There are several auto parts that must be replaced regularly to maintain their performance. In addition to convenience reasons, safety reasons are also a factor to consider for discipline in caring for your vehicle.
Regularly replacing car components looks wasteful, but in fact it will be more wasteful if you replace them too late. Just like unfilled cavities, delaying replacing your car’s components will lead to bigger problems later on.
When making a replacement, there are several aspects that you must pay attention to, including the originality, technician, and standard of your car components.
This means that in addition to having to use original components from the manufacturer, you also have to make sure that the technician who handles your car also comes from an authorized repair shop. To ensure that your vehicle is handled professionally and according to procedures, and you get a warranty from the workshop.
Here are some car components that must be replaced regularly:
1. Oil Filter
Since this car component has an important role, it deserves special attention from you.
Oil is like blood in your body, you have to keep it flowing smoothly and clean so that other components can also be taken care of.
The oil filter keeps the oil circulating in the vehicle free from the solid residue produced by friction in your engine.
This residue in addition to disrupting the smooth flow of oil, can also damage the components of your car. Therefore, you have to replace it every time the filter is dirty.
On a new car, usually after the first 1000 km, you must replace this component, and then ideally you replace it regularly for the next 10,000 km.
However, if the technician finds that this component is too dirty, you should replace it immediately. Because the frequency of component replacement is also influenced by the intensity of the engine load.
2. Spark Plug
Spark plugs are what produce sparks in the engine room which contains fuel gas. When the fuel gas is ignited from the spark plug, the gas explodes, and the increased mass in the engine chamber will push the piston to produce motion energy.
After this cycle is complete, the engine chamber will experience a vacuum so that the piston returns to its original position, and the fuel gas is filled back into the engine chamber to be ignited again by the spark plug. That’s how the combustion cycle of a car engine works.
Because of its vital role, you will immediately understand how important it is for this component to be replaced regularly so that your engine’s performance can be reliable.
If this component is damaged, not only will your car’s performance decrease, but also the combustion in the engine compartment will be less than optimal, which will cause excessive exhaust gas and also a waste of fuel.
Therefore, replace these components every 20,000 km and make sure you use original components from the manufacturer for reliable quality and safety.
Using third-party components is very dangerous and can damage other components because their low quality often causes spark plugs to break and left in your engine.
3. Air Filter
During engine combustion, it takes at least three things to start the combustion cycle. The three things are fuel, spark, and the last is oxygen.
The oxygen is obtained from the outside, by filtering air through the air filter before entering the combustion chamber.
If the filter is dirty, then the incoming air will reduce the quality of combustion. As a result, your engine will feel like it is stuttering and often shuts down when on the gas.
This means that the condition of the air filter will significantly affect the combustion performance of your car engine. This is the reason why it is so important to replace your air filter.
Usually, the air filter is replaced every 40,000 kilometers and cleaned every 10,000 kilometers.
Whether or not this filter needs to be replaced also depends on the air quality in your environment, and the load intensity on your car.
4. Brake Lining
Brakes that are often used will make these components wear quickly, and braking performance will decrease. If this is allowed, you may be in serious trouble on the road.
Therefore, replace this component every time you feel a problem with the car’s braking system. Or replace it regularly every 3 years or when it has reached a mileage of 100,000 kilometers.
Usually at an authorized repair shop, the technicians will check this part before handing the car back to you. They will instruct the option to replace this component.
5. Car Tyres
Car tires that already have bald tire grooves will lose traction on the asphalt. As a result, car drivers will be prone to slipping on the road.
In addition, the risk of a tyre bursting suddenly will also haunt you while driving. This, of course, is very dangerous if not being taken care of.
When you find your tire treads are getting thin, replace your tires immediately to stay safe and comfortable while driving. Healthy tires can also affect engine performance, which makes fuel consumption more efficient.
6. Car Battery
There are several types of batteries used in machines depending on the size of the car and its power consumption needs. The battery is the power source in your vehicle that supplies power to the lighting system, horn, and electricity to the engine.
Especially if you are already using an injection system that can make efficient use of fuel on a computerized engine. At least, know the difference between a wet battery and a dry battery, before deciding to replace the battery.
7. Wiper Rubber
Although its function is simply sweeping rainwater that sticks to your windshield, if you don’t take care of it, you will find it difficult to drive.
This is because you will see a decline in your visibility when it rains, or when your windshield is dirty.
Generally, this rubber needs to be replaced every two years or when the rubber has started to wear out. To be more durable, park your car in the shade because the heat of the sun can make these components brittle quickly.
8. Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF)
ATF is lubricating oil in automatic transmission engines that are usually replaced after a distance of 30,000 kilometers. This lubricant is important to keep the gearbox running smooth continuously.
9. Power Steering Oil
When you find the steering wheel feels heavy when turning, it means you need to check the oil in the power steering. This oil is usually replaced when it has traveled 30,000 kilometers.
If you don’t have a lot of oil left or need changing, your steering wheel will usually make a noise when turning.
10. Radiator Coolant
Radiator coolant needs to be replaced every 80,000 km or when the engine overheats quickly. Radiator coolant plays a function to cool the engine so that it can distribute heat to the radiator and release it into the free air.
11. Suspension
If the stability while driving is reduced, you will feel discomfort and driving become unsafe. The suspension absorbs shocks, and if it is damaged you must replace it immediately so that other components are not damaged too.
12. Air Condition (AC)
You don’t have to replace components in it, but you should always check the cleanliness of the filters and freon gas in your car’s air conditioner every 10,000 kilometers. By keeping it clean it will be more economical because it is less frequent to replace components.
If you drive in a city that has a severe level of pollution, you will be required to perform more frequent maintenance on these components.s
13. Spooring dan Balancing
Sometimes the four wheels of your car have to be repositioned to keep it balanced. This usually happens because the road you are on has a lot of potholes so that the position of your car tires changes. For that, you need to do spooring and balancing.
14. Clutch Lining
For users of vehicles with three pedals, you need to replace this component when it has traveled for 20,000 km. If you smell burnt rubber, it’s a sign that you need to replace this component.
15. Lamp
The average lifespan of this component is two years, but if you find that the light intensity is getting weaker, you may need to replace this component immediately.
Those are some car components that must be replaced regularly that we must pay attention to. The use of vehicles above normal will require more intensive maintenance.
Since there are many types of cars, there may be slight differences in components between one and the other. The most important thing is, always pay attention to the condition of your car before you drive. And always provide an emergency fund, because component replacement will be needed at any time.