LOOK FOR LEAKS
The average car park is a cesspool of automobile lubricants and fluids – evidence that we don’t care for our cars. What we don’t see are the millions of liters that drip from our vehicles and evaporated into the air.
Do a simple inspection each day, and have leaks fixed before they become problems. Gasoline leaks, because they are most harmful to the air, should be repaired at once.
CHECK YOUR TAIL PIPE
Want a clue to your engine’s health?Rub a finger around the inside of you exhausted pipe. Ideally, the finger should come out coated with a light gray-brown powder. Ifit’s any other color, something maybe wrong with the engine or the emissions controls or the catalytic converter.
KEEP YOUR TIRES FIRM
Adding the air to your tires is one of the kindest things you can do for the air outside them. Correctly inflated tires mean better gas mileage and the less pollution. Tire pressure should be checked at least once every two weeks when the tires are cold.
CHECK AIR DUCTS.
Among the most ignored under the hood items are the carburetor and fuel-injection air ducts.
There are two types: fresh-air ducts supply outside air to the engine when it is warm , and preheater ducts supply preheated air to the engine during cold starts. both types look like overgrown hoses with crinkly, corrugated skins.
Take a few minutes and check the air ducts on your engine. If loose, they should be tightened; if damaged, they should be replaces. They are relatively inexpensive.
IF YOU HAVE AN AIR CONDITIONER, LOOK AFTER IT.
Leaky air conditioners in cars are a major source of chlorfluorocarbons (CFCs), a gas commonly known as FREON
The air -conditioning system should be tight and leak free. The best way to guard against leaks is to have the unit thoroughly serviced each year. Occasionally run the air conditioner in winter because this helps to keep seals lubricated and eliminates the chance of freon escaping.
CHECK YOUR CHOKE.
A major hazard is a too-rich automatic choke, with unburned hydrocarbons coming out of the tailpipe .
If the choke is set too lean, it won’t permit enough gasoline into the cold engine, and car labors to start; if set too rich, the choke stays closed longer, flooding the engine with gasoline and causing the engine to run rich, even when warm. Choke adjustment is an easy job for mechanic.
USE CLEAN FILTERS.
A dirty air filters forces the engines to use more gasoline, causing unnecessary pollution. Clogged or dirty fuels filters are a major cause of poor performance, especially with fuel -injected cars. Change filters at least as often as the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule prescribes.
CHANGE THE OIL REGULARLY
Frequent oil changes, preferably with a fuel-efficient oil, are a must. Follow the “severe service” oil-change interval recommended in your owner’s manual or change the oil filters at least every 300 miles or three months , whichever comes first.
Be certain that all dipstick are pushed down tight.
DON’T BURN OIL
If blue or blue-white smoke is coming out of the tailpipe, your car is burning oil, and you are causing pollution. You should have the engine checked.
BE FAMILIAR WITH YOUR EXHAUST EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS.
A visual inspection is easy. Are all the wires connected? Are there any loose hose or worn vacuum? Its important that all emission controls work all the time . A car may be able to run even if one or two sensors are not working, but it will pollute heavily. A proper tuned car ensures emissions are held to a minimum.
STAY TUNED
Keeping you car in an optimal condition is important to keep the engine keep it within the environmental standards set by the manufacturers.
TRUST YOUR SENSES.
Sight smell sound and feel can tell you a lot. Anytime you smell something unusual or see a leak or hear a noise or feel a vibration, something is amiss Have your car checked quickly to limit possible damage.