Virtual Mechanic

Keep batteries topped up
Maintaining a sufficient electrolyte level ensures the electrolyte is neither too high or too low.  Use distilled or deionised water and never over fill.

Maintenance free batteries do not require topping up and are fully sealed to resist tampering.  Low maintenance batteries require the addition of water only once per year.

Keep batteries clean and dry
Dirt on a battery’s surface leads to discharge and corrosion.  Avoid spilling oil or grease onto the top of the battery.  To remove dirt or moisture, wash with a solution of bicarbonate of soda and water.  Rinse afterwards with clear water.  Ensure vent plugs are in place at all times.

Check electrical connections
Make sure battery terminals and cable connections are clean and tight.  Coat terminals with Vaseline or petroleum jelly to stop corrosion.

Stop excessive vibration
Vibration reduces the structural integrity of a battery.  Ensure battery is correctly and firmly secured.

Avoid overcharging
Overcharging produces rapid deterioration and corrosion which shortens battery life.

A battery needing to be topped up continually with water is a sure sign that the car’s electrical system requires careful checking.

Precautions
To avoid shorting, metallic objects should not be placed on top of the battery.  Batteries contain hydrogen gas and air in a volatile mixture which is easily ignited.  Keep flames or sparks away from the battery at all times.  Batteries contain sulphuric acid.  Never add acid to cells and keep acid away from eyes, skin, clothing or any other material which may become damaged.  If contamination occurs, use large amounts of water to neutralise and flush acid away.  Batteries are heavy – ensure correct lifting procedures are used when moving batteries.

Battery Care And Maintenance

This article is found in the Virtual mechanic CD Rom
You can download it for the price of a latte, but you will learn not to buy a lemon
By Darren Gow-Brown, Melbourne Australia ©2009

ENGINE
Rear main seal

PURPOSE
The rear main seal is at the rear of the crankshaft, sealing the oil inside the engine and preventing it from leaking outside the rear of the crankshaft.  The rear main seal is designed to last at least 100,000Kms.  Unfortunately, with a longitudinal motor, rear main seals may only last 60,000-80,000Kms.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR
When checking for oil leaks it’s always good to check underneath the vehicle around the rear of the engine.  But make sure it is around the rear main seal and not around the top of the head.  Sometimes a leaking rocket cover gasket may be the cause, if after replacing the rear main seal, there is still oil leaking.  The best way to check any seal is to give the engine a complete steam clean but be very careful not to spray the steam around any ignition component or carburettor as this will affect the ignition system and also may cause a non start.

IS IT EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR?
The rear main seal itself costs around $15.00 but the labour is around $350.00 as it can be a full day’s job with some vehicles because either the engine or the transmission has to come out to replace the seal.  Some rear main seals may cost $1000.00 depending on the type of seal fitted.  It may be a sealed unit or a wick seal.  A wick seal is the worst seal because it is very difficult to fit and to ensure that there is no leaking.