Tag Archives: engine maintenance
Tips for Turbocharger Installation and Maintenance
Do you know that 90% of all turbocharger failures are due to some unfavorable operating conditions, and problems that are easily avoidable? It is necessary that all of the components are properly installed and maintained, because these units have close tolerances and clearances, and usually operate at high speeds. If you would like to ensure the longest possible service life, always utilize proper operating procedures, and maintain clean air and fresh lubricating oil.
To help you, here are some tips and procedures to prevent the usual causes of turbo failure. As an additional word of caution, always make sure to use these tips in conjunction with the specific recommendations and operating procedures of your vehicle’s manufacturer.
Proper Installation
There are turbo installations that are metal-to-metal fit and require no mounting gaskets. For these, you do not need to use any additional gasket material. Note that at 100,000+ rpm, even a small amount of loose sealant will destroy the compressor wheel. So if the manifold surfaces are damaged, you must repair or replace it.
Then, clean all the connecting hardware and fittings. Also, visually inspect the pipes, hoses or ducting, and replace them as needed. Next, check for adequate oil supply, or if there is enough functioning oil pressure or filter system. The oil supply lines must also be checked because flexible lines can degrade from the inside-out, which can cause the pieces to be flushed down to the new turbo and eventually clog the oil-feed ports. Make sure that the hard lines are not bent, because this will cause the material inside the pipe to loosen and be flushed down the pipe upon start-up and clog the ports.
Next, check the filter elements and screens, and see if your system has a filter screen in the oil supply line. If so, it may not have a bypass feature. So, if the line is blocked, the turbo will be deprived of the oil it needs and swiftly fail. If you have this kind of system, you must have it checked periodically.
Maintenance and Service
As far as care and prevention, you must avoid the penetration of foreign bodies into the turbine or the compressor. Ensure that there is no debris in the air box. Then, air cleaner elements should be replaced or thoroughly cleaned. Also, prevent any dirt from contaminating the oil. Make sure to change oil and oil filters regularly, especially after new turbo installation.
Tips for Operation
Proper use of the vehicle also helps prolong the turbo life of your car. Thus, avoid operating the vehicle for very long periods that are beyond the design performance parameters. These prolonged periods can generate excessive heat, and when you overheat the engine too much, that breaks down the oil and produces high exhaust gas temperatures, which will affect the ignition system and injection system.
Another tip is to avoid hot shut down. This means that if the temperature is high, allow your vehicle to idle and cool down to a lower, normal temperature. Once the engine, its systems and the oil are cooled down, you will prevent the burning or caking of the oil, and these all result to component failure or reduced performance.
Remember that all these tips are or turbo equipped vehicles and applications. If you would like to purchase high quality car components online with great discounts, check out autopartsway.com.
10 Tips for Stretching Your Fuel Mileage
In this day and age, the price of fuel has surely gone up, and it is probably safe to say that this trend will continue in the coming years. Considering the rising prices of almost every other commodity, it is very important to know how to save and manage our budgets. If you’re the type who drives your car every day (or as often as you can), you should know that stretching your fuel can not only save you extra money, it can also stretch the life of your car.
So, here are the top ten simple things that you must keep in mind to get more gas mileage:
- Drive smoothly. You should avoid heavy acceleration and sudden braking. Extreme speeding, as well as rapid velocity changes can lower your gasoline mileage by 5%, when you are at lower speeds around a town, or even 33% when you often drive through highways and expressways. Try to maintain constant speed as often as you can and use cruise control in major roads and free-flowing traffic.
- Keep air filters clean. If you replace your dirty and clogged air filters, it can improve gas mileage by 10%, as the air filter can protect the engine from impurities that would make it work extra hard, requiring more gas power.
- Keep a well-tuned engine. If your car has failed emission tests, is obviously out of tune, or has any problem that needs repair, you should solve the problem immediately. On average, this can improve your mileage by 4%.
- Make sure tires are in good condition. The correct amount of tire air pressure can cut down on the fuel you use while driving by more than 3%, so always check that your tires are not over or under-inflated.
- Use the recommended grade of engine oil. Always follow your manufacturer’s specifications for the required motor oil to gain 2% increase in mileage. It will also help to choose the motor oil that is labeled “energy-conserving”, as these types contain friction-reducing additives.
- Choose a high-quality gasoline. Top automakers claim that some carbon deposits may build up on critical engine parts, and this can decrease the power, performance, and fuel-efficiency of your vehicle. Audi, BMW, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, and Volkswagen, among others recommend top tier detergent gasolines to help keep engines clean. These high quality gasolines stop gunk build-up, resulting in the best possible car performance.
- Minimize vehicle drag. Do not take unnecessary items that add more weight and not much importance. Keep your trunk and back seat clear of anything you don’t need. A heavier car with excess weight will require more power.
- Avoid idling. Don’t think that if your car isn’t speeding, it can’t use gas. Even when your car is idle, you can actually get zero miles per gallon.
- Avoid higher speeds. On the other side of the coin, avoid driving at very high speeds when not completely necessary. Gas mileage decreases when you drive at speeds over 60 mph and beyond.
- Plan your trips wisely. Combining small errands and avoiding separate trips lessen unnecessary cold starts. This is a good way to keep your engine running warm and more efficiently.
With these tips, not only will you be able to save more money on fuel, but also keep your car’s components in good condition. To get hold of high-quality parts with great discounts, check Autopartsway.com.
