Engine Use

*EASY*

• Never "lug" an engine, for example, climb a hill in high gear. This is actually applicable to manual transmissions; an automatic transmission will downshift automatically. Lugging will cause recognizable knocking and clattering noises. These are the sounds of the valve train straining under excessive pressure. If a tachometer or vacuum gauge is present, the transmission should be downshifted when the engine speed or vacuum gets too low. This will relieve engine strain.
• Reduce moments of engine idling to decrease engine deposits, like sludge and carbon, and therefore engine wear. Extended periods of idling are considered one of the most demanding engine conditions.
• Do not race your engine when your car is stationary and not under a load. Do not race your engine to redline on the tachometer.
• Do not race your engine prior to shutting it off. This does not clean out sludge and could cause dieseling. It only permits unburned gasoline to dilute and contaminate the oil, which fosters sludge buildup instead. It also washes lubrication off cylinder walls, which leads to greater engine wear.
• Avoid stop-and-go traffic with the air conditioning on. This is especially true in hot weather, since the air conditioning makes the engine work harder and creates more engine heat.
• Avoid unnecessary engine starts and the associated frictional wear. For example, do not park your car in the driveway, then move it into your garage later on. Put it in the garage at the outset.
• Avoid harsh accelerations, whether from a standstill or while moving. Fast accelerations strain the engine parts (physically), the gasoline (higher octane is momentarily needed to prevent knocking), and the oil (it is squeezed out from bearing surfaces and piston rings, leading to frictional wear, heat buildup, and perhaps engine seizure).
• Minimize the number of times the engine must be started, even if it is warm. This holds true regardless of the weather conditions or engine temperature. Most engine wear occurs in the few seconds after starting since engine oil has not been fully pressurized to reach and lubricate all engine parts. The frictional wear incurred after each start is equivalent to 300-500 miles of highway driving. From an engine's perspective, a cold start is any time the engine is not at operating temperature, regardless of outside climate. The benefit of a warm climate is that engines reach operating temperature sooner.
• Allow your engine to idle for about 30 seconds after starting it. This allows the oil pump to build sufficient pressure and circulate oil to all parts. Do not permit idling to exceed one minute. Extensive (cold engine) idling contaminates and deteriorates oil by adding soot, acids and unburned fuel. Do not race your engine after starting to warm it up; this causes cold engine part wear. Furthermore, since a cold engine does not efficiently burn fuel, racing it causes more raw fuel to enter the oil, thus contaminating it further.
• Minimize the time that the automatic choke is operating. In other words, warm up the engine as quickly as possible after starting it. The automatic choke richens the fuel/air mixture to provide for smooth operation at low temperature, but associated incomplete combustion at low temperature leaves soot, partly oxidized hydrocarbons, water, steam, and corrosive acids. This combination causes sludge and varnish.
• To maximize everyday gas mileage, keep the engine tuned, make certain the tires are correctly inflated and that the wheels are aligned, use radial tires and a quality multigrade oil, and practice good driving habits.

SYSTEMS
DRIVING HABITS
DRIVING STYLE
DRIVELINE USE