Maintenance

Are there bad cars or just badly maintained cars? It’s a fact that Preventive Maintenance is the basic ingredient to a long-lived, reliable vehicle. But how does one define “maintenance”? The dime-store answer is: Read your owner’s manual and define your driving habits.

The engine is the most expensive part of any vehicle, so preserving it is fundamental. And the most important part of preserving the engine is changing oil, which must be performed on schedule, using high-quality oil of the proper viscosity. That part is easy. The more complicated part is determining what constitutes “on schedule,” and selecting the right oil.

Although it might not be as simple as it sounds, begin by reviewing your owner’s manual. Today’s terminology can be complex, but it is essential to understand which maintenance schedule-most manuals include two schedules-is right for your vehicle and your driving habits.

To avoid engine-killing sludge buildup, you must pick the right oil-change schedule, either normal or severe. This will involve an honest evaluation of your driving habits. Highway driving is easy on cars. Short trips and traffic are extremely hard on cars. Whichever you do more often determines how many miles or months you can go between changes. It’s your decision, but be realistic. If there’s doubt, use the severe service schedule.

If your manual reads like most, you’ll see that many manufacturers are recommending oil change intervals that are higher than they were in the past. Some recommend oil changes every 5,000, 8,000, or even every 10,000 km. Sticking to these schedules is great-if your oil is up to the task.

Fortunately, BG Products .are responding to this trend. BG Porducts recently became the first major company to introduce a “high endurance” line of oil cleaners and aditives. The line includes products like- BG-110 and 203 for your Engine that will Extended Performance-and provide guaranteed protection for 8,000 km, respectively. If you’re going to stick to the schedules your manufacturer recommends, make sure your oil is up to the task. Even if you decide to go less than 8,000 km between changes, make sure you use high quality oils like the BG Porducts.

Service interval: (50,000 km) Engine service interval: (8,000 km)

Lifetime BG Protection Plan covers only components serviced by BG products
Plan 1:
Initial service performed within
(0-60,000 km)

Plan coverage:
$4,000 USD per service interval on:

Engine
Drive Line
Brake System
Cooling System
Power Steering
$2,000 USD per service interval on: Automatic Transmission

Plan 2:
Initial service performed within
(60,000 -120,000 km)

Plan coverage:
$2,000 USD per service interval on:

Engine
Drive Line
Brake System
Cooling System
Power Steering
$1,000 USD per service interval on: Automatic Transmission

Second to changing engine oil is properly maintaining your cooling system. To be safe, check the coolant, and all vehicle fluids, according to the shortest time or distance recommended, not the longest. Coolant, even extended-life variants, should be tested for condition every six months and coolant levels should be checked monthly. Proper testing may prompt you to flush and refill long before the extended-life interval has been achieved. A word of warning: never allow coolant to stay in the radiator until it changes color, because that change indicates rust, and rust is essentially dissolved engine.

Last, but not least, is the automatic transmission, which can usually live long and deliver good service if given a little help. Help means flushing the transmission and renewing its fluid every two years or 50,000km. Unlike old-fashioned transmission service, where only about a third of the fluid was changed, flushing changes all the fluid. Chemicals are also used in the flush process to dissolve harmful deposits and dramatically extend transmission life.

Never cheat on maintenance. Maintenance cheaters rationalize and justify poor maintenance decisions with highly imaginative theories, but they ultimately only cheat themselves. You can’t fool metal. Metal doesn’t have feelings. It’s impossible for metal parts to disregard forgotten or cheap penny-pinching, dollar-foolish, inadequate maintenance! Improper maintenance means prematurely worn parts and high repair bills. Proper maintenance provides reliability, longevity and, peace of mind.