When Premium Auto Products Are Worth The Extra Cost
To keep your car on the road to safety and savings, it’s a good idea to pay attention to what goes into and onto the vehicle. Sometimes it pays to upgrade to a premium automotive product. As the experts at the Car Care Council put it, “Small steps that motorists take today can go a long way toward improving the safety and reliability of their vehicles.” Here are a few tips on common automotive product categories to help you make informed decisions.
Wiper Blades
There is a noticeable performance difference in low-cost wiper blades versus those specifically designed for rough weather conditions. Premium wiper blades are significantly sturdier and more durable than low-priced blades. The bottom line is that the upgrade will cost you less in the long run if you live in a more extreme (rainy or snowy) climate.
Motor Oil
There have been substantial improvements in lubrication technology over the past few years. The longer oil life of high-performance synthetic motor oil allows for extended oil drains, which saves time and money and reduces the effect on the environment. The bottom line is that some high-performance synthetic oils such as Royal Purple have been reported to improve mileage by as much as 3 percent, which adds up over the course of a year.
Oil Filters
Inexpensive filters are typically made with the 3,000-mile interval in mind because they use low-quality paper media that deteriorate rapidly at 3,000 miles. The new generation of high-performance premium oil filters allows for extended oil drain intervals. For example, Royal Purple uses a proprietary long-life, micro glass media that provides protection for 12,000 miles. It also provides an increased level of protection due to the density of the filtration. The bottom line is that the more expensive filter pays off if you plan to extend oil drain intervals or live in extremely dusty or cold-weather climates.
Article from carjunky.com
Be Tire Smart, Play Your Part
Proper tire care and safety is simple and easy. The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) recommends getting in the habit of taking five minutes every month to check your tires, including the spare.
Pressure: Under inflation is a tire’s #1 Enemy.
It results in unnecessary tire stress, irregular wear, loss of control and accidents. A tire can lose up to half of its air pressure and not appear to be flat!
Alignment: Is your vehicle pulling to one side, or shaking?
A bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole can throw your front end out of alignment and damage your tires. Have a tire dealer check the alignment periodically to ensure that your car is properly aligned.
Rotation: Promotes uniform tire wear.
Regularly rotating your vehicle’s tires will help you achieve more uniform wear. Unless your vehicle owner’s manual has a specific recommendation, the guideline for tire rotation is approximately every 5,000 miles.
Tread: Measure it — and inspect it.
Advanced and unusual wear can reduce the ability of tread to grip the road in adverse conditions. Visually check your tires for uneven wear, looking for high and low areas or unusually smooth areas. Also check for signs of damage.
If you think you may have a tire problem or are unsure of the condition of your tires, consult a tire dealer as soon as possible.
Article Courtesy of Rubber Manufacturers Association
#1 Tip to Having a “Green” Car: No Leaky Freon
In 1994, the Federal government outlawed the use of a refrigerant called R-12, known by its brand name Freon. In the past, if your air conditioner wasn’t blowing cool air, you’d head down to the service shop, they’d top your car off with a little Freon and you’d be on your way.
The problem is that Freon, a chlorofluorocarbon, is extremely destructive to the ozone layer. Most people needed Freon refills because they had leaks. By simply refilling the leaky air conditioning units without fixing the leaks, millions of pounds of Freon were entering the atmosphere every year.
Let us FIX the leaks to keep you cool, save you money and keep the earth GREEN!
Article compiled from howstuffworks.com
Pothole Damage
While the winter snow and ice melt away, potholes and serious damage to you car linger into spring and can become your cars worst enemy. These holes or pits on a road’s surface can seriously damage the shocks and struts, which controls the vehicles ride and handle.
Warning Signs of Pothole Damage
*The vehicle rolls or sways on turns
*The vehicles front-end dives when breaking
*The vehicles rear end squats when accelerating
*The vehicle “bottoms out” or thumps on bumps
*The vehicle sits lower in the front or rear
*The vehicle looses directional control during sudden stops.
Article Courtesy of The Scoop
What Your Car Color Says About You
Silver- elegant, loves futuristic looks, cool
White- clean, neat, organized, loyal
Vibrant Red- sexy, speedy, high energy, dynamic
Lt.-Mid Blue- calm, cool, faithful, quiet
Dark Blue- credible, confident, dependable
Taupe/Lt. Brown – timeless, basic and simple taste
Black- empowered, loves elegance, appreciates classics
Neutral Gray- sober, corporate, practical
Dark Green- traditional, trustworthy, well-balanced
Yellow-Green- trendy, whimsical, lively
Yellow Gold- intelligent, warm, loves comfort
Sunshine Yellow- sunny disposition, joyful young at heart
Deep Brown- down to earth, no nonsense
Orange- fun loving, talkative, fickle & trendy
Deep Purple- creative, individual, original
Article Courtesy of The Scoop
Belts… Don’t Take Them For Granted!
What are they?
Your car’s belts and hoses are essential to the cooling, air conditioning and charging systems, and the engine. Don’t take these routine replacement intervals for granted because they can break down and leave you stranded.
What do they do?
The timing belt keeps the crankshaft and camshaft mechanically synchronized to maintain engine timing. Whether serpentine, V-belt or fan belt (the belts on the outside of the engine), they transmit power from the front of the engine to accessories that need to be driven, such as air conditioning, the charging system and fans. Radiator and heat hoses carry coolant to and from the engine, radiator and heater core.
Symptoms
- Squeaking noise from under the hood during start-up or operation
- Coolant leaks
- Dashboard light will illuminate
Article Courtesy of the Car Care Council
Man
y of us cannot imagine a day without our car and since they happen to be so important in our way of life their maintenance should be a priority. Regular servicing and proper care is essential for every vehicle.
Air filter: A robust engine will make your vehicle run smoother without hiccups. The Air Filter is an important part of engine maintenance that keeps check on the dirt from the outside. A clogged air filter results in poor starting of the vehicle, less mileage, noise issues etc.
Brakes: Malfunctioning brakes can be one of the major causes of accidents. The first indication of low brake fluid is the noise that vehicle make when it stops. The brake pads are often the root cause of many expensive brake related issues. Replace them when needed and you will save a lot of headache and money.
Tire: Tires are responsible for the smooth running of the car and it is important to replace worn tires quickly. Always keep the tire pressure at optimal level. Proper inflation will also impact your fuel efficiency.
Customers and a local agency are winners at area auto repair stores in May.
Nine local auto repair facilities will offer free brake pads or shoes with any brake repair service and donate 10 percent of the proceeds to Berea Children’s Home and Family Services. Read the entire article here:
Driving the speed limit is always recommended, but if traffic allows, you’ll save gas on the highway if you drive slower.
Drive 60mph uses 9percent less gas than driving 70 mph. Going 50mph can save up to 15 percent.
Avoiding a stop is another smart move. When there is no traffic immediately behind your car, you can stop accelerating and let the car’s momentum take it up to the red light. It could turn green by then. Starting from a full stop takes more gasoline than starting while the car is still rolling.
What is Hypermiling? Hypermiling is a driving practice that can help you maximize or even exceed your car’s estimated fuel economy. Wayne Gerdes, a car care expert from CleanMPG.com coined the term. He is famous for making his manual Honda Insight average 90 miles per gallon for a year through driving practice.
Hypermiling is a safe way to maximize your fuel economy if done correctly.
Here are some safe hypermiling practices:
- Go the speed limit. Traveling at higher speeds kills your fuel economy. Try slowing down to the posted speed to conserve fuel.
- Go easy on the brakes. Braking and acceleration or “stop and go” traffic are killers on your fuel economy. Try to maintain your speed longer by coasting to a stop where possible.
- Check your tire pressure often. Some hypermilers over inflate their tires, but experts say this is dangerous because you diminish tracking. Follow the maintenance guidelines for your tires to maximize your gas mileage safely.
- Keep up with oil changes. Oil Thickens as it ages. Regular oil changes will keep it thin and lessen the workload on your engine.
- Use your cruise control wisely. Using your cruise control in your everyday driving is a good habit for hypermiling because is causes your car to accelerate more slowly by half mile to one mile per hour. You can control acceleration with the accelerate button and use coast to slow down. Be prepared to break, and know when to use cruise control safely. Getting on a busy highway is not the time to cruise.
Source Washington Post
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