LIFE SKILLS PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE OF A GO-KART ENGINE 1. GROUP WORK Read the text and search online, then create a preventive maintenance tutorial of a go-kart engine. Follow the instructions. : Flipped classroom – cooperative learning Methodology : Reading, writing, speaking Skills : Understand the main ideas of a technical text; produce clear, detailed texts on specific technical topics; correct use of technical vocabulary. Competence : As a technician, you are expected to be able to make careful inspection and analysis of the possible causes of engine failure and to be able to work in a team. You are now called on to inspect a go-kart engine to make a preventive maintenance plan in order to avoid common problems. Work in a team of three to carry out the task. Task : Home activities Read the following text as a basis for your work and research. Surf the Internet looking for possible damage to the various engine components caused by lack of maintenance. : Classroom activities With your team, create a tutorial (you can use PowerPoint, Prezi, or a video for your presentation) in which you list the components, the possible damage, and the actions you should take to prevent the problems from occurring and all of the information you think is essential for good maintenance. As a guideline, you can use the checklist-model at the end of the text. Show your preventive maintenance plan to the class. Step-By-Step Engine Inspection Like all automobiles, the engine is the heart of a go-kart. Go-kart engines usually wear out faster than those of common cars because they are exposed to continuous abuse, so regular checks and maintenance are necessary to avoid serious damage. Carefully check the temperature of the engine thermostat. If the temperature is too high, you might be losing coolant from a leak. Temperatures that are too high can break the cylinder. Drain old oil using the drain plug and refill with new oil. You should do this operation after about every 25 hours of use. Check the spark plug and look for damage as spark plug wires can easily be consumed by erosion. If you do not find any damage, just wipe it down; otherwise, take note of the model number and replace it. You should change the spark plug once a year. Clean the air filter with warm water and soap and use a degreaser to wipe the area in which it is located, then let it dry before putting it back in. Replace with a new one if you see any holes. Add a fuel stabilizer before refilling the tank to avoid problems in the fuel delivery system. Carefully check the carburetor and make sure there is no dirt in it, then adjust it with the proper screwdriver. A dirty carburetor can cause hard starting. Check the belts and make sure they do not have any wear. Check all the hoses and make sure they have a strong seal at the hose clamp. Check all the fluids, including coolants, and add more if necessary. If the engine is covered with grease, you can spray it with an engine degreaser, let it soak, then wash it down.