Car Care – Keep Control
By Lauren Fix, The Car Coach® Let’s get started…
It is important to use most of your senses, and then make smart decisions. Listen – are your brakes squealing? Have you had them checked lately? Now is a good time to fix them, but there are a few things you need to know before buying any old brake parts. Did you know that all brakes are not created equal?
Just like matching paint correctly, brakes need to match your car or truck correctly too.
Brakes 101:
1. The rotor is the metal round disc that turns like the tires behind the wheels.
2. The brake pads clamp against the rotors to stop the car or truck, they work when you step on the brake pedal.
3. When replacing brakes, it is critical to match the replacement parts with the same quality level that came on your car or truck originally from the factory. Warning: If you fail to do this correctly, the results can cause increases in noise, vibration, harmonics in your braking system, and may affect your vehicle’s overall stopping performance. Now, I know you aren’t experts on brakes and this could become confusing. So, my best suggestion is to go to a shop that has an ASE certified technician on staff. They will use the proper brake parts and are trained to match the right components with your car or truck. When should I change my wiper blades? It is recommended that you change your wiper blades every 6 months. It is not wise to wait until the rubber is ripping or hanging of the wiper. More importantly, if you wait too long and it rains, your vision could be impaired and you could find yourself in an accident that you could have avoided. What is the difference between synthetic oil and regular oil and does weather really change oil? Our driving habits really do change under different weather conditions. For example, cold weather means that the oil in your car will have a harder time circulating. Cold starts are one of the toughest engine conditions where a lot of damage can happen to the heart of your vehicle. Also, in cold weather we tend to let our car idle more to let it warm up and this can actually cause an overheating condition. So, one thing that I recommend is switching to a synthetic oil. Synthetic oil is specially formulated to provide protection in severe conditions like hot and cold, and it provides that extra protection you need. Clean Your Fuel Injectors - This is the easiest cleaning job you can do. Just add a fuel injector cleaner to your gas tank and you will get the “gunk” out of your tank. This will allow for better performance and fuel economy.
- The fuel injector-cleansing agent you add to your gas tank can dramatically improve vehicle performance and increase mileage.
- Clogged or dirty injectors are a prime cause of vehicle hesitation, engine stumbling, power loss, and rough idling. If your vehicle is doing this, a fuel injector cleaner is a simple answer.
Reading Your Tires Like A Book Once a month, get in the habit of checking your tire pressures (including your spare) and inspect your tires for problems like uneven wear and defects. Such issues as uneven tread wear can indicate suspension problems, poor tire maintenance or other impending hazards. Remember, there are only four circles the size of a fist that contact the ground. These are called contact patches. Each contact patch needs to be maintained properly to get the best fuel economy, longevity of your tires and handling of your vehicle. |