Page 2 - 2015 Car Care

Regular
An engine oil change is a relatively simple service. It’s widely touted as the single most important part of your car’s maintenance schedule. There is a good reason for this. Nothing will shorten engine life faster than missed oil changes. But how can you tell when you should change your oil? Advances in technology and increased consumer aware- ness have created some confusion to how often this needs to happen.
The Easy Answer
For most of us, all we need to do is fol- low the manufacturer’s recommended main- tenance schedule for oil change intervals. Their guidelines are designed to keep your car in good running condition for a long time. Where can you find your car’s service schedule for oil changes and other recom- mended maintenance? You can check the owner’s manual that hopefully you have kept in a handy place like your car’s glove box. You might also visit the manufacturer’s website and do a search to download it.
Quick lube shops have their own recom- mendations. One thing to remember is that these shops are speaking to a wide audience, addressing cars of every age, every mileage, and some with different needs. While there is no harm done by too frequent oil changes, if your car doesn’t need them, that money could be better spent on other maintenance needs.
Don’t Put It Off
If you have ever put off a trip to the gro- cery store or waited a couple of weeks lon- ger between haircuts, don’t do that with oil changes. Never put it off. Your oil’s primary function is to cut friction. Over time, oil accumulates contaminants and loses viscos- ity (the ability to flow into every nook and cranny). Contaminants cause friction as parts rub together. Friction wears out those parts
oil changes
imperative for cars
Spring is here and it is time to give your car some extra attention, says the non-profit Car Care Council. Results of vehicle inspections held at community car care events across the country during Car Care Months in April and October 2014 reveal that 84 percent of vehicles need service or parts, up 5 percent from the previous year.
majority of vehicle owners could save money by being proactive in the maintenance of their sec- ond largest investment,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council.
When checking lubricants and fluids, the three top failure rates were: low washer fluid at 27 per- cent; low or dirty motor oil at 25
When checking under the hood, nearly one in five vehicles (18 per- cent) needed a new air filter and 13 percent had the “check engine” light on. At least one belt was reported as unsatisfactory in 17 per- cent of the vehicles inspected, and 8 percent required at least one new hose. Battery cables, clamps and terminals needed maintenance in 14 percent of the vehicles inspect- ed, while 9 percent of the batteries were not properly held down.
Approximately 16 percent of vehi- cles had front windshield wiper
failures, and at least 11 percent of vehicles needed lights replaced, including headlights, brake lights and license plate lights. Improperly inflated tires were found on 10 per- cent of the cars, and 14 percent had worn tread and were in need of replacement.
“Whether you do it yourself or take your car to a professional ser- vice technician, National Car Care Month in April is the perfect time to focus on your vehicle’s main- tenance needs to make sure it is ready for the upcoming spring and
summer travel season,” said White. “Following a routine maintenance program, like the free personal- ized schedule and e-mail remind- er service the Car Care Council offers, can help you drive smart, save money and make informed decisions.”
The Car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education cam- paign promoting the benefits of reg- ular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For more infor- mation, visit www.carcare.org.
“Neglected vehicle care almost percent; and low, leaky or dirty
always means much higher costs down the line in the form of more extensive repairs or lost resale value. These results show that the
coolant at 17 percent. Power steer- ing, brake and transmission fluids were also checked, and had failure rates of 13 percent and below.
faster. The damage caused by these condi- tions is largely irreversible without an engine overhaul or replacement.
Waiting for the low oil light to come on can be the worst thing you can do to your engine. You shouldn’t see that light unless your oil level is low. So you don’t want to see it. Whatever amount of oil you do have left almost certainly has lost its ability to function properly. The good news is that your service schedule is written to have this service done long before disaster is on the horizon.
Cars are Smarter Now
For a very long time the gold standard for oil changes was 3,000 to 3,500 miles. There are still many adherents to this philosophy, but it may not be necessary. Advances in
engineering to both engine mechanical parts and especially to oil itself have extended the oil life cycle by more than double the old number.
Do you use synthetic oil? Automakers rec- ommend it for some models. It cost a little more than regular oil, but it has had the biggest impact on oil life. The life cycle for synthetics is typically 7,000 to 10,000 miles, a big change from conventional oil. The type of driving we do also affects our oil change needs. Frequent cold starts, extreme heat, and towing, are all examples of types of driving that can shorten our oil life. Also, repeated short trips (under 4 miles) is one of the most overlooked enemies of oil life. Any of these driving conditions can create the need to
shorten your service interval by 25-40 per- cent depending on the severity.
If your car is equipped with a maintenance reminder on the dash some the guesswork is eliminated for you. Can you trust it? For the most part, yes. In the early days of auto- mobiles the only way we had to track our vehicle’s aging was the odometer. But miles traveled is not always a good indicator of actual use for many urban environments. With the inclusion of computers in the mod- ern automobile we now have a way for the car to track time AND mileage. Time is import- ant to this discussion because running time affects oil life.
But not all maintenance indicators work the same way. Some use an electronic sensor to measure the oil quality, while others use an algorithm based on driving metrics to determine life expectancy. If your car is not equipped with maintenance light or gauge, the owner’s manual should still be your guide.
Don’t Buy Cheap Oil
All of these scenarios assume you are using the factory-recommended lubricant. If you have opted for something inferior you may be adversely affecting the recommendation. It’s not worth a few dollars to shortcut on the oil.
Track Your Maintenance
Because time is important as well as mile- age, it’s nice to try and plan our service visits. The little sticker in the corner of the wind- shield was a small, important innovation to help us plan. Before that, many people kept a paper record in their glove box as well. But now, with many of us carrying smart phones and having home computers, it’s gotten even easier. MyCarfax is a website and a free smart phone app that will track all of your car’s maintenance needs, making it even easier to keep track of, and plan, your next service.
April is Car Care Month: Time for vehicle maintenance
Make headlights a part of your regular routine maintenance plan
Practice proper precautions when pulling over on shoulders
Veteran and even novice drivers understand the impor- tance of visibility when they get behind the wheel of their vehicles. When visibility is not an issue, drivers can more easily see their fellow motorists and better anticipate potentially dangerous situations. But when visibility is compromised, drivers and their passengers are vulnera- ble to a host of dangers, including inclement weather and aggressive motorists.
Many things can affect drivers’ visibility on the road, but those who take a proactive approach to improving their visibility can put themselves in a better position to handle any negative situations that may arise. One of the ways to do just that is to pay more attention to your headlights. Often overlooked when performing routine vehicle maintenance, headlights must be maintained to ensure optimal visibility for drivers.
The following are a few ways drivers can improve the performance of their headlights to make their vehicles safer for themselves and their passengers.
• Pay attention to the headlights’ output. Perhaps the most noticeable indicator of an aging headlight is its light output. As bulbs start to dim, drivers may find themselves struggling to see during twilight and at night. That diffi- culty is not necessarily because drivers’ own vision is fail- ing, but may be a result of aging bulbs whose light output is gradually reduced by the effects of humidity, electrical resistance and filament fatigue. Drivers who notice their headlights are not producing as much light as they once did should know that reduced output is a telltale sign of aging bulbs that need to be replaced.
• Say “so long” to the status quo. Recognizing dimming bulbs is just the first step toward improving the perfor- mance of your headlights. The next step is for drivers to recognize that all headlight bulbs are not created equal. Instead of replacing existing bulbs with the same type of bulbs provided by their vehicle’s manufacturer, drivers can vastly improve their visibility by upgrading to a bulb designed to provide more light than the standard halogen bulbs found in many of today’s vehicles. Leading auto- motive lighting manufacturer Philips produces a range of Upgrade Headlight Bulbs that offer up to 100 percent more light on the road than standard halogen bulbs. That’s a significant benefit to drivers, as motorists’ visual acuity
is reduced by 70 percent at night, when statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indi- cate 49 percent of all fatal accidents occur. The NHTSA also notes that the fatality rate per mile driven at night is roughly three times as high as it is during daylight hours.
• Find the right fit. The right headlight bulb can dramat- ically improve visibility when driving at night, but what’s good for the goose is not always good for the gander. That’s because motorists drive for various reasons and on various roads, so the right bulb for seniors who don’t often take to the highways will not necessarily be the best fit for commuters who routinely drive long distances. Philips makes a headlight bulb for every type of driver, and each Upgrade Headlight Bulb creates a better beam pattern that is dramatically longer than that provided by standard halogen lights, ensuring drivers can safely see no matter how accustomed they are to driving at night.
• Let there be light. Regardless of how effective a bulb has the potential to be, drivers who don’t routinely clean their headlights will continue to have their visibility com- promised. Certain preventative measures can help drivers address headlight issues before they appear, ensuring their visibility is not compromised. When checking your oil in the driveway or even when you’re filling up at the gas station, take a few moments to inspect your headlights and address any issues that arise as soon as possible. The Philips Headlight Restoration Kit includes a post-treatment that provides long-lasting UV protec- tion for headlight lenses. The kit also includes a cleaner/ polish and restorer/protector so drivers can restore their headlight lenses to “like new” quality while increasing visibility and reducing glare in as little as 30 minutes. Such quick and simple maintenance can ensure your headlights are performing optimally.
There are different times in a driver's life when he or she may have to pull over on the side of the road. Whether a flat tire has derailed the trip, the driver or a passen- ger is experiencing motion sickness or you find the car isn't performing correctly and it warrants a look under the hood, pulling over on the shoulder may be necessary.
It can be difficult to pull over smoothly and safely on a busy highway, especially when you are in a stressful situation, such as a mechan- ical emergency. But it is in your best interest to remain calm and follow a few pro- cedures. First, slow down and put on your right-turn signal to indicate you will need to move into the right lane. Some people prefer to
put their four-way-flashers on after they have success- fully cleared the lanes and are ready to navigate onto the shoulder. Try to select a spot where you are not on a bend or where there is poor visibility or your vehi- cle cannot be seen by other drivers on the highway. You do not want to be injured while exiting or attempting to work on the pulled-over vehicle. Drivers should keep an emergency roadside assis- tance preparedness kit con- taining flares, emergency tri- angles or cones, a flashlight, batteries, a poncho, booster cables, duct tape, a utility knife, cord, a blanket, and first aid supplies in the car as a precaution.Each item serves its own unique pur- pose.
1106 N.W. Avenue El Dorado, AR 71730 870-862-0014
OUR COMPLETE SERVICE INCLUDES:
1. Change oil
2. Change oil filter
3. Lubricate chassis
4. Service transmission
5. Service differential
6. Service power steering
7. Service brake fluid
8. Service air filter
9. Service battery
10. Service windshield washer reservoir
11. Check windshield wipers
12. Check lights
13. Check tire pressure
14. Vacuum front floorboard
15. Clean windshield
16. Plus 12 point courtesy check (belts, hoses, etc.) 17. Transmission Flush $129.95
OPEN: Mon-Fri 8:00-5:30 Sat. 8:00-3:00
142209
BEFORE AFTER
Our comprehensive, professional auto repair services will restore your vehicle to its pre-accident condition, quickly and affordably!
Perry’s Body Shop
3783 Junction City Hwy. • 870-863-7699
Accessories For Your Truck!
• WARN Winches • Bed Covers • Campers • Tool Boxes • Bed Liners, Step Bars
• Bug Shields • Ventvisors • MORE!
• Expert Collision Repair
• Work Guaranteed
• Insurance Claims Welcome
Here To Meet Your Every Need!
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Frisby Insurance Agency
1006 E. Main, El Dorado • 862-1464
VICKIE FRISBY, AGENT
2C – Friday, April 17, 2015 – El Dorado NEWS-TIMES
Trotter Service Specials
Oil & Filter Change
$2995
1910 W. Hillsboro, El Dorado 864-4700
trotternissan.com trotterdodge.com
Offer expires 5/15/2015
Up to 5 qts. of oil on most models
Front Brake Special
Starting $19995 at
includes pads & machining rotors Offer expires 5/15/2015
13 MAJOR BRANDS OF OIL
142215
137991
Serving South Arkansas for 30 years!
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