For a certain brand of car, since the same spare parts are used, the same quality control standards are followed, and the cars are assembled on the same production line according to strict process flow, the performance indicators of each engine are not much different. However, in actual use, the service life of each engine is different. Some engines can be used for 500,000 kilometers without major repairs, while some engines will emit black smoke and burn oil before they are used for 100,000 kilometers. Why are the products produced on the same production line so different?
The key lies in the correct use and maintenance of the car.
So, what can be done to achieve proper operation and maintenance in the daily use of the car?
1. Pay attention to the running-in period of new cars
During the running-in period of a new vehicle, the uneven parts on the surface of the engine’s mating parts will be worn away, gradually forming a relatively smooth working surface, improving the surface quality and matching accuracy of the parts to withstand normal working loads. Therefore, the working condition of the engine during the running-in period is directly related to the service life of the engine. You must pay attention during the vehicle running-in period.
- High-speed driving is prohibited. The vehicle’s speed in each gear must not exceed 70% of the maximum engine speed. Long-term high-speed driving is not allowed.
- Overloading is strictly prohibited. Once the engine runs unsteadily, switch to a low gear immediately .
- After the engine is started, do not press the accelerator pedal hard. Wait until the water temperature reaches the normal operating humidity before starting the engine smoothly. The first gear must be used for straight driving.
- Do not drive on bad roads to reduce vibration and impact. During driving, overload caused by sudden acceleration should be reduced, such as emergency braking, long-term braking or engine braking. Try to choose good roads and drive at a constant speed for the best running-in effect.
- Pay attention to the engine coolant temperature, lubricating oil level, etc., and eliminate the fault in time.
- After the running-in period, the vehicle should undergo a running-in maintenance.
2. Insist on preheating the car before starting.
Some drivers are often forced to step on the accelerator several times to make the engine run quickly after starting the car. As we all know, doing so will cause great damage to the engine parts. Because when the engine is started (especially cold start), the engine’s working humidity is low and the surface of the internal parts is not fully lubricated. If the engine works under high load at this time, the wear of the internal parts will increase and the normal matching clearance will change. A good driving habit should be to preheat the engine coolant to normal operating temperature (at least above 50°C) after starting the engine before making any further progress.
3. Start off well
You must start in low gear. The key to ensuring a fast and smooth start is whether the oil distribution is appropriate. When releasing the clutch pedal, there are several processes: “first fast, second stop, third slow, and fourth loosen”. That is, the clutch pedal should be released quickly when starting; when the clutch is in a semi-clutch state, stop for a while and add oil appropriately; then slowly release the clutch pedal until the clutch is fully engaged; after the vehicle starts smoothly, quickly release the free travel of the clutch pedal. The above process should be completed quickly, and more training should be done in normal times. The semi-clutch time of the clutch should not be too long to avoid excessive wear of the clutch friction plate. Of course, for cars with automatic transmissions, the above clutch operation is no longer necessary.
4. Develop correct driving habits
Many people are reluctant to refuel while driving. On the one hand, urban roads are complex and changeable, and the speed cannot be increased. On the other hand, they mistakenly believe that the smaller the engine load, the more fuel-efficient it is, which causes the engine to always run at idle speed and light load.
In fact, the lower the engine load, the higher the fuel consumption. Moreover, the engine combustion is not complete at this time, carbon deposits are easily generated, and the engine power cannot be fully utilized. With the development of engine technology, high-speed gasoline engines are widely used in automobiles. When the engine speed is 2500r/min, the engine’s output torque, power and fuel consumption are all in good condition, and the economy and power are good. Therefore, when driving, you should make full use of the engine’s best working conditions, pay attention to the tachometer, and control the engine speed by selecting the appropriate gear. During normal driving, the engine speed should be around 2500 rpm, and it should be higher than 2500 rpm when shifting up. High-speed low gear or low-speed high gear driving is not allowed. Mastering the timing of shifting is an important indicator to measure a driver’s driving level.
5. Regular maintenance
“Three-point repair and seven-point maintenance”, even the most advanced car needs good maintenance, so that it can perform well. At the authorized maintenance station designated by the automobile manufacturer, regular inspection and maintenance must be carried out strictly in accordance with the specified mileage items, and various hidden dangers of the car must be eliminated in time to ensure that the car is in good working condition. At the same time, the high-quality fuel and lubricant specified by the original manufacturer must be used.
（1）Use lubricating oil of appropriate quality grade.
For gasoline engines, SD-SF gasoline engine oil should be selected according to the additional devices of the intake and exhaust system and the conditions of use; for diesel engines, CB-CD diesel engine oil should be selected according to the mechanical load, and the selection standard should not be lower than the requirements specified by the manufacturer.
（2）Replace engine oil and filter regularly.
The quality of lubricating oil of any quality grade will change during use. After a certain mileage, the performance will deteriorate, which will cause various problems to the engine. To avoid failures, the oil should be changed regularly according to the usage, and the oil volume should be moderate (generally the upper limit of the oil gauge is better). When the oil passes through the holes of the filter, the solid particles and sticky substances in the oil will accumulate in the filter. If the filter is clogged, when the oil cannot pass through the filter element, it will cause the filter element to burst or open the safety valve, and through the bypass valve, the dirt will still be brought back to the lubrication part, causing engine wear and aggravating internal pollution.
（3）Keep the crankcase well ventilated.
Most gasoline engines are currently equipped with a PCV valve (forced crankcase ventilation) to promote engine ventilation, but pollutants in the “blowby gas” will be deposited around the PCV valve and may clog the valve. If the PCV valve is clogged, the polluted gas will flow back into the air filter, contaminating the filter element and reducing the filtering capacity. The inhaled mixed gas is too dirty, further causing crankcase pollution, resulting in increased fuel consumption, increased engine wear, and even damage to the engine. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain the PCV regularly to remove pollutants around the PCV valve.
（4）Clean the crankcase regularly.
During the operation of the engine, high-pressure unburned gas, acid, water, sulfur and nitrogen oxides in the combustion chamber enter the crankcase through the gap between the piston ring and the cylinder wall, and mix with the metal powder produced by the wear of parts to form sludge. When the amount is small, it will be suspended in the oil, and when the amount is large, it will precipitate from the oil, blocking the filter and oil holes, causing engine lubrication difficulties and wear. In addition, when the engine oil is oxidized at high temperature, it will form a paint film and carbon deposits, and adhere to the piston, increasing fuel consumption and reducing engine power. In severe cases, the piston ring will be blocked and the cylinder will be pulled. Therefore, the crankcase should be cleaned regularly with an efficient and fast lubrication system cleaner to keep the engine clean.
（5）Clean the fuel system regularly.
In the process of fuel supplying the combustion chamber through the oil circuit, colloid and carbon deposits will inevitably form. These colloids and carbon deposits will be deposited in the oil circuit, carburetor, fuel nozzle and combustion chamber, interfering with fuel flow, destroying the normal air-fuel ratio, causing poor fuel atomization, and causing engine jitter, explosion vibration, unstable idle speed, poor acceleration and other performance problems. Cleaning the fuel system with a powerful and efficient fuel system cleaner and regularly controlling the generation of carbon deposits can always keep the engine in the best condition.
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