Car Maintenance Tips

Acquiring a vehicle is a fairly easy task… the tough bit comes later.

Your Quick And Easy Guide To Car Maintenance

Posted by k9groups on July 4, 2008

Cars are like electric lights. We often don’t appreciate them until they go on the blink. Regular maintenance checks and simple service can greatly reduce the cost of car ownership and keep you a much happier traveler! 

Don’t let the thought of car maintenance intimidate you. There are actually several car maintenance tips you can do – even if you’re totally mechanically-challenged! 

For instance, you’ll want to keep your windshield washer fluid reservoir full. This involves screwing off the cap and pouring windshield wiper fluid in the right spot. You can quickly check the fluid levels when filling up at the gas station. 

While you’ve got the windshield washer fluid out, pour some on a rag and clean the bug guts, etc. off the wiper blades. 

If you see any colored fluid leaking from your car, get it serviced immediately. 

If you smell any peculiar odor coming from your car, take it to the nearest service station. Odors mean something inappropriate is going on under the hood of your car! 

Every fall, go ahead and replace your wiper blades. You need new ones once a year – might as well get them before winter sets in and you’re wiping away that ice and sleet! 

Be sure all your lights are clean and working, including brake lights, turn signals and emergency flashers. You can perform this quick check while filling up your gas tank. 

Check your tires once a month – give a look over for cuts, bulges, or nails or other foreign objects sticking out. 

Take your car to your friendly serviceman once a month and have the pressure in your tires checked. This service should cost you less than five bucks, if anything. 

Every three months have your oil and oil filter changed. Many times an inspection is done during the oil change. It’s worth it to pay a little extra if you have to and have this done. Ask to have your battery checked, too. 

Have your air filter changed when it gets dirty. You can ask the folks who change your oil to check the air filter. They’re happy to change it for you. 

No matter how non-car savvy you may have felt in the past, finding that you can do some simple maintenance checks puts you in the driver’s seat. You’re likely to discover in advance if your car has a problem that should be taken care of immediately.

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Want Extra Gas Mileage? Get Your Own!

Posted by k9groups on July 4, 2008

Yes you can! Increasing gas mileage of your car has never been easier; with all the gas saving products around to choose from, the fact is, you need none of them. This article will give you the background to start reaping the gas money you’ve been dreaming of… 

Recent technology advancement in automotive industry has seen an upsurge in improving the fuel economy of our car engines and thus making them as efficient as they can be. Heavy investment has been poured in making the car engines as clean as possible, where exhaust emission is concerned, thus increasing the gas mileage capability of the car. This has created a new batch of vehicles with engines more fuel economical compared to engines of comparable size a decade or more ago. 

We can’t deny that apart from the engines alone, electronics do play an important part on the quest to reach the best mileage cars available with better fuel economy. However, with the ever going onslaught of constant and increasing fuel hike, there’s no way that advances made in producing more engines with higher fuel efficiency may far exceeds with the increasing cost of gas. 

Much budget and investment have been spent on research and development of better car engines with best fuel economy, which in the end may take years to recoup the cost of initial investment alone: let alone the vast manpower needed for these arduous tasks. Thus, where corners can be cut, manufacturers will, although it must be emphasized that this will not be done at the expense of the safety of the driver, passengers and other road-users. 

But are there additions that may be fitted with vehicles to improve fuel economy and make them even more fuel-efficient? 

Well, the good news is that there are loads and loads of gas saving devices in the open market and can help improve fuel mileage or increase gas mileage of your car and will work on your car like a charm, so to speak. These products claim to save money on gas and increase fuel efficiency of your car. But the bad news is, most of the so-called gas saving devices that purportedly claim to increase gas mileage of your car are nothing but are subject to advertising hype and thus are a waste of your time. 

Hence, there are several ways you need learn to use when it comes to increasing fuel mileage of your car. 
1) Electronic Ignition Systems 
2) Fuel Catalysts 
3) Free-Flow Air Filters 
4) Tire Inflation 
5) Other Products 

Electronic Ignition Systems 
This class of accessories really applies to the older vehicles that still run on the traditional contact breaker systems. Those who wish to keep vintage vehicles on the road will find that fitting a contact-less ignition system is the way to go. 

Although it is not strictly a fuel-saving device, it ensures that the vehicle stays in tune and retains the fuel economy that a freshly-installed contact breaker system would provide. Minimal maintenance and consistent fuel economy result in increased gas mileage and fuel savings of your car. 

Fuel Catalysts 
Due to the recent increases in fuel prices, we’ve been getting a lot of response on this method. Suffice to say, fuel catalysts are elements you would put on your gas tank to speeds up the combustion process. This in the end will improve your car fuel efficiency and improve your gas mileage. 

Some catalysts can simply be dropped into the fuel tank, while there are some that require to be installed somewhere along the fuel line, between the tank and engine. 

A catalyst is a chemical, substance or compound that accelerates a chemical reaction. But it remains unchanged and is not used up during the process. When a catalyst is installed along the fuel system, it speeds up the combustion process, rendering it more complete, and allows for the complete release of energy from fuel combusted. 

Installation is pretty straightforward and one-off affair. You’ll recover your initial investment spent on catalyst within a short period of time, from the increased gas mileage savings of your car. Catalysts may also be used for the entire life of the vehicle, and are transferable from one vehicle to another. 

The more popular fuel catalysts are made of compounds of tin and other precious metals, but the actual formulation remains a commercial secret. They claim to promote smoother engine operation, cleaner exhaust emissions and can increase fuel mileage savings of up to 8%. 

Free-Flow Air Filters 
Grouped in the same category as the contactless ignition systems, free-flow air filters offer no gas mileage savings over a brand new item. Most filter elements are washable, and can be used over thousands of kilometers. After that, you may need to replace the air filter on regularly basis. According to the report on http://www.extragasmileage.com, studies have shown that replacing a clogged air filter can improve the mileage that you get with your car as much as 10%. 

Tire Inflation 
Oxygen in compressed air permeates through the wall of the tire, and inflation pressure is reduced over time. In the process, oxygen oxidizes the rubber compounds in the tire, causing under inflation and deteriorated rubber. Dry nitrogen will can prevent auto-ignition; it will not corrode rims, and can will help the tire to run cooler, resulting in longer tread life. So tire replacement costs go down. 

Other Products 
Fuel and lubricating oil additives claim to lower internal engine friction drag and improve combustion respectively. Some may work and some may fail considerably. It is important that the device fitted or the additive used does not destroy the catalytic converter. Neither it should void your new vehicle warranty. 

At last, increasing your car gas mileage and doing every bit to save money on gas does not require rocket science to understand its importance. No doubt there are no products ever produced by man that could save you thousands of dollars in gas money, but every little penny you would save from every drop of gas goes a long way. 

A little step each day will lead to success so you should really start now. Get all the tips and techniques and learn how to get extra mileage when you subscribe to ExtraGasMileage newsletters at http://www.extragasmileage.com. Good luck in your quest for extra gas mileage!

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