Close

5 Overlooked Vehicle Maintenances

February 28, 2020

With the calendar starting to turn over to March, it’s time to think about spring and getting back into the garage. Now is the time to start planning for your vehicle’s maintenance, but what are some important systems you might be overlooking.

It’s easy to neglect a few important vehicle systems, but the best vehicle-maintenance practices can not only help avoid expensive repairs, but they can also boost performance, too. Don’t forget these vital vehicle-maintenance practices.

Change gear lube
Everyone knows changing motor oil is good vehicle maintenance, since it is the lifeblood of the vehicle. Too often your vehicle’s differential is out of sight, out of mind, and is never taken care of.

The differential gears and bearings through which all that power is routed, take a beating every mile you drive. Double the stress if you do any towing or hauling, adding additional heat and load to the mixture.

Some automakers have reduced the amount of gear lube in the rear end to help cut drag and increase fuel economy. This let’s heat build-up even quicker.

For optimum differential life, make sure to change the gear lube periodically, especially if you tow or haul. FR3 can be added to any gear oil of choice to reduce friction. In turn, this will lower the operating temperature and lower the wear on the gears. Hot Shot’s Secret also offers a line of gear oil infused with that same FR3 technology and is a full Group IV PAO oil.

Change transmission fluid
Many drivers forget about the transmission until it shifts hard, slips or fails altogether.

Rebuilding an automatic transmission can easily cost more than $2,500. A flush and fluid change costs far less and can-do wonders for maximizing transmission life and performance.

Check out Hot Shot’s Secrets lineup of transmission fluids. Also remember that FR3 can be added if you choose another brand for your base transmission fluid.

Flush the coolant system
When was the last time you look at your cooling system? Never. Nearly 40 percent of engine failures can be attributed to cooling-system issues. Sludge or slime can form, plugging the radiator, heater core or fluid passages, resulting in overheating and expensive repairs. Plus, the anti-corrosion additives deplete over time, causing metal engine and cooling-system components become vulnerable and fail.

Flushing your cooling system periodically and refill using a high-quality antifreeze/coolant is a vital part of good vehicle maintenance.

Hot Shot’s Antifreeze is a 50/50 pre-mixed solution with distilled water. The extended life antifreeze is compatible with conventional and other extended life brands. The long-life coolant is pre-charged with initial Supplemental Coolant Additive.

Clean the fuel injectors
Today’s injectors are highly engineered to tight tolerances, and even the smallest deposits interfere with the spray pattern and reduce power and fuel economy. Eventually, you’ll notice a reduction in power, throttle response, fuel economy or drivability.

The problem is not only in gasoline-powered engines but diesels as well.

For a diesel, Hot Shot’s Secret Diesel Extreme is a powerful injector cleaner that is designed to be used every 6000 miles. Diesel Extreme is a fully formulated, concentrated cleaner that removes all internal diesel injector deposits (IDIDs) including waxy and polymeric deposits. In addition, contains a top tier level of cetane booster, lubricity additive, and fuel stabilizer to provide maximum performance while cleaning the fuel system.

For continuous vehicle maintenance, use Everyday Diesel Treatment to clean lubricate, and protect the fuel systems of your diesel every fill-up.

For gas engine, Hot Shot’s Secrets Gasoline Extreme is a fully-formulated, concentrated cleaner that removes combustion chamber and intake valve deposits, as well as cleans injectors, valves, pumps, rings and pistons. Gasoline Extreme lubricates key components in the fuel system, including upper cylinders, while restoring fuel economy, power, and performance.

Replace the spark plugs
In gas engines, we rely on spark plugs to provide the electrical charge that ignites the fuel/air.

Dirty, worn plugs can fail to thoroughly ignite the fuel/air mixture, wasting power and reducing fuel economy. The heat and combustion gases degrades the plugs over time.
For best performance and fuel efficiency, check and replace the spark plugs according to the recommendations in your owner’s manual.