7 sins of old car owners

Car manufacturers are seduced by the latest technologies that control everything themselves. Such cars look beautiful and are admired by neighbors, but their price is often unattainable for an ordinary Pole, and repair costs are huge. If you dream of replacing a good old man with a car straight from a car dealership, think twice. An old car can serve you for many years, you just need to properly care for it. We'll tell you how!

What will you learn from this post?

• • What to look for when servicing an old car?
  • Are modern hydraulic fluids suitable for older vehicles?
  • What parts of an old car can be repaired?

Shortly speaking

To enjoy the smooth operation of your car for longer, regularly check the condition of its critical components, tires, headlights and all rubber parts. Use operating fluids that are designed for old cars and change according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Parts such as the engine, starter or alternator can be regenerated, avoiding high replacement costs.

The most common mistakes of old car owners

Many drivers believe that the car should just drive. They don't care about the most modern, beautiful models. No! They often believe that New cars, due to the large amount of electronics installed in them, are more emergency, more difficult and more expensive to repair.... There is something in this. Old cars have a simpler design, and their components can be used for several years without any problems. However, the key to a vehicle's longevity is taking care of all of its components.... Check out the list of sins committed by old car drivers and try to avoid them.

A cursory inspection of the vehicle once a year.

Every vehicle must be inspected once a year to extend the validity of the registration certificate. In the case of cars that are several years old, complex diagnostics should be carried out much more often.... Very long (often incorrect) operation leads to wear and tear on all important components. Old car mechanics say that malfunctions most often concern: engine, brake and fuel system, battery, generator, starter and manual transmission... Only regular inspection and a quick reaction to alarming symptoms will allow you to eliminate the malfunction in time, which, left without repair, gradually destroys other important parts of the car.

Too aggressive wash of an old car body

Older car owners almost always face the problem of corrosion in their vehicles... Temperature fluctuations, dirt and cleaning chemicals are deadly for the chassis, bodywork and other parts of the body. Your work frequent monitoring of the presence of rust, quick reaction in case of its appearance on the car and protection of all parts with a coating that prevents its formation... When washing your car, do not use harsh automotive chemicals or worn brushes and sponges that can scratch the paintwork.

Forgetting to care for the headlights

Lighting needs to be maintained regardless of the age of your vehicle. However, in older models, headlight wear is much more noticeable and can be restored after a few years. Reflectors, which are responsible for reflecting light in the direction of travel, tend to fade and flake off.... Maintaining your headlights is not expensive or difficult, and they will always look like new. Do not forget to regularly clean the lamps from dirt. You can also polish them with a special paste.... This procedure will remove plaque on the headlights and shallow small scratches.

Untimely replacement of rubber parts

In older vehicles, it is extremely important to check the tightness of all rubber elements. Flexible materials deform, crack and deform over time, which means they lose their properties.... In automobiles, each system contains many very important hoses and rubber hoses that, if damaged, can cause serious damage. because check their condition carefully at least once a year and, if necessary, replace the elements with new ones.

Riding on worn tires

Tires are an element that wears out both while driving and when the car is parked for a long time. The tires of the vehicle must be adapted to the prevailing weather conditions.. Winter and summer tires differ in the structure and properties of the material from which they are made. Before putting them on, carefully check their condition - make sure there are no cracks or deformations on them... The tread height is also very important. If during the check the officer shows that he has less than 1,6 mm punishes you with a fine or even keeps the vehicle registration certificate... Many owners of old cars are “dismissive” of tires. This is a big mistake, because the safety of the driver and other road users largely depends on them.

About changing tires also check the condition of the suspension... Inspection at the diagnostic station will detect even minor malfunctions, and their rapid elimination will prevent major malfunctions and associated costs.

Incompatibility of working fluids to the age of the car

The formula of modern working fluids is significantly different from those intended for old cars. They have different parameters and composition, therefore their use in old cars is not only uneconomical, but also dangerous for the condition of most components..

Coolant

This, in particular, coolantwhich in its composition contains slightly corrosive, and therefore harmful to old cars, alcohol. Therefore, it is necessary to use special additives for enriching silica.protecting your car from damage and corrosion.

Brake fluid

It is also pointless to use cutting edge brake fluid for an old-style system. When slowing down or stopping the braking system in an old car does not heat up to such a high temperature as in a model filled with innovative technologies that support these processes... So you don't have to buy an overheating-resistant fluid, which will help you slightly lower your operating costs.

Machine oil

In older cars, the engine oil needs to be changed more often than in new ones. Mechanics generally recommend servicing every 10 miles, but this depends on the frequency and intensity of vehicle use. Older engines wear out oil much faster, so check the oil level more often, as lack of proper lubrication can cause permanent damage to pistons, rings, cylinders and other moving parts of the drive.

Transmission oil

A very important (and often forgotten) fluid for the proper operation of a car is transmission oil... It keeps the transmission running and protects it from seizure caused by clutch malfunction. When choosing a lubricant, check the availability enrichment additives protecting synchronizers from corrosion.

Select operating fluids in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer of your vehicle or its individual components. Also don't forget about regular replacement of filters: cabin, oil and air.

You can regenerate these parts

You can continue working with damaged parts of the old machine revive... The cost of such an operation will be much less than for their complete replacement. In this way, even the most important vehicle components can be preserved, including: engine, starter, generator, drive system, DPF filters or even body parts... If you have a flair for the automotive industry and love digging around in a car, you can easily repair most of the parts yourself. The main advantage of old cars is their simple design.... About it, how to regenerate car parts you can read in one of our blog entries.

The car must be looked after regardless of age. Older cars, however, require a little more attention from their owners. Regular inspections, use of special quality working fluids and replacement of worn parts will extend the life of your vehicle and save money on expensive repairs. You can find the necessary fluids and spare parts on the website

I avtotachki.co.

Also check:

Vehicle age and fluid type - check what you need to know!

How can I improve the light performance of my old car?

How to repair minor damage to the car body yourself?

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