While most car owners in Lakemba rely on their local Lakemba mechanic to service and repair their vehicles, taking the time to learn a few basics about how your car works and keeping on top of routine maintenance tasks yourself can help you to prolong the life of your vehicle.
How Your Car Works
You press the ignition, and the car starts as if by magic. But how does this happen?
Put simply, when you press the ignition the car battery delivers power to the starter. This turns the crankshaft which puts the pistons in motion. These, in turn, fire the engine.
Air is then pulled into a chamber where fuel is added. As you step on the accelerator, the throttle valve opens allowing the gas and air mixture to pass through the intake manifold.
This mixture is then passed into the cylinders where the distributor causes the spark plugs to spark and ignite the gas and air mixture to enable it to depress the piston inside the cylinder and rotate the crankshaft. And it’s this rotation of the crankshaft that causes the wheels to turn.
As you can imagine, as metal turns against metal friction occurs, and that’s why your engine needs oil. In addition, it’s important to keep the transmission well lubricated to ensure that the moving parts don’t cease up.
Routine DIY Tasks
• Checking Levels of Oil and Transmission Fluids. This involves removing the appropriate dipsticks and ensuring that the fluids are at the levels recommended by the manufacturer. If it’s dropped below the level, it will need topping up.
• Checking the Air Filter. You can find the location of your air filter by consulting your vehicle’s manual. Remove the filter, check to see how clean it is and replace it if necessary. A clean air filter will enable your vehicle to run more efficiently.
• Check the belts. If you notice any cracking or other signs of wear and tear, you should take your vehicle to your local Kingsgrove mechanic so that they can be replaced.
• Inspect the Battery. If your battery becomes corroded, eventually it won’t start. When checking a battery always wear rubber gloves and eye protection. First of all, you will need to remove the battery cables.
Remember to disconnect the black negative cable first, then clean the battery posts by applying a mixture of baking soda and water with an old toothbrush. Further corrosion can be prevented by applying a layer of grease or petroleum jelly to the terminals. When reconnecting the battery always reconnect the positive cable first.
The Bottom Line
Regular oil changes and lubrication are key to keeping your vehicle running at its best. While it’s possible to do these at home, you will need some special tools, and you will need to dispose of used oils correctly and safely.
This is why most Earlwood vehicle owners prefer to take their car to their local Earlwood mechanic to ensure that the job is done properly.
How Your Car Works
You press the ignition, and the car starts as if by magic. But how does this happen?
Put simply, when you press the ignition the car battery delivers power to the starter. This turns the crankshaft which puts the pistons in motion. These, in turn, fire the engine.
Air is then pulled into a chamber where fuel is added. As you step on the accelerator, the throttle valve opens allowing the gas and air mixture to pass through the intake manifold.
This mixture is then passed into the cylinders where the distributor causes the spark plugs to spark and ignite the gas and air mixture to enable it to depress the piston inside the cylinder and rotate the crankshaft. And it’s this rotation of the crankshaft that causes the wheels to turn.
As you can imagine, as metal turns against metal friction occurs, and that’s why your engine needs oil. In addition, it’s important to keep the transmission well lubricated to ensure that the moving parts don’t cease up.
Routine DIY Tasks
• Checking Levels of Oil and Transmission Fluids. This involves removing the appropriate dipsticks and ensuring that the fluids are at the levels recommended by the manufacturer. If it’s dropped below the level, it will need topping up.
• Checking the Air Filter. You can find the location of your air filter by consulting your vehicle’s manual. Remove the filter, check to see how clean it is and replace it if necessary. A clean air filter will enable your vehicle to run more efficiently.
• Check the belts. If you notice any cracking or other signs of wear and tear, you should take your vehicle to your local Kingsgrove mechanic so that they can be replaced.
• Inspect the Battery. If your battery becomes corroded, eventually it won’t start. When checking a battery always wear rubber gloves and eye protection. First of all, you will need to remove the battery cables.
Remember to disconnect the black negative cable first, then clean the battery posts by applying a mixture of baking soda and water with an old toothbrush. Further corrosion can be prevented by applying a layer of grease or petroleum jelly to the terminals. When reconnecting the battery always reconnect the positive cable first.
The Bottom Line
Regular oil changes and lubrication are key to keeping your vehicle running at its best. While it’s possible to do these at home, you will need some special tools, and you will need to dispose of used oils correctly and safely.
This is why most Earlwood vehicle owners prefer to take their car to their local Earlwood mechanic to ensure that the job is done properly.
