Learn about the differences between these two vehicle maintenance methods and how they affect your daily life.
of Car maintenance Ensuring the proper functioning of your vehicle and extending its service life is essential, which in turn affects your safety and your wallet.
The most common types of vehicle maintenance are preventative and corrective. Let’s know the difference between each other.
What kind of maintenance should I choose for my car?
he Preventive maintenance This is a regular practice aimed at proactively preventing vehicle breakdowns. This type of maintenance includes activities such as oil changes, inspection of components such as brakes.
The bottom line is that doing it right can help you avoid catastrophic breakdowns, extend the useful life of your vehicle, and save up to 40% on repair costs.
on the other hand, Corrective maintenance It is done when the car has already had a breakdown, but it is generally more expensive as parts and components may need to be replaced, such as replacing the transmission box, which can be expensive in some cases. increase. clutch or injector.
What components should be checked to prevent catastrophic failure?
To avoid overspending on repairs, you should regularly:
oil and filter : Should be replaced regularly to avoid residue build-up that can damage the engine. Usually every 15,000 or 30,000 kilometers.
break : Check it often to make sure it’s working properly. Specifically, check the condition of the pad, and when the thickness is 3 mm or less, it is time to replace it.
tire : We recommend checking it every time you pass a petrol station, keeping an eye on pressure and wear. A relief of less than 1.66 mm is the legal limit.
light : Driving with faulty lights reduces your visibility on the road. Make sure it works before you leave home.
battery : The service life of the battery is usually about 4 years. Checking the voltage is important. Voltage should be between 12.5 and 12.9 volts.
If you don’t expect these elements to fail, you can get stuck in the middle of the road, or even lead to an accident. Therefore, it is always recommended to perform preventive maintenance.
Know the most common car breakdowns
With approximately 1,000 traffic accidents each year in Chile caused by mechanical failure, it is important to be aware of the potential for failure.
engine trouble : Usually caused by lack of maintenance. Repair costs can be expensive and can even rival the value of the vehicle itself.
brake failure : Caused by worn pads, low brake fluid level, or bad driving habits such as hard braking. This fault can affect the disc and the repair costs him from 200,000 pesos.
bad battery : This may be due to the battery not charging due to a faulty alternator or due to the end of the battery’s useful life. A new battery usually costs from 70,000 pesos without considering the installation.
defective tire : Excessive use, driving in dangerous terrain, not changing tires on time, or driving with under-inflated tires. In 2021 alone, there were 441 accidents due to this cause.
Practice preventative maintenance of your vehicle and avoid the unexpected
of car maintenance Preventive maintenance is essential to avoid catastrophic failures and possible accidents, thereby extending service life.
Check the above items regularly. If you are unsure how to check it, consult an automotive mechanic or qualified technician. If you need to replace a specific component on your car, look for original spare parts at government offices.
Source: Biobiochile
