One of the simplest of things to keep up on your Volvo is its maintenance. Your Volvo requires regular routine maintenance to keep it in tip top shape, running efficiently, and to maintain its peak performance. It’s often realized that bringing your car to the dealership every 7500 miles can be quite costly especially when it comes to the larger services and tune-ups. Many of these services are simple and can be easily performed by the average DIYer. Additionally, performing the service yourself can save you hundreds of dollars especially with today’s dealership and independent shop labor rates of $120/hr on average.
The most important component to replace on a regular basis are your spark plugs. There are many different causes and symptoms of a failed spark plug. Under a normal condition the insulator nose of the plug should be a grayish-white or grayish-yellow to brown. This is a result of a correct heat range of the plug, correct fuel / ignition mixture, correct ignition timing, and all components in the system are in working order resulting in no misfires. If your spark plugs differ in appearance, you may have other issues within your engine.
You may notice your plugs to be:
- Sooted or carbon fouled due to a rich air/fuel mixture
- Oil fouled due to oil contamination within the cylinder which is usually a result a worn piston rings or valve seals.
- Center electrode covered with melted deposits usually caused by overheating from auto-ignition. Detonation occurs when excessive heat and pressure in the combustion chamber cause the air/fuel mixture to auto-ignite.
- Heavy wear on center electrode caused by not changing your spark plugs regularly
- Heavy wear on ground electrode caused by engine knock, detonation, or overheating.
Other than changing your spark plugs and ignition components such as your distributor cap, rotor, and wires regularly, it’s also just as important to change your engine filters. Changing your engine filters will ensure your engine to breathe easy helping to provide the correct air/ fuel mixtures. We kept this in mind when we built out our maintenance and service kits. Our kits are comprised of only the highest quality brands such as MANN, Mahle, and Genuine Volvo to deliver the highest level of quality parts to keep your Volvo running in tip-top shape.
Below are some of FCP's step by step DIY videos to help you maintain your Volvo. If you have any questions on the maintenance of your Volvo, be sure to send us an email at products@fcpeuro.com.
Volvo Spark Plug Replacement
Volvo Spark Plug Wire Replacement
Volvo Engine Air Filter Replacement in Under a Minute
Volvo Cabin Air Filter Replacement
Volvo Fuel Filter Replacement
