Maintenance is usually defined as routine servicing or repair of equipment or units as need to keep them operating correctly. Way too often we wait to perform maintenance until something has gone wrong, like doing an oil change when the oil light comes on or checking the radiator when the engine starts to over heat. Too many times maintenance is ignored until the lack of it precipitates necessary repairs.
Preventive Maintenance (PM) is a predetermined program to keep machinery and equipment in optimal operating condition. Changing the oil on your car on a regular schedule is a form of preventive maintenance. All too often maintenance is put off until something fails and has to be repaired. A good preventive maintenance schedule can often avoid expensive repairs. It also keeps machinery working better. For example, cleaning or changing the air filter on internal combustion engines helps them run better and regular lubrication keeps things rolling smoothly and avoids premature wear on moving parts.
Preventative Maintenance is standard procedure on critical machines and equipment worldwide. Aircraft have a very strict schedule for required preventative maintenance. Same with trains, city buses, school buses, and hospital equipment. Many of these are even set by law to ensure public safety. Although you may not be bound by law to perform preventative maintenance on YOUR personal equipment, you may be under an obligation to do so to maintain warranties. Even if your vehicles and other equipment is out of warranty you should still adhere to the prescribed maintenance schedule to ensure optimal performance and avoid unnecessary and often expensive repairs.
Preventive Maintenance for new vehicles, vessels, and other mechanical equipment is usually described in the owner's manual. Often you must show proof of performing required preventive maintenance before any warranty will be honored. Preventive maintenance usually includes inspecting or changing lubricants and filters but may also include adjustments and inspections of parts that wear down in normal use, such as brake pads and shoes. Lacking an owner's manual for your vehicle or boat, contact a qualified dealer or mechanic or another owner of s similar piece of equipment to learn what they do. If all else fails, try to find a maintenance schedule for a similar piece of equipment, perhaps a different brand to form the basis for creating your own maintenance schedule. Typical preventative maintenance on any piece of machinery or equipment involves regular lubrication of moving parts, regular inspection and/or adjustment of specific items, inspecting all safety features to ensure they are working properly, inspection and if needed, replacement of air and fuel filters, belts and hoses, and general cleaning.
Anything with an engine (RV, OHV, boat) will require regular attention to oil changes, and oil, fuel, and air filters. While many maintenance schedules specify miles or hours of use to define the frequency of maintenance, there are also time intervals. Lacking an owner's manual, you should change oil, oil filter, air and fuel filters on most engines at least once a year. That would apply to RVs, tow vehicles, OHVs, boats, outboard motors, generators and things like gasoline powered power washers. Two good times to do this is when preparing equipment for winter storage or when getting it out of storage and ready to use again. Some people like to do both, as lubrication can break down when a piece of equipment is in storage for several months.
Preventive Maintenance on non-mechanical gear is also usually described in the original owner's manual or instruction sheet. Maintenance of tents usually includes cleaning and also inspecting and repairing poles, tie downs, zippers, and stakes. Over time you may need to replenish the waterproofing via a spray or liquid waterproofing product. Sleeping bags should be regularly aired out and occasionally dry cleaned. Back packs and pack frames should be inspected to ensure straps and buckles are safe and functioning properly, any fasteners are secure, and snaps and zippers are in good shape.
Preventive Maintenance on camp stoves and lanterns mostly consists of regular cleaning and sometimes servicing of pump gaskets on liquid fuel devices. Replacing the mantles on lanterns might be considered maintenance but is more appropriately part of the normal operations as they usually need to be replaced at the beginning of each use. Likewise with fueling liquid fuel appliances but regular cleaning of the fuel tanks and servicing pump gaskets might be part of the preventative maintenance. The generators on liquid fuel appliances usually don't have any preventative maintenance procedures but may need to be replaced when they age out and fail.
Preventative Maintenance may also be applied to clothing, such as hiking gear and OHV riding gear. Proper cleaning after each use will extend the life of most articles. Dirt and grime can cause accelerated wear and any kind of chemical contamination might compromise the integrity of the fabric. Items should be regularly inspected for any tears, loose, or damaged fasteners (buttons, snaps, zippers, cords, etc.). Some items, such as boots, may require special cleaners and/or polishes. Hiking and riding boots often benefit from a waterproofing treatment as well. I also like to use SC-1 Detail Spray on the plastic and leather parts of my dirt bike riding boots. It gives them a nice shine and helps keep dirt and grime from sticking.
Camping tools like hatchets, axes, and shovels will also benefit from regular Preventative Maintenance. All three should be checked often to ensure the handles are not coming loose and are safe to use. Regular sharpening is also a basic requirement. Metal tools or metal parts of tools should be given a light coating of oil when in storage to prevent rust. Linseed oil can also be used on wooden handles to keep them smooth and prevent splinters. Cracked or broken handles should be replaced.
Camp furniture should be regularly inspected to ensure all joints operate smoothly, that legs haven't lost their foot caps, and that any damage gets repaired. Awnings should always be stored clean and dry. Camp chairs will usually benefit from regular cleaning and sometimes need a drop or two of oil or dry lubricant at the pivot points.
Each RV or camping appliance will have its own preventative maintenance schedule and requirements. It is important to know and follow those procedures to ensure proper operation of your appliances. Many times an appliance failure can be traced directly to failure to perform required maintenance, and that can be a frustrating and expensive proposition. This applies to stoves, refrigerators, water heaters, water pumps, furnaces, ice makers, and any other devices you may have onboard your RV or in your camping kit. Even ice chests need regular cleaning and might sometimes required repair to prevent moisture for intruding into and defeating the insulation. Broken or damaged hinges and latches should be repaired or replaced.
Lacking a prescribed maintenance schedule it is a good idea to perform preventive maintenance at least once a year. Good times to do that are when you put things away for the winter and when you get them out again in the spring for the next season's use. Doing them at the end of the season helps ensure things are clean and dry for proper storage and gives you time to acquire parts or replacements before the next season. Checking or re-checking everything each spring ensures things are in good condition for to be used in the new season. If you do PM when putting things into storage they should be good to go when you get them out again next season, but always look them over. Sometimes pests or other unfavorable conditions may introduce problems in storage. Looking everything over when getting things out of storage can catch both things that crept in during storage and anything you might have accidentally missed when putting them away.
Even your body will benefit from good preventative maintenance. Many medical insurance plans require you to have an annual "wellness check". Many times this may uncover a developing problem BEFORE it becomes serious or life threatening. We all know that insurance companies are most interested in their own bottom lines so offering free wellness checks is one way they avoid paying for costly treatment by detecting and correcting problems early. The fact that you avoid unpleasant and painful disabilities is a nice side effect! You could consider your regular exercise program a form of preventative maintenance. Personally I follow the 5BX program developed for the Canadian Air Force and adapted by the U.S. Air Force. It takes only 11 minutes a day and requires no special equipment.. I am pleased that at 76 years old I maintain an exercise program intended for 49 year olds! Same with maintaining a good sleep schedule and proper diet. Consistently getting the right amount of sleep is critical for maintaining optimum physical and mental condition and performance. Pre-hydrating before strenuous activities, especially in hot weather, is another good preventative maintenance for your body. Proper warm ups before beginning any strenuous activity is also helpful in preventing injuries and enhancing the enjoyment of your experience,
Do not delay PM!
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