Scheduled maintenance

Scheduled maintenance

Scheduled vehicle maintenance is a necessary aspect of maintaining its reliability, efficiency and safety. While it may seem like ignoring regular maintenance checks or replacing recommended fluids or parts can be considered a time and money saver, it can actually lead to serious problems such as:

• Increase in repair costs: Missed or poorly performed regular technical inspections can lead to increased costs for car repairs in the future. Undetected malfunctions or improperly maintained parts can lead to critical malfunctions that require expensive work. Timely maintenance allows you to identify potential problems in the early stages and correct them, which significantly reduces the risk of serious situations and, accordingly, lowers repair costs.
• Road safety threat: The most important aspect of routine car maintenance is maintaining the safety of the driver and passengers. Missed or improperly performed maintenance can lead to serious problems with the brakes, engine, transmission, suspension, steering, lighting and other important components of the vehicle. Negligence in this regard can create a threat to both one's own life and the safety of other road users.
• Reducing the service life of the car: Skipping scheduled maintenance can shorten the life of the vehicle. Unreplaced or worn parts can lead to overloading of other components of the car, which accelerates wear and shortens its life. Keeping your car in good condition with scheduled maintenance can extend its life and extend your car's use for many years.

As a simple example, we want to give a classic story about engine oil change intervals. There are many practical examples when, under operating conditions within Ukraine, official dealers introduced extended engine oil change intervals every 15 or 20,000 kilometers, which in turn led to "inexplicable" oil burnout and wear of engine parts at mileages of up to 100,000. This is due to oil aging due to interaction with low-quality fuel and subsequent wear of parts. In the developed countries of Europe, the oil change interval is generally set once every 30,000 kilometers. This is primarily due to the high quality of the fuel. Therefore, in Ukraine, the oil in the engine should be changed at least once every 10 thousand kilometers, or once every 1 year.

The history of scheduled maintenance

The history of scheduled vehicle maintenance begins with the pioneers of the automotive industry, who first began designing and manufacturing automobiles in the early 20th century. In the years when cars first began to gain popularity, there were no standards or recommendations for their maintenance and upkeep.

At the time, many car owners made only a minimal effort to keep their cars in working order. They were sent to the car service only in the event of a serious breakdown or malfunction. This led to frequent accidents on the road, as undetected problems with the car can cause malfunctions directly while driving.

Realizing the need for systematic car maintenance, car manufacturers began to introduce recommendations for scheduled maintenance of their cars. Big car companies such as Ford, General Motors and Chrysler were the first to do this. They developed maintenance programs that included regular inspections, replacement of worn parts and oil, and necessary adjustments.

Over time, these recommendations evolved into official maintenance schedules that were incorporated into vehicle owner's manuals. This allowed car owners to have a clear maintenance schedule and be aware of the necessary procedures.

Types of maintenance

1. Regular maintenance: This type of maintenance includes inspection and replacement of various components and materials according to the manufacturer's recommendations. It is carried out at certain intervals, usually specified in the car's operating instructions. Regular maintenance includes changing oil and filters, checking elements of the ignition system, cooling system, brakes, suspension and other important components.
2. Seasonal maintenance: This type of service is performed before the start of each season. Depending on the climate and region, seasonal maintenance may include checking the air conditioning system, cooling system, battery, tires and other items that need attention before the start of the season.
3. MOT by mileage: This type of maintenance is performed after a certain mileage of the vehicle. For example, upon reaching a certain mileage (for example, 10,000 km, 20,000 km, etc.), an additional check and replacement of some car components is performed. Mileage maintenance may include checking and replacing belts, spark plugs, brake pads, shock absorbers and other important parts.
4. Maintenance according to warranty requirements: During the warranty period, the manufacturer may set certain conditions that must be met in order to maintain the warranty. These can be regular inspections, replacement of parts or service work that must be performed at an authorized service center.
5. Emergency maintenance: This type of maintenance is carried out in case of accidents or malfunctions of the car. It includes diagnosing the problem and correcting any problems that occur.

Conclusion

Spending time and resources on car maintenance is an investment in its long-term and reliable operation. This helps maintain safety, reduce repair costs, maintain efficiency and extend the life of your vehicle.