Questions and answers to the Maintenance and car control

The battery is charged by alternator (dynamo) and its correct function is signalled to the driver by a
battery symbol (red colour) which is lit on after the engine is started and goes off after the revolutions are
slightly increased. Defects:
The symbol does not show – the bulb is broken and needs changing
The symbol keeps flashing or does not go off even at higher revolutions – the belt of the alternator
is loose (needs tightening) or there is a defect on the alternator ( needs repairing at the garage).
Bad function of oil lubrication is signalled by a red oil symbol. If the oil pressure is sufficient, it goes off
and it switches on when the oil pressure is low. After the engine is started, the symbol goes off. If the
symbol comes on during driving or starts flashing intermittently, stop driving without delay until the
defect is repaired.
(!) What is the function of the car lubrication system? Engine oil lubricates (decreases friction between
the moving parts of the engine), cools the bottom part of the engine, cleans (removes impurities to the oil
filter), seals,, preserves (the only protection against the engine corrosion!), lowers the noise.
(!) What are the types of engine oil? Engine oils are mineral, semisynthetic and synthetic (they are the
best quality and the most expensive).
9. Describe how to check and maintain the cooling system of the car, signalling of
the coolant temperature to the driver and how to proceed in the case of
overheated engine (e.g. because of lengthy reversing or slow driving in a traffic
jam, etc. ).
Coolant removes excessive heat energy of the engine through the cooler out. The temperature of the
coolant shows the correct heat mode of the engine – temperature meter on the dashboard.
Maintenance of the cooling system consists of regular checks of the quantity of coolant before travel,
check of its density against freezing and changing the whole fluid every 2-3 years of operation. If
necessary, refill the coolant according to the max. and min. level on the expansion tank – after partial
cooling of the engine (steam gauge pressure !) or there is a danger of scalding.
During travel a brief overheating of the engine can occur, especially during stop and start driving in
the traffic jam, at normal conditions the temperature ranges between 80-90 deg.C.
What to do when the engine is overheated:
Engage a lower gear (this causes higher revolutions and power load and hence makes the flow of
coolant through the cooler faster )
Switch on the heating and fan – you need to open the windows of the car due to high temperature
in the car!
Stop the car, let the engine run at idle speed (hand brake + neutral ), open the engine space.