THE ESTEVAN MERCURY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2010
Page B-7
Taking Care of your car
Easy tricks to conserve fuel Whether due to the struggling economy or an increased desire to live a more environmentallyconscious life, many of the nation’s drivers are exploring ways in which they can conserve fuel. While riding a bicycle to work or taking public transportation are both reliable means to conserving fuel, there are many other ways to do so as well. * Don’t accelerate too quickly. Accelerating too quickly from a dead stop taxes the engine and re-
quires more fuel as a result. * Don’t overfill the gas tank. When filling your tank, stop once you hear the first click at the pump. Overfilling will simply lead to spillover. * Empty the trunk. It might be convenient to keep your golf clubs in the trunk, but that excess weight could be forcing your engine to work harder and use more fuel as a result. * Close the windows when driving at higher speeds. When the windows
are open at high speeds, that added air drag is reducing your vehicle’s fuel efficiency substantially. * Don’t idle too long in the mornings to “warm up” the vehicle. In general, a vehicle does not need more than 60 seconds of warming up to be able to operate efficiently. * Don’t rev the engine like you’re driving a race car. Revving the engine needlessly wastes fuel and can even lead to engine damage. * Maintain your ve-
hicle. Older filters make it harder for an engine to run at maximum efficiency, so stick to the recommended maintenance schedule. * Don’t keep winter, or snow, tires on your vehicle once the weather has warmed up. Deep tire tread might help you navigate your way along snow-covered roads in the winter, but that deep tread also makes the engine work harder to keep a car running smoothly, and that extra work uses up more fuel. * Keep tires properly inflated. Poorly inflated tires lead to drag that makes the engine work harder and use more fuel.
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You don’t have to be a mechanic to diagnose and treat the various leaks common to vehicles.
Automotive leaks: How to find ’em and fix ’em Drips on the driveway. Stains on the cement. Something’s leaking under the hood of your vehicle. An automotive fluid’s distinctive color can help the do-it-yourselfer get to the bottom of what’s leaking: coolant (bright green or red), oil (oily brown), trans fluid (oily red) or power steering (clear). Just slip an old bed sheet or piece of white cardboard under the vehicle overnight and by the next morning you’ll have the answer. That tells you what kind of leak you have -- part one of the process. But part two is figuring out where the leak’s coming from so you can repair it. To eliminate the guesswork and be absolutely certain where the leak is coming from, now there’s a quick, easy way. And you don’t need to be a mechanic to fix it. Super Seal(R) Automotive Stop Leak is a twopart “Find-a-Leak / Seal-aLeak” system. It contains both ultraviolet (UV) dye to easily detect the source of the leak, and advanced sealing chemistry to repair
common leaks in automotive engines, transmissions, radiators and power steering systems. After adding the UV dye chemical to system, simply start the engine and drive the car or let it idle for fifteen minutes to allow the “Find-a-Leak” dye to circulate. Stop the engine, then inspect. See the UV dye? That’s where your leak is (for best results, use a UV light with goggles). Then, use an engine degreaser or other cleaning product to remove any lingering dye. Now that you’ve found the source of the leak, the next step is to fix it. Add the entire contents of the appropriate Super Seal(R) “Fix-a-Leak” Sealer. After driving for the first tankful, do another leak check for the UV dye. No leaks? No signs of UV dye? Then you’re good to go. Larger size leaks may require a second application or professional repair. Super Seal(R) comes in four applications: 12-ounce Super Seal(R) Power Steering Stop Leak, 12-ounce Super Seal(R) Transmission
Stop Leak, 12-ounce Super Seal(R) Engine Oil Stop Leak, and 12-ounce Super Seal(R) Radiator Stop leak. These products are available at many automotive retailers and hardware stores. For more information, visit www.efproducts.com.
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Page B-8
THE ESTEVAN MERCURY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2010
Taking Care
TIME FOR
SPRING SERVICE!
of your car
Bounce in to get your car tuned up for Spring Driving!
Choose the proper fuel for your car Fuel is fuel, right? As long as you don’t pay too much for it and that it powers your car, any fuel will do, right? Wrong! There are some quality issues with some fuels and choosing the wrong one could cost you more than you would save. First of all, be sure the filling station you are stopping at sells clean fuel. Beware of some discount stations that don’t look clean or very busy. Old underground tanks might have accumulated dirt and debris that could contaminate the fuel. If you are travelling, you are probably better off stopping at very busy filling stations, since their tanks are replenished frequently, your guarantee to fresh and clean fuel.
Then choose wisely. Have you checked your owner ’s manual to see what grade of gasoline your car requires? Many performance cars will need higher grade gasoline such as 91 octane gasoline. Refuelling with lower octane fuel will cause a knocking sound in the engine called “pinging” which can cause internal damage in the long term. In some cases, gas companies advertise additives that can help your car run better and you can usually trust ads from major gasoline companies. The additives will help your engine to get rid of some of the carbon build-up that occurs so often in winter. If you do decide to use this type of gas, follow the
long term treatment, as you don’t want to see any buildup coming off some of the engine parts and causing damage. These treatments are made to remove buildup progressively so that it is not carried around in the engine. It will be burned through normal combustion. Major gasoline companies have machines that show engine buildup and that help them develop additives that help clean engines.
You must check your tires regularly to ensure your safety. cators within the grooves and once they’re visible across the grooves, the tire has gone beyond the manufacturer’s limits. Just about anywhere
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in North America, the legal minimum tread depth is 1/16th of an inch. But don’t wait until then before changing your worn tires. Also check for uneven wear, which can be caused by underinflation or misalignment. In that case, check with a professional who will make the proper recommendations and will probably recommend rotation at the same time. Oh! And don’t forget that spare tire while you’re at it.
the tire may be getting old and needs to be replaced. Secondly, make sure you have enough tread for the upcoming season. Modern tires have wear indi-
Appointments not always necessary!
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Have you looked at your tires lately? In many parts of Canada, people have a tendency toward keeping their all-season tires on all year long, which means that they wear out faster. Don’t expect snow to cushion your tires. Snow can still be abrasive. So tires do wear, especially when it’s slippery. Summer is just around the corner. You may think that just because there is no snow or ice on the roads that your tires are good for summer. But have you thought about rain or wet pavement? How can you be sure your tires are safe? First of all, make sure your tires are not too old. If in doubt, ask a professional to find out when the tire was made. Slight cracks in the rubber are an indications that
• Oil Changes • Towing & Boosting • Tune Ups • Tire Repairs • Brakes • Batteries • Timing Chains & Belts • Wheel Bearings (repacked) • Front Wheel Drive Axle Repairs (boots) • Starters & Alternators • Shocks • Electrical Diagnostic Service & Repairs • Plus many other repairs
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THE ESTEVAN MERCURY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2010
Page B-9
Taking Care of your car
Have you inspected your car? We l l , w e m a d e i t through another harsh Canadian winter. You probably took goodcare of yourself and your home, however,as far as your car or truck is concerned, itstill had to perform no matter how severe the weather was in your part of the country. Now that the milder weather is back, you still use your vehicle as if nothing had changed. Here’s some good advice: Take a few minutes and have a thorough look at your vehicle. It probably took some abuse over the winter and it doesn’t
take rocket science or a mechanic’s diploma to find the damage that may have occurred. Begin by looking at your tires (even if you kept the winter tires on) to see if their pressure seems equal (then use a gauge to verify your observations). Secondly, turn the lights on and verify if any of them are burnt out. At the same time, make sure none of the lenses are cracked or broken, which is something that can happen in the winter. Then lean under the car just to see if anything is broken. Once again,
you don’t have to be a mechanic to discover a part that’s hanging or that doesn’t seem right. Fire up the engine to see if the exhaust isn’t leaking, something that may happen in older cars. Finally, have a careful look at
your usual parking spot. If you notice a recentlooking oil stain or any other liquid, have your mechanic examine your car. You see,this kind of preventive maintenance really isn’t rocket science!
A careful examination of your car is a must now that winter is over.
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