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Car Tips Tips
For Waxing Your Car To view past Tips and Training articles, click here. (NAPSI)-Whether it's to preserve the showroom luster or to bring back that new car shine-one of the kindest things you can do for your car is waxing it on a frequent basis Waxing does more than just shine a car. It provides a layer of protection against damage-such as sunlight, acid rain, tar, oil and bird droppings-that cars are susceptible to. Waxing is an easy and inexpensive investment
in extending your car's condition and good looks.
Refer to your car's owner's manual for additional details about maintaining your car's appearance. Toyota's experts say that waxing your car on a regular basis not only makes it shine, but will help boost its appeal come trade-in time. Maintaining Present Vehicle May Make Financial Sense (NAPSI)-Although you may want to get rid of your present vehicle in favor of a new car, taking better care of your current set of wheels may make much more sense in the long run-helping you achieve a goal of financial freedom. "We advise our clients that if they want a 10 percent increase on their investments every year, they need to cut down on their expenses," said Terry Mulcahy, vice president of investments for R.W. Baird. "A new automobile is, for most people, their second biggest investment next to a home, so a great way to save money and increase financial assets is to hang onto their current vehicle rather than buy a new one every few years. Budgeting for and doing preventative maintenance on your car is one of the best ways to cut your costs and keep your car." The Car Care Council estimates that more than $60 billion in vehicle maintenance and repair is not performed every year, evidence that there is considerably more that consumers should be doing to protect their automotive investments. "Whether it's an oil change, replacing brakes or new belts and hoses, that periodic repair bill is a drop in the bucket compared to monthly payments on a new car," said Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council. "The bottom line is that a properly maintained vehicle is safe, more dependable, more fuel efficient, less polluting and more valuable. The smartest way to get a solid return on investment is to keep your car through what we call the 'Cinderella Era.' It's that period of time after the payoff when your car is still in great shape and needs only modest repairs." Figures from Runzheimer International, a management consulting firm that measures travel and living costs, confirms the Council's claims. Recent figures from a Runzheimer study show that trading a vehicle every eight years instead of every four can save more than $2,481.75 a year after the payoff. That includes repairs and maintenance, license, registration, taxes and insurance. The Car Care Council is the source of information for the "Be Car Care Aware" consumer education campaign, which provides timely and accurate information about the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For more information about routine vehicle maintenance and how to "Be Car Care Aware," visit www.carcare.org. Keeping an older vehicle for a few more years may make good financial sense. http://www.napsnet.com/money/57246.html Your Car's Safety Check Should Start With A Stop (NAPSI)-When it comes to your car's safety, brakes top the list of systems that need monitoring. However, many people are unaware of the signs that indicate a car's brakes may need maintenance or repair. For routine maintenance, it's important to check the vehicle's braking system at least once a year. A thorough inspection should include brake lining wear, brake fluid level, rotor thickness, condition of hoses and brake lines, brake and dash warning lights, as well as taking the car for a test drive to detect other potential brake system problems. It is important to be alert and recognize the danger signs of brake problems. Other warning signs include an illuminated brake warning light, brake grabbing, low pedal feel, vibration, hard pedal feel and squealing. "We're offering the brake system diagram because the driving public needs to better understand how the braking system works and why it's so important to have it checked every year," said Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council. "If brake service is neglected, you're gambling with your safety, as well as the safety of your passengers and other drivers." As part of the "Be Car Care Aware" education campaign, the Car Care Council is also offering a free service interval schedule to help take the guesswork out of what vehicle systems need to be routinely inspected and when service or repair should be performed. The schedule can be obtained for free by visiting the Web site at www.carcare.org. The Car Care Council is the source of information for the "Be Care Care Aware" consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. If your car is pulling to the left or right, or if odd noises are made when the brakes are applied, the brakes should be inspected. Brake System Diagram: http://www.napsnet.com/auto/57480.html Don't Put Yourself In Harm's Way At The Fuel Pump (NAPSI)-There's an invisible force that could put you in danger at the fuel pump. It's static electricity, and it could ignite a potentially fatal fire if you're not careful when refueling your vehicle or filling a portable fuel container. "Gasoline fumes are volatile. Static electricity can create a spark that could cause a fire if it's near gas fumes," said Philadelphia Fire Department Commissioner Harold Hairston. "It's vital to fill fuel containers safely to protect yourself, your family and your property. Even many safety conscious people may not be aware of the proper way to fill a portable fuel container." Most consumers are aware of static electricity-common examples are the shock felt when dragging your feet across a carpet or the electrical charge seen and felt when removing laundry from the clothes dryer. This phenomenon is caused by the friction between two dissimilar types of matter carrying opposite electrical charges. Although these examples are harmless, the presence of static electricity at the fuel pump can, given certain unsafe practices, have tragic results. "Every time you pump gasoline, a charge of electricity builds up on the gasoline as it flows through a pipe or hose, and this charge takes several seconds to several minutes to dissipate after the gasoline has reached the fuel tank or container," said Bob Renkes, executive director of the Petroleum Equipment Institute. In most cases, this situation is not hazardous because the gasoline dispenser and the vehicle are grounded, meaning there is a direct path through which the electricity can be discharged to the ground. When this electricity is not grounded-such as when a portable fuel container is in the trunk or truck bed while being filled-static electricity can cause a spark that could ignite fuel vapors. "For safety, you need to place the (fuel) container on the ground and fill it on the ground," Renkes said. "Placing the container on the ground makes it easier for the electrical charge to escape." Static electricity also can build up when gasoline is flowing into the fuel container; consumers can enhance the grounding process by keeping the pump nozzle in contact with the fuel container during the filling process. This contact sets up a grounding connection between the pump and the container. Here are some basic safe-fueling steps, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the American Petroleum Institute and other safety and fuel experts:
Unsafe practices at the fuel pump can and do have tragic consequences. Remember that you are dealing with highly volatile vapors that can, given a spark from static electricity, ignite with powerful force. Help protect yourself and your passengers by focusing on safe fueling procedures. Simple Way To Reduce Gas Consumption (NAPSI)-Whether the price of gas is rising or falling, car owners may find that regular car maintenance can help lower the cost of driving. A recent survey found that few Americans check the tire pressure on their vehicles, even though this simple maintenance task can improve fuel economy. That was one of the key findings of a survey by Opinion Research Corporation on behalf of Scott Shop Towels on a Roll. While 61 percent of respondents reported checking the tire pressure on their cars, only three percent said they would be most likely to do it more often to conserve gasoline. "Proper tire air pressure can improve gas mileage by more than three percent, so this easy maintenance task can help people reduce gasoline consumption at a time when the price of gas is so high," said Paul Feuerstein, director for Scott Shop Towels on a Roll. The survey polled 849 adults about a variety of auto maintenance topics including the types of do-it-yourself jobs performed on cars, the state of car interiors, and the psychological lift provided by a clean and shiny vehicle. Topping the list of car maintenance jobs were vacuuming or cleaning the interior (76 percent), washing and waxing and checking tire pressure (tied at 61 percent), followed by changing the oil and filter (32 percent). After an auto maintenance job is completed, more than half of the respondents said they went inside to "wash up," while nearly one quarter use some kind of towel to wipe their hands. Of these, eight percent use a cloth-like disposable shop towel, the same amount use a rag or towel, and seven percent use a kitchen paper towel. Three percent use a garden hose and a small but sloppy group-two percent-wipe their hands on their shirts. Dirty clothes led the list of what people like least about working on their vehicles, at 36 percent. This was followed by dirty hands (21 percent), having to go inside to wash up (eight percent), and slippery hands (six percent). Car maintenance can improve fuel efficiency and give car owners a psychological lift. Ceramics: The Next Stop In Brakes? (NAPSI)-A new, innovative brake pad technology is keeping drivers happy and making the jobs of brake installers easier. Noise, vibration and brake dust concerns have historically been the greatest causes of customer angst after a brake job. Today, however, advanced ceramic brake pads are alleviating these issues for a growing number of drivers and eliminating frustrating comebacks to repair shops. Not only are ceramic pads helping to restore vehicles' smooth, quiet stopping power to original equipment (OE) specifications, but they produce virtually no visible brake dust, resulting in cleaner wheels and tires. In addition to maintaining original equipment performance, some drivers are even upgrading their traditional OE pads with ceramic pads to improve their vehicles' overall braking performance-and the trend is accelerating. According to a number of brake pad retailers and manufacturers, ceramic pad sales are the fastest growing segment in the aftermarket brake pad business. Industry sales forecasts project the ultra-premium brake pad category, which is dominated by ceramic technology, to account for an estimated nine percent of all aftermarket brake pads sold in 2003. This figure is expected to jump to 18 percent by 2007. Akebono Corporation was one of the first suppliers of advanced ceramic brake technology to automakers including Toyota, Honda, GM and Ford. It was also one of the first to offer ceramic pads to aftermarket brake installers. Akebono's ceramic technology is now available for virtually every domestic and import car in North America. For most drivers, ceramic pads offer a number of performance advantages over other types of brake pads. Tests show that advanced material formulations in the leading ceramic brake pads enable them to last significantly longer than traditional brake pads in typical driving conditions. In most stopping situations, including panic stops, ceramics also provide more consistent stopping power-helping promote driver confidence. Some ceramic pads on the market also are gentler on brake rotors than traditional pads, helping prevent brake pedal pulsation complaints, as well as costly rotor repairs. When it comes to a successful brake job, the secret may indeed rest with asking for a ceramic solution. Ceramic brakes help put a stop to a number of brake noise problems. The Road To A Long-Lasting Automobile (NAPSI)-Auto technicians say the key to keeping vehicles running well-today and down the road-is routine maintenance. Yet many drivers tend to stall when it comes to keeping up with some everyday auto-basics. A recent survey by the Car Care Council found:
To help drivers keep their cars up to par, the council promotes programs such as National Car Care Month in April, to call attention to the benefits of regular vehicle care. During the month of April, vehicle inspection events are held in many communities. The inspections include volunteers checking fluid levels, tires, lights and other system components. After the inspections are complete, volunteers and motorists review any problems that may have been found and motorists receive information about proper vehicle maintenance and repair. The inspections are usually held in parking lots at shopping malls, schools and businesses and they're generally sponsored by area repair facilities and auto-shops, as well as other businesses, civic groups and radio stations. The Car Care Council is also the source of information for the "Be Car Care Aware" campaign-an initiative geared toward educating consumers about the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair. For more information, visit www.carcare.org. Get In Gear-Regular maintenance can help keep cars running well for years. Car Expert Says: Remember Your Air Filter (by Lauren Fix) (NAPSI)-American drivers are suffocating their cars and forgetting one of the basics of vehicle maintenance-changing their air filters. In a recent survey, 82 percent of all vehicle owners surveyed couldn't even remember that they had an air filter.* Yet when an air filter gets dirty and clogged, the engine can't get the clean air it needs to perform well. One reason many drivers neglect this important step is that air filters are much less noticeable than they used to be, especially the "panel filters" found on today's fuel-injected vehicles. And what drivers don't see, they usually don't remember. But poor maintenance can not only reduce a vehicle's performance, but its value as well. The good news is that air filters are easy to change. Check your owner's manual to find the filter and how often you need to change it. If you check your air filter every time you change your oil and change the air filter around every 12,000 miles, you'll be doing a lot for your vehicle. Just make sure the filter is up to the job. There's a new FramÆ filter, which uses Triad™ fiber technology to trap from 22 percent (in its panel version) to 48 percent (in its round version) more dirt than ordinary panel filters. These filters have more dirt-trapping capacity for longer life, so you can get the most from your effort. Automotive expert Lauren Fix is a race car driver, driving instructor and author. She has appeared on TV and radio with her advice on cars and driving safety. She also operates an automotive tubing business and race car driving school.
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