Category: Car Care

Winter is hard on cars. The following tips can help your vehicle (or even you!) last longer through harsh cold weather conditions…

• Let your car warm up before you begin driving. Allow your vehicle to warm up two to three minutes before taking off.
• Have a trusted car repair facility check your anti-freeze to ensure it’s good.
• Check for proper air pressure in tires, and if you need tires, change them so you have good traction for the winter.
• Replace your windshield wipers & fill your washer fluid jar with a fluid that contains anti-freeze.
• Repair any large chips in the windshield. If you don’t, when you turn on your defroster, a stone chip can turn into a major crack necessitating an expensive new windshield.
• Have your brakes checked before the roads get slick.
• Check for a leaky exhaust. If an automobile has an exhaust leak it can be life threatening, especially if you are stuck somewhere and forced to sit in a running vehicle for a [...]

With autumn’s shorter days, cooler temperatures and inclement weather drawing closer, now is a good time to get your car ready for the demands of the coming driving season.

Although some seasonal car maintenance will require the assistance of a qualified car mechanic, here are five, simple do-it-yourself car maintenance projects to make your auto better prepared for fall and save you the labor cost of having these services done by a mechanic.

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Many people have concerns about taking their cars on long trips, especially if their cars are getting on in years or mileage. Truth is, long trips are actually easier on your car than day-to-day driving — but a breakdown far from home can really ruin your fun. A few simple checks will stave off many common problems. As with most things, it’s best to start early.

Get any major repairs done. If your car needs major repair or maintenance, do it at least one month before you go. That will allow plenty of time for any problems related to the repair to pop up.

Get any scheduled maintenance done. If you think your car is going to come due for an oil change or other maintenance during your trip, get it done one week before your trip.

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According to most states’ laws, tires are legally worn out when they have worn down to 2/32″ of remaining tread depth. To help warn drivers that their tires have reached that point, tires sold in North America are required to have indicators molded into their tread design called “wear bars” which run across their tread pattern from their outside shoulder to inside shoulder. Wear bars are designed to visually connect the elements of the tire’s tread pattern and warn drivers when their tires no longer meet minimum tread depth requirements.

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There is little denying that summers can take a toll on your car. So here’s a list of tips to help your car beat the heat.

1. Essential Checklist:

a. People often tend to be overlook the condition of their car’s tires. An under-inflated tire tends to protrude and put unnecessary pressure on the sidewalls that can cause the tire to eventually blow. On the other hand, an over-inflated tire lead to lack of grip.

b. Other than tire pressure, car owners must also check for worn-out treads. You can either use a tire tread depth gauge or use a penny to check if the depth is within the advised limits.

c. Check the car’s oil, for it not only helps the engine run, but also keeps its parts clean and cool.

d. A car’s air conditioning is of paramount importance in the summers, thus it is essential to get it checked annually.

e. The heat [...]

Many on-the-road inconveniences and even tragedies can be avoided with some preparation. From facing bad weather to avoiding breakdowns, proper planning can make a difference.

Follow these five steps to put the odds in your favor.

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Winter sweaters and boots have been packed away in favor of shorts and sandals. Has your vehicle benefited from the same maintenance you’ve performed on your closets? Warm weather means long weekend getaways and even longer vacation road trips, and taking the time to perform seasonal maintenance today can help avoid trouble later.

Here are 10 tips for spring and summer car care. In some cases, you’ll be able to perform these procedures yourself. Others are best done by a mechanic as part of a tune-up. Some will help your vehicle look better. Most will help it perform more efficiently and get better gas mileage.

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Many of today’s new cars have the latest gizmos for comfort, navigation and safety, but no car is really equipped until there are two basic staples in the glove box: a flashlight and a tire-pressure gauge. These are the first two of 17 items that drivers should have in their cars at all times for safety, for convenience and for the day the gizmos let them down. How many of these items are in your vehicle right now? Let’s take a look.

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No one likes to admit that their car’s interior looks a bit like a landfill, but with families spending more time in their cars than ever before, it happens. A lot. But families deserve a clean, Zen-like interior (after all, an organized environment leads to an organized mind — or so they say).

Now is the time to do something about that item in the back of your car that goes “skssssssssss, thunk” every time your turn or brake. Now is the time to stop losing your mind over the empty to-go cups piling up in your cupholders (that you “forget” to remove for days). Now is the time to stop obsessing about the ground-in crackers in your floormats and just clean them up already. READ MORE…