Zero maintenance, which was described in the section on retrofitting a car after purchase, can be carried out independently or with the help of personal mechanics.
This section will focus on daily maintenance, which has an even greater impact on performance and allows the driver to enjoy driving a new generation of cars.
A number of these daily maintenance tasks can be found in the owner's manual. Let us dwell on the significance and necessity of these works.
Any self-respecting driver, regardless of the presence of a mechanic, should be able to replace a flat tire with a spare tire. You can’t even drive a few tens of meters on a flat tire. The wheel will fail, and the tire will be a blossoming rose, and many other things can still be damaged.
The car has special places for installation under the jack, if it has a stop without a slot. The front ones are at a distance of 20 cm from the edge of the front wheel arch, and the rear ones are at a distance of 30 cm from the rear wheel arch. These places are small coasters on the threshold. If the jack has a slot (excavation) in emphasis, it is necessary to set it so that the slot enters the edge of the threshold, at the same distances from the wheel arches.
Before you put the jack, you must take all measures so that during the lifting of one edge the car does not roll. An experienced driver knows what troubles this can lead to.
These measures include:
- set the car on level ground;
- in the gearbox, turn on a lower gear if you change the rear wheels;
- put the car on the parking brake if you change the front wheels;
- when installing the wheel, you need to make sure how it rotates, in the first case the front wheels will turn, in the second - the rear ones;
- put wheel chocks, any material at hand: a board, a hammer, but special stops are better, they are sold or drivers make them themselves, for example, a wooden triangular block;
- loosen the bolts of the wheel to be replaced.
When installing the jack in the indicated places, pay attention to the installation of the heel of the jack directly under the installation site.
Lubricate the threads of the wheel bolts with grease, they will then be easier to unscrew.
If you need to work in a pit under a car with a raised wheel or on a surface with a car raised on a jack, be sure to prepare special stops for the body or any supports, at least the removed wheel.
Fasten the newly installed wheel with bolts and tighten them crosswise. After tightening, check the rotation of the wheel, paying attention to the noise of the bearing, the uniformity of rotation. A well balanced wheel will not stop in one place. After the car is lowered, tighten the bolts well, but not with the footrest. If you overtighten too much, the wheel seat ring may break.
We've already talked about tire pressure. To ensure uniform tire wear, every 10,000 km of run, rearrange the wheels front to rear and from left to right. Tire tread wear should be even. If the tire wears out on one side, then it is urgent to check the geometric alignment of the wheels. If bald spots appear on the tread, then you need to balance.
In the engine compartment at least once a week, and if leaks appear, and more often, you need to check:
- oil level in the engine crankcase - it has already been indicated, it should be between the min and max marks, it is best to make another mark in the middle or fix the oil level with the letter «P», you need to add oil only the one that is filled in, monitor the transparency of the oil: if it darkens or is very dark, replace the oil with a more viscous one.
The oil level on the 2112 engine is checked in the middle of the flat area at the end of the measuring stick; make your notch in the middle of the stamping;
- oil level in the gearbox. It should be checked rarely, but if there is an oil leak, then it should be checked more often. On the measuring ruler, also make your risk in the middle between the two marks;
- the liquid level in the expansion tank must pass along the upper edge of the fastening belt; it does not match the level of the coolant level sensor. No need to wait for the sensor to work; if it worked, you need to look for a leak in the cooling system;
- the brake fluid level is checked by the min and max marks on the reservoir, the maximum mark indicates new pads, and the minimum mark indicates worn pads; if there is no leakage, then the level decreases due to the erasing of the pads, and it is not necessary to add liquid;
- the fluid level in the washer reservoir must be kept above the level of the low level indicator sensor. It is better to use a special liquid both in summer and in winter, it was said earlier why;
- the electrolyte level in the battery must be checked, if it is serviced, with a glass tube. Pay attention to the cleanliness of the battery, this will increase its service life, and good contact is the reliable operation of electronic equipment.
The place under the car is a mirror of serviceable units using oil and fluids. Every day, leaving any parking lot, pay attention to the presence of drops, and maybe puddles, in the place where the car was parked.
On the 2112 engine there is a window in which the deflection of the timing belt is visible; check regularly, it should not sag.
Periodically, it is necessary to flush the locking needle of the idle speed regulator from dirt.
We have already said what is the value for the engine «dozens» has gasoline, especially if the engine is 2112. Fuel consumption is a mirror of the operation of the elements of the power system, so keep a constant record of gasoline consumption: an increase in its consumption from the norm should alert, and with a further increase, should you contact specialists? But this must be done after a run of 2000-3000 km.
Daily maintenance includes one of the elements that determine the lifespan of your «friend», - watch his appearance.
The appearance of the car is the state of its body. The new car has an even layer of enamel, you will not see any chips or scratches, an even layer of varnish pleases the eye. The bottom and wheel arches are covered with plastisol in an even layer, and this mastic keeps well. Many parts have corrosion protection. But their validity and appearance depend on proper constant care, operating and storage conditions.
Observe the following:
- do not wipe the surface with a dry rag, and even more so the dirty surface of the body;
- before washing, make sure that the door drain valves are not clogged with dirt;
- always wash the car before parking;
- a dry car should be washed less frequently: if it is dirty, then pour it over with plenty of gentle water before washing, do not rub the dirt, but wash it off;
- after washing indoors in winter, wipe dry or dry the entire car, the body and especially the door seals;
- to improve the washing properties of water, use special shampoos;
- if signs of corrosion are found, clean the damaged area with sandpaper to bare metal, treat this place with anticorrosion, apply primer and then tint. Some call it «catching fleas», and some say: «How well did your «friend» appearance»;
- monitor the bottom cover and restore it if there are chips;
- anti-corrosion coating, which was recommended at purchase or at zero maintenance, repeat every 2-3 years;
- to maintain the gloss of the body surface, use polishing pastes;
- try not to leave the car for a long time under the rays of the sun;
- glass and body wipe during washing and polishing in the shade.
The appearance of stains on the paintwork and local destruction is the result of acidic industrial emissions. Such surfaces can be restored by polishing.
The classic maintenance system also includes seasonal maintenance. It is best to combine them with the next maintenance.
The preparation of the car for winter operation was described in the section «Driving in winter requires knowledge and skills». To this can be added:
- to polish the body;
- replace coolant;
- there must be a special fluid in the washer reservoir.
In preparation for summer operation, fewer technical measures are required, but it is desirable to carry out:
- cleaning and cleaning salt;
- body polishing;
- checking the condition of the surface of the bottom, wings. Winter salt leaves an abundance of rusty spots;
- checking the brake system, it should be more efficient.