Clean the inside, too

Vacuum and sponge your interior every time you wash your car. Dirt particles are abrasive, and spilled liquids, such as soda, can be corrosive.Vacuum your interior thoroughly with a powerful vacuum (small cordless models are generally too weak). Use the appropriate wand heads when vacuuming. The bare metal wand can mar and scratch surfaces. Sponge vinyl surfaces clean with a solution of mild detergent and water.

Lighten up your key chain

Does your car key share a chain with a dozen or more other keys? That’s a pretty heavy load hanging off the car key when it’s in the ignition.The weight, combined with bouncing while you drive, can wear out the tumblers inside the ignition and eventually lead to ignition switch failure.To add years of service to your ignition switch, purchase a lightweight key chain that allows you to separate your ignition key from the others. Drive with only the ignition key in your ignition. If your ignition key “sticks” when you try to turn on the car, it’s a warning that your ignition switch is about to fail. Replace it before you get stranded.

Drive with care everyday

Being car considerate shouldn’t stop after the break-in. Drive with care every day and your car will reward you with longer intervals without repair.

• Do not race your car’s engine during start-up.This is a quick way to add years of wear to your engine, especially if it’s cold outside.
• Accelerate slowly when you begin your drive.The most wear to the engine and drive train occurs in the first ten to twenty minutes of operation.
• Warming the engine by letting it idle in the driveway is not a smart idea.The engine doesn’t operate at its peak temperature, resulting in incomplete fuel combustion, soot deposits on cylinder walls, oil contamination, and ultimately damaged components.
• Put less strain on your engine and automatic transmission by shifting to neutral at red lights. Otherwise, the engine is still working to push the car even while it’s stopped.
• Avoid driving at high speeds and accelerating quickly, especially when it’s very hot or very cold outside. Such driving behavior will result in more frequent repairs.
• Extend the life of your tires with careful driving. Observe posted speed limits. Avoid fast starts, stops, and turns. Avoid potholes and objects on the road. Don’t run over curbs or hit the tire against the curb when parking. And, of course, don’t burn rubber.
• When turning your steering wheel, don’t hold it in an extreme right or left position for more than a few seconds. Doing so can damage the power-steering pump.
• Consolidate your short driving trips. Most of the wear and tear — as well as the pollution your car generates — takes place in the first few minutes of driving. Doing several errands at once, during low traffic hours if possible, will keep your engine happier longer.

Taking Care Of Tired Tires

Taking care of tired tires is an important part of fall and winter car maintenance. Make sure you check the air pressure and wear on your car's tires. Find some great ideas to help you stay safe on the road.

(ARA) - With temperatures dropping and school back in full swing, now is the time to get your car ready for cooler weather. Here's why the fall and winter can be so demanding on your tires, and how to stay safe throughout the seasons:

* Recover From Summer:

Following the busy summer driving season and numerous road trips, your tires may be a little tired. A study conducted by Hankook Tire America Corp found that 70 percent of Americans planned to take a road trip this past summer, with the average American logging approximately 725 miles on their vehicle. With increased wear and tear on your tires as a result of summer trips, the tread depth may not be what it used to be. Tires with unsatisfactory tread depth decrease the tire's traction in various road conditions and can potentially put you and your passengers at risk. Tires must be replaced when the tread is worn down to 2/32 of an inch. You can easily check your tires' tread once a month by using the quarter test - place a quarter, head down into the tread of the tire. If George Washington's entire head is showing, your tread is too low.

* Air 'Em Up:

Did you know tire pressure changes as the outdoor temperature does? For every 10 degree change in temperature, your tires lose or gain 1 to 2 pounds of pressure, meaning as the hot summer weather gives way to a cooler fall, your tires will be losing air pressure. Add foliage, rain and slick driving conditions to the mix and it is even more essential to have the right tire pressure. Proper inflation maintains an even contact pressure of the tread to the road offering the performance the tire was designed to provide, while at the same time helping to prevent uneven wear. Proper inflation also reduces rolling resistance and quickly discharges heat that is generated. The correct tire inflation pressure for your vehicle can be found in the vehicle's owner's manual. While correct tire inflation is key to performance, it is also important to remember to not overinflate your tires. When tires are overinflated, they are more susceptible to road hazards and damage.

*Be Safe…And Save:

The fall season means school is back in full swing. With that comes the ritual of shuttling kids to school, extracurricular activities, sports practice and school events adding mileage to the everyday routine. Trips to college homecoming festivities, football games and Thanksgiving gatherings can also translate into some serious mileage on your vehicle's tires. If you're ready to replace your tires, choose an all-season tire, such as the new for 2011 Hankook Optimo H426 or Dynapro HT, which decrease rolling resistance creating a smooth, quiet ride in all-season conditions. By minimizing wasted energy and improving fuel efficiency, lower rolling resistance tires can save you gas and money, while keeping the kids safe. Take advantage of special offers that will save you money like Hankook's Great Hit promotion, which could allow you to save up to $80 on a set of four tires.

A little tire care can go a long way to keeping you and your vehicle safe on the road this fall.

Engine Coolant Is A Year Round Concern

Engine coolant is a year round concern for vehicle owners. Find out about how antifreeze/coolant helps your car's engine from the experts at Prestone and some good suggestions to keep your car's cooling system protecting your car all year round.


(NC)—Most people only think about their vehicle's antifreeze/coolant during extreme weather conditions...or when it's too late and their overheated vehicle is stranded on the side of the road. The truth is, antifreeze/coolant is a year 'round concern.

“As the name implies, antifreeze/coolant performs two functions,” explains Jay Buckley, ASE certified master mechanic and training manager for Prestone. “It helps keep the engine's cooling system from freezing up in cold weather and from boiling over in hot weather.”

In order to help lower exhaust emissions, modern engines run at very high operating temperatures. Cooling system temperatures of 110º C are not uncommon. What's more, many engines are constructed of dissimilar metals, which can lead to corrosion. All of this puts more stress on the antifreeze/coolant.

A high-quality antifreeze/coolant, like Prestone LongLife, which is designed for use with any antifreeze/coolant in any vehicle make or model, can have a long service life. However, it's still important to monitor the coolant level and condition regularly. Virtually all modern vehicles have a pressurized cooling system with a plastic coolant expansion tank clearly visible under the hood. There are usually “high” and “low” marks on the tank to make things easier. For added convenience when topping up, and to ensure the correct water/coolant ratio is maintained, Prestone comes in a premixed formulation of 50% coolant and 50% demineralized water.

But it's not enough simply to check the level. A professional technician should also test the condition of the coolant and the coolant concentration to ensure that it doesn't need to be changed. Because antifreeze/coolant service intervals can be two years or longer, it's easy to forget about it. For year 'round protection, get your cooling system checked today.

Who Is Behind The Wheel-You Or Your Cell Phone?

Who is behind the wheel—you or your cell phone? Technology is a great thing when used as it's meant to be used. Cell phones are a great invention, but they were never meant to be used while driving a car. The statistics show that when a cell phone is used by someone who is driving, the odds are 4 times higher there will be an accident. I don't want to be in an accident caused by a cell phone and I don't want my teen driver in an accident because of a phone. Driving a car is serious business and it demands all of our attention. Keep your cellular devices tucked away in your purse or pocket when you are in control of a vehicle.

(NC)—As Canadians rely more and more on cell phones to stay connected, government agencies are addressing the use of cellular devices on the road. With bans already in place in most provinces, the rest of Canada will not be far behind.

A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that talking on a cell phone while driving increased the risk of motor vehicle crashes by four times. While the study easily underlines the importance of driving safely, the bans could also help drivers save money.

The cost of the insurance premium with an at-fault crash on your record could be thousands per year, depending on your previous driving record and the accident details. Add to this that fines for using your phone while driving are well over $100, and the case for not chatting while driving is clear.

“The ban on the cell phones not only results in safer drivers, but it helps to make insurance more affordable,” says Mauro Convertini, an insurance and claims expert for Aviva Canada. “Drivers can transition into the new laws by taking some simple precautions.”

Convertini recommends:

• Switch Off:

Turn off your phone before you get in the car, reducing temptation to answer a ring or message. Remember, callers will leave a message or call back if it is important.

• Extra Set Of Hands:

Enlist the help of a passenger to take or make a call for you. Or, if you are expecting an important call, let someone else drive.

• Pull Over:

If you have to make or receive a call, look for a safe opportunity to pull over and park. A highway shoulder is not a safe place.

Make The Pinch At The Pump Less Painful And Enjoy Driving

Make the pinch at the pump less painful and enjoy driving this summer. Save money on gasoline by keeping your vehicle in good running condition. Pay attention to routine car maintenance by checking your tire tread, changing your motor oil, using a gas cap and properly inflating your tires.


(ARA) - With the price of $4 a gallon for regular gasoline becoming a common occurrence across America, relief is miles away. The U.S. Energy Information Administration is predicting that the national average price for a gallon during the summer driving season will rise to $3.81, up $1.05 from last year's $2.76 price tag. Americans' wallets are hurting.

Even with tighter budgets, millions of drivers are hitting the roads for a summer road trip with a desire to make every dollar count. For motorists, now is the time to make sure their vehicle performs at full strength, to save at the pump.

Here's a simple checklist of tips motorists should perform to help keep their vehicles running safer, longer and more cost-effectively during the warm summer months:

* Check That Tread:
Motorists must take a few minutes to inspect their tires, or to visit a local tire and service outlet for a check-up. The price of gasoline provides even more incentive to check tire conditions and air pressure before heading off on summer trips. Advances in tire technology are helping deliver a new generation of moderately priced tires that offer the all-season traction and long tread wear consumers have come to expect, but with enhanced rolling resistance to help save money on gas. For example, Goodyear's Assurance Fuel Max tires, now available for passenger cars, SUVs and CUVs, fit 80 percent of consumer vehicles and help save up to 2,600 miles worth of gas over the life of a set of tires. How do the tires help save gas? Advanced polymers reduce friction as the tires roll, reducing energy loss, which results in improved fuel efficiency ... and that 2,600 miles translates into driving from New York City to the Las Vegas Strip for free. Driving experts across the country have even chosen Fuel Max to help break fuel economy world records. Reigning fuel efficiency champs, Helen and John Taylor, chose Fuel Max to help shatter the 48 Contiguous U.S. States Fuel Economy Guinness World Record, setting it at a whopping 67.9 mpg over 9,505 miles.

* Don't Overload:
Vehicle overloading can occur when trying to jam too many extra items for an extended vacation. Check the owner's manual for the maximum recommended load details. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk reduces a typical car's fuel economy by 1 to 2 percent.

* Watch For Inflation:
Proper tire inflation is essential for increased automotive safety, optimum driving performance and significant cost savings, including better fuel mileage. Tires should be inflated to the vehicle manufacturer recommendations printed on the vehicle door placard or in the glove box and should be checked monthly. Over-inflation can lead to premature or irregular tire wear and under-inflation reduces a vehicle's fuel efficiency by an average of 3.3 percent. Easy-to-find maintenance advice is offered at www.goodyear.com.

* Get Tuned In:
Before taking that long trip, visit a trusted automotive outlet and make sure your car is properly tuned. Regular vehicle maintenance can improve gas mileage by an average of 4.1 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

* Wear A Cap:
Vehicle gas caps must be tight and undamaged. Approximately 17 percent of the vehicles on U.S. highways have either misused or missing gas caps, causing millions of gallons of gas to vaporize into the atmosphere.

* Be Smooth:
Aggressive driving wastes gas and can reduce your fuel mileage by 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent in the city. Observe the speed limit.

* Get Up In The Gears:
The higher the gear you drive in, the lower your engine speed is, which can improve fuel efficiency. So change up a gear whenever you can. This can dramatically impact fuel efficiency.

* Cruisin' U.S.A.:
Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will prevent stressful engine acceleration.