Engine and the other components have some importance in the maintenance of automobiles vehicles. The vehicle functions, engine, and other chassis parts are important to give you a safe and comfortable ride. In this article, I will discuss the importance of Maintenance of automobiles. 

Importance of Maintenance of Automobiles

Maintenance is the backbone of the entire working system of an automobile. It includes certain operations that are being performed to ensure good running condition with economy and also to ensure the long-term functioning of the automobile.

Thus, timely attention and skillfully operated vehicle runs efficiently and gives trouble-free service. Before driving any vehicle be sure that all parts of the vehicle are in order and always in a condition ensuring safe driving. This applies in particular to the brakes, clutch, steering, complete lighting system, and tires.

Donts drive the vehicle at top speed unless it is necessary. Fuel consumption rises with the driving speed and with load. Hill climbing as well as; frequent braking and acceleration also increase fuel consumption. The wear on tires rises even more steeply, especially in hot weather.

Therefore, to obtain safety and economy, the study of the regular maintenance of the vehicle is essential. The maintenance schedules and instructions given by the manufacturer must be followed during the use of the vehicle, which will reduce the breakdowns and improve the performance of the vehicle considerably.

A new auto vehicle is like a newly born child. Both need care in their day-to-day life. Some care is to be taken each moment, some care once a day and other care are to be taken from time to time. Despite all the care taken, a growing child may fall ill.

The doctor may have to conduct some tests. Analogous to this, an auto vehicle may also develop some troubles. It may also require some tests to be performed on the engine and other vehicle systems. The ill child may be treated by administering doses of genuine medicines. Similarly, the auto vehicle is also given some remedial treatment to remove its troubles.

The nature of child illness may be such that a surgical operation may be essential. Similarly, the various parts of the vehicle may also be dismantled for their corrective measures. An old man generally develops more illness, so he takes greater doses of medicines and goes for frequent medical check-ups. Similar is the behavior of the automobile. An old vehicle needs more maintenance develops more troubles, and requires more and more servicing and increased tune-ups.

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Scheduled and Unscheduled Importance of Maintenance of Automobiles

The maintenance of a vehicle can be of the following two types :

1. Scheduled(Preventive) Maintenance

In this type of vehicle maintenance, a complete check of the vehicle, its engine, and/or components is invariably required after a certain period. The suitable period for different systems and components is recommended by the manufacturer.

Such checks detect and prevent the initiation of any serious troubles, before they happen. The need for component dismantling does not arise, generally, in scheduled maintenance.

Preventive or scheduled maintenance may be done daily, weekly, or monthly. The following checks are to be performed each day before starting the vehicle :

• There should be sufficient fuel in the fuel tank.
• The tires should be correctly inflated.
• The brakes should be in good working condition.
• All exterior lights should be light up.
• The mirrors and glasses must be clean and unscratched.
• Hom must be in good working condition.

There are a few simple weekly checks that the owner/driver is required to make. These are :

• Engine oil level check
• Tyre air pressure check.
• Power steering fluid level check
• Battery condition check
• Brake fluid level check
• Engine coolant level check.
• Clutch fluid level check, in case of a vehicle fitted with a hydraulic clutch.

Monthly checks are also required in many systems. Important among them are :

• Automatic transmission fluid level
• Windscreen washer fluid level check.

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2. Unscheduled (Breakdown) maintenance.

It is also known as breakdown maintenance. This is the type of maintenance that is done only when some specific troubles are encountered in the vehicle or the engine. In this case, the engine or its components have to be dismantled serviced, and repaired. Since prevention is better than cure, therefore, scheduled maintenance is preferred over unscheduled maintenance.

Reducing HI-FI Noice Pollution Inside the Motorcar

There have been two outstanding developments in-car entertainment equipment. One is the automatic sound level control system known by the initials ASLC, which Hitachi produced and the other is the Philips micro-computer controlled AC 990 combined radio cassette player launched on the United Kingdom market.

The Hitachi ASLC is available either as an add-on unit for connection to existing radios, in which case it is known as the DU10, or incorporated into its CSK 303X combination unit. The object of the device is to eliminate the need for adjustment of the volume control during a journey of varying speeds by reducing or increasing the sound from the receiver to ambient noise generated by the wind, road, or engine.

This means, for instance, that after traveling at speed on a motorway, volume is progressively decreased as the car slows on the exit road, thereby avoiding the blare of sound that normally results and the need to adjust the volume control. The converse is also true. As a car accelerates, the volume is increased to compensate for the rise in noise but the changes are made progressively and with slight delay to avoid fluctuations that could confuse a listener.

The ASLC system has been tried and not found wanting. Modus operandi is to adjust the receiver to an acceptable volume level before starting, then leave it to take care of itself. It has two controls labeled “contrast” and “gradient” which regulate sensitivity and the ratio of volume to ambient sound which, once set, can remain untouched.

Users of FM receivers in cars will be familiar with the problems of reception and the need frequently to retune if a specific program is to be followed when making a cross-country journey. Most FM listeners accept this penalty in exchange for a higher standard of fidelity and the absence of external interference, as well as the ability to hear stereo programs, which are features of FM reception, but curse when having to retune.

The AC 990, the first all-electric car unit to come from Philips, is designed expressly to overcome these objections. It does so by employing an electronic memory that can accept up to 70 frequencies used by transmitters on the FM, medium, long, and short wavebands, coupled with automatic search and variable speed manual tuning.

As an example, it will be assumed that the tee BBC national networks have been programmed on the appropriate buttons. When starting on a long journey and washing to have continuous reception of Radio 2, it is necessary only to press button P1. Thereafter, as the car moves across the country, the radio will automatically self-tune to the strongest station transmitting that program without any manual intervention, so the need for retuning is circumvented. The same applies to Radios 3 and 4.

Most frequency changes between one station and another are imperceptible except when there is a marked difference between volume levels beyond the capability of the automatic gain control. Each new frequency, as it occurs, is shown for about three seconds on a digital display, after which the display reverts to an indication of the program button in use. Unfortunately, for the curious, the frequency display is too

short-lived to be monitored constantly by a driver whose attention must be concentrated on the road, not that this is necessary in normal usage.

To check the self-tuning ability, a Ford Cortina fitted with the AC 990 was taken on a 500-mile round trip from London traveling by the A5 and M6 to the Liverpool area, then over the Pennines on the M62/A63 to Hulf and back to London on the A l. The receiver performed most satisfactorily and all three BBC programmes remained on top over the entire distance.

The only detail lacking on the Philips unit, compared with other electronically tuned receivers, is a visual indication of time. Although self-tuning is the principal feature, the fact that the set is also a high-quality cassette player should not be overlooked nor should the quality of the reproduced sound.

Furthermore, it also incorporates an ambient noise level sensor called SALS which is an equivalent to the Hitachi ASLC, as well as an autoreverse tape deck equipped with Dolby and a switch for handing metal tapes. The Berlin is a three-unit set. The controls are mounted on a stalk so that they can be placed within easy reach of a driver, while the tape section with associated controls is built as an in-dash unit. The amplifier, of the slave type, that is, it has no controls of its own, is intended to be mounted out of sight.

While the three units mentioned represent the most notable developments to reach fruition during the past year, steady progress has also been made in graphic equalizers which are rapidly becoming a popular adjunct to existing equipment. Equalizers must be used in conjunction with high-power speakers capable of handling their elevated output without overloading.

There are many such speakers available. Pioneer is showing an interesting new rear shelf design at the motor show in which sound from a woofer is projected upwards for forward reflection by the rear screen while a vertically mounted tweeter integral with the woofer distributes high-frequency sound in a horizontal plane directly at the car occupants, the idea being that this form of sound distribution improves the stereo image.

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Conclusion

In summary, the importance of maintaining automobiles goes beyond just keeping them in good condition; it encompasses safety, reliability, efficiency, and environmental considerations. Regular maintenance is an investment in the performance, longevity, and overall well-being of the vehicle.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ’S)

How does vehicle maintenance contribute to fuel efficiency?

Regular maintenance, including tune-ups, clean air filters, and timely oil changes, ensures that the engine operates efficiently. This, in turn, leads to better fuel economy by optimizing combustion and reducing fuel consumption.

How does maintenance contribute to environmental sustainability?

Well-maintained vehicles produce fewer emissions, contributing to a cleaner environment. Regular maintenance ensures that emission control systems function correctly, reducing the ecological impact of the vehicle.

How often should routine maintenance tasks, such as oil changes, be performed?

The frequency of routine maintenance tasks varies by vehicle make and model. However, a general guideline is to perform oil changes every 3,000 to 5,000 miles or as recommended in the vehicle’s owner’s manual. Consult the manual for specific maintenance intervals.