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CAREFREE
CAR CARE
Simple Tips for Keeping Your Car Running Smoothly.
Between shuttling the kids to and from soccer practice,
driving to work and running errands, Americans spend a lot
of time behind the wheels of their cars. And the last thing
anyone wants to deal with is car trouble, in addition to
the time and inconvenience that goes along with it.
While most drivers don’t mind getting dirty every
now and then, the thought of lifting the hood of the car
to replace engine oil or jump start a battery is not a pleasing
one. But the truth is that regular car maintenance can prevent
unwanted car trouble, and it doesn’t always have to
be a major hassle.
In
fact, routine car maintenance is an important factor in
keeping your car performing well, while also helping to
prevent surprise car repairs. However, according to a consumer
survey commissioned by the Car Care Council’s Women’s
Board, only about 35 percent of women regularly have routine
maintenance performed on their vehicles.
“It’s
important for women to remember that routine car care doesn’t
necessarily mean getting elbow-deep in engine oil or sitting
for long hours in a waiting room at the service garage,”
says Courtney Caldwell, editor-in-chief of ROAD & TRAVEL
Magazine. “Simply being conscious of how your car
is performing and understanding some basic warning signs
can make a big difference and help prevent unnecessary and
potentially dangerous breakdowns.”
To
help women keep their vehicles running smoothly, Shell,
in conjunction with ROAD & TRAVEL Magazine, has developed
the following tips for easy car maintenance that will help
you feel more in control and give you peace of mind when
is comes to your vehicle.
Check
it Out. Just as you check the lint trap in your dryer, it’s
also important to check your car periodically. Changing
your oil is one of the most important things you can do
to ensure the health and fitness of your vehicle. It’s
also important to check other fluids, such as brake fluid,
power steering fluid, transmission fluid and coolant, on
a regular basis. Your car’s owner’s manual will
show you where these are located and how to check them.
In addition, examine the engine for dirt and grime –
an engine runs hotter and may overheat if it is dirty. Also,
look at the top and sides of your battery to ensure it is
free of dirt and corrosion as a dirty battery can drain
electricity and eventually may end up failing. You’ll
also want to check engine belts for cracks that could cause
them to break. And finally, don’t forget to check
the tires – including the spare – at least once
a month for proper inflation and tread wear. If you’d
prefer, take your vehicle to an automotive service center,
such as a Jiffy Lube, and have their qualified technicians
perform the necessary maintenance.
Keep
the Engine Clean. As we’ve all learned from the knock-off
designer purses that start fading or coming apart after
a few weeks, generic brands aren’t always better.
The same is true when it comes to purchasing gasoline for
your car. Contrary to what many people believe, all gasolines
are not the same. Many fuels available today contain only
enough cleaning agents to meet minimum government standards,
which may not be enough to keep vehicle engines free of
harmful carbon deposits. These deposits can cause less efficient
mixing of fuel and air and just as a recipe will work at
its best when ingredients are measured precisely, an engine
will work at its best when it draws precise quantities of
fuel and air. To keep a car’s engine clean, fill up
with a high-quality fuel, such as Shell V-Power. The new
fuel has more than five times the minimum amount of cleaning
agents required by government standards, and with regular
use, it can clean up deposits left by low-detergency gasolines
and keep critical engine parts – specifically intake
valves and fuel injectors – clean.
Crank
Up the Heat. Turning up the car’s heater in July may
sound crazier than shopping for bathing suits in December.
But even during the summer months, turning on the heater
in your car at least once a month for one to two minutes
is an easy way to help maintain the heating system. Doing
so lets the fluid in the car circulate. This helps to keep
the core of the heater clean, which can prevent corrosion
and the need to replace the heating system or its parts
come wintertime. Do the same for your car’s air conditioning
system during the winter months. It will have the same effect.
Spot
the Trends. Polka dots may have been in fashion at one time,
but they’ve never been in vogue for garage floors.
If you realize your car is leaving random oily spots in
your garage, the car may have an engine oil or automotive
fluid leak that requires repair. If you aren’t sure
if your car is leaking fluids, you can find out easily by
putting a newspaper on the ground where you normally park
the car. If in the morning you find spots or stains where
there once were news headlines, you may have a fluid leak
and should take your car to a certified mechanic to be inspected.
Be
Suspicious of Smells. Just as you can tell when something
is burning in the oven, you can tell when something doesn’t
smell right in your car. When your car smells funny, it
may be letting you know that something needs attention.
For example, if your car smells like it’s burning
rubber, you may be riding the brakes, or driving with one
foot on the brake and one foot on the accelerator. In the
long run, this can cause damage to the brakes and the brake
lining, which can also wear out the tires. You can maintain
your brakes, as well as your brake lining and the tires,
if you avoid riding the brake. In addition, if you smell
a sweet, steamy odor after the vehicle is fully warmed up,
you may have a leak in the coolant system, which ultimately
can cause the engine to overheat. In this case, be sure
to take your car to an automotive service center to have
the car inspected for engine fluid leaks.
“Caring for your car on a regular basis doesn’t
have to be a bothersome chore,” said Mark Henry, manager
of fuels for Shell Oil Products US. “Just by checking
under the hood periodically and regularly filling up with
a high-quality gasoline, such as Shell V-Power, consumers
can help keep their cars in good condition.”
For
more information on Shell Oil Products, visit www.shellus.com
(Source:
Shell Oil) |
