work harder, consume more its life period is reduced.

10. Keep the Cooling System Working

An important aspect of the engine is the cooling system, which is mainly formed by the radiator, thermostat, pump, and coolant. The best way to prevent your engine from overheating is to ensure that you have enough antifreeze liquid circulating through the engine.

The coolant circulates through the engine when the thermostat determines that the engine is heating up and needs to cool down. The pump sends the radiator antifreeze to the engine block and then back to the radiator to cool it.

Therefore it is very important that the coolant must be at its optimum level, to review it you must locate the container thereof, its level must not be below the minimum, or above the maximum.

On the other hand, if you detect any other problem that is not related to the liquid, it is best to take it immediately to review it to locate the problem and get even worse.

10 Tips to Care Your Car Engine Properly (Beginners Guide)