Servicing a car isn't just about replacing worn out, broken or damaged parts; you also need to keep its different components clean. For example, there are some parts that, when they get dirty, interfere with the fuel economy of the engine. Here are four examples of such parts:
Air Filters
A gasoline car runs on a fuel-air mixture. The air needs to be clean because the engine isn't designed to run on other substances apart from those two. Also, for each engine, there is an air-fuel ratio that results in maximum efficiency.
The air filter cleans the air before it gets into the engine. A clogged air filter restricts air flow; when the air flow is reduced, the required air-fuel ratio isn't met, and fuel efficiency suffers. The solution is to clean and replace the air filters according to the manufacturer's specifications.
Spark Plugs
Spark plugs provide the electrical power needed to ignite the air-fuel mixture. If they can't produce the necessary voltage, then the ignition and combustion process will be inefficient. Deposits of carbon and oil can foul the spark plugs and reduce their sparking power.
Thorough cleaning of the spark plugs should help to regain this efficiency. It's also good to replace the spark plugs according to the manufacturer's directions.
Oil Change
Even dirty engine oil interferes with your car's fuel consumption. The car's engine, just like other machines, need oil to lubricate its different parts. Dirty oil doesn't lubricate as well as clean oil, and this interferes with the engine's efficiency. Here are three ways in which this may happen:
Again, the car's manufacturer determines the optimal intervals for changing the engine oil.
Mass Air Flow Sensor
The mass air flow sensor measures the mass of air entering the engine. The reading is taken to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) of the car so that it can regulate (increase or decrease) the volume of air entering the engine. If it gets clogged, then it may send the wrong readings to the ECU. This may create an imbalance of the air-fuel mixture and reduce the fuel consumption. Cleaning the sensor once every six months should prevent or solve the problem.
Contact a local mechanic, like Euroclassics Limited, if you have any car care concerns.
Share10 September 2015
When is the last time you had your brakes checked? Are you waiting until you hear the brake pads grinding into the rotors before you do anything to replace them? Does your car pull to one side when you press on the brakes? Do you feel a shimmying in your steering wheel and brake pedal as you press the pedal to stop? If you have any of these issues, it is time for you to learn how to care for the brakes on your car effectively. Taking preventative measures and getting repair work done before serious problems arise will save you money over the years.
