best preventative maintenance
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Nanticoke
best preventative maintenance
What are some of the best things to do to keep the automobile going besides changing fluids? Recently I took out the door sills, cleaned and waxed underneath, Took out the bed liner and waxed the paint and greased any shiny metal spots. I was thinking about waxing inside the fenderwells and truck bed. I de-rusted the spring shacles and painted them. Any other good ideas?
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,968
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From: So Cal
Crawl around under the truck and try to shake or twist any components that look like they might come loose. Like, shocks, tie rods, rock shields, exhaust and shields, cable mounts, gas tank straps, running board mounts, stuff like that. If you find a loose part fix it. I find something loose or missing more often than I would like to think. Also cures many strange noises. Catches many parts just before they fall off and cost you some money.
A good wash and wax will help the paint. Some upholstry cleaning/treatment helps.
Check your motor and tranny mounts once in awhile.
Check and lubricate brake components. IE. lubricate the sliders or other sliding parts of the calipers etc, not the pads of course.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
A good wash and wax will help the paint. Some upholstry cleaning/treatment helps.
Check your motor and tranny mounts once in awhile.
Check and lubricate brake components. IE. lubricate the sliders or other sliding parts of the calipers etc, not the pads of course.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 920
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From: Colville
Best prevenitive maintance is how you oporate the vehickle. Easy on the clutch, same with brakes. Don't rev the engine cold. If the transmission is a manual feel it into gears don't force it. If it is an auto pull it down a gear if it's shifting when it doesn't need to like in heavy traffic. Don't slam the doors. Find a safe place to park it even if you have to walk a little further.
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 767
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From: Franklin, GA
Shoot me if I'm wrong, but most all undercoatings are applied by the dealerships prior to selling, not at the factory.
The forgotten list:
Lubricate hinges (door, tailgate, hood, vent window, etc....)
Tire inflation to specs.
"Proper" tune up (includes at least blowing out the air filter and setting timing)
Correct carb adjustment (rebuild it every few years whether you think it needs it or not and set the choke to specs.
Flush brake system with new fluid every few years
Coolant level and condition check
V belts
Windshield wipers
This stupid list won't ever end!
The forgotten list:
Lubricate hinges (door, tailgate, hood, vent window, etc....)
Tire inflation to specs.
"Proper" tune up (includes at least blowing out the air filter and setting timing)
Correct carb adjustment (rebuild it every few years whether you think it needs it or not and set the choke to specs.
Flush brake system with new fluid every few years
Coolant level and condition check
V belts
Windshield wipers
This stupid list won't ever end!
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Nanticoke
I've heard putting peppermint oil on all the studs or threads that are exposed will help in the long run in case you need to remove them, supposedly the peppermint oil is just as good as a corrosion/rust inhibitor.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Near Wamego KS
Couple of maintenance items I'm vigilant about - track down vibrations as soon as you notice (broken belt in tire, out of balance, alignment, warped brakes...) with all the electrical parts & connections in a modern vehicle no point in trying to vibrate them apart. Running fuel injection cleaner on a regular basis (lot of stations are selling dirty gas) and keeping the fuel filter fresh.
One area I've been kind of bad about - belts and hoses (except timing belt). I've never broke a belt or hose on a vehicle in my life - and thats with some getting way over 150K and ten - twenty years of service. The only time they might get changed is when another part fails that requires they be removed (water pump, altinator etc).
One area I've been kind of bad about - belts and hoses (except timing belt). I've never broke a belt or hose on a vehicle in my life - and thats with some getting way over 150K and ten - twenty years of service. The only time they might get changed is when another part fails that requires they be removed (water pump, altinator etc).
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