Getting Your Vehicle Ready for Summer - Edward Cotton (leveled readers .txt) 📗

Getting Your Vehicle Ready for Summer


Summer's heat, dust, and stop-and-go traffic will take
their toll on your vehicle. Add the effects of last winter,
and you could be poised for a breakdown. You can lessen the
odds of mechanical failure through periodic
maintenance...Your vehicle should last longer and command a
higher resale price, too!

Some of the following tips are easy to do; others
require a skilled auto technician.

Getting Started--The best planning guide is your owner's
manual. Read it; and follow the manufacturer's recommended
service schedules.

* Air Conditioning--A Marginally operating system will
fail in hot weather. Have the system examined by a
qualified technician.

* Cooling System--The greatest cause of summer
breakdowns is overheating. The cooling system should
be completely flushed and refilled about every 24
months. The level, condition, and concentration of the
coolant should be checked periodically. (A 50/50 mix
of anti-freeze and water is usually recommended.)

Never remove the radiator cap until the
engine has thoroughly cooled! The tightness and condition
of drive belts, clamps, and hoses should be checked by a
pro.

* OIL--Change your oil and oil filter as specified in
your manual--more often (every 3,000 miles) if you
make frequent short jaunts, extended trips with lots
of luggage, or tow a trailer.

* Engine Performance--Replace other filters (air, fuel,
PCV, etc.) as recommended--more often in dusty
conditions. Get engine driveability problems (hard
starts, rough idling, smiling, diminished power, etc.)
corrected at a good shop.

* Windshield Wipers--A dirty windshield causes eye
fatigue and can pose a safety hazard. Replace worn
blades and get plenty of windshield washer solvent.

* Tires--Have your tires rotated about every 5,000
miles. Check tire pressures once a month; let the
tires "cool down" first.


Don't forget your spare, and be sure the jack is
in good condition. Examine tires for tread life, uneven
wearing, and cupping; check the sidewalls for cuts and
nicks. An alignment is warranted if there's uneven tread
wear or if your vehicle pulls to one side.

* Brakes--Brakes should be inspected as recommended in
your manual, or sooner if you notice pulsations,
grabbing, noises, or longer stopping distance. Minor
brake problems should be corrected promptly.

* Battery--Batteries can fail any time of year. The only
accurate way to detect a weak battery is with
professional equipment. Routine care: Scrape away
corrosion from posts and cable connections; clean all
surfaces; re-tighten all connections. If battery. caps
are removable, check the fluid level monthly.


Avoid contact with corrosive deposits and battery
acid. Wear eye protection and rubber gloves.

* Lights--Inspect all lights and bulbs; replace burned
out bulbs; periodically clean dirt and insects from
all lenses.


To prevent scratching, never use a dry rag.


* Emergencies--Carry some basic tools--ask a technician
for suggestions. Also include a first aid kit, flares,
and a flashlight. Consider buying a CB radio.


Care And The Environment


Car care is definitely a win-win situation. Besides
helping the environment, a properly maintained and operated
vehicle will run more efficiently, will be safer, and will
last longer--up to 50% longer, according to a survey of
ASE-certified Master Auto Technicians. The following tips
should put you on the road to environmentally conscious car
care.

* Keep your engine tuned up. A misfiring spark plug can
reduce fuel efficiency as much as 30%. Follow the
service schedules listed in your owner's manual.
Replace filters and fluids as recommended.

* Check your tires for proper inflation. Underinflation
wastes fuel--your engine has to work harder to push
the vehicle. Wheels that are out-of-line (as evidenced
by uneven tread wear or vehicle pulling) make the
engine work harder, too. Properly maintained tires
will last longer, meaning fewer scrap tires have to be
disposed.


Every ten days, motorists who drive with under-inflated
tires and poorly maintained engines waste 70 million
gallons of gasoline.

Car Care Council

* Keep your air conditioner in top condition and have it
serviced only by a technician certified competent to
handle/recycle refrigerants. Air conditioners contain
CFCs--gases that have been implicated in the depletion
of the ozone layer. According to the Environmental
Protection Agency, almost one third of the CFCs
released into the atmosphere come from mobile air
conditioners; some simply leaks out, but the majority
escapes during service and repair--so it's important
to choose a qualified technician.

* Do-it-yourselfers: dispose of used motor oil,
anti-freeze/coolant, tires, and old batteries
properly. Many repair facilities accept these items.
Or call your local municipal or county government for
recycling sites. Never dump used oil or anti-freeze
on the ground or in open streams.

Each year twenty times the amount of oil spilled by the
tanker Exxon Valdez in Alaska is improperly dumped into
America's environment by do-it-yourselfers.

Automotive Information Council


* Observe speed limits. Mileage decreases sharply above
55 mph.

* Drive gently. Avoid sudden accelerations and jerky
stop-and-go's. Use cruise-control on open highways to
keep your speed as steady as possible.

* Avoid excessive idling. Shut off the engine while
waiting for friends and family. Today's vehicles are
designed to "warm up" fast, so forget about those
five-minute warm ups on cold winter mornings.

* Remove excess items from the vehicle. Less weight
means better mileage. Store luggage/ cargo in the
trunk rather than on the roof to reduce air drag.

* Plan trips. Consolidate your daily errands to
eliminate unnecessary driving. Try to travel when
traffic is light to avoid stop-and-go conditions. Join
a car pool.

Remember, how your car runs, how you drive it, and how
its fluids, old parts, and tires are disposed of all have
serious consequences on the environment.

Hope this helps and good luck with you vehicle.
Edward CottonCar

Publication Date: 06-27-2011

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