|
September is back to school month!
This month's newsletter is
dedicated to the high school and college students out there that may
need some auto advice that will help their car run better and can
ultimately save them money in the long run!
After a
summer of sleeping in or doing things on your time, the alarm bell
announcing that first day of school can be a rude awakening. If you are
a student and you are lucky enough to have your own vehicle to drive to
school or while you are away at school, you need to be a responsible car
owner and make sure that the basic maintenance checks are done on your
car. Keeping your vehicle running smoothly can save you money in repairs
and maintenance, and will be safer for you.
The following
tips are important for everyone, but if you have kids that have their
own car, please pass these on to them. Also, they can use the coupon
below at my shop to help them save a few bucks if they do need a repair!
Things to keep an eye on…
Air
Filter
Air filters steadily build up with dirt and dust, making sure that it
doesn't get into your engine. Eventually, your air filter will get
blocked (if it does, your ‘Check Engine` light may come on), reducing
performance. If the filter is only slightly dirty (it will appear
slightly discolored), you can give it a quick clean by tapping it,
bottom side down, against a hard surface.
Battery
Check your connections to make sure they are not corroded, and keep the
casing of the battery clean. Cracks or bulges indicate that you might
need to replace the battery. If you find corrosion on the terminals, you
can try to clean it carefully with a mixture of baking soda and water,
and a stiff (non-metal bristled) brush. Rinse the terminals with clean
water, and make sure you're catching the run off in a tray.
Windshield Wipers
Properly working wiper blades are an essential part of safe driving.
Make sure they are clean and intact. You can clean the blades using a
mild detergent and a paper towel. If the blades look worn, they are
fairly easy to replace. You can either replace the rubber blade or the
entire arm.
Fluids
Before you check fluid levels, make sure the car is on a level surface.
Checking the levels of your vehicles various fluids can be a great way
of ensuring your vehicle’s health. Make sure that the caps are clean and
free of dirt and debris before opening them to check levels – you don't
want anything getting into the fluids. Windshield washing fluid is easy
to replace, and you should always carry spare washer fluid in your
trunk. Don’t fill the reservoir all the way during cold weather, just in
case it freezes. Other fluids, such as engine coolant, brake fluid and
power steering fluid, should be checked and replaced by your ASE
certified professionals at Nick's Precision Automotive.
Oil
change
Oil protects and lubricates the moving parts of your engine. It breaks
down over time, because of the heat and pressure involved in protecting
the engine, and because it picks up dirt, dust and other particles.
Depending upon driving conditions, oil and oil filters should be changed
every 3,000 – 5,000 miles. City driving (with lots of stops and starts),
driving in dusty areas, very hot or very cold climates, or regularly
carrying heavy loads, wears your oil out faster than highway driving in
temperate areas.
Tires
Make sure your tires are correctly inflated. Not only will this help
maintain the life of your tires, it can keep your gas mileage up, and is
safer too. Keep an eye on your tread, and make sure you have the correct
amount. Don’t let your tires wear down too far, as this can be
dangerous. In most states, 2/32 of an inch is usually the legal limit,
but you should try to replace your tires before then. You may be
familiar with the ‘penny` method of checking your tread depth (if you
can see all of Lincoln’s head, replace your tires) but a tire tread
gauge (available from any auto parts store) is more accurate.
Tire
rotation
Rotating your tires helps prolong their life. Your your ASE certified
professionals at Nick's Precision Automotive will have the equipment to
rotate your tires easily and quickly and will be able to check alignment
and rebalance your wheels if necessary.
Belts
Most cars have a ‘serpentine belt` that drives the various pumps and
engine accessories, along with a ‘timing belt` that runs the engine
itself. These belts will wear out eventually, or will get loose over
time. You can check for wear and tear on your belts, but it's a good
idea to have your your ASE certified professionals at Nick's Precision
Automotive handle the actual replacement. If you see deep cracks in the
belts, that’s a sign that they need changed. They are inexpensive to
replace, but a damaged or broken belt could strand you on the side of
the road and damage your engine.
Brakes
Your brakes are essential to your safety on the road (and the safety of
other drivers), so we recommend that you always get them changed by your
your ASE certified professionals at Nick's Precision Automotive. If you
notice screeching or grinding noises when you brake, or feel your
steering wheel ‘wobble` when braking, bring your car in to have the
brakes checked as soon as possible. Those are just two of the warning
signs that mean you may need new brakes.
Be
Proactive…
Environmental Concerns
A well maintained car not only saves you money on repairs, it can help
the environment. Properly tuned and looked-after, a vehicle will use
less gas, less oil and less energy, while producing less pollution than
a badly maintained vehicle.
A
Class Act
Many community colleges run classes on basic car maintenance. Even if
you never intend to service your car yourself, it can still be helpful
to know more about your car. Remember, before you try any of these tips,
make sure to consult your owner's manual, and if you have any doubts,
give us a call at
203-366-4775 or stop
in!
If you have
any questions or comments, you can email me at
nick@nicksautomotive.com
or request an appointment
here.
You can read past
newsletters here
|
I
came across a great site that I wanted to share with students. The name
of the site is Young Money.
