For a drive as smooth as silk

Lead in: The state of a car's engine defines its overall functioning. Knowing a few tricks for keeping your car engine running smoothly will help you add more miles on your odometer. Read on for an overview on maintaining and improving your engine's efficiency.

An engine is to a car what a heart is to a human body. The engine spurs the car's performance and gives it the much-needed propulsion to keep it running. All vital aspects of an automobile like performance, fuel efficiency and mileage are determined by its engine. If a smooth ride is what you are looking for, maintaining your car's engine should be your top priority.

Here's a list of ten easy maintenance tips to improve engine efficiency:

1. Keep the engine clean. Filters and other engine parts should never be clogged
2. Change engine oil regularly to keep it in good shape
3. Repair engine blocks periodically
4. Keep extra load off the car as it affects the engine's performance, causing early wear and tear of the engine's parts
5. Reduce air resistance to increase the engine's power
6. Check the engine coolant level at regular intervals. A low level of the coolant will cause overheating in the engine, leading to serious damage
7. Install an intercooler or an advanced radiator to cool the air before it flows into the cooling system
8. Note the warning signs like excessive or unusual noise from the engine. If they persist, take action immediately by getting your car checked at the authorised service centre or garage
9. Remove carbon deposits in the engine and ensure that excessive carbon does not build up there
10. Change the spark plug periodically. This special wiring has a huge bearing on the engine's performance; so ensure that it is well maintained at all times

In addition to the pointers mentioned above, maintain other parts of the vehicle too, as they affect the engine's performance to a large extent. While sending your car to a service centre or garage for repairs, instruct the mechanics to use original spare parts in case replacement is required. The car engine should pass the emission test and be well tuned at all times. You need to set a routine for regular maintenance and servicing of your car with a service centre or local garage. Also check whether the type of oil, fluid or fuel in your car conforms to its engine and model.

In addition to getting your car checked in a service centre or garage, you can also undertake routine checks at home for minor maintenance like optimum tyre pressure, adequate fluid levels, etc. Such steps will go a long way in ensuring that your engine's performance is at its peak.

These engine maintenance tips will not only prolong your car engine's life and improve its performance, but also increase your vehicle's fuel efficiency.