3 Key Maintenance Tasks for Your Ford’s Engine Health

Air Filter Replacement

Effective combustion requires air and fuel to mix in a precise ratio before they’re ignited to produce the energy that moves your vehicle. Air enters your Ford through the radiator grille, then it passes into the air filter, located in a small box behind the radiator grille. The air filter traps dirt, twigs, and other debris, so only clean air enters the engine and mixes with the fuel.

As time passes, the filter will become clogged with dirt, restricting airflow into the engine. The lack of air causes the fuel-air mixture to become fuel-rich. Most of the fuel in a fuel-rich engine doesn’t burn due to the lack of air and is wasted. Additionally, a fuel-rich engine suffers increased wear and tear on spark plugs,  ignition coils, and other components. We can replace a blocked filter in minutes, and the fuel-air mix will return to normal.

Spark Plug Replacement

A spark plug screws into the top of each engine cylinder. Once mixed, the fuel and air are drawn into the cylinders. The mixture is compressed inside the cylinders as the pistons rise, and it’s then ignited by the spark plugs. A healthy spark plug ensures the mixture ignites in a carefully spaced series of mini explosions that provide the energy to move your vehicle.

Spark plugs wear out like other engine components, and they can become damaged by issues like a fuel-rich engine, as we saw above. Worn or damaged plugs prevent the mixture from burning correctly, reducing engine power and potentially causing a misfire or stalling. Our technicians will examine the plugs and quickly replace any that are worn or damaged.

Battery Replacement

The battery provides the initial electrical charge that causes the engine to crank and start the combustion process. Once the engine runs, a mini generator called the alternator starts recharging the battery. An average battery has a life of three to five years before its chemicals break down naturally, and it can no longer store enough power to start the engine.

Labored starting, electrical glitches, and slow accessories are some signs of a battery that’s weakening. We’ll test your battery and can install a replacement while you wait if the original is failing.

Book your next service today by contacting us at Sexton Ford Sales in Moline, IL.

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