LONGEVITY TIPS

• Do not start the engine just to move your car a few feet. This is an unnecessary start that adds frictional wear. When the engine is turned off, make sure the car is parked where it will remain until its next truly functional use.
• After starting the engine, don't let it idle more than 30 seconds. Do not attempt to let the engine warm up simply by idling. This causes unnecessary frictional wear and corrosion. An idling, cold engine does not lubricate as well, burn fuel as completely, or heat up as quickly as an engine under load, i.e., doing work. Instead, place the car in gear and drive it slowly or moderately until the engine reaches operating temperature. Do not race the engine during the warm up period, which in mild weather is about 10 minutes.
• Do not use the passenger compartment heater until the engine is fully warmed. Use of the heater pulls heat from the engine and will delay engine warm up, which unnecessarily contributes to oil contamination and engine wear. Furthermore, the heater cannot produce hot air anyway until the engine is fully warmed. This is because the heater warmth comes from the engine's coolant.
• For optimum and immediate starting that reduces engine wear, make sure the starter motor, battery, battery cables, and oil are all in good condition. Continuous engine cranking without combustion will cause excessive part wear, especially in the cylinders. It will also allow pure gasoline to dilute the oil and reduce its lubricating capabilities. Finally, the oil must not offer any unnecessary resistance to the moving parts so starting is as easy as possible. This means keeping the oil clean and sludge-free.
• Keep your engine's exterior surface as clean and grease-free as practicable. Dirty grease buildup on the engine will trap heat, slow cooling, and make the engine run hotter than normal. It can also interfere with electricity flow to various components such as the battery or starter. Finally, grease and dirt will obscure leaks that could have been identified and repaired in earlier stages.
• Performing cold starts properly will extend the life of your engine and therefore car. In extremely cold weather, do not park your car with front end facing into the wind. Park the car with the wind to its rear; this will make the engine easier to start and reduce wear. Keep the car in a heated garage if possible, since it will start easier with a warm battery than with a cold one. Synthetic oils flow freely at very cold temperatures (approximately -50° F.) or very high temperatures (about 300° F.). To minimize cold start wear in very cold conditions, use synthetic oil.
• Cold (engine) start wear can also occur in hot weather! In hot and dry conditions, keep the car in a garage, or carport at a minimum, so the gasoline in the engine won't evaporate. If the gasoline in the engine evaporates, it will be difficult to start. Also, in a dusty environment, dirt won't enter the air filtration system.
• CHANGING ALL FLUIDS ON A PERIODIC BASIS ACCORDING TO YOUR MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS IS ONE KEY TO LONG ENGINE LIFE AND CAR LIFE.

SYSTEMS
ENGINE WEAR
RUST
PROPER CARE