Nine Secrets to Maintaining Your Car properly

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Nine Secrets to Maintaining Your Car properly

Robert Sikorskys little book Drive It Forever offers invaluable tips to keep your car going the extra mile. His stellar advice could save you a years worth of car payments or more!

The smoother you drive, the longer your car will run. Stopping and starting, fast lane changes, scratching off all lead to shorter life for your car.

Naturally, you can not drive at all without stopping and starting. But your goal is to keep moving smoothly any time that you can. Does it look like a stoplight is about to turn green? Then slow down and if possible, gently keep moving until the light changes.

Less engine idle means less engine wear, says Sikorsky. If you have to idle longer than 30 seconds, you may as well turn the engine off and start it when you are ready to roll. So turn off the car if you are waiting in parking lots, waiting on others to ready themselves for travel, if you have to go back in the house for something, etc.

And never rev up the car while it is not moving.

If you are driving in bumper to bumper barely moving traffic, it is wise to turn your air conditioner off. This saves a lot of wear on your car. The engine has to work overtime if the air is on and you are stopping and starting frequently.



You have probably heard that it is good to take your car out periodically for a good drive on the highway now and again, and thats good advice. This allows your engine to get fully warmed up and helps get rid of some deposits built up by short trips.

If it is below freezing, try not to take your car out on short trips of less than five miles. Sikorsky says this is one of the worst possible conditions for your car.

Do not cruise around a parking lot forever, trying to find a spot. Go ahead and park further away and get in a little exercise.

Avoid accelerating suddenly unless there is an emergency situation. Putting the pedal to the metal may get you someplace today, but tomorrow you may end up hitching a ride from a neighbor.

If possible, do not park your car headed uphill. When you are ready to start it later, the engine will have to use extra power to pull itself. It is better to park headed downhill than uphill.

Driving on dusty roads cuts your gas mileage considerably as well as adds to engine wear.

I have found Drive It Forever a valuable read! It is personal, and easy to read, even if you are mechanically challenged.

Nine Secrets to Maintaining Your Car properly

Peter and Missy met a deer up close and personal a week earlier.

Maintain Your Car Properly So That It Lasts As Long As Possible

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If you always make sure that your car has regular check ups and that you maintain it properly, you mill likely be fortunate enough to not be one of the thousands of motorists that get stuck at roadside each year because their car was not properly maintained and decided enough was enough. Sometimes people forget that a car is a machine and like any other machine they require proper maintenance.

Oil levels need to be checked regularly as well as the temperature that the engine is running at because if it is too hot it will burn oil at unbelievable rates. The last thing that you want to do is let your oil run dry as this can cause your engine to completely cease. Then you are talking big bucks as your choices will be limited to getting a new car or a new engine. Neither of which would be very fun but however would be very expensive and often could have been avoided with the proper maintenance.

Have your oil changed regularly and always make sure that it never runs low. Each time that you have your oil checked or changed make sure that they also check for faulty belts and hoses to save you a lot of trouble down the road. Always have your fluids and coolants checked regularly too so that you can rest easy knowing that such things as your radiator will perform up to par. Flush and/or replace regularly and this also includes transmission fluids too.

Take a look regularly under where you park your car to see if there appears to be any new fluids which could indicate a leak. If you have any knowledge of cars and engines then you might know which colors of leaky fluid a sign of what are such as antifreeze is greenish, transmission fluids are more on the pink side, brake fluid is reddish, and oil is usually brownish. The relevance to knowing this is so you can either attempt to remedy the problem yourself or at least have a good idea of what to tell the mechanic.



Some say that it is healthy to turn your heat and air conditioning on at least once a month, regardless of the time of year to keep them flowing freely at all times. Brakes should be checked regularly and tires should be rotated about every 7,000 miles. In the meantime though, make sure that you inspect your tires yourself and look for anything that may appear to be unusual.

Even the most untrained eye should be able to tell a difference if something is different or unusual when they lift the hood of their car if they have been looking under the hood every now and then. There would be a notice of an unusual looking battery or something that looks suspicious. Preventative maintenance is very helpful in getting the best performance out of your vehicle. Familiarize yourself with the owner's manual and do things such as have your car waxed once a year for longevity of the exterior coat and have the undercarriage cleaned annually as well. These are all ways to get the most out of your vehicle.





Automotive Fix It Yourself Car Doctors are a special breed. They undergo a above average sense of self-accomplishment. They take the best pride in servicing such a own vehicles. However, properties are substantial in regards to safety.

used cars buying guide

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Is it a Used Car or a Pre-owned Car?

Bang! Crunch! Rattle! These are all descriptive words that tell us that we need to start thinking of repairs or a new form of transportation, hopefully, before we hear the worst sound that a car can produce, and that is silence. For most of us, that will mean another car. Then the Problem becomes wh
ether we want to buy a new car, which has its benefits: warranty, free repairs, coffee while you wait in a nicely appointed room, etc. New, of course, has its drawbacks, chief among them is the money. Many new cars cost as much as a small house, and, unlike a house, it just becomes worth less and less. The alternative is used or pre-owned. What, you may ask, is the difference? Usually, it is how nice the dealership looks.

How to Buy a Pre-Owned Car

Here is a small checklist that may help you organize your efforts:

Determine your need.
• How much are you willing to pay in cash? Or
• How high of a payment you can afford?
• Gas mileage that you want.
• How much power do you want?
• How many passengers do you need to carry?
• How much will the Insurance cost?

When the owner of a struggling used car lot is killed, it's up to the lot's hot-shot salesman to save the property from falling into the hands of the owner's ruthless brother and used-car rival: 1980 comedy, starring Kurt Russell. Thank you much, Explore 169!

Do your home-work.
• Check out the N.A.D.A Web site
• Check out Consumer Reports (at most major libraries)
• Use an Online service such as CarFax
• Compare prices for similar cars at several dealerships.
• Compare prices with online services

Determine where to buy
• Local pre-owned dealer
• Local new car dealer
• Online service
• Combination online/showroom service
• Individual

Drive a hard bargain
• Always make a low offer, you just might get it at that price.

Determine your need.

Everyone has a different perspective on the perfect car. You may be a frugal person who doesn’t want to spend large amounts of cash on something that will continue to be worth less and less. The savvy used-car buyer has two choices to make: cash or charge?

If cash is the option, then the limit of what you will spend will be available cash on hand. If the purchase will be financed, then the size of the payment is the crucial issue. This, of course, will be determined by the interest rate. Often times, the dealership will carry the note. Historically, t
hose that do their own financing will charge you a fairly low rate, but the overall cost of the package will be much higher.

In today’s wildly escalating gasoline prices, the gas mileage of the vehicle will be an issue for most people. Automobile manufacturers do test drives of their models to determine the gas mileage for both city and highway driving. Actual mileage results that individual vehicles achieve vary tremendously. This is not only due to driver idiosyncrasies, but also to differences in the vehicle themselves. There is a balance between the function of the vehicle and the efficiency of the vehicle. If the vehicle will be carrying or pulling heavy loads, some sacrifice of mileage may have to made.

Many vehicles have limited interior space, and that will have to be considered by determining the number of passengers and their accoutrements that will be transported on an average day.

Finally, how much will it cost to insure? The smart little red sports car that gets good mileage and has a very affordable price may cost more than you want to spend on insurance.

Do your home-work.

There are several sources that are either free or low-cost and will help you to make informed car-buying decisions. The first of these is the National Auto Dealer’s Association’s Web site at: http://www.nada.com .This site offers information on both new and used cars, as well as a variety of other forms of transportation. Simply select “Used Cars” and follow the prompts. You will end up with a price guide that will cost you nothing but a little computer time. A good deal at half the price, especially if it saves you money at the close.

Another free source of information for fairly new cars is the consumer reports magazine. Most major libraries have them archived and searchable for the vehicle you are considering.



A research tool that will cost you some money is CarFax. This service will generate a report for $19.99 that will determine if the vehicle you are considering has been in a wreck, what damage was sustained, what the odometer reading should be, whether is was ever determined to be a lemon, who has ow
ned it, and, importantly, whether it is the correct identification number. All you have to do is to go to http://www.carfax.com and enter the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). There is a 100% money back guarantee if not satisfied with their service. There is also an option for unlimited number of searches for a slightly higher cost within a given time frame.

Often times, nothing replaces good old-fashioned comparison shopping. Go to a few dealers and use a few online services to see what can be learned about the vehicles in which you are interested.

Determine where to buy

This is the hardest decision since there are so many places to go for a pre-owned car. In the past, the only options were to either go to a local dealer, both new and used car dealers sell used cars, or buy from a private individual. Both of these options have their pros and cons. The individual will probably have a higher price and have no warranty at all. The local dealer gives a buyer a bit of confidence. There are shiny cars and, almost to a point, the salespeople at these dealerships are very personable and believable. Besides, if something goes wrong you have someone to holler and complain at. There is some options now that are interesting. Of course, the most adventurous souls can go right on to Ebay at http://ebay.com and purchase a vehicle at what appears to be a bargain price. A good friend of mine buys and sells motorcycles that way. He gets a truthful seller about every third or fourth time. If the purchase of the vehicle will get you back and forth to work, then this is probably not a good option. Ebay says that it backs its sales etc., but it doesn’t work out that way.

A safer option is a company called CarMax. They have a Web site at http://www.carmax.com and offer pre-owned cars that have been inspected. They have a searchable database that has a tremendous number of vehicles and they have some unique features. They have stores as well as their online sales. Their corporate policy is that they want their customers to have a no hassle, one-stop shop. To achieve this, they do not haggle over price. Customers get their low dollar price up front. All vehicles get their 125 point inspection, which, according to Trina Lee, allows the company to make this statement: “We guaranteed that vehicles we sell on our lots have not had frame or flood damage. In other words, they have not been in any major accidents.” Their policy is to include a five day money-back guarantee and a limited 30 day warranty on all cars.

These policies are based on market research

Drive a hard bargain

Many of the car dealerships, individuals, and specialized services are small operators who are willing to deal. If you make a low offer, stick to it as long as you can, especially if you have found a similar vehicle at that price. Remember, any money you save on the purchase of the vehicle is money
that you do not have to earn again.

Good Luck!

Be a smart driver and take care of your tires

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Seriously! Balance is everything. When it comes to tire care, you have to have a proper balance between keeping them clean, rotating them, keeping air in them, and being a smart driver. Check out this 'How to' to find out how to properly maintain your tires.
Step 1:

Ok, in this first step we are going to talk about Air, Dirt, and Tread.

* Air



Have you ever driven around on tires that were not completely full? I know a lot of drivers that do it on a regular basis. When I question them about it most will reply, "So what?"

Keeping the proper amount of air your tires can make a huge difference in the amount of time that your tires last. Not only that, but did you know that flat tires can cause your vehicle to cosume more gas? Or that tires low on air can also cause suspension problems? What about the fact that tires that are low on air are at risk for 'Blow Outs' while you're driving?

For those of you who don't know or who have never experienced it, a Blow Out is when your tire explodes. It happens most often when you least expect it, and usually at higher speeds. It's a very volatile situation and not one you really want to find yourself in.
* Dirt

Dirt is another thing you will need to look out for when it comes to proper tire care. The area where your rubber tires and your rims meet is especially subject to tears, holes and extra wear down when dirt gets into that area. It is important to keep that area clean and free of dirt, mud, dust and anything else.

You may also notice at times that there is some black or gray dust collecting on your rims and tires; this usually means that you are abusing your brakes and the particles from them are coming off and the end result is the brake dust accumulating on the rims and tires. Make sure to use some brake cleaner to clean your wheels after you change your brake pads.
* Tread

The tread is the part of your tire that you drive on. It is the part that is suppose to help the tires grab the road and move your vehicle around. Having low tread can affect your vehicle in many ways. It can cause your vehicle to consume more gas, giving you less miles per gallon. It can cause your suspension to wear out sooner. And it can be dangerous.



Have you ever tried to drive in the rain with tires that have low tread? It's almost like taking your car out on a roller skating rink. You have little to no control. Even when you think you have control, the statistics are against you. The chances that you will hit a pool of water worsen when it rains even harder and once you hit that pool of water, it's all over.

The same goes for ice and other things that might slick up the road way. Ice, sleet, hail, snow, oil -- anything. If you don't have more than 45% of tread on your tires, you are at risk.
* Step 2:

Let's talk about how to help maintain your tires properly.

Ok, so we know that keeping your tires clean and free of dirt helps. We also know that making sure you have the proper amount of air in your tires helps, and we know that making sure you do not have less than 45% tread on your tires helps.

You know what else helps? Rotating your tires.

What is tire rotation you ask? It's when you take your tires and rotate them from the position they are on the car. You can do this in many ways. You can take the front two tires and put them on your rear axel and take the tires that were in the back and put them on the front axel. Or you can switch sides, taking the tires on the driver's side and switching them with the tires on the passenger side. Which ever way you decide to do it, it is good to do this every 3 or 4,000 miles or so.

The reason you rotate your tires is because a tire that stays on the same part of your car can develop a groove or habit. Changing them around every so often helps to maintain even tread wear-down. Not only that, but it can help prolong the life of your brakes as well.


Step 3:

Being a smart driver.

It's amazing to think that the way in which you drive your vehicle can have a huge impact on the maintenance of your tires.

There are plenty of drivers out there who like to zip around town, stomping on the accelerator pedal and using the brakes only when seconds away from a stop. Driving with these habits is dangerous for many reasons, but for the purposes of this article, let's talk about how they can inhibit your tires from lasting as long as they could have.

Burning rubber, or being a led foot can tear up the rubber on your tires and can cause breaks and rips in the lining of the tires. So can braking for no reason or sudden braking. Your tires were not meant for that type of abuse and they will not last as long if you treat them that way.

Sharp turns can also take a dangerous toll on your tires. When you take a sharp turn you usually dig into the tires with the weight of a vehicle, and I have witnessed brand new tires tear and pop in the middle of a sharp turn. This dangerous situation can be even more exaggerated by taking sharp turns at high speeds.

Now that we have talked about the ways that you can properly maintain your tires, make sure to take these steps to ensure your tires last and that you are not putting yourself or anyone else at risk for a dangerous situation.

There is more than just you out there on the road, and you will be protecting yourself and everyone else by making sure your tires are clean, full of air and ready to go.

Not only that, but do you really want to spend extra time and money on tires every year? I didn't think so...

Be a smart driver and take care of your tires.



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