现代的汽车早已不同
在你的父辈或者祖父辈,所有汽车都是相同或者近乎相同的。3000英里换一次机油，并且基本上每个人都使用相同规格的机油。这仅仅是现如今汽车保养的标准奉行的一个例子。今天,不同类型的车有了不同的保养标准。好消息是,汽车发动机的改进让汽车保养比以往任何时候都更容易。坏消息:许多车主仍然遵循旧的准则,这样不仅浪费时间和金钱，甚至可能对车辆造成损坏。现在起，跟随Perricone迭代你的车辆保养知识,节省养车费用,避免因循守旧的保养方式造成的发动机损坏。
All cars are not created equal
In your parents' or grandparents' day, all cars were created equal—or fairly equal. Oil needed to be changed every 3,000 miles—and everyone used basically the same type. That was just one example of the many ways car maintenance was standardized among all vehicles. Today, there are as many different maintenance guidelines as there are types of cars. The good news is that auto engineering has advanced to such a degree that car maintenance is easier than ever. The bad news: Many car owners still follow the old guidelines, wasting time and cash—and perhaps even damaging their cars. Jumpstart your knowledge, save money, and avoid engine damage by reviewing these common missteps shared by Ben Perricone, territory manager, AAA Mid-Atlantic, headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware.
忽略车辆具体参数
一辆1985年生产的车与一辆2015年生产的车的保养要求并不相同。不要猜测或假设车辆的具体参数,也不要盲目接受技工的建议。了解车辆的生产年份，车型,并且随手携带车主手册，那里面有你保养车辆所需的全部内容。阅读它将会将在保养上节省数百美元的不必要保养以及燃料浪费。想省更多(参阅：发现你的汽车维修师不告诉你的秘密http://www.rd.com/advice/saving-money/13-things-your-car-mechanic-wont-tell-you-slideshow/1）
Ignoring your car's specifics
A car built in 1985 is going to have different maintenance requirements than one built in 2015. Don't guess or assume details about your car, and don't blindly accept a mechanic's recommendations. Make sure you know your car's year, make, and model, and keep the owners' manual handy. It has all the information you need to properly maintain your vehicle. Reviewing it will save you hundreds of dollars in maintenance missteps and fuel. To save even more, [find out the secrets your car mechanic won't tell you]
盲从车辆传统大保养
“汽车在20年内是不需要进行大保养的,“Perricone说。老式汽车每20000到30000英里需要进行一次大保养。而现代汽车行车电脑免去了这些调整的必要性。你同意进行大保养之前,需要具体了解车辆的哪些部件需要更换。更换火花塞和汽油滤清器是日常维护的步骤，有可能被划分到“大保养”中，而实际上并不需要更换。所以要问清楚并查看车辆手册。记住,老汽车才可能需要更多传统大保养。
Agreeing to tune-ups
"Cars haven't needed tune-ups in 20 years," says Perricone. Older cars needed tune-ups every 20,000 to 30,000 miles. Now, computers, the brains that operate modern cars, have erased the need for such tune-ups. Before you agree to one, find out the specifics of what will be done. Changing spark plugs and oil filters are routine maintenance steps that may be classified as "tune-ups" when they really shouldn't be. So ask questions—and check your owners' manual. Remember, older cars are the ones that may need more traditional "tune-ups." If you ultimately decide to get a new vehicle, learn the [car safety features]
车辆连接件润滑
在大多数情况下,为汽车底盘(车驾)上润滑油就像大保养一样过时了。现代汽车的球关节和其他关联部件的是永久密封的所以不需要润滑。再强调一遍，了解爱车的生产年份，车型。一个注意点:卡车与汽车是不同的，卡车上有些油脂球关节和领带棒配件,可能需要润滑。但新型轿车通常不需要任何润滑工作,Perricone说。
Getting a lube job
In most cases, lubricating a car's chassis (the vehicle's framework) is as archaic as the tune-up. The ball joints and other parts of modern cars are permanently sealed so there is no need for lubrication. Again, understand what year, make, and model of the car you have. One note: Trucks are different than cars. Some have grease fittings on ball joints and tie rods and may need lubrication. But late model passenger cars generally don't need any lube jobs, says Perricone.
清洗发动机
冷却剂,通常被称为防冻剂,确实需要更换。但清洗将会损坏你的车。要理解这一点,发动机清洗的卖点是洗净汽车发动机中的灰尘和其他污染物。但问题是，清洗也可能会对发动机造成损伤,导致密封泄漏。除非你曾经开车涉高水位行驶或者其他极端情况，一般情况下不需要清洗发动机。再强调一次，随时查阅你的车辆手册方便，因为依然有很多特例情况，例如1978年生产的皮卡,可能需要进行发动机清洗,这取决于许多因素。
Getting your engine flushed
Yes coolants, often called anti-freeze, do need to be changed. But flushes can damage your car. To understand this, consider that flushes are often sold as a way to rid your engine fluids of dirt and other contaminants. The problem is that flushes can also damage the car, causing seals to leak. Cars don't need flushes unless you have driven through high water or in other extraordinary situations. Again, checking your owners' manual comes in handy because a 1978 pick-up truck, for instance, may need a flush, depending on many factors.
选择合成机油
对于一些现代引擎的功能优化，全合成机油的确有它的优势。但合成油也并非适用于所有的汽车引擎,尤其是老发动机。为您的爱车选择正确的粘度与等级的机油即可。
Choosing synthetic oil
Synthetic oils have advantages that are needed and used to optimize the function of some modern engines. But synthetic oils don't benefit all engines, especially those of older vehicles. Ensure you are using the correct viscosity and grade for your particular vehicle.
忽略制动液
新汽车有盖板来防止灰尘和杂质进行制动液中，但是这个系统也并非是完全密封的。两年后,制动液吸收尽可能多的水,它可能仍然能起到自身的作用。“水分将会影响所有组件,“Perricone说。“进入制动系统的水分将腐蚀防抱死刹车和其他昂贵的组件。“底线是:制动液每两到三年更换一次。
Ignoring brake fluids
Newer cars have caps on the master cylinders that keep out dirt and grime but don't seal the system. After two years, brake fluid has absorbed as much water as it can possibly hold and still properly function. "The moisture will go to work attacking all components," says Perricone. "That same water trapped in the system will attack anti-lock brakes and other expensive components." The bottom line: Change your brake fluid every two to three years.
使用快速修复的方法修复已雾化的前灯
你是否注意到你的车头灯变黄变暗了?可见度降低，特别是在晚上以及在较危险的驾驶情形下威胁着驾驶安全。不要买现成的大灯恢复工具或跟随互联网上的说明进行DIY修复,Perricone说。任何临时的修正(成本约20美元)只会持续几周。相反,去正规的汽车服务店，花大概100美元成本，他们会仔细打磨镜头,移除受损的塑料,表面抛光,重新处理保护涂层。
Using a quick fix for foggy headlights
Ever notice that headlights yellow and grow murky? That limits visibility especially at night and during dangerous driving conditions which decreases safety. Don't buy the ready-to-use headlight restoration kit or the at-home fixes detailed on the Internet, says Perricone. Any improvement from those fixes (that cost about $20) will only last a few weeks. Instead, go to a reputable service station. They will sand the lens, remove the damaged plastic, polish the surface, and retreat it with protective coating for about $100.
