And here are a few
simple steps you can take yourself that will go a long way in maintaining
your car
in tip-top shape.
Check and correct tire pressures once a month. Low tire
pressures will increase fuel consumption, cause poor (and potentially
unsafe) handling and control of your vehicle, and significantly increase
tire wear. You can obtain a tire gauge for about $6 at any Walmart or major
retail store, and the recommended tire pressures are posted on a sticker
just inside the drivers door, and in your owners manual. If you can't find
the info, 30 p.s.i. is the standard pressure. Don t forget to check the
pressure in the spare twice a year (part of our $49.99 service package). A
flat spare won't do you much good!
Keep your gas tank full. There are many advantages to keeping your fuel tank
relatively full. Today's cars have the fuel pump located in the gas tank.
That s right! It's immersed in the fuel and pumps the gasoline to your
engine. When the fuel level is high, the pump is submerged in the gas and
stays cool extending it s useful life. Low fuel levels can create fuel
starvation. When you make hard turns at speed, the fuel sloshes away from
the pump pickup tube and sucks up air for a second or two, which if done
often, will kill the pump. Another important reason is condensation. When
the fuel level is low, condensation (water droplets) form in your tank just
as it does on a bottle of pop you take out of your fridge on a warm day. A full tank dramatically reduces this effect. One
last bonus for keeping your tank full is improved handling and grip in
winter conditions. The weight of the fuel helps stabilize the car in the
snow and ice. (Gasoline weighs approximately 6 lbs./2.8 kilograms per
gallon!).
Watch those curbs! When parking your car, exercise
caution and do not strike or rub the curb with your wheels. Many
actually climb the curb to minimize maneuvering.
With todays multi-link suspensions, it doesn't take much to knock the
alignment out of whack. Bumping the sidewalk can also damage your tire
or wheel covers. And beware of parking too close to other cars in mall
parking lots. The careless swing of a door from another car can cause
nasty dings.
Consider rustproofing. Possibly the single most effective
thing you can do to prevent rust. If your car is over 5 years old,
have it sprayed with a no-drip oil treatment at least once every two years. |