If the routine maintenance schedule has been faithfully followed since the purchase of the new vehicle, and all fluid levels and wear levels have been continuously monitored as recommended in this manual, the engine should be in satisfactory operating condition and the need for any additional work will be reduced to minimum.
There may be cases when the engine malfunctions precisely due to lack of constant care. This is more common with a used car that has not received regular maintenance. In this situation, additional work may be required in addition to normal scheduled maintenance.
If there is a suspicion of general engine wear, then when measuring compression (see chapter 2B) you can obtain valuable information about the condition of the main elements of the piston group. This information can serve as a basis for deciding on the scope of work required. If, for example, compression measurements indicate significant wear on engine parts, then the standard maintenance procedures described in this chapter will not improve the situation much, but will waste time and money, but will not eliminate the need for major repairs. Compression measurements should be carried out using special equipment and with certain experience.
A number of measures taken to improve the performance of an engine that has decreased performance:
First of all:
- Check the level and condition of all operating fluids related to the engine (subsection 4).
- Clean, inspect and test the battery (subsection 11).
- Inspect the drive belt and adjust its tension (subsection 12).
- Check the condition of all hoses located in the engine compartment (subsection 13).
- Check the condition of the cooling system (subsection 14).
- Check the condition of the air cleaner filter element (subsection 23).
Secondly:
Carry out all of the above priority operations, supplementing them with the following:
- Replace the air filter (subsection 23).
- Replace spark plugs (subsection 25).
- Check the condition of the ignition system (chapter 5).
- Check the status of the charging system (chapter 5).