Maintaining Your Ford Differential: Service Guidelines

Your car's engine requires a steady supply of fuel to function properly. Without regular Ford fuel system maintenance, you'll soon experience misfires and stalling. Follow these steps to keep your fuel system healthy and your engine fault-free. Clean the Fuel Injectors The fuel injectors spray gas into each cylinder in a precisely controlled mist. Carbon deposits, dirt, rust, and other debris can gradually clog these injectors, which eventually restricts fuel delivery. It's therefore important to have your fuel injectors routinely cleaned. more Replace the Fuel Filter The fuel filter stops contaminants from entering the fuel and engine. As with every filter in your car, the fuel filter will slowly fill up and eventually let debris through into the fuel. You'll need to replace your fuel filter routinely to prevent this. Only Use Top-Tier Gas The buildup of carbon deposits in a fuel system and engine is comparable to arterial plaque in humans, and just as dangerous. You can combat carbon deposits and reduce the risk of blockages with high-quality fuel that contains effective detergents. Try to use only the very best fuel for your car. Avoid Emptying the Gas Tank It's advisable to keep your gas tank more than a quarter full. If you allow it to empty out, the fuel pump needs to work harder, which accelerates wear and tear. Also, sediment tends to collect at the bottom of a gas tank. When the gas is almost finished, this sediment gets stirred up and drawn into the system, where it causes harm. Clean the Fuel Throttle The fuel throttle regulates how much air enters each cylinder to mix with the fuel. While this throttle is not strictly part of the fuel system, it impacts the fuel injector as the volume of sprayed fuel adjusts to match issues with the fuel throttle and air intake. Therefore, while servicing the fuel system, a technician will often check the fuel throttle and clean away fuel varnish or other debris to keep it unblocked. Book Ford Fuel System Maintenance All these components of your fuel system will typically need to be checked and cleaned every 30,000 miles. Consult your owner's manual for specific guidance on your Ford model. In addition, many drivers have their engines tuned up yearly, which can include inspecting and servicing fuel system components. If you notice engine problems, have your fuel system serviced at once. Symptoms of blockage or faults include declining gas mileage and engine power, misfiring, rough idling, slow starts, and stalling. Visit Coughlin Ford of Heath in Newark, OH, to schedule professional fuel system service. We provide a reliable one-stop shop for all your Ford-related needs.

The spark plugs play a vital role in your engine as they ignite the fuel-air mixture in the cylinders to produce combustion. As time passes, spark plugs age and wear out, and can also become damaged by undiagnosed engine problems. As your Ford dealership, we want you to know some signs you need to visit us for a Ford spark plug replacement. Signs You Need a Ford Spark Plug Replacement at Your Ford Dealership Misfiring A misfire is caused by the incorrect ignition of the fuel-air mixture in a cylinder. Inside a cylinder, the fuel-air mixture is compressed by the piston, and then ignited by the spark plug at the high point of compression. A healthy spark plug causes the mixture to burn in a precisely timed series of mini explosions, producing the energy that moves your vehicle. Worn or damaged plugs cause the fuel-air mixture to burn irregularly. Irregular burning produces less energy, wastes fuel as much of it doesn't burn, and produces a misfire. Continued misfiring will damage the cylinders and pistons, and increase wear and tear on other engine components. Our technicians will examine your plugs and replace any that are damaged. more Check Engine Light Your Ford has a computer that regulates many engine functions. The computer depends on information from the numerous sensors installed on the engine's most important systems. Each sensor monitors its connected component to ensure it works correctly. If a sensor detects a problem with a spark plug, it informs the computer, which logs the information with an error code and activates the check engine light. The check engine light also illuminates in response to any issue affecting engine performance, so we need to confirm the exact cause of the problem. We connect an OBD II scanner to your computer to read the error codes it's logged. Once the issue is identified, we repair it, and the check engine light switches off. Strange Engine Noises A Ford engine makes very little sound as it works, so unusual noises like coughing or spluttering are a sign that something is wrong.  These odd sounds usually mean the spark plugs aren't firing correctly due to a lack of air. Two of the main causes of this problem are oil dripping onto the plugs or a fuel-rich engine. The engine turns fuel-rich when the fuel-air mixture contains more fuel than air. Air is essential for combustion, as the spark plugs can't ignite correctly without it. An oil leak, due to a worn seal or other damage, onto a spark plug prevents the affected plug from sparking correctly. We'll examine the plugs, find the cause of the problem, and repair it. Plug replacement is quick and inexpensive and can prevent engine damage. Contact us today at Coughlin Ford of Heath in Newark, OH.

As you drive off the Ford dealer lot in your new purchase, the goal of keeping it running like it just came from the showroom floor becomes a primary focus for car owners. The good news is you can easily help extend the lifetime of your engine with a commitment to routine Ford engine maintenance! Ford Engine Maintenance: Ensuring Longevity and Reliability Several Factors can determine how long your trusted Ford vehicle's engine will ultimately last, and here we'll explore some significant maintenance requirements to get the most out of your car, SUV, or Truck addition. more Oil Changes: The Importance of Regular Intervals & Which Oil to Choose You've likely heard that oil is the lifeblood of an engine, and having it changed at planned intervals is the first step in giving your engine what it requires for a long, reliable history. Understanding the long-term impact of the oil you choose to put in your engine is equally important. Here are the three choices and the one that stands above the rest. Full Synthetic Oil Normally derived from a distilled crude oil base, full synthetic oil is born from a complicated process that involves synthesis and chemically altered compounds. The exact method varies by refinery, but the results are superior to any other oil on the market. Full Synthetic doesn't contain extra additives that break down as your car goes through the daily grind. Therefore, the viscosity remains stable as seasons change and the miles accumulate. Synthetic oil provides better flow protection into vital engine components and turbochargers, particularly for today's high-revving power plants. Engine oil will inevitably leave deposits and sludge, but with a higher burning point, full synthetic fuels help keep your engine cleaner between oil changes with fewer overall deposits. Another benefit is extended oil change intervals beyond the traditional 3,000-mile plateau, depending on grade ratings and brand. There are oil filters specifically designed for full synthetic oils and extended periods. Semi-Synthetic Oil Also known as a synthetic blend, semisynthetic oil is just as it sounds; a blend of synthetic and conventional oil compounds. The quality of blends can vary depending on which synthetic base oil was used and the additives that help maintain conventional base oils. Although any amount of synthetic helps improve the performance of traditional motor oil, if the choice comes down to a few more bucks, going full synthetic is the way to go. Conventional Oil The most economically friendly oil is conventional, but considering the myriad of benefits associated with the superior molecular stability of fully synthetic lubricants, it's highly recommended you choose full synthetic whenever possible. To find out more or to schedule maintenance for your vehicle, contact us today at Coughlin Ford of Heath.