Month: August 2013

How to Extend the Life of Your Vehicle

CC image Wikipedia.orgWe’re here to help fix your car if something goes wrong, but the best way to extend the life of your vehicle is by practicing good driving and maintenance habits. Below, we discuss some simple things you can do to squeeze every mile possible out of your car.

On The Road – Certain driving habits can help extend the life of your car, and they can also help boost your fuel economy. This is especially important for new cars without many miles on them. Avoid flooring the gas pedal or slamming on the breaks when possible. It might be tempting to see if your flashy new car can hit 90 mph on the highway, but pushing your car’s engine to the limit is a recipe for disaster.

By giving yourself plenty of time to accelerate and to brake, you’ll avoid placing unneeded stress on your vehicle. The less stress, the better.

At The Pump – If you read our post on gasoline, you already know the best time of day to buy gasoline. Although the density of your fuel doesn’t necessarily equate to extending the life of your vehicle, there is another situation when you’ll want to avoid the pump.

If you notice a gas tanker is emptying its tank at the gas station, you’ll want to drive to another location to fill up. Sediments and other particles in the underground reserve can be stirred up when the tanker deposits its fuel. If those particles make their way into your fuel line, it can cause problems in your tank and filter.

At Home – Another way to care for your car is by doing minor maintenance on your own. Although you might not know how to fix a busted intake valve, odds are you can read the owner’s manual. Inside the manual you can learn about certain recommendations, like how much air you should put inside your tires and how to maintain proper fluid levels. With the help of an air hose and funnel, you can make sure some of the controllable aspects of your car are in optimal shape.

At The Shop – Doing minor maintenances on your own can keep your car running smooth, but it’s also important to have it regularly looked at by professionals. Mechanics know the best way to replace integral components like timing belts or batteries, and they can spot other issues that may be overlooked by the untrained eye.

Some common maintenance habits that can easily be preformed by your local mechanic include:

  • Tire rotation
  • Filter changes
  • Diagnostics testing
  • Alignment checks 

Check back each week for more tips on how to properly care for your car.

Related source: Reader’s Digest

How Often Should I Check My Car’s Fluid Levels?

Car FluidsOther than gasoline, most drivers don’t give their car’s fluid levels a second thought on a daily basis. As we’ve said before, the key to extending the life of your vehicle is to prevent breakdowns from occurring, as opposed to fixing the problem after it happens. While some fluids aren’t as integral to maintaining peak performance, it’s a good practice to routinely inspect your fluid levels to keep them in an optimal state. Below, we explain how often you should check and change your fluid levels.

Regular Fluid Checks

Oil – You can check your oil level and color with the help of a dipstick. Insert a clean dipstick into the oil tube and slowly remove it. Most dipsticks will have an indicator to determine if you’re above or below the recommended amount of oil. If you’re below the minimum amount, or if the oil is black, you’ll want to have it changed.

Final verdict: Change every 5,000-7,000 miles.

Windshield Wiper Fluid – Motorists use a significant amount of windshield wiper fluid during the spring months as melting snow is constantly being sprayed up onto the windshield. Windshield wiper fluid isn’t integral to maintain peak performance, but you won’t want to be out of fluid if a passing vehicle sprays your car with mud.

Final verdict: Pop your car’s hood every month to give your windshield wiper fluid container a quick check. If it’s less than ¼ full, top it off.

Moderate Checks

Brake Fluid – A dipstick is also handy for checking your brake fluid level. Reference your owner’s manual to determine the procedure for checking your brake fluid to ensure it is at the proper level.

Final verdict: You probably only need to check your brake fluid levels once a year, and most mechanics recommend changing it every 30,000 miles or three years.

Coolant – Coolant helps make sure your engine doesn’t overheat while driving. You can easily check your coolant levels by checking under your hood and referencing your owner’s manual.

Final verdict: Coolant should be changed every 30,000 miles or every three years, whichever comes first.

Transmission Fluid – You can use your dipstick to check your transmission fluid levels, and you’ll want to have service done immediately if you realize you are running low. You’ll also want to make sure the fluid is the right color. Transmission fluid is clear pink, so if you notice any darkness in the liquid you’ll want to get it changed.

Final verdict: You should check your transmission fluid once a year, and most mechanics recommend you change it every 30,000-50,000 miles.

Longer Checks

Battery Fluid – Most batteries have a pretty good shelf life, but you should still keep an eye on the color of your battery’s fluid so you know it’s still in good shape. Most batteries have a condition indicator on the top of the battery that changes color based on the fluid quality:

  • Blue/Green: Good
  • Red: Add distilled water
  • White: Needs to be changes

Final verdict: Change your battery every 3-5 years.

Related sources: Yahoo, NapaOnline.com

What Should I Keep In My Trunk In Case of an Emergency?

CC image Icon Drawing Cartoon First Aid Kit Emergency by geralt on PixabayNobody wants to be stranded on the side of the road, but a minor delay can turn into a major problem if you are unprepared for an emergency. These days, nearly everyone has a cell phone, so trouble usually isn’t more than a call away, but you should still prepare an emergency roadside kit in case you get stranded far from home or in an area with no cell reception. Below, we discuss some thing you should store in your trunk so you’ll be prepared in the event of a roadside emergency.

Flashlight – A flashlight is an essential part of a roadside kit if you’re planning on traveling during the wee hours of the night. A flashlight or lantern can help you look under the hood for any problems, or it can simplify the process of changing a flat tire. Don’t forget to pack appropriate batteries as well.

Jumper Cables – Although you’ll need the assistance of another car, jumper cables are a great tool to store in your car’s trunk. Jumper cables can get your car working if you accidentally leave the headlights or dome light on overnight. If instructions aren’t included in the cable packaging, make sure you write down the instructions for properly hooking up the cables.

Roadside Flashers – You’ll want to pack a device that alerts other motorists of your presence so they give you enough room on the side of the highway. This can be achieved with reflecting caution cones, a roadside triangle, or flares. If you are going to pack road flares, make sure they are off to the side of the road so they aren’t a danger to the other drivers, and never use a flare as a light source for checking anything on your vehicle.

Miscellaneous Tools – If you’re handy enough to fix a flat on your own, you’ll want to pack the right tools to get the job done. Keep items like a car jack, a jack handle or crank, and a lug wrench in your trunk to assist you in the process. Also, our auto mechanics recommend storing a bungee cable in your car in the event that your hood or trunk latches break.

Age-Appropriate Materials – If you routinely travel with children or elderly individuals, it’s safe to assume they might be with you during the emergency. Pack essential age-appropriate materials, like:

  • Infants: Diapers, food supplies, blankets
  • Children: Stress-relieving toys, extra clothes, blankets
  • Elderly: Vitamins, water, medical testing supplies

First Aid Kit – Sometimes a passenger may suffer an injury that requires medical attention. Always keep a first aid kit in your car in case of a medical emergency. Some items to include in the first aid kit are bandages, Band-Aids, gauze, sterilization wipes, over-the-counter pain medication, eye-wash, and a CPR mask.

What is my Timing Belt & When Should I Replace it?

CC image Wikipedia.orgEveryone knows the simple fixes to keep your car in top shape, like getting routine oil changes, regularly changing your filters and fluids, and maintaining your tires, but some of the most important maintenance habits are the least well known. One such service is making sure you take care of your timing belt.

What is a Timing Belt?

A timing belt, also referred to as a timing chain or cam belt, is an integral part of the internal combustion engine. Its job is to synchronize the rotation of the crankshaft and the camshaft so that the engine’s valves open and close at the correct time during each cylinder’s intake and exhaust pump. In certain engines, the belt is also designed to prevent the piston from hitting the valves.

As its name implies, the timing belt needs to be perfectly calibrated to keep everything in proper order. If the belt gets out of alignment, or if it breaks altogether, you could severely damage or destroy the engine, which means your car could soon be hauled off to the junkyard if the damage is too great.

If your belt breaks, you’ll know it right away. Once the belt snaps, your engine will cease to run, and you won’t be able to get it started again. You’ll need to call a tow truck to haul you into a friendly automotive technician to assess the damage.

When to change the belt

Replacing your timing belt isn’t the cheapest service in the book, but it sure beats having to buy a new car if the break totals your car. Although the exact mileage varies on the type of vehicle and what type of driving you commonly do, our service technicians recommend that you replace your timing belt every 60,000-80,000 miles.

Timing belts are built to last up to 100,000 miles before requiring change, but that doesn’t mean you should call a service technician when your odometer hits 99,999. Because of the damage that can be caused when the belt breaks, it is never recommended to exceed 80,000 miles on the same belt. They say hindsight is 20-20, and the same rule can be applied to timing belts – replacing the belt before it becomes and issue will save you a major headache down the road.

Related source: Yahoo