Servicing is Caring

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I don't know what people think of when they are buying an automobile.

Some love their car/bike, some take care of it as their loved ones and some just see it as a property like their house, land and other assets. For some, they consider their automobiles as a real asset in their life and some see it just another asset to be bought, sold and thrown or sold.

Even if it's their first/favourite automobile or just a tool for transportation, everything demands respect in exchange for the service that it provides. Yes, I am talking about the machines, the vehicles we drive; they too need respect and care. They don't have a will of their own nor they are alive, to feel pain or pressure or damage which they get into, still, we need them and they need us.

I am a guy who treats my vehicle with care and respect and I am not saying you should feel the same way but yeah, if you take care of it, maintain it properly throughout your usage, you’ll never be disappointed by them.

What is your opinion about the automobile that you have or what you see around you, do you think of it as just a tool to use and throw, or you pay it proper respect which it deserves?

If you ask me, I try to give my automobile respect that it deserves by giving it a proper servicing in the fixed period, cleaning my car daily or once in 2 days, and if there is some work need to be done like changing the parts or repair, I will take my car to the service centre of its company/ dealers which has its original parts so that my car can be back to 100% perfection and performance.

I really don’t understand people who still continue driving their car even after it shows every possible warning signs and sounds on it. The people who don’t give a f*** about these signs are really crazy and irresponsible.

I never understood the people use the logic, ‘if it isn’t broke, why to fix it’. No, it’s not like that. You would take your kid to the hospital at the very beginning of a fever but, why you don’t bother to even make a call to your service provider of the vehicle when you see some problems in your car or when it starts behaving abnormally. Yes, money is a factor but if you maintain your car properly and regularly, it will save much more money in the long run.

It’s not just about your money, it’s about your life too. You never know when will the brakes go down or clutch gets burn. You never know the time your car breaks down, and it can be at the time of a well-planned trip in the middle of a forest or on the way to hospital for your wife’s delivery; it can be on the way to your marriage or to your girlfriend waiting at home (no pun intended).

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Time is crucial and the situation can get worse if your car gives up in the middle of your journey.

Some brand/ dealers (Volkswagen Polo) ask for one service every year (compulsory), and some (Maruti Swift) ask for 2 to 3 services per year. But it is your responsibility to take your machine to its doctor now and then for a quick checkup.

There are many who says old vehicles gives much trouble often, but they never realise what they did to the car/bike in its prime. Yes, the engine may get old and reduction in power is expected but parts like brakes, interior, tires are cheap and can be replaced easily.

All this will make your vehicle run smoothly irrespective of its speed.

I always felt that keeping your vehicle as new as possible and powerful as it was on the day it delivered to you is the best way to maintain it for the long run.

There are some many businesses which have started to restore old cars, but don't you think putting a new engine of same specs will be total restoration. It won't be a total restoration but in my opinion, it will be better, and who would like to come back to life just to see that he is now one of the weakest people around.

Now the question is, how often I should service my car and bike. Don’t worry guys, here we are providing you with the best schedule for servicing the car/bike and things to check while servicing.

SHORT TERM CHECK-UPS

OIL AND COOLANT LEVELS

Once in a month, or every few gas filling times & especially before any long road tours, it would be a nice idea to get under the hood of your vehicle & inspect both the coolant & oil levels when the engine is not hot. Low levels of either can lead to problems in the engine if left unnoticed.

AIR FILTER

The engine’s air filter is what maintains the air that flows into your engine & helps keep out debris and other particles. You can improve your fuel efficiency by properly cleaning or changing the filter if needed, it will decrease your emissions, and help improve the life of your engine. This can be done easily at home too.

OIL & FILTER

The motor oil in your car's engine serves a whole lot of functions: it lubricates the moving parts, acts as a sealant against debris, cools the engine regularly, reduces wear and tear of metal, and helps prevent engine corrosion. Keeping it clean is important for good engine health.

HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE, AND PARKING LIGHTS

It’s imperative that the lights on your vehicle are properly working, but often it can be an easy item to overlook. Once a month, turn on your headlights when you’re parked in front of a flat surface and check that both headlights are working correctly and well-positioned. Walk around your car and visually inspect both turn signals and your parking lights.

TIRE PRESSURE AND TREAD DEPTH

Well-Maintained tires are important to stay safe, fuel-efficient ride, making it a habit to visually inspect your tires often will be a good idea. Check the pressure in your tires every month, and before long trips. And don’t forget the spare.

ROTATE TIRES

Depending on the vehicle alignment, usage, and some other factors, the tread wear patterns on the tires may vary between the front and back tires, or even from one side of the tread to the other.

WAX VEHICLE

Make it a habit to wax your vehicle every 6 months after washing it won’t just keep it shiny, it’ll also help to keep both the paint in good shape and reduce the chance of rust.

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LONG TERM CHECK-UPS

TRANSMISSION FLUID

Like the oil in your engine, transmission fluid is a lubricant which helps keep all of the moving parts inside of your transmission functioning aptly. Whether you’re driving an automatic or manual transmission vehicle, it is important that you have your transmission fluid checked & changed when needed to avoid expensive transmission damage or replacement.

TRANSFER CASE FLUID

In 4-wheel or all-wheel drive cars, the transfer case is what shifts power from the transmission to the axles. You will need to have the transfer case fluid checked according to the vehicle manufacturer recommendations to make certain that it is properly filled and leak-free.

BATTERY PERFORMANCE CHECK

Your car battery is one of the vital parts of your vehicle. A car battery supplies large amounts of electrical current for the starter, engine and other electronic accessories in the vehicle. Extreme temperatures will affect the functioning of the battery so, regular battery testing will ensure that the battery will perform when you need it to.

INSPECT SHOCKS AND STRUTS

The shocks and struts on the car function to control the impact and rebound as your vehicle goes over bumps on the road and are an essential part of your car's steering system. They should be inspected by a professional every 1000 kilometres or take your car into the shop if you notice a decrease in the smoothness or loss of control when driving.

COOLANT FLUID EXCHANGE

Your car's radiator is a vital part that helps to keep the engine cool and having your coolant system flushed periodically will help you get rid of contaminants that can build up inside as well as ensure that your radiator is filled to a proper level.

SERPENTINE BELT

Yeah, it's a piece of rubber, but your vehicle’s serpentine belt is essential for keeping your car running by powering peripheral devices such as your alternator, power steering pump, and air conditioner compressor. Replace it if damaged or as per your service provider.

FRONT AND/OR REAR DIFFERENTIAL

The differentials are devices that split the torque—or power—from the engine & allow it to transfer power to the car's tires. In front or rear-wheel drive vehicle providers, there is only one differential, but in four-wheel and all-wheel-drive vehicles, there is both a front and rear differential inside, and possibly even a centre differential. Like many parts of your vehicle, the differentials need to be kept lubricated to ensure optimum performance.

SEASONAL CHECK-UPS

The needs of your vehicle can vary by season to season & driving conditions. Following are some suggestions to add to the notes section of your vehicle maintenance checklist.

SPARK PLUGS

A spark plug in the engine ignites the gas and air mixture that ultimately powers your vehicle. If your spark plugs aren't functioning properly, your engine will lose power and won’t run at optimal capacity.

REPLACE WINDSHIELD WIPERS

Windshield wipers have to be replaced about once every year, or whenever the effectiveness is decreased. During the winter season, it could also be a good idea to install winter wiper blades for good performance.

CHANGE TIRES

Depending on where you live and the winter driving conditions you might face, you might want to switch your tires in cold, snowy months to a winter/snow tire. When the temperature goes below freezing consistently, the tire compounds in non-winter tires hardens, damages the traction effect and handling performance while increasing braking distance. Winter tires have tread patterns and compounds designed to remain soft in the cold and provide grip in snow, slush, and icy driving conditions.

CHECK COOLANT LEVELS

It’s important to check your antifreeze levels in your radiator in the winter season to keep your radiator or engine components from freezing. A fifty-fifty mix of antifreeze to water is generally said to be good, but check your owner’s manual or with a professional to be certain.

Sticking to a car maintenance routine, and keeping good records of what you’ve done, can help extend the life of your vehicle and protect you against breakdowns, expensive repairs, and other surprising events.

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These measures are more than enough for your vehicle to be in good shape and take you to long distances. Wish you all a splendid trip.

Information Source: https://www.bridgestonetire.com/tread-and-trend/drivers-ed/ultimate-car-maintenance-checklist

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