It pays to be aware of the top 10 car killers, the corrosive agents that can destroy your vehicle from within. They tend to be stealthy, often escaping the notice of even the most careful car owners, but the experts at Mountain View Tire can help you defend your vehicle from all of them.

1) Lube and Fuel Oxidation

Oxidation of engine oil produces harmful sludge that can reduce engine cooling, accelerate component wear, and plug passages necessary for proper oil circulation and lubrication. Abrasive material then accumulates within the engine, destroying bearings and promoting seal leakage. Likewise, oxidative by-products of fuel reduce the efficiency of fuel pumps and filters, and can result in costly fuel injector failure. Higher tailpipe emissions and poor fuel economy always follow in the footsteps of damaging fuel deposits.

2) Diesel Injection Clogging

Heavy carbon residues build up on fuel injectors, reducing their optimal efficiency. This leads to a poor fuel spray pattern, reduced injector cooling and flow, and inefficient combustion. If left unattended, this condition can rob an engine of power and will produce excess exhaust gas smoke, poor power and fuel economy, and shortened injector life.

3) Driveline Abrasion

Rear differential ring and pinion gears can suffer scoring, fretting, and pitting due to corrosion and a lack of lubrication. Stress cracks may develop, weakening the gear surface and promoting further damage. Also, excessive gear and bearing noise may indicate that abrasive metallic wear is occurring within your gear set. Progressive gear wear within this unit will have a negative effect on seals, causing fluid leakage.

4) Fuel / Air Induction Carbon

Gummy residues derived from residual fuel vapors have a tendency to accumulate within the air intake (plenum) over time. These deposits restrict air flow and disrupt combustion air swirl and dispersal. This all serves to decrease engine efficiency and fuel economy. Engine devices such as MAF sensors and idle air controllers, as well as critical throttle plate clearances, are also impeded by these gummy deposits.

5) Transmission Sludge

Transmissions operate under adverse conditions and expose the transmission fluid to wide swings in temperature. As automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ages, it forms sludge, which reduces fluid circulation and transmission cooling. Abrasive metal particles generated from aged ATF will ruin seals and cause irreversible damage to internal transmission components. You may eventually experience erratic shifting, excessive vibration or noise, or even transmission failure.

6) Power Steering Debris

High pressure power steering units require excellent lubricants to function properly. Damage to gears, seals, O-rings, bearings, bushings, and spool valves is dramatically increased by poor quality lubricants. Critical brass and other soft alloys rely on the proper balance of lubricant additives to ensure long power steering life and trouble-free operation.

7) Cooling System Scale

Minerals found in tap water have the tendency to combine with the additives found in automotive coolant. When this happens, they form a chemical complex called “phosphate scale” which coats the heat transfer surfaces of the radiator and heads, resulting in decreased heat-transfer efficiency. When this occurs, your car will overheat and run much hotter than it was designed to. This scale can also lead to the destruction of water pump bearings.

8) Brake Fluid Moisture Contamination

The gradual deterioration of brake fluid over time occurs because of its exposure to heat, pressure, and moisture contamination. As the brake fluid additives deplete, the fluid breaks down at an increased rate, resulting in the corrosion of brake parts, poor compressibility, and eventual loss of brake function.

9) Climate Control Mode

Mold, mildew, and spores can inhabit your vehicle's climate control system. The presence of moisture in air conditioning ducts is common, since the air leaving the A.C. evaporator is saturated with it. And there is little time for ducts to dry out during hot weather when the air conditioning is used continuously. High moisture in ducts can cake with dirt and create an environment in which mold can grow. This situation leads to serious air contamination problems, resulting in headaches, watery eyes, nausea, skin disorders, and fatigue.

10) Battery Corrosion

Slower-than-normal cranking may be a sign that your battery is holding less than its optimal electric charge. Oxidation of the battery terminals and build-up of exterior dirt and corrosion accelerate the loss of current through the case of the battery, prematurely discharging it.