hi everyone, i am new here, and i will be sticking around.

The topic Preventing Expensive Vehicle Repairs is a really broad one, so im guessing ill break it into parts so i dont bore readers .
prevention in this context is focused on extending the life of vehicle parts and by extension, vehicle life.

lets start with the simple basic stuff for vehicles that have not suffered any form of abuse.



Hottiecoach

Tip 1
Vehicle fluid Care

Engine oil: Using the right manufacturer recommended weights of Engine oil for your engine and using high quality brands coupled with a little common sense will keep engine running like new. 5000mile oil changes for full synthetic brands and 3000miles for semi or mineral oil is highly recommended, do not forget to factor in traffic conditions if you live in traffic infested areas, you can sacrifice 500miles of traffic for every 5000miles and do your oil changes at 4500miles remember that when a vehicle is sitting in traffic the engine is still running and suffers more wear and tear. vehicles used often on highways tend to fare better than vehicles used within cities with excessive traffic.



Hottiecoach

Transmission oil:

One of the most expensive Vehicle repairs is transmission replacement , and in most cases is very avoidable . manufacturers will usually recommend a 100,000mile drain in most automatic transmissions. Yes most transmissions can get 100,000miles without packing up but usually manufacturer warranties end at 100,000miles and they are free from any liability resulting in failure. our recommendation is 30,000 -50,000mile transmission oil drains and refills, looking at it critically most vehicle users cover 10,000-15000miles a year so thats about 3-5year Transmission oil drain intervals on the transmission.


Hottiecoach

Differential Fluids:

The differential oil lubricates the ring and pinion gears that transfer power from the driveshaft to the wheel axles. The purpose of the differential fluid is to cool and lubricate your differential. Most vehicle owners neglect monitoring the differential oils in most 4wheel drive vehicles, one of the reasons of neglect is theres no warning and no dip stick for a quick check. a technician usualy has to go under the vehicle and unsrew a drain bolt to inspect the level, and quality, oil drain intervals are between 30,000-60,000miles for most vehicles.

Hottiecoach

Power steering oils:

Most times this oil is treated like (vibranium! wakanda forever!) Owners assuming it should last the lifetime of the vehicle, and you only see users performing a refill after a leak. A larger percentage of powersteering oil leaks and steering pump failures are attributed to poor viscosity on power steering fluids. if you really want your power steering to last forever, Drain and refill every (Theres an argument to this, some experts say every 2years while some say 70,000-100,000miles) every 2years seems fair enough.


Hottiecoach

Brake Fluids:

This is another vehicle fluid that is largely ignored. If you don't have your Brake Fluid changed as recommended by your vehicle manufacturer this will lead to Moisture Contamination, which will lead to corrosion on brake part members and an ineffective braking system or failure . A brake oil drain every 2 years should eliminate the possibility for failure.


Hottiecoach

Radiator Coolant :

Coolant provides lubrication for the moving parts it comes into contact with inside your vehicle. It keeps the seals and gaskets supple so they are less likely to harden and leak, it also guards against corrosion. Coolant cannot be left in a system forever and should be replaced every 30,000-60,000miles. at this point please not that not every coolant out there is suitable , search for high quality vehicle manufacturer brands and not the cheap coloured water, do not mix different coolants to avoid unwanted chemical reactions, if in doubt flush system and use one brand only.


Hottiecoach

Tip 2

SUSPENSION CARE

TYRES.

Keeping your tyres in good shape will keep more money in your pockets , these simple tips will extend tyre life.

Tyre Pressure

Stick with manufacturer tyre pressure recommendations . Tyre pressure recommendations are written on the driver door side panel, they are designed to provide very comfortable and safe tyre pressure settings, always follow the recommendations to extend tyre life. Most tyres when over pressurised will develop uneven spots causing uncomfortable vibrations when driven. Ultimately those tyres will explode unexpectedly.

Most sedans and SUVs require between 29-38psi, always check the door panel .


Hottiecoach

Tyre rotation and wheel alignment

Tyre rotation counteracts the uneven wear characteristics of each wheel position on the vehicle, ensure your tyres are rotated at every other oil change ~10,000mile interval

Tyre rotation in basic terms requires moving tyres from the front to the rear and vice versa. It could involve the spare tyre too if it is a full wheel with same rim type.

Wheel alignment : Not a bad idea to check vehicle wheel alignment every other oil change to be sure it is within specification. DO NOT align vehicle wheels if you notice a sharp increase in excessive play or vehicle shift to one side during braking or acceleration, have the suspension inspected by a qualified mechanic/workshop instead then go for an alignment after problems have been sorted out .

Finally some vehicles will never align on some fancy high Tech equipment that have preset values for each vehicle model. Simple reason is you bought a salvage vehicle that was structurally damaged. So if your vehicle fits that category, kindly step down a bit to a laser guided system that can handle basic alignment jobs.


Hottiecoach

CV axle booths (aka shaft rubbers )

You driving and experience vibrations at take off that fizzle out when you reduce power or attain higher speeds? Or you make a large turn left or right and you have the krakrakrakrakra noise? Most times it is a worn out inner side CV axle or outer side.

Axles wear out prematurely when there is no lubrication caused by a leaking booth.

To avoid this expensive repair , always replace torn CV axle booths immediately you notice a leak, it will save you thousands of naira long term

Inspect at every tyre rotation or oil change, replace if frail or looking worn with orignal booths and grease. A stich in time saves a lot of axles.

Always buy a brand new CV axle if you can afford it, and never use an unqualified tech for inner side axles jobs as records have shown a lot of transmission damage have been attributed to poor execution of work done.


Hottiecoach

Overloading Vehicle

Motor vehicles, are designed with a specific maximum carrying capacity known as the vehicle's Gross Vehicle Mass or GVM. ... Carrying capacity includes the weight of the driver, passengers, accessories, fuel, tools and equipment, and the vehicle body.

In this part of the world we pay very little attention to these important limitations.

Overloading can cause premature wear to tyres and suspension parts, cause ineffective braking, make vehicle harder to steer , and finally with all these combined it could cause an accident. Avoid overloading vehicle .


Hottiecoach

Driving pattern

Smart Driving :

How you drive your car has a direct impact on your pocket .

Aggressive heavy footers like heavenlybang , diportivo, gazzuzz , mamanbawa pay the price by visiting the gas station more often, slow steady even driving will get you better gas mileage , keep revs under 2,000 rpm you might get to to destination 1min slower but will save a lot on fuel which when accumulates becomes a lot of money .

Drive like a Grandma, it's good for your pocket.



Hottiecoach

Part 1 complete, watch out for part 2 when we go deep into maintenance tips for vehicles that might have been abused, and also touch on more invasive preventive maintenance tips.



Hottiecoach