autoMedia Auto News Blog : Car care

Taking Turns: Adjustable Shocks

Editor — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:33:00 GMT

Adjustable shock absorbers are readily available today. If you haven’t seen or touched them first hand, you’ve no doubt heard about them. Typically, these shocks are fitted with adjustment knobs on the outside of the absorber body. That means anyone can make a simple modification to the way a car or light truck handles. And most of these adjustments can be made without the use of hand tools. Fair enough, but what do these adjustments accomplish? More than you might think. Good, quality adjustable shock absorbers can have 12 separate adjustments (single adjustable) to more than twice that number that in some double adjustable shock absorbers. Where one knob looks after bump and rebound settings in a single adjustable shock absorber, the bump and rebound settings are individually set in a double adjustable shock absorber. So you have different (and in some cases, complex) setting capabilities, but what does the adjustment really provide? It allows you to tailor the way your car or light truck functions under specific conditions. Having a vehicle with adjustable shocks means you have control on how your car is set up to handle the type of driving you'll be doing. While the adjustments...(read more)

To-the-Point, Easy Oil Change

Editor — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:59:00 GMT

Put the vehicle in the air if it’s not already.

Plastic ramps are handy, but if you’ve never driven a car onto ramps, don’t try it in your garage. Have a spotter. Double-check clearance on your front bumper/air dam.

With a jack, always use jack stands. Duh.

Let the oil drain as long as you can.

10-30 minutes should do the trick, so more old oil will leave the engine.

If your vehicle uses a drain plug washer, apply a new one when you replace the plug.

Drain the pan before removing the filter.

Remove the filter.

Oil filters stick, so good leverage is a good idea.

Sometimes the best angle is from underneath - another reason to let things drain. It’ll take more oil out of the filter and it’ll spill less when you remove it.

Use the right tools.

There are several tools for getting a better grip on the filter. We prefer a strap-style wrench – simple and effective. You don’t need much angle to get a little rotation, then repeat.

Use a factory-replacement filter, or one approved by the factory.

Try to use the recommended oil type and viscosity as stated in your manual, but some extreme environs will necessitate special oil.

Back off the ramps s-l-o-w-l-y.

Recycle your used oil or Mother Nature will get you.

Check out Oil Change for Beginners for more details, and why doing it yourself is a nice idea.

Late Labor Day Reduces Holiday Travel

Brandy Schaffels — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:28:00 GMT

While Memorial Day and Labor Day traditionally bookend the beginning and end of the summer travel season, this year's Labor Day weekend is expected to see 13% fewer travelers than last year. This is expected mainly because of its late date, which occurs after school has already started for many children across the country. "With Labor day falling a week later this year when many children will have returned to school, the decline may more to do with the calendar than with the economy," said AAA President & CEO, Robert L. Darbelnet.

According to statistics released this week from AAA, only 39.1 million Americans are expected to take a trip of 50 miles or more away from home, a decrease of 13.3 percent from the 45.1 million travelers who hit the highways last year, even though average national gas prices this season are a full dollar less expensive than they were last year.

Last Labor Day weekend, the nationwide average price of self-serve, regular gasoline had dropped to $3.68 per gallon after peaking at an all-time record of $4.11 per gallon on July 17, AAA says. (Remember, that's the nationwide average: In Los Angeles, gas prices reached above $5 per gallon.) This, combined with the earliness of the holiday (last year, Labor Day fell on September 1), and the emergence of end of summer travel discounts, caused large numbers of travelers to make a last-minute decision to take a holiday trip and made it the most traveled holiday weekend of the decade. According to the Energy Information Administration, the current national retail average for regular self-serve is $2.63 per gallon.

"AAA expects this Labor Day holiday weekend to be the third busiest of the decade, even though the number of travelers will be down from one year ago," said Darbelnet. "Our forecast shows Labor Day travel will be up over this summer's 4th of July holiday and that's a positive sign." According to the AAA release, average spending will be $968 and average distance traveled will be 645 miles.

If you're preparing to take a road trip, be sure to plan ahead for possible emergencies: Make sure your vehicle emergency kit is stocked with bottled water, a flashlight and batteries, flares, duct tape, energy bars, a blanket, phone number for roadside assistance, jumper cables, and can of Fix-a-Flat.

Before you depart, perform your regular preventive maintenance: make sure your tires (including the spare) are all properly inflated, top off important fluids (coolant, oil, brakes, transmission, and windshield), check your belts and hoses, and ensure your headlights, taillights, and turn indicators are all working properly.

Enjoy your road trip!

Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com Contributing Editor

Life, Cars, and Dad

Editor — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 06:58:00 GMT

People are often curious about girls and women who love, race, and/or write about cars. I owe my passion for cars (and my career) to my dad. My dad was 23 when I was born; his second child and, all told, his only daughter. He’s called me Baby my whole life.

Southern California in the early Sixties was innocent and spacious, and a great place to be during a hot rod heyday. My dad was a machinist, a mechanic, an engineer, a flat track motorcycle racer, and a born-and-bred automotive aficionado and engine builder. He, like most young men, learned about cars from his dad—and I learned about cars from mine. He gave me an appreciation of cars—not just the shiny new ones, but how to take care of them, to make them last and run well. He taught me racecar driver skills, and the importance of maintenance for safety’s sake.

As a teenager, he had ’37, ’38, ’39, and 1940 Fords. He put a cam for a hydroplane boat on one and later bought a ’42 Cadillac, which he converted to a hot rod. When he met my mom, he drove a ’53 Lincoln Capri, two-toned yellow and black—not bad for a 21-year old. Buying cars and hot rodding them was what he did, and did often. He found a ’53 Studebaker in the wrecking yard. It had a baby V8, but lousy Bendix brakes, so he sold it to a guy who turned it into an Ascot racer. Next he bought a ’51 Chevy Bel Air hardtop coupe with a Cadillac V8 and a turbo 400 trans then a ’58 Olds that ate gas like crazy on our weekend trips to Muscle Beach. He added a Corvette manifold and twice pipes to a blue ’53 Bel Air coupe, but it made too much noise and my mom was always getting ticketed. We always had fun in and around cars, and there wasn’t anything he modified that my mom didn’t drive as well.

All of our “family” cars had some element of performance and/or cool factor to them, even the first brand new car my parents bought—a 1961 Plymouth Valiant. He worked hard to make sure my mom could stay home with us, and every penny mattered. For $3.00 more a month, they could have bought the station wagon version, but decided they couldn’t afford it. My dad taught me the value of money. The Valiant was a good car, although a little nose-heavy with its large, slant six. After that, we got a ’64 Plymouth Barracuda fastback, with a small V8 and a four-speed manual. I say “we” because this was the time I really fell in love with cars and my dad’s skill behind the wheel. I was always asking him to go faster.

We had names for our cars, like our “root beer” car—a ’58 Pontiac Star Chief, with its cream-colored hardtop and metallic root beer brown body, and our ’46 Chevy “cherry truck,” that was really deep green but totally cherry. Our ’61 Pontiac Ventura wide track station wagon, white with red interior, was one of my favorites, because we went everywhere—up and down the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington, camping and traveling. My dad worked 18-hour days, but he always reserved Sundays just for us. After church, he took us for long drives, somewhere around Southern California, from the beaches to Beverly Hills, to the desert to Skid Row. My dad didn’t always drive fast. On these days, he would drive slowly (when no one was behind us), so he could point out Southern California history, and how other people lived—those more fortunate and less. I learned appreciation and understanding from my dad from these family drives.

I also learned trust from my dad, and confidence in myself. At 15, with just my learner’s permit, he had me drive our ‘69 Ford Country Squire LTD (with a 429 V8) from the bottom of Azusa Canyon, through the high, winding mountain roads, through to where it ended back into the town. The caveat was that my entire family was in the car, including my grandparents. But I passed the test and we all lived to tell. When I’d finally gotten my license and could take the car by myself, I knew I had to pay attention to what I was doing, and to it. Not because it ran poorly, but to prevent it from doing so. My dad had installed aftermarket gauges in the car. When I got home from even a dairy run, I had to be able to tell him exactly what the oil pressure was. But he didn’t always ask. My dad taught me to be prepared, to listen to my car, and to tell the truth.

When I got my own first car, I didn’t pay much attention to the Country Squire any longer, but my dad still did. He had a rule about this car: 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever came first. But one day when doing some weekend maintenance under the hood and giving it a wax, a large family in an old, almost broken down pickup drove by. The man stopped and asked my dad if he was selling the wagon. He really wasn’t because, although he’d already gotten my mom a new car, he still had to make sure every hose, belt, plug, pad and wire was just right before selling it. But at that moment he decided to go ahead and let it go, because he could see that this man really needed a nice car for his family. And he gave him a great deal. I learned generosity from my dad.

Cars brought us together, they brought us joy and they taught us to take care of what we have, and each other, and to be gracious to others who don't have as much. These are the things I've learned from my dad—things about cars, and life.

- Deborah Neal, Editorial Director, autoMedia.com

autoMedia.com CARnival June 19, 2009: Father's Day Gifts for the Ultimate Car Guy

Brandy Schaffels — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:54:00 GMT

Father's Day is this weekend, so we've collected an assortment of gadgets and gizmos meant specifically for that Car Guy you love so much: It doesn't matter if he's your Dad or Husband, Brother or Uncle, Son or special friend, if he loves cars, we know you'll find something here that's perfect for him.

I personally LOVE the products at Busted Knuckle Garage: Their gear is perfectly suited (as they say) "for the guy with the hands of a lobster and a workbench that looks like an environmental disaster." Their unique line of herbal skin care products helps ease skin exposed to gasoline, oil and solvents, and is great at healing abrasions and cuts! They've got a great assortment of value-priced gift packs that include tee-shirts and cool memorabilia for father's day, but my absolute favorite items in their line are the Mechanic's lip balm/hand salve, and Mechanic's Muscle Easing Salve. Each 1.75-ounce tin is just $6.95, so you can get Dad one of each and a tee-shirt too!

He doesn't have to be behind the wheel of a Porsche to appreciate the exciting world of Porsche racing: Instead you can give Racer Guy some extraordinary accessories from the Porsche Design Driver's Selection. Whether it's as simple as a car-themed silk tie, Porsche-badged cap, or durable polycarbonate travel cases, the entire product line features meticulous craftsmanship, high-quality materials, and beautiful designs exclusive to Porsche. These high-quality gifts can be ordered at your dealership, online, or by calling 800-PORSCHE. Online purchases placed during the month of June receive free standard shipping!

Die-Cast Models: No matter which car dad already drives -- or longs to have in his driveway -- he can keep an amazingly detailed 1:18 die-cast model on his desk. Dad can desk-race his choice of practically anything in the vehicle lineup, including the 911 Turbo Cabriolet, Carrera GT, or Cayman S all the way up to the real racecars like the RS Spyder from the 2008 American LeMans series or the Porsche 917L "Hippie" model seen at the 1970 LeMans. ($77 to $142 MSRP).

RC Racers: If true Remote Control racing is more Dad's style, consider stepping up to one of their pistol-grip-controlled RC cars. These genuine 1:14-scale reproductions of the 911 Carrera S, 911 GT3 Cup VIP, or Cayenne Turbo (1:28 scale) are capable of traveling of speeds up to 25 mph! ($129 to $324 MSRP)

Porsche Driving School: If desk and RC racing aren't enough, enroll him in the high-performance driver education courses at the Porsche Sport Driving School. Under the guidance of famed Porsche drivers from all types of racing backgrounds, Dad can learn about the true capabilities and performance Porsche cars offer while increasing his own confidence and skill behind the wheel. A one-day driving course on the essentials of high-performance driving starts at $1795; multi-day courses with personal instruction reach up to $5,295. This intensive and comprehensive experience is something Dad will never forget! Click here to ride in the passenger seat for one lap around the course!

From the makers of The Ultimate Driving Machine come the Ultimate Dad's Day gifts: accessories, apparel, and other items that capture the true spirit of BMW. Regardless of whether your Dad has a BMW parked in the driveway, or just wishes he did, this assortment products from BMW Lifestyle easily win the race for the best Father's Day gift. You can browse the BMW Lifestyle collection at your local authorized BMW center or online at www.bmw-online.com. Here are a few BMW-themed Father's Day gift ideas to help you get started:

Wheeled Cargo Duffel: For the gentleman who spends more time in the air than on the road: elegant and innovative, this roomy carry-on duffel has wheels and telescoping handle for easy transport, finished with discreet BMW logo. ($110 MSRP)

BMW Chronograph: For the dad who makes every minute count: Tourneau timepiece with brushed stainless case and anthracite dial boasts a host of high-tech features, along with BMW logo on face next to 30-minute, 1-second and 1/10-second timers. Available with black nylon strap or stainless bracelet. ($285 to $320 MSRP).

Your father has provided guidance your entire life, so now is the time to return the favor. A portable GPS navigation device can provide guidance on road trips, drives to new places, and route around traffic on the daily commute. If he's one of those who hates to ask for directions, you can spare his honor with one of these great gadgets. (Prices and products vary so check the links to help you choose an item that best fits your price range.)

Garmin nuvi 2x5 GPS: Industry sales-leader Garmin provides a wide range of models. Smart money is on the nuvi 2x5 line, with the affordable basic nuvi 205 navigator being a good choice for occasional use and the nuvi 265WT for daily use. These are easy to use and provide good basic navigation, with the 265WT adding a wide screen and free ad-supported traffic service. (The ads are not intrusive, nor frequent.) New 1200 and 1300 series units have just hit the market, meaning the nuvi 2x5 should be great values right now.

TomTom GPS: TomTom has a broad range of products, from entry-level to high-tech, connected devices. On a budget, the One 130 is a solid choice, though the newer One 140 adds the helpful IQ Routes feature that allows the device to provide guidance based on historical traffic data - very helpful around metropolitan areas. The "S" models add text to speech, allowing the device to announce street names, rather than give simple "left" or "right" directions. The XL models are wide screen, making them easier to read and enter addresses. The XL 340 S is tops for this group, and it is just $200 from the manufacturer right now. TomTom has a wide variety of character and celebrity voices that can be installed. If Dad is a Simpsons fan, the Homer Simpson voice is a hilarious download for $12.95.

Finally, you know Dad loves his car, and what better way to show him you love him than to do something nice for his personal chariot? Don't just buy him a collection of car care products, why not give his ride a quality hand detailing that will make his paint shine all summer long? Excellent tips on how to wash it yourself and quick-detail it yourself, along with this excellent guide to Spring Cleaning and Car Care can be found right here at autoMedia.com.

Happy Father's Day, from Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com Contributing Editor

Planning a road trip for your summer vacation?

Brandy Schaffels — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:25:00 GMT

Changes in the economy have hit us all hard, but summer is here and that means many families are making plans for their summer vacations. According to recent research performed by Jiffy Lube International, "88% of people surveyed say they plan on taking a vacation this summer, up 4% from those who indicated they took a vacation last summer." Additionally, their research shows that nearly three-quarters of travelers will avoid the expense and hassle of air or train travel, choosing instead to make the trip in the family car. Of the rest, 30% prefer air travel, 6% plan to travel by bus and 6% plan to travel by train.

How do Americans plan to spend their summer vacations? According to Jiffy Lube's survey, the vast majority (63%) will head to the beach, while the rest will visit historical sites (51%), national parks (46%), and museums (40 %).

Regardless of whether your vacation plans will take you a short distance to the nearest beach, or across the country to visit Mount Rushmore, you'll want to ensure your car is in the proper shape to get there dependably. In fact, AAA recently predicted that it anticipates rescuing 7.3 million motorists stranded with car troubles this summer. You don't want to ruin your summer vacation by sitting on the roadside waiting for a towtruck in the hot summer sun.

If you live someplace like Arizona, you know that extreme seasonal heat can easily take its toll on tired cars, but many of the problems that can put a vehicle on the back of a tow truck can be prevented with regular maintenance, says AAA Automotive Vice President Marshall L. Doney.

"As travelers plan for summer vacations in the upcoming months, it's essential to set aside time to prepare their vehicle for the road," said John Sanfacon, head of Marketing and Innovations at Jiffy Lube International. "Simple preventive maintenance helps keep vehicles road-ready and will help provide a stress-free road trip this summer."

Summer Vacation Vehicle Checklist
Jiffy Lube suggests travelers follow the following checklist to help prep their car for their summer sojourns.

Check your engine oil & filter: Check your owner's manual and perform your regularly scheduled oil and filter changes. And while you're at it, top off all your vehicle's fluids: You wouldn't run a marathon if you were dehydrated, so before you hit the road for your long trip, be sure your vehicle's lifebloods - oil, transmission and brake fluid, and antifreeze - are clean, fresh, and full.
Keep your tires properly inflated: Your vehicle's recommended tire pressure should be posted on a sticker inside the driver's door or you can find it in the owner's manual. Besides safer performance, you'll get better fuel economy on your road trip, too. How's the wear on those treads? Do a quick penny check to make sure your tires are fit for a long road trip: Place a penny headfirst in the shallowest tread groove. If you're able to see the top of Lincoln's head, your tire should be replaced.
Stay cool and check the A/C: Now would be a good time to have a professional perform a system check to ensure you'll stay cool when the weather heats up.
Clean or replace dirty wiper blades: If you didn't replace them during winter, now is the time to ensure your wiper blades are free of cracks and tears. The only thing worse than a buggy windshield is a SMEARY buggy windshield.
Engine air filter: Your vehicle's air filter works like your own lung does to clean the air your car breathes. A dirty air filter restricts clean airflow to your engine, thus affecting how it works and impacting fuel economy, so make sure yours is clean.
Check your battery: Summer heat contributes to battery failure and accelerates corrosion on the battery terminals, so make sure the connections between the cables and terminals are tight and there is no sign of corrosion. This simple maintenance can prevent you from being among the 1.3 million drivers AAA anticipates will require a jump start or battery replacement this summer.
Plan ahead for an emergency: It's a good idea to travel with jumper cables, flashlight and spare batteries, first-aid kit, and water and non-perishable snacks. Premade emergency kits can be ordered online or purchased at places like Target, Wal-Mart, or even Pep-Boys

Happy travels!

Brandy Schaffels, Contributing Editor

Tips for Safe Memorial Day Travel

Brandy Schaffels — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:45:00 GMT

Are you planning a road trip for Memorial Day? According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), as many as 32.4 million motorists will be traveling 50 miles or farther from home this weekend, traditionally the opening of the summer travel season. Because gas prices were so high last summer, many drivers chose to stay home, but at nearly two dollars less per gallon this year, we can definitely expect the roads to be more crowded. In fact, Auto Club predicts the average trip taken by Americans this Memorial Day holiday weekend to be farther than 600 miles!

"Last year, soaring gas prices and a deteriorating economy resulted in far fewer trips being taken than had been forecasted," said Robert L. Darbelnet, AAA President & CEO. "The good news is sharply lower gasoline prices and plentiful travel bargains have Americans feeling better about taking a road trip this summer which should help tourism-based economic activity throughout the nation."

Regular vehicle maintenance should be a part of your routine, but before you load up your family for your personal pilgrimage, make sure you don't wind up in your own particular version of the Griswold's "Vacation" film nightmare by performing some pre-road trip preparation.

Simple Preventive Maintenance

Before you even hit the road, check your tires while cold to ensure they are properly inflated to the correct pressure: Underinflated tires reduce your fuel economy and hinder the vehicle's cornering, acceleration, and braking performance. Underinflated tires are also prone to overheat on long journeys, and the last thing you want is a blowout in the middle of the desert. You can find your manufacturer's recommended tire pressure on a sticker inside the driver's door or in the owner's manual. Auto Club estimates it will come to the rescue of more than a million motorists with flat tires this summer, so be sure you check your tread wear and keep your tires properly rotated.

Top off all fluids: radiator, windshield washer, and oil. If you're approaching the suggested interval, go ahead and perform an oil-change before you go. These fluids are the lifeblood of your vehicle, so make sure they're full and fresh.
Perform a quick visual check to ensure rubber parts like wiper blades, and belts and hoses are soft and functional. You might enjoy a sauna at your destination, but nobody wants to see steam coming out from under the hood of their car. And long roadtrips can lead to buggy windshields, so you'll need to ensure you can clear those crushed critters off the glass.
Create an emergency kit for the trunk that contains spare tire, flares, plenty of bottled water, and a first aid kit. Breaking down can ruin a vacation, but sitting curbside for hours while waiting for a towtruck in the hot sun can cause heatstroke and dehydration.
Check your battery. Summer heat contributes to battery failure and accelerates corrosion on the battery terminals, so visually inspect the battery to make sure the connections between the cables and terminals are tight and there is no sign of corrosion. This simple maintenance can prevent you from being among the 1.3 million drivers AAA anticipates will require a jump start or battery replacement this summer.

"No one wants to have their day disrupted by a broken-down vehicle--especially when they are on vacation," says AAA Automotive Vice President Marshall L. Doney. "Many of the problems that end up with the vehicle on the back of a tow truck could have been prevented with regular maintenance."

Will you be traveling with little ones?

While you're packing up the car, double check your child's safety seat to ensure it is installed properly. And if you haven't checked lately, now is a good time to ensure it is still the correct model for your child's height and weight.
Pack plenty of travel games and hand them out one at a time, or involve the whole family in games you can play along the way. Mobil Oil shares a fun collection of classic travel games at its site to help ensure back seat harmony among your travelers.
Make sure you bring plenty of fun and healthy snacks such as crackers, fruit and cheese. Be prepared to take a little longer too: a journey that takes six hours without kids can now span eight or nine. Take a 10-minute rest every hour your child is awake to stretch legs and take potty breaks.

Practical Safety Reminders
Long trips can be tedious, and we're all tempted to try to squeeze as many miles as possible into a day, but driving while drowsy can be as dangerous as driving while drunk. The National Sleep Foundation's Sleep in America poll reveals 60% of Americans have driven while feeling sleepy and 37% admit to actually having fallen asleep at the wheel in the past year. According to drowsydriving.org many people cannot tell if or when they are about to fall asleep. The site recommends that drivers stop and rest if they exhibit the following symptoms:

Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids,
Daydreaming; wandering/disconnected thoughts,
Trouble remembering the last few miles driven; missing exits or traffic signs,
Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes,
Trouble keeping your head up, or
Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder rumble strip.

It might sound obvious, but be sure to buckle up. 'Click it or Ticket' enforcement mobilization is running nationwide through May 31, and you wouldn't want a seatbelt citation to spoil your fun or an injury to ruin your life. A report at NHTSA estimates seat belts saved more than 15,000 lives in 2007 and an additional 5,000 could have been saved if everyone involved in a crash was buckled in. "Worn correctly, seat belts have proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent," according to NHTSA, "and by 60 percent in pickups, SUVs and minivans."

Regardless of whether you're planning on being one of the many travelers touring the highways this Memorial Day holiday, or simply preparing for daily driving, we at autoMedia hope these tips will help you arrive at your destination safe and sound. Happy travels!

By Brandy Schaffels
Contributing Editor

(Photos by the author and Automobile Association of America)

Survey: Americans Are Putting More Elbow Grease into Their Cars

admin — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:28:00 GMT

American motorists are putting significant elbow grease into maintaining their cars, according to a new "Elbow Grease Economics" survey conducted by Harris Interactive and 3M. Based on responses from 1,835 car owners, tightening budgets are driving the trend toward DIY car care. And it is no wonder, with 55 percent stating they will hold on to their current car longer, and more than one-third (34 percent) of car owners feel they have to take better care of their car now because they can't afford a new one. The scariest finding: three percent say they are afraid they might have to live in their car if their home is foreclosed.

Nearly one-fifth (19 percent) of car owners used to think they could just go buy a new car if necessary, but now they say they know they can't afford it. This is even higher -- 25 percent -- among Baby Boomers ages 45 to 54, reflecting their concerns over pending retirement and tight household budgets.

Good news for the auto industry is that there appears to be a pent-up demand for new cars, as more than two-fifths (42 percent) are considering trading or selling their current car for another model but haven't done so yet.

Key reasons include:

21 percent of car owners trust their current car, even though it's older.
19 percent aren't confident in the economy or do not want to take out another loan.
10 percent aren't sure what will happen with the Big Three U.S. automakers.
5 percent cannot get an auto loan.

Vehicle maintenance is more of a priority than ever before for car owners, particularly as the average age of American vehicles reaches nine years old. Some six percent of these respondents have just started doing their car maintenance themselves after having it done professionally in the past. This increases to nine percent for car owners ages 18 to 25. Nearly 30 percent (29 percent) of car owners are doing small maintenance tasks themselves like oil changes and light bulb replacements. This is even higher for owners ages 18 to 34 with 43 percent of men and 37 percent of women tackling these tasks. More than one-quarter (26 percent) of car owners are taking better care of the appearance to keep their cars looking new.

Some 15 percent of car owners -- including 30 percent of men and 21 percent of women ages 18 to 34 -- are doing tune-ups themselves or using performance additives to keep their engines in good condition. Interestingly, one-quarter (25 percent) of female drivers are paying more attention to their car's maintenance than two years ago. Nearly one-third (29 percent) of women are doing their car maintenance themselves or with a friend or family member. Some seven percent of these women have just taken over the maintenance after having it professionally done previously.

Consumers are battling the economy and its effects on the household budget in myriad, creative ways. Certainly money can be saved on vehicle maintenance, though it is important to understand the value of proper car care. Keeping your car in top running condition ensures its reliability, helps retain resale value, and reduces the risk for costly, avoidable repairs.

Learn about how to care for your car in our complete guides to owning, cleaning, maintaining, and repairing your car.

Goodyear Rolls Out Fuel Max Green Tires

admin — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 02:32:00 GMT

General Motors has created much buzz for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, and now the insights are coming a part at time. Case in point, Goodyear has announced a new Assurance Fuel Max tire that provides 27 percent less rolling resistance than a standard Goodyear Assurance tire, equating to a four percent improvement in highway fuel economy. Goodyear estimates that this greater fuel efficiency means drivers can potentially save 2,600 miles worth of gas over the life of the tire on a conventional vehicle. With the Volt, and really any model, it is difficult and expensive to make a 1 mpg improvement. (Learn about tire basics.)

The technology behind these green tires was first developed for use in large truck tires, where fuel savings and overall driving efficiency are critical for fleets and individual truck operators. The technology is now being applied to automobile tires, with the usage on the Volt recognized as the first-announced original equipment fitment.

By choosing the right tires, the fuel economy can be improved with low-rolling resistance tires, and Assurance Fuel Max presents a compelling new option.

Learn how to choose the best tire for your vehicle.

Cold Weather Car Care

Editor — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 21:02:00 GMT

Late October is the perfect time of year to check your vehicle’s cooling system for antifreeze/coolant viability and levels. If you live in cold country and take your car to the dealer or other mechanic for service, make sure they check it for you and use the right antifreeze/coolant for your area’s temperature extremes. If you’re a do-it-yourselfer who’s never done this before, here is some antifreeze advice to help keep your car running—and you out of the cold:

Cold, winter weather makes hoses and other pliable materials stiffer and more susceptible to cracking. Be sure to check your car’s hoses and belts while you’re checking your radiator/cooling system. Why do you need to check your cooling system in winter, you might wonder? Antifreeze/coolant—while seeming like a dichotomy—keeps your radiator fluid from freezing up when it’s super cold and from overheating when it’s seriously hot. When either happens, you’re stuck; and, either way, no one wants to be stranded by the side of the road when it’s freezing or frying outside. That said, radiators should be flushed every year or two to maintain optimum system performance—and to prevent a breakdown in bad weather.

Wayne Scraba, our Car Care editor from Canada, knows all about cars and surviving the cold weather. Prepare your car for winter and check out his article, Winter Car Care & Antifreeze, for more details on the various types of antifreeze/coolant, what you need to know about the different types and how to mix them (or not), and which type is best for your particular make and model of vehicle. Click here to jump to story.

Don’t Neglect Car Care in Tough Times

admin — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 01:50:00 GMT

With a faltering economy and elevated gasoline prices, many households are struggling to make ends meet. Cutting corners may seem like the key to preserving one’s lifestyle, but it is important not to neglect your car. Skimping on routine service may lead to long-term reliability issues that ultimately could cost much more. And a well-tuned car runs at peak efficiency, minimizing fuel consumption.

Maintenance is more than a financial concern, it also impacts safety. More than 5 percent of all vehicle accidents result from unperformed vehicle maintenance, according to the Car Care Council. These accidents result in 2,600 deaths, 100,000 disabling injuries, and a financial cost of over $2 billion every year.

Below are tips on common maintenance items, with links to articles that can provide more in-depth advice and how-to instruction.

Air filter – Much has been written about the benefits of a clean air filter for fuel efficiency, though in reality it would take considerable filth to make a measurable impact. For most drivers, replacing the filter at regular manufacturer-recommended service intervals is a sound routine. Unless you are spending much time on dirt-covered roads or off-roading, obsessing over the air filter isn’t worth it. A couple bucks can be saved replacing it yourself, rather than at a service center. Just make sure they don’t charge you for work not performed.

Brakes – Have your brakes inspected routinely during service visits and replace the brake pads as recommended with top-quality units. Skimping on brake service will lead to early rotor replacement and hence greater costs. If your brake hydraulic system has never been flushed, have it serviced to remove moisture and impurities from the reservoir, lines, calipers and/or wheel cylinders. Also, have the emergency brake assembly tested periodically. Repair or adjust the e-brake as necessary.

Oil – With oil-and-filter jobs readily available for cut-rate prices, it's easy to rationalize stretching out the time between oil changes, or even doing it yourself. (Though with the price of oil and inconvenience for recycling the fluid, it is hardly worth it for most people.) Read your owner’s manual to see what the recommended interval is based on your driving, rather than depend on your service station’s reminder sticker. You will likely find 5,000 or 7,500 is appropriate, though there are a few vehicles with a longer 10,000 mile interval with synthetic oil. Check your oil once a month, or preferably every two weeks, to ensure it is at the appropriate level. With this routine, you may find a potential problem early, minimizing damage and subsequent repair costs.

Tune-Ups - Regular tune-ups that include maintenance of the ignition system and emissions system are important. Engine misfires in today's engines are usually caused by of one of two items: plugged fuel injectors or bad spark plug wires. Misfires take a toll on performance and mileage, no matter how slight. It's a good idea to replace spark plug wires every 50,000-60,000 miles, depending on how severe your driving conditions are.

Radiator - Flush and refill the cooling system according to the service manual's recommendations. The level, condition, and concentration of the coolant should be checked periodically.

Tires – Tire wear is a gradual process, taking many thousands of miles. It is tempting to let tires go just a little longer before replacing, especially as tire prices have been creeping up. Remember, however, that your two-ton automobile holds the road with just four, palm-sized contact patches. Make sure they are in good shape. Check your tire inflation monthly, including the spare. To make the entire set wear at the same rate, rotate them. Check the owner's manual for recommendations, though a typical schedule may call for rotation every 5,000 miles with a pattern that's sometimes called "cross-rotation."

Lights and wipers – Have someone help you once a month with a visual check of all lights, including turn signal and brake lamps. These are important safety devices. Wipers are critical for foul-weather visibility. Before replacing, try cleaning the blade with a glass cleaner and paper towel; it may give you a few months more use.

We have just hit the highlights here, though these principles and inspections can lead to years of reliable, cost-effective motoring. Learn more about car care from our exhaustive article archive.

Time for Summer Car Care

admin — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 02:06:00 GMT

As summer dawns, the season change is a good reminder to tend to your car’s maintenance needs before depending on it for lengthy road trip. Summer heat takes its toll on cars, being harsher on batteries than winter, stressing the cooling system, wearing the tires, and drying out rubber trim and hoses.

Keeping up with the recommended maintenance schedule is a great defense against problems that could become expensive or downright inconvenient, but it is worthwhile conducting your own inspection, as well. Champions of maintenance, The Car Care Council offers these basic tips…

Battery – Have the electrical system checked to make sure it is charging at the correct rate. If your car’s battery is the type that needs to be topped off, check it often, especially in hot weather and add distilled water if necessary. Keep the top of the battery clean. Dirt can become a conductor, which drains battery power. If corrosion accumulates on battery terminals, it becomes an insulator and inhibits the current flow.

Cooling system - The coolant and distilled water mixture for a vehicle’s radiator should be 50:50. Of course, never open a hot radiator cap when checking the coolant level in the reservoir. As a rule of thumb, the coolant should be changed annually on most vehicles. This will keep the cooling system fresh and clean inside, which helps prevent corrosion and assures that the coolant has the proper boiling point and protection. A pressure test, thermostat test, a cooling fan test and a visual inspection for leaks and corrosion should also be done annually. Hoses and drive belts should be checked for cracks, bulges or frayed edges. The radiator should be kept clean by periodically using a garden hose and a soft brush to carefully remove bugs, dirt, and debris.

Tires - To maximize tire life and safety, check the tire condition and inflation pressure monthly, and have the tires rotated every 6,000 miles. Summer heat will cause the pressure within a tire to rise, therefore, it’s important to check the pressure when tires are cold. Literally the same air in the tires during spring may have increased the pressure as the temperature has risen. The owner’s manual includes the recommended air pressure for your vehicle’s tires. This information is often included in the driver’s door jam. Do not go by what is written on the sidewall; that is the maximum, not the recommended, pressure.

Interior / exterior – Show your car some love with a thorough detailing. Vacuum the interior, clean any stains, shampoo the floor mats and carpet, and treat the leather upholstery, if so-equipped. The exterior should be pampered with a polish and waxing to restore and protect the finish. Products are available to care for the plastics, as well.

Take good care of your car, and it will repay the favor with good looks and reliability.

Learn more about how to care for your car from articles in our Car Care section.

Cost of car ownership on the rise

admin — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:41:00 GMT

As any motorist can attest, the cost of driving has been on the rise. Just how much? Recent analysis from AAA shows the cost of driving a passenger vehicle in the United States has increased 1.9 cents per mile in the last year and now averages 54.1 cents per mile.

Costs for maintenance, full-coverage insurance and depreciation are all slightly lower this year, while the costs for fuel, tires, financing, license, registration and taxes showed increases. In 2008, AAA estimates it will cost $8,121 to own and operate a new passenger car driven 15,000 miles per year. This compares to $7,823 per year in 2007; or 52.2 cents per mile.

These figures come from an AAA study that puts dollar figures to some common-sense car-buying advice. For example, AAA's research shows the annual average cost of driving a small sedan is $6,320 per year, while a large sedan costs $9,769 per year. Similar savings can be realized by driving a minivan, instead of a larger and less-fuel efficient sport utility vehicle (SUV). AAA estimates the annual expense of owning and operating a typical minivan at $8,644 per year versus $10,448 for a four-wheel-drive mid-size SUV.

Ultimately, right-sizing car choices to better match a buyer’s needs, versus wants, will go a long way toward saving money a purchase and down the road with ownership costs.

Learn how to make a smart car choice in from our DriveSmart articles, and research models in our new car buyer's guide.

How to drive safe in a snowy winter

admin — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:04:00 GMT

As snow storms grabbed headlines this weekend, many drivers found their vehicle lacked the traction necessary to safely transport them to work, school, or the grocery store. While winter's days are counting down, it is clear from the number of roadside mishaps that not everyone was properly prepared. (Check out this Weather Channel video.) Being safe is a combination of the right tires, the right driving techniques, and simply common sense.

You may find that the tires that came on your car are perfectly adequate on most days. Do you truly know what the tires are and what conditions they were engineered for?

Many drivers think that an M+S (mud and snow) rating stamped on their tires' sidewalls assures decent traction in sloppy conditions. Granted, more-aggressive tread patterns such as those on all-terrain or even mud-terrain truck tires can offer better bad-weather traction compared to some pavement-friendly skins, but tire manufacturers actually engineer tires for specific low-grip conditions. (Learn more about winter tires.)

A main difference among winter tires, all-season-tires, and summer tires is the pliability and durability of their rubber at different temperatures. Tire engineers call it "glass transition temperature": Get them cold enough and every tire will have the grip of a Formica kitchen counter. For a race tire, it might be 40 degrees Fahrenheit. For a true winter tire it could be 60 below zero. Summer tire tread starts becoming Formica-like somewhere just below freezing. Most all-season tires are still pliable below zero, but some "ultra-high-performance all-season" tires start losing grip well before that. (Learn more about the right tires for winter.)

For the most severe conditions, tire chains can approximately double your vehicle's starting and stopping traction on snow and ice. For this reason, many states that have mountainous roads require chains to be installed during low-traction conditions. (Warning: chains are illegal in some states because of the damage they can inflict on bare pavement.)

Many people buy tire chains as part of ski-trip preparation, hoping that they'll never actually have to install them. Many ski bums have made a cottage industry out of roadside chain installation for motorists who don't want to step out of their SUVs. Fees can range from reasonable to outrageous, depending on time of day and weather conditions. These fees are avoidable, if you know how to install tire chains yourself.

When tackling winter roads, having the right rubber is a great start, though you need to exercise caution and respect the threat slippery surfaces present. Traction is not the same everywhere. It changes dramatically both as you drive down the road and, often, laterally within the same lane. A heavily traveled highway may be almost clear, but the off-ramp could be glare ice. Snowy city streets offer a surprising amount of grip, but the area just before a stop sign may be polished as if a Zamboni machine were there before you. (For more advice, read pro driver tips for handling rough weather.)

The articles linked from within this post can provide the advice to make both you and your car better prepared for slippery conditions. Given the number of people we've seen slide off the road in the past few weeks, many motorists would benefit from a few simple tips. Be sure to share, and drive safe.