A RACECAR technician and shop owner warns drivers to never neglect four key components used in daily driving.
Negligence can mean the difference between “an accident and a scare”.
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Alberto Peña, a race car technician at Evetech Motorsport in Spain who has worked on race cars for the McLaren Trophy, Ferrari Challenge and Porsche Carerra Cup in Germany, is an expert when it comes to details.
In motorsport, competition is fierce and many technicians see maintenance as an opportunity to take down competitors.
“In the world of motorsport, there is a lot of ego and testosterone, and for many mechanics, the way to assert themselves is by tripping over others,” he said. The Vanguardoriginally written in Spanish.
“That’s where mistakes happen.”
In the real world, however, Peña has a shop in Fuenlabrada where the competitive energy he has on the track converts into a slow, methodical energy.
He said many drivers don’t pay much attention to the four most important parts of a car to keep it functional.
“At the very least the oil, filters, brakes and tires must be in perfect condition, as with normal use you won’t notice it, but it can make the difference between an accident and a scare if you have to swerve,” he said.
His experience with racing cars reinforces the importance of these systems, as a forgotten detail or an imperfection can mean a retirement for a team of drivers.
Tires are essential for maintaining or regaining traction on and off the track, and subpar tires can shave off a few miles per hour at top speed.
A blown tire can cause an accident, which can seriously injure the driver or other competitors on the track.
Bad brakes can be disastrous at high speeds, resulting in loss of control, skidding, or serious injury and even death if the vehicle fails to stop properly.
Oil is essential to prevent a racing engine, which operates at incredibly high rpm and high temperatures, from seizing.
The air in the combustion chambers is crucial for optimal mixing of fuel and air and clogged or dirty filters can inhibit this.
When all four components are in perfect condition, the vehicle is easier to control, more fuel efficient and safer when road surfaces are questionable.
All of these principles can be applied to everyday vehicles on the road, making it extremely important to maintain maintenance at appropriate intervals.
It’s also helpful for drivers to know how to inspect these areas, which is incredibly easy – even for those who aren’t mechanically inclined.
On a tire with proper tread, the top of Lincoln’s head will disappear. If you can see Lincoln’s entire head, the tread is very worn.
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Tires can be visually inspected to ensure the tread is not below the minimum depth – which can be checked with a penny.
“To test your steps, turn the coin upside down with Lincoln’s head facing you,” he wrote. Evan’s Tire.
“Insert the coin into the tire tread until the top of the coin touches the rubber at the bottom of the groove. On a tire with proper tread, the top of Lincoln’s head will disappear.”
Pay special attention to the Lincoln’s head to know when the tread depth is too low.
“If you can see Lincoln’s entire head, the tread is very worn,” the website continued.
Engine oil can be checked by inspecting the oil dipstick under the hood, which is usually indicated by a yellow handle and an oil symbol in the middle.
Be sure to consult your owner’s manual for the precise location and description of the dipstick before attempting the inspection.
The first step is to make sure the engine is turned off and the vehicle is parked on level ground.
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When removing the dipstick, wipe it with a cloth and reinsert it to get a more accurate reading – look at the bottom of the dipstick, where you will probably see three lines at the bottom to indicate the oil level.
The top line is full, the middle line is low, and the bottom line indicates the level is low – if no oil is visible, take the car to a reputable mechanic after adding enough oil to show on the dipstick to have them inspected. . leaks.
Running an engine with little oil can cause severe damage to the engine over time, resulting in thousands of repair bills to get it back in working order.
If it gets stuck due to low oil levels, it could cause an accident.
Oil should be changed every 5,000 miles or so, but the exact interval depends on the make of vehicle, so read your owner’s manual.
Filters can be visually inspected after finding their precise location in the owner’s manual.
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If a filter is exposed to the sun and light barely passes through, it’s time to replace it.
Filters should be replaced once a year or more, depending on climate and normal driving conditions.
Brakes are the hardest to visually inspect unless you know what to look for.
With the brakes, if you hear squeaking noises, feel tremors when braking, the pedal feels soft when pressed, or seems less effective, take your vehicle to a mechanic immediately.
Brake pads typically need to be changed every 10,000 and 20,000 miles, with rotors needing replacement every 50,000 to 70,000 miles, although this can vary depending on driving style and normal driving conditions.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
