Maintaining Your Car In Good State

ENGINE
Frequently checking the oil level at least once a week. To do this, the car must be horizontal and the engine stopped for 1 / 4 hour. On the gauge, the optimum oil level is near the maximum but shall in no case exceed. For some vehicles a slight oil consumption is normal. By cons, a significant decrease announces anomaly. The life of the engine depends largely on the frequency of oil changes that are made. It is imperative to follow the recommendations contained in the user manual. In general, discharge is carried out every 7 500 10 000 or 15 000 kilometers, depending on the brand. The oil filter, used to retain the impurities must be changed at every oil change (diesel) or every two oil changes.

COOLING
Frequently check the level of coolant, which must be between the minimum and maximum marks appearing on the expansion tank. Do not hesitate to add coolant, of course when the engine is cold. Monitor the level of coolant directly in the radiator if the car does not include expansion tank. Once again we must wait until the engine is cold.

HOSES
A cracked hose must be replaced immediately.

FAN BELT
It must be hung properly and should not be frayed or cracked.

EXHAUST AND FUEL
Exhaust: Check that the exhaust is in good condition and that the mounting rubbers are also.
The air filter: although it can be cleaned regularly, do not hesitate to replace it respecting the intervals specified by the manufacturer.
The carburetor: adjusting the carburetor is an important element of proper engine operation. Its setting should only be entrusted to a professional imperatively. 
Cold proof coolant for diesel: if you drive a vehicle with a diesel engine and the ambient temperature falls below minus 5 degrees, it is strongly recommended to add a cold proof product into fuel to prevent formation of paraffin, which prevents the flow of diesel. It is noteworthy that more and more stations provide with "intense cold" diesel which poses no problem until temperatures of -17/18 degrees, even minus 23 degrees.

IGNITION
The candles are advised to check their condition regularly. They must be replaced every 20 000 km for new candles of the same type. If you are not a good handyman it's advisable to entrust this operation to a specialist.
Battery: one must check regularly the level of the liquid electrolyte. It is recommended on occasion to renew the level with a specific liquid. To avoid startup problems, it is advisable to clean from time to time the battery terminals.

LIGHTING AND VISIBILITY
The lights: one must periodically monitor their operation and more particularly that of stop lights. Do not hesitate to replace a defective bulb, like a light bulb whose brightness is not perfect. It is also advisable to change without delay cracked lamps as the water percolates very quickly and cause damaging oxidation. It is recommended that you always have a box of spare bulbs "on board".

WIPERS
It is advisable to change each year to the beginning of winter and in any event, once they leave marks on the windshield. The level of liquid for windshield washers must be checked regularly. Do not forget to use a liquid avoiding freezing in winter.

SUSPENSION
It must be checked every 20 000 km of preference on a special bench.

BRAKES
Besides the frequent checking of the level which can help detect wear of brakes or a leak, you have to regularly change the brake fluid which alters over time. This must necessarily be entrusted to a specialist.

TIRES
They should not, of course, make cuts or tears. Check for wear of the tread, which must be regular. Otherwise, this would lead to a geometry problem of the move concerned, front or rear. On tires, there are wear indicators. Although the rules tolerate a thickness of 1.6 mm, it is strongly recommended to replace tires before that fateful limit.

PRESSURE
This should be checked approximately every 15 days. Corrections and verifications must be made when the tires are cold. Do not hesitate to over inflate slightly (about 200 g) when the car is loaded or during a long journey on the motorway.

BODYWORK
This must be maintained consistently. A regular and thorough washing is the best guarantee of longevity. In this regard, we can only recommend washing jet under pressure increasingly widespread. If you detect impacts of gravel or blisters, you have to run fast work of rehabilitation to prevent rust to set in permanently.

THE VERY SIMPLE TRICKS
The quality of modern vehicles, due to regular maintenance allows motorists to drive in peace. However, there are operations that are very easy to achieve and we deliver below some tips to help you avoid problems.

Cold
For extreme cold, avoid shaking the hand brake when your car is parked outside. We recommend, however, to trigger a speed or even have one or two blocks. If the cold is very keen, you can place a protection system for battery! 
Also put a piece of tape over the locks holes. You will limit the risk of freezing them.

We also strongly recommend you to check JC Whitney shop for ANY auto parts and accessories available - chances are you'll strike your best deal!