You might say a certain department is the “engine” of the company at which you work. Or you might say a certain player is the “engine” of your favorite team. That’s because we understand the engine is what drives the vehicle- it’s the engine that generates power.

Given this, it’s safe to say the engine is important. To avoid expensive auto body repair, it’s necessary to follow a routine engine maintenance schedule. This is important for the health of your vehicle, but also the health of you, your family, and anyone on the road. A faulty engine is a safety hazard and can lead to crashes and expensive collision repair.

Maintain your engine to avoid collision repair

Whether it’s auto repair to fix the effects of an accident or car damage repair to fix the long-term effects of neglecting your engine, you want no part of it. A little routine engine maintenance helps keep you safe on the road and can extend the longevity of your vehicle. But what does this maintenance entail?

How to keep your engine healthy

Let’s go over some tips you can follow to give your engine the best chances of operating at optimal levels, and of avoiding collision repairs. First, though, a clarification: This article will focus on internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, e.g. vehicles you put gasoline or diesel in. 

Electric vehicles (EVs) use an electric motor instead of an internal combustion engine, so many of these tips won’t apply. However, EVs need maintenance just as ICE vehicles do, so if you have an EV or are considering purchasing one, ensure you know about the necessary maintenance to avoid expensive EV auto body repair. Now, let’s get into ICE maintenance:

Check your engine oil regularly

Five or six times a year, you should check your engine’s oil. Or better yet why not do it once a month? If you get into a routine of checking your oil on the first Sunday of every month, you’ll never go too long without checking it.

Engine oil provides much needed lubrication for engine parts, so they don’t wear down from excessive friction. Check to ensure the oil is at the proper level and also check its quality. If the oil is overly dark (instead of amber and partly translucent), sludgy, or smells burnt, you probably need to change it. You can change your oil on your own or visit a collision repair shop; it’s a relatively quick and inexpensive job for technicians to do. It’s also wise to change the oil as a matter of course, following your owner’s manual’s recommended intervals.

Check your filters

Engines have several filters that help them operate. Inspecting them regularly and replacing them as needed helps maintain your engine and avoid car damage repair.

Check these three filters:

• The oil filter: The oil filter removes dirt, metal particles, and sludge from engine oil, providing clean lubrication, reducing wear and extending engine life. A clogged oil filter can lead to poor oil circulation and potential engine damage.
• The air filter: The air filter traps dust, dirt, and debris from the air before it enters the engine. This is important because clean airflow is necessary for optimal combustion and fuel efficiency. A dirty air filter can reduce engine performance and increase fuel consumption. It’s wise to check your air filter every 20,000–25,000 kilometres.
• The fuel filter: The fuel filter removes contaminants, rust, and debris from gasoline or diesel before it reaches the engine. This is key for preventing clogged injectors and maintaining smooth performance. A clogged fuel filter can result in expensive collision repair because of engine hesitation, reduced power, or stalling.

Check your coolant

Coolant/antifreeze helps regulate engine temperature, preventing overheating and freezing. If you don’t have enough coolant—or not enough good quality coolant—your engine can overheat, corrode, or suffer gasket failure. If this happens on a busy highway, you might need an expensive and untimely collision repair.

Take some time to check the coolant reservoir and radiator when the engine is cold. If the coolant appears dirty or rusty, you might need a coolant system flush. Always use the correct coolant type for your vehicle to ensure proper protection.

Inspect your spark plugs

Spark plugs ignite the air-fuel mixture in the engine’s cylinders. Over time, they can wear out, leading to misfires, reduced power, poor fuel economy, and rough idling. If your engine is experiencing any of these issues, you may need to replace them. 

It’s also wise to replace them as a matter of course. However, vehicle manufacturers can differ greatly in the spark plug replacement intervals they give, so you have to check the manual. You can have auto body repair technicians replace them for you or do it yourself, but ensure the replacement spark plugs are the correct type and have the right gap specification.

Clean the battery terminals

Your vehicle’s battery provides the power to start the engine and run electrical components. Battery terminals can corrode, though, and they’re a common cause of collision repair. That’s why it’s wise to inspect the battery terminals for corrosion. If you see a buildup of a white or green substance, you can clean them with a baking soda and water solution. 

You can also use a terminal protector or dielectric grease to prevent future corrosion. While you’re at it, check the battery voltage regularly. If you get a reading below 12.4V, you might have a weak battery that needs charging or replacement.

Engine maintenance and auto body repair

Taking care of an engine can be a lot of work. But it’s easier than a big car damage repair job or going in for collision repair after an accident. And you don’t have to do all this maintenance at once. If you create a routine maintenance schedule, you can take care of your engine over time, meaning you won’t be nervously searching “collision repair near me”.