Engine Health Secrets: How Small Checks Save You $$Thousands
Fountain Fleet Solutions Limited
Our customer-first mindset guarantees the optimum fleet performance
It was a hot Saturday afternoon in Accra when Lydia drove her 2012 Toyota Vitz to the hair salon, as she usually does. And on her way to the salon, she noticed that her car was jerking. This old car has had its second engine change in 10 years. And you want to guess the reason why?
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Of course, it was due to overheating.
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So, she called her mechanic to come take a look at the car, and he suggested it might have to do with the coil, engine seat, or plugs.
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Boy, was he wrong!
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He took the car to his shop, trying to diagnose the problem but he forgot to check the basics. It took less than 2 hours for the vehicle to overheat, this time blowing up the head gasket.
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What a sad case that even the mechanic failed to do the basic checks of water and oil. The more reason why you need a trusted and competent mechanic workshop like AEY Group Bosch Auto Repair.
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The truth is that Lydia has had five different mechanics work on this vehicle for various reasons surrounding engine issues. The last mechanic (the one who forgot to check the basics—water and oil) tried to fix the engine, but after weeks of trying everything he could to no avail, he suggested that Lydia change the engine.
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She was furious because she didn’t want to spend all that money changing the engine of this old car a second time.
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She considered selling the car as is and buying a new one, but she didn’t have the extra cash sitting in the bank for a new one, and no one would buy a vehicle with a bad engine.
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Of course, the option of selling it as scrap was presented, but she wouldn’t get nearly half of the vehicle's worth if it had a working engine.
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After careful consultation with her very good friend, who is a fleet management consultant, he suggested that she get a new engine for the car, as buying a new car at the moment wouldn’t be feasible because she didn’t have the extra money for it at the time.
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Plus, getting a car loan would be a huge burden on her already strained paycheck. It would be a total disaster to have a love-hate relationship with her new car. It is certainly not a good way to start any relationship, even one with a new car.
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I know you might be asking the question: Why didn’t she just check the water and oil regularly as she did before she changed the engine?
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The difference this time is that Lydia believed that because this engine was new, she didn’t need to do frequent oil and water checks as she did before.
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The result? A blown a head gasket.
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And luckily for her, it was just the head gasket and not the entire engine. Her mechanic replaced the head gasket at no cost to her, but she had to pay for two engine hoses connected to the car's AC.
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Now, why have I shared all this information with you?
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It’s a new year, and you cannot afford to keep making the same mistakes as you did last year or in the previous years.
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You cannot afford to stagnate.
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I’m sure you’ll agree with me that stagnation is death, and it’s just like money.
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If you have $1,000 today and you don’t do anything with it.
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One year from now, you won’t just have $1,000.
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You’ll have less because of inflation.
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Stagnation is death.
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This is why we encourage you this year, 2024, to not settle for less, because the moment you settle, you will stagnate.
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The competition will outrun you.
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You will lose money unnecessarily, and your business will collapse or, at the very least, suffer immensely.
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And to fight against stagnation, we provide our Fountain Fleet Solutions (FFS) clients' with new strategies save money and keep their people and fleet safe.
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These strategies are always rooted in what’s working NOW because they help you maintain your fleet with less hassle month after month.
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So, if you have an older car or a fleet of older vehicles, you cannot afford to neglect or forget to do your daily vehicle checks, which will include regular water and engine oil checks.
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There are other daily checks you need to be doing, but for the sake of this article, they will not be included here. However, if you reply to this email by typing in DAILY PRE-CHECKLIST, we’ll send you one for FREE. ?
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Fluids to check regularly in your vehicle:
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Why should you check your oil and water levels twice?
The oil in your engine is what keeps it running smoothly. As awful as it sounds, seizing is the worst-case scenario that can happen when your engine steadily loses oil. The worst part is that regular oil checks may have saved the hassle and expense of fixing a stuck engine.
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Keeping an eye on the engine's water level is also important. The water circulating in your car's system keeps the engine cool. Without water in the system, rapid overheating—which could harm the engine—is a distinct possibility.
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Discovering the Oil Level
Verifying the oil level in your car is an easy task. Stop completely on level ground to start. Allow the oil to settle by turning off the engine.
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To locate the oil dipstick, look for its brightly colored handle. If you are unable to find it elsewhere, you can find it in the owner's manual.
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If any residue remains after removing the dipstick, wipe it off with a clean cloth or tissue.
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Take the dipstick out of its housing again after reinstalling it. Finally, the marks allow one to see the oil level. Anywhere in the middle of the two notches is where the oil will work best.
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Always use the recommended grade of engine oil, and top off the tank when it gets low. Your manual has this information. Otherwise, don't be bashful about consulting a professional.
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How to keep an eye on your water level the right way
Do it at your own risk, but it's much easier to check the water level in your car when the engine is cool.
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To check the levels, lift the firmly attached bonnet of your vehicle. Once you've found the coolant reservoir, check that the water level is between the lowest and highest levels. Fill it up if it is not already filled.
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Refer to your manual or consult a professional if you are still unable to locate the reservoir.
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To have a competent mechanic inspect your vehicle, visit the AEY Group Bosch Auto Repair facility or call them immediately to make an appointment.
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If you want to enjoy the benefits of properly maintaining your old fleet and keeping your car in top shape, schedule an appointment with AEY Group Bosch Auto Repair today. They offer fast and professional services at affordable prices.
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Call their numbers now at +233 55 921 1127 or +233 57 567 4018.
or visit
Instagram: AEY Group (@aey_group_gh)
Facebook: AEY Group
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Happy New Year!
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Now, if you get any value from this, I need you to help us spread this message. Share it with friends and family on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn so they benefit from it too. You could also forward it to someone you love or hate via email (hopefully you’re not the type that hates people). You can also leave us a comment below and let us know how daily checks have helped you avert any potential vehicle damage or any other car-related topics you want us to cover next.
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That’s all for now.
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Catch you next Tuesday.
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P.S. Here’s how we can work together:
If you’re a business leader (you run a business or are a business executive) and you’re seeking end-to-end fleet management solutions, please fill out this form.