Car
Tips
Tips
For Waxing Your Car
Maintaining Present Vehicle May Make Financial Sense
Your Car's Safety Check Should Start With A Stop
Don't Put Yourself In Harm's Way At The Fuel Pump
Simple Way To Reduce Gas Consumption
Ceramics: The Next Stop In Brakes?
The Road To A Long-Lasting Automobile
Car Expert Says: Remember Your Air Filter (by Lauren
Fix)
To view past Tips and Training articles, click
here.
Tips For Waxing Your Car
(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.
Here are some simple tips for waxing your car from the experts at
Toyota:
- Wax should be applied once a month or if water no longer
beads on the vehicle's surface.
- Always wash and dry the vehicle
before you begin waxing, even if you are using a combined cleaner
and wax.
- Be sure the vehicle's surface temperature is not hot;
shade is best for waxing.
- Use a pure carnuba wax with no abrasives.
- If the finish
has become dull in appearance, use a car-cleaning polish, followed
by a separate wax.
- Be sure to polish and wax the chrome trim as well
as the paint.
- Carefully follow the wax manufacturer's instructions
and precautions.
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.
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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 : back to top
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 : back to top
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:
- Always place portable
fuel containers on the ground and out of contact with the vehicle
when refueling-this helps ground the container. Do
not fill the container while it is in the trunk or truck bed.
- Only
use portable containers that are approved for the type of fuel
you are pouring.
- Keep the pump nozzle in contact with the container
throughout the fueling process to establish and maintain grounding.
- Do not use an
automatic pump-handle device-fill the container manually and
slowly. This helps decrease the chance of static electricity build-up
as well as spilling or splattering.
- Keep your hand on the fuel nozzle
throughout the refueling process, and never re-enter the vehicle
while fuel is still being pumped into
the tank.
- Don't smoke when refueling a vehicle or filling a portable
fuel container.
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. : back to top
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. : back to top
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. : back to top
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:
- 27 percent of cars had
low or dirty engine oil.
- 23 percent had low
tire pressure.
- 26 percent had inadequate cooling
protection.
- 21 percent needed new
belts.
- 17 percent had dirty air filters.
- 11 percent had low or contaminated
brake fluid.
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. : back to top
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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