VehicleMD SUMMER DRIVING ISSUE
A Driver's Guide to Maintaining a Healthy Car
www.vehiclemd.com
Run Forever SUNSCREEN
FOR YOUR ENGINE YOUR CAR THAT SUPER CLEAN FEELING KEEP THE MAGIC GIVE
Be Safe on the Road
THE EYES HAVE IT
Sip Gas BEAT
THE GAS PUMP BLUES
Go Green
A CHANGE FOR THE GREEN
Be Healthy in the Seat
TERMINATE SILENT INVADERS
Know Your Stuff
FOR THE RECORD
21 Things You Need to Know Before Hitting the Road
Store Copy: Please Do Not Remove From Waiting Area Summer 2010
High Performance?
Or high mileage?
Available in 5W-30, 10W-30 and 10W-40 vis grades.
Available in OW-20, 5W-20, 5W-30 and 10W-30 vis grades.
Two great ways to offer a high level of protection, without the high price. CITGO® SUPERGARD® SYNTHETIC is a fully synthetic motor oil at a better price. SUPERGARD SYNTHETIC is a premium quality product designed to provide the ultimate protection for high-performance gasoline engines. Even turbocharged and supercharged models. SUPERGARD SYNTHETIC prolongs engine life by reducing wear and minimizing oil breakdown, and is compatible with all conventional and synthetic motor oils. For high-mileage engines, there’s CITGO SUPERGARD UltraLife™. Specially formulated for vehicles with 75,000 or more miles, SUPERGARD UltraLife conditions and seals older engines, protecting them against excessive wear, helping to prevent leaks and enabling you to get the most out of your car. Check out SUPERGARD UltraLife and SUPERGARD SYNTHETIC from CITGO. They couldn’t come more highly recommended.
more protection for people
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VehicleMD
EDITOR'S NOTE
Staff:
Steve Hurt, Publisher Barbara Tinsley, Associate Publisher Garrett McKinnon, Editor Tammy Williams, Features Editor
The Three R’s
Sheila Beam, Advertising Director Misty Dolan, Production Director Eliseo Torres, Sales & Marketing Director Julie Cain, Advertising Sales Mai Lee, Circulation Manager Bethany Hurt, Staff Assistant Adriana Lum, Circulation Assistant 4418 74th St. #66 Lubbock, TX 79424 800.796.2577 or 806.762.4464 Fax: 806.762.4023 E-mail: info@vehiclemd.com Published four times a year by NOLN, Inc., 4418 74th St., Ste. 66, Lubbock, TX 79424-2336. Postage Paid at Shepherdsville, KY. Postmaster: Send address changes to VehicleMD, 4418 74th St., Ste. 66, Lubbock, TX 79424-2336. Editorial information: info@vehiclemd. com © Copyright VehicleMD 2010. Reproduction is allowed only with permission of the editor. Views expressed by columnists and guest writers do not imply VehicleMD endorsement. Every attempt is made to provide accurate and reliable information. VehicleMD will not assume liability for any products or services described or offered herein, nor can VehicleMD verify accuracy of advertising claims made herein. The purpose of VehicleMD is to educate automotive service customers about the maintenance services available to them. Additional copies — Interested parties may purchase additional copies of VehicleMD, including bulk quantities. E-mail Mai Lee for more information: circulation@vehiclemd.com Advertisers — Advertising rates are available upon request. Please contact Julie Cain for display advertising deadlines and other information: jcain@vehiclemd.com Internet — Advertising rates are available upon request. Please contact Eliseo Torres at advertising@vehiclemd.com for information. All correspondence and inquiries should be directed to our business offices: 4418 74th St., Ste. 66 Lubbock, TX 79424-2336 Phone: 1.800.796.2577 or 806.762.4464 Fax: 806.762.4023 E-mail: info@vehiclemd.com
I love summer! The warm weather, the long days and the green grass make you realize how beautiful the planet is. I’m sure we all want to save the planet for future generations. After all, it’s the only one we get—space travel isn’t looking all that promising at the moment. The differences among people are the lengths we are willing to go to save Earth. I for one am not willing to go live like Ed Begley, Jr., but I think I do my share. I have switched to compact fluorescent light bulbs, which are more energy efficient. Every night I shut off my computer monitor to save electricity, and I regularly check the air pressure in my tires. Bet you didn’t see that last one coming! Actually, there are a lot of things you can do to help make your vehicle more efficient and Earth friendly. I’ll show you the three R’s, automotive-style. Reduce: Did you know that tires lose about one psi of air pressure per month, and a tire that is under-inflated by two psi can reduce fuel economy by 1 percent. If you keep your tires properly inflated, you can reduce the amount of fuel you use. Reuse: There are filters on the market, particularly air filters, that can be reused time and time again. These filters are not made with the traditional paper media usually found in air filters, so when the air filter gets dirty it can be washed and used again. Recycle: Can you believe one gallon of motor oil can contaminate one million gallons of drinking water? It’s sure hard to believe, but this fact emphasizes the importance of properly disposing of motor oil. One of the best ways to deal with used oil is actually to re-refine it. To learn more about this amazing process, be sure to check out “A Change for the Green” on page 16. A re-refined oil change is good for the environment in several ways, one being that it takes 85 percent less energy to produce re-refined oil from used motor oil than it takes to produce motor oil from virgin crude oil. If you’re like me and drive an SUV—mine happens to be a Hummer—instead of a hybrid, don’t feel guilty. There are things we can do to help make our vehicles better for the planet, too.
Tammy Williams editor@vehiclemd.com
Summer 2010 Volume 2, No. 2 ISSN 1948-4674
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VehicleMD
WHAT'S INSIDE: SUMMER 2010
6
K eep I t R unning F orever
G o G reen
6 Sunscreen For Your Engine
You lather on the sunscreen to keep from getting sunburned, but do you do the same for your engine?
16 A Change for the Green
Are you looking to make your vehicle more Earth-friendly? A re-refined oil change may be right for you.
8 Give Your Car that Super-Clean Feeling Find out how you can make your engine feel squeaky clean.
It isn’t magic that makes your car move... it’s your transmission. It is vital to keep your transmission fluid clean to ensure your car functions properly.
B e S afe
on the
S eat
18 Terminate the Silent Invaders Say goodbye to the covert mold and mildew hiding in your vehicle’s ventilation system.
K now Y our S tuff 20 For the Record
R oad
12 The Eyes Have It
Keeping your vision clear is simple with new wiper blades.
20
in the
Lurking In Your Vehicle
10 Keep the Magic
12
B e H ealthy
Maintenance records are helpful when budgeting, planning a trip or selling your vehicle. And in today’s high-tech world, they can always be at your fingertips.
T he B ack P age
M ake Y our C ar S ip G as
22 Earth Friendy Facts
14 Beat the Gas Pump Blues
Are you depressed when you fuel up at the pump? There’s a service that can ease the pinch at your next fill up.
How you can move toward a greener world by taking care of your car.
Index of Advertisers Company Name
VehicleMD On Call
Have a car question for the VehicleMD “doctor“? E-mail it to: doctor@vehiclemd.com
4 VehicleMD
Page No.
Phone Number
Website
Amsoil Synthetic Motor Oil
11
800.777.8491
www.amsoil.com
BP Lubricants USA, Inc. (Castrol)
www.castrol.com/us
7
888.227.8765
CITGO
2
800.992.4846
Lubegard by International Lubricants
24
800.333.5823
www.lubegard.com
Lucas Oil Products, Inc.
9
800.342.2512
www.lucasoil.com
Ownersite Technologies, LLC
21
404.402.7117
www.ownersite.com
Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc.
23
800.669.5740
www.ecopoweroil.com
Sea Foam Sales Co.
5
800.536.4812
www.seafoamsales.com
Shell Oil Company - Rain X
13
800.416.1600
www.shell.com
Smart Blend by Life Automotive Products, Inc.
15
888.422.9099
www.smartblend.com
www.citgo.com
Announcing Sea Foam SprayFOr EASiEr ACCESS TO A ClEAnEr EnginE
d The original Sea Foam Motor Treatment formula packaged in easy-to-use aerosol format.
d Each spray can comes with a U.S. Patent Pending application device that will allow Sea Foam Motor Treatment to be induced into an engine’s combustion chamber.
d The application device allows access to the combustion chamber via air intake, which feeds all cylinders evenly in all engines.
d 100% pure petroleum product.
d Meets all EPA and carb VOC regulations.
d Ask for it at your local auto parts store or ASE Certified Automotive Technician.
www.seafoamsales.com For more information on Sea Foam’s products, visit our website at www.seafoamsales.com
Run Forever With…
Synthetic Motor Oil
SUNSCREEN FOR YOUR ENGINE by Tammy Williams VehicleMD Staff Writer
C
old ice tea, sunglasses, bare feet and grilling steaks are some of the simpler things in life that remind you summer is here. However, a sign of summer not to be forgotten is the dreaded sunburn. When your skin starts tingling, it’s a telltale sign that tomorrow you might be red instead of tan. And, if you’re like me, this fact alone has you layering on the sunscreen. As it gets hotter outside, the temperature also rises inside your vehicle’s engine. Summer heat can send temperatures inside your engine to more than 200º F—some spots can even reach as high as 500º F, literally oven hot! It isn’t hard to see that this summer heat can be potentially devastating. Just like sunscreen is meant to protect your skin, synthetic oil protects your engine, especially in hot weather. Synthetic oil is more stable than conventional oil in terms of maintaining viscosity across a wide temperature range. This means that conventional oil is somewhat more prone to thinning out in high temps than synthetic. As motor oil thins, it loses its ability to protect critical engine components. Luckily, synthetic oil has plenty of protection 6 VehicleMD
to offer. The components of car that comes synthetic oil tend to be more factory-filled with robust than conventional oil. synthetic? In a 4Summer heat can send parts of This means that synthetic word, no. your engine to nearly 200° F— oil is more resistant to attack “You can switch some spots can even reach as from the contaminants that back and forth high as 500° F, literally oven hot. enter your motor oil from from conventional 4Just like sunscreen protects your regular, everyday driving. to synthetic as skin, synthetic oil protects your Because synthetic oil fights often as you like engine. off all those things attacking and whenever you your motor oil, there is less want,” said Tim of a chance to create deposits and sludge. This Miranda, senior engineer for BP Castrol Luhelps your engine stay cleaner and last longer. bricants. “Plus, there’s nothing special required Did you know you can use synthetic oil at to do so. There is no flushing and no extra any time, as long as there is no restriction in long draining to get every last drop out. You your owners manual? And as far as we can just have to change your oil as you normally determine, there are very few instances when would—but don’t forget to ask your technician that happens. Also, did you know there are for synthetic oil when you do.” many vehicles that come from the factory alTo protect your engine as summer rolls on ready filled with synthetic oil? If yours is one of simply follow this piece of advice, borrowed these, more than likely your auto manufacturer from a notorious song that debuted a decade will specify that you keep using synthetic oil ago: Wear sunscreen. throughout the life of your vehicle. And while you lather yourself up with sunBut what if you’re using conventional oil; screen this summer, make sure your engine has does that mean that you have to hold off on the that same protection. If you don’t, that’s one benefits of synthetic oil until you buy another sunburn that could sting for a very long time.
FAST FACTS
PROTECT YOUR FAMILY WITH THE FULL LINE OF CASTROL MOTOR OILS
For more information please call 1-800-CASTROL or go towww.castrol.com www.castrol.com
Run Forever With…
Pour-In Fuel System Cleaner
GIVE YOUR CAR THAT
Super-Clean
by Tammy Williams VehicleMD Staff Writer
S
ure, trips to the dentist may not be all that fun, but there is one benefit—that super-clean feeling. You know it. It’s the way your mouth feels after you walk out of the dentist office and your teeth are white, shiny and sparkling. Wouldn’t it be nice to give that same super-clean feeling to your car? Well, you can—with help from a pour-in fuel system cleaner. A pour-in fuel system cleaner is a treatment added directly to the fuel tank, and just as the annual trip to the dentist cleans your teeth, a pour-in fuel system cleaner perks up dirty fuel systems. It’s easy to tell when your mouth doesn’t feel as clean and fresh as usual, but it’s a little tougher to tell if your engine isn’t as clean as it should be. There are a few tell-tale signs to determine if your engine is dirty. Does your engine feel like it is shaking? Do you hear a knocking sound while you’re driving? Does your vehicle just not seem like it is performing as well as it used to? If any of these describe your vehicle, there is a good chance deposits might have formed in your engine. Deposits are often little bits of carbon left over from the fuel your engine burns. These deposits can destroy your engine, just as cavities destroy your teeth. But good news—using a pour-in fuel system cleaner can remove these filthy deposits and help your engine feel clean and fresh. Deposits in your fuel system are like plaque on your teeth. A pour-in fuel system cleaner scrubs them away just like the dentist cleanses your mouth of plaque. If you are not experiencing any dirty-engine symptoms, that is wonderful, but it doesn’t mean a pour-in fuel system cleaner is not right for you. Using a pour-in fuel system cleaner can also help extend the life of fuel injectors, subsequently extending the life of your vehicle. A pour-in fuel system cleaner takes only seconds to install, adding virtually no time to your oil change. Pour-in fuel system cleaners are 8 VehicleMD
FEELING A pour-in fuel system cleaner scrubs away deposits just like the dentist cleanses your mouth of plaque.
recommended every 3,000 to 4,000 miles—in other words, at every oil change. These treatments are worth the extra cost because they are going to help your engine run better and extend its life, giving you security and peace of mind. Plus, a pour-in fuel system cleaner can also help the environment. “A pour-in fuel system cleaner can help reduce greenhouse emissions including nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, while improving fuel mileage using less fossil fuels,” said Mark Negast, technical director at Lucas Oil. Using a pour-in fuel system cleaner will improve your vehicle’s performance, making sure that your car runs extremely well. Because just as those trips to the dentist are essential to a healthy mouth and teeth, pour-in fuel system cleaners are essential to keeping your engine clean and your vehicle running properly.
www.lucasoil.com
Run Forever With…
ATF Replacement
Keep the
MAGIC
The Trick to Keeping Your Car Running Well Could Be Fresh ATF by Tammy Williams VehicleMD Staff Writer
R
emember when you were a kid and watched a magic show. Weren’t you amazed by the magician’s tricks? You vowed there were no optical illusions or hidden wires; it was truly magic. Unfortunately, you grew up and realized that those tricks really weren’t magic after all. They might have been physics, but not magic. Keeping this in mind, have you ever thought about how your car really works? Sure, you open the door, get in, put in the key (for those of us with old-school cars), turn it on, put it in gear and go. It’s simple… no, make that magic. I won’t get into it here, but what drives your car is much more complex than what I’ve described above. One of the key parts, though, is the transmission. The “magic” fluid that keeps it operating, automatic transmission fluid, might be nearly as important as the transmission itself. Automatic transmission fluid has Automatic transmissome magical properties: sion fluid—or you • Lubricates metal-on-metal might hear it called contact inside your car’s ATF—is a lot like mo transmission. • Cleans your transmission and tor oil. It lubricates the holds contaminants in metal-on-metal contact suspension. inside your car’s trans • Flows at extreme temperatures. mission. It also cleans your transmission and holds the contaminants in suspension until they can be filtered or drained out when the ATF is replaced. But ATF, also has some pretty magical properties. It can flow at 10 VehicleMD
extreme temperatures, meaning your vehicle will move whether it is below 0º F or hotter than 100º F outside. ATF can also withstand extraordinarily high temperatures inside the transmission, as parts of your transmission can reach up to 800º F. At that temperature, the fluid can actually turn to vapor, and if the fluid isn’t robust, it can turn to sludge and varnish that will reside in your transmission and negatively affect its performance. This sludge and varnish can be very harmful to your transmission, causing sluggish operation and improper shifting, or it might even starve your transmission of the ATF it needs to operate. These conditions could cause your transmission to start banging through gears instead of shifting smoothly or, worse, the transmission may begin to slip, generating even more heat until the entire transmission eventually fails. If you enjoy a smooth ride in your vehicle, and don’t want to feel like you’ve driven through a pothole each time your car shifts gears, consider replacing ATF at your vehicle manufacturer’s recommended intervals. A transmission flush is a fairly quick process in which a flushing solution is added to the transmission prior to the fluid change. The flushing solution helps remove sludge, varnish and other deposits that may be inside your transmission. Then, new ATF is added to the transmission, which is “magically” clean once again. “Removing deposits and buildup in the transmission allows for more efficient shifting and performance,” said Molly Brown, technical product manager at Amsoil. “Also, improved operating efficiency can lead to restored fuel economy.” Proper transmission maintenance, such as ATF replacement, also ensures the longevity of your transmission, which will help your vehicle on its way to running forever.
You lead a busy life, and oil changes are a hassle. That’s just one reason more and more people are switching to AMSOIL extended life synthetic motor oils... the convenience of changing oil less often while remaining confident that their engines are being protected. By changing oil less often you’re also helping reduce packaging waste and creating fewer used lubricants to dispose of, keeping the world greener. You also benefit from a cleaner operating engine and easier cold starts. Since 1972 AMSOIL has been the leader in synthetic lubricant technology, and there has never been a better time to switch. AMSOIL is good for your car, the environment and your schedule.
Simplify your life. Choose AMSOIL.
1-800-777-8491
www.amsoil.com www.amsoil.com Accept no substitutes.
Be Safe With…
Windshield Wipers
The Eyes Have It Keep Your Vision
Clear
With New Wiper Blades By Garrett McKinnon, VehicleMD Staff Writer
H
UMANS ARE VISUAL BEINGS. It’s a fact that the majority of the information we glean about our surroundings—and the decisions we make based on that information—comes from things we see. That’s why it is vitally important that we do everything possible to keep our vision clear inside our vehicles. After all, you really want to see that gray 18-wheeler hurtling toward you in a rainstorm. And the best way to do that is to make sure your wiper blades are in perfect working order. The majority of wiper blades are constructed with a rubber wiping element, which provides optimum friction to clear glass of water. Because rubber is a natural compound, it breaks down for a variety of reasons:
• Ozone in the atmosphere (especially prominent in high-traffic urban
and suburban areas) can oxidize the rubber and create cracks in its surface; as these cracks propagate and grow, they will allow water to pass through, creating streaks on the windshield. The more streaks that occur, the less visual clarity a driver will have through the windshield.
• Heat is a killer. On a hot summer day, the windshield of a vehicle
can reach temperatures up to 145° F, which slowly “cooks” the rubber wiper blades until they lose their flexibility and crack. This too will cause streaking or “chattering.”
• Cold temperatures also contribute to a wiper’s demise; as the rub-
ber gets harder in cold temps and loses its flexibility, it allows water to leak under the rubber surface, “smearing” the surface of the windshield instead of wiping it cleanly away. 12 VehicleMD
While there’s no set industry standard, most wiper manufacturers recommend replacing blades every six to nine months based on how the wipers are performing and local conditions. Even a tiny streak during a test can become a major impairment to your vision during a rainstorm. Most drivers are familiar with the traditional frame-style wipers. These use a metal frame to stretch a piece of rubber across the windshield, a design largely unchanged since 1905 when Mary Anderson patented the very first windshield wiper. The last decade, however, has seen the advent of “beam” or “flat” wipers, the first revolutionary change in wiper blade design in more than a century. Flat blades are made from a single piece of curved plastic that suspends the rubber wiping element. The benefit? “Flat blades were designed to provide almost uniform pressure distribution across a windshield,” said Shawn Subramaniam, technical manager with Shell Oil. “Instead of the ‘hill and valley’ pressure points you get with a traditional wiper, points that can allow water to streak or smear, flat blades provide a more uniform wipe.” In addition to providing superior wiping, flat blades are also smaller and more streamlined than traditional wipers, making them more aesthetically pleasing to many drivers and generating less wind noise. Many models are also designed with a built-in “spoiler” that keeps the blade in close contact with the windshield even at highway speeds. The best part about flat blades? Thanks to adapters found in many blade sets, even vehicles not factory-equipped with these new blades can be retrofitted with them, giving all drivers the opportunity to experience the maximum in windshield wiping performance—and allowing them to see better in rainy or wet conditions.
www.shell.com WIPER WEATHERBEATER®BLADES
• Contours to the Unique Curvature of Your Windshield
• Consumer Rated BEST In Wet Weather Driving Visibility*
• Ice Resistant Frame Increases Wiper Flexibility and Adherance to Windshield in Harsh Conditions
• Smooth, Clean, Streak-Free Wipe
• Delivers the Ultimate Smooth, Clean, Chatter-Free Wipe
• Galvanized Steel Frame for Long-Lasting Durability *NPD Car Care
© 2010 SOPUS Products. All rights reserved.
Sip Gas With…
Multi-Part Fuel System Cleaning
Beat the
Gas Pump Blues by Tammy Williams VehicleMD Staff Writer
If
gas prices near your home are like gas prices near my home, you couldn’t help but notice that the price shot upward sometime around Spring Break. Unfortunately, these prices might keep climbing all summer long. But don’t worry. There’s a way you can squeeze every penny out of each gallon of gas. So just maybe those gas prices might not seem as high as this summer’s temperatures. Grubby deposits in your engine can lead to symptoms like hesitation, diminished vehicle acceleration, increased emissions and reduced fuel economy. These deposits can appear because of improper maintenance, driving in stop-and-go traffic, or driving in extremely hot weather conditions, like the summer heat. A multi-part fuel system cleaning will help get rid of these deposits, helping you get a few extra miles out of each tank of fuel in the process. A fuel system cleaning generally consists of three stages. The first stage cleans and removes carbon deposits in the upper part of the engine. The second stage is usually added directly to the fuel tank. This helps clean the rest of your fuel system, like the fuel lines and fuel pump. It
Grubby deposits in your engine can lead to symptoms like hesitation, diminished vehicle acceleration, increased emissions and reduced fuel economy. also cleans the insides of your fuel injectors. In combination, these two stages create a third stage, which cleans the fuel injector tips. There is usually one fuel injector for each cylinder in your vehicle’s engine, and it is very important that they are kept clean. A fuel injector that is even partially clogged can waste fuel and money.
14 VehicleMD
To help you better understand fuel injectors, think of them like a showerhead. When the showerhead is clean, water flows freely giving you a very pleasant shower. However, if there are calcium or lime deposits on your showerhead, some of the holes may become clogged, and you won’t get the full spray of the showerhead. Carbon deposits do the same thing to fuel injectors. Instead of spraying in a perfect cone shape, carbon deposits deflect the spray patterns. This means that your vehicle is not operating at its maximum efficiency, and you’re not getting the full benefit from your fuel system or gasoline. By having a total fuel system cleaning service performed on your car, you can be confident that your vehicle is not wasting any gas—and it also can reduce the risk of costly repairs in the future. “If you have one fuel injector go bad from deposits or buildup, you can easily be looking at a $300 or $400 repair situation for just one injector,” said Steve Farr, vice president of Smart Blend Synthetics, Life Automotive Products, Inc. A fuel system cleaning every 15,000 miles will help keep your fuel system in top condition. This little bit of preventive maintenance will not only help fend off costly repairs in the future, but it also can help you start saving money at the pump today.
www.smartblend.com
Go Green With...
Re-Refined Motor Oil
A Change for the
GREEN By Tammy Williams VehicleMD Staff Writer
16 VehicleMD
Do you want to help save the planet? Do you recycle your newspapers, plastics and aluminum cans? Do you want to make sure your motor oil doesn’t contaminate our drinking supply after it leaves your engine? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then maybe it’s time for a “greener” oil change. A re-refined oil change is exactly the same as your current oil change; only it uses “greener” oil—re-refined oil. Re-refined oil can help you “go green” because it is actually made from existing motor oil. “Re-refining used oil conserves natural non-renewable resources and has the potential to reduce dependence on foreign oil,” said Eric Zimmer, executive vice president of Sales and Marketing at Safety-Kleen Systems. “Re-refining is energy efficient and is an eco-friendly way to manage used oil.”
Petroleum molecules never wear out, so used motor oil can be re-refined over and over again. The re-refining process also keeps millions of gallons of oil from being disposed of improperly. For instance, the oil from one oil change (about a gallon) can contaminate one million gallons of drinking water. That’s a year’s supply of water for 50 people! According to federal reports, oil that is not collected and re-refined accounts for more than 40 percent of the total oil pollution of our nation’s harbors and waterways. The green shines through in other ways, too. Re-refining motor oil results in 99.5 percent fewer heavy metal emissions and 85 percent less greenhouse gases than if used motor oil were used as fuel. It also saves more than one million tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually, which
is equivalent to taking 200,000 cars off the road every year. Most of the motor oil found in engines today is made from crude petroleum that is carefully “refined” into base lubricating oil. Later in the manufacturing, process a combination of additives are added, giving motor oil the special properties that set it apart from other petroleum products like tar or gasoline. These additives, however, wear out over time, which is why you must change your oil at regular intervals. The base oil—what we call the oil that doesn’t have additives added to it yet—actually never wears out. It just becomes dirty as it works to do its lubricating job. Re-refined oil is made from this “dirty” oil drained out of engines. When the oil is drained from your engine, your service center collects it in a used-oil tank. Then, a rerefining company collects the oil and takes it to the refinery. The used oil can be conventional, synthetic, high-mileage or any of the several other motor oil types found across the country; the type of oil doesn’t matter when it’s being re-refined. At the refinery, the used oil goes through a process that cleans up the oil by removing the additives and contaminants. This makes it just as good as oil derived from virgin crude. In fact, re-refined oil may be even better because it takes 85 percent less energy to re-refine motor oil than to produce it from crude. Then, additives are added to the newly re-refined oil, making it ready to use in your engine once again. The great thing is, since the petroleum molecules never wear out, this process can be repeated over and over again. How do you know that re-refined motor oil is safe? The
motor oil currently in your vehicle is certified by the American Petroleum Institute. This is the association that tests all the motor oils on the market to make sure they are safe
Re-refining motor oil… 4 Results in 99.5 percent fewer heavy metal emissions and 85 percent less
greenhouse gases than if used motor oil were used for fuel. 4 Saves more than one million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, which is the equivalent of taking 200,000 cars off the road every year. 4 Takes 85 percent less energy to produce than motor oil made from crude oil.
fast facts
to use in your car. You can tell that an oil is API-certified because it bears the “donut” symbol on the front of its package. If re-refined oil has been certified by API, you can rest assured it’s safe for your engine. Also, major car and engine manufacturers have approved the use of re-refined oil. So, as long as the re-refined oil you choose meets the same standards called for in your owners manual, it will not void your warranty. Not only is re-refined oil safe for your engine, but it is also great for the planet. With a simple change at your next oil change you can help decrease our dependence on foreign oil, feel confident your motor oil did not contaminate millions of gallons of water and help everyone live a little greener.
www.vehiclemd.com 17
Keep Healthy With‌
Air Conditioner Odor Service
Terminate the
SILENT INVADERS
Lurking in Your Vehicle
By Garrett McKinnon VehicleMD Staff Writer
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Next time you get in your car and turn on the air conditioner, take a can’t. It also reduces allergens and contaminants in your vehicle’s cabin, deep breath. What do you smell? Is it fresh and clean, or does it smell improving air quality and making it a healthier place for you and your a little musty? If your answer is the latter, you may have some silent family. invaders—mold and mildew—hiding in your car. Why are mold and mildew so dangerous? Oftentimes they are dangerMold and mildew spores are everywhere. They are constantly flying ous because people don’t realize it is mold and mildew causing their through the air, but it isn’t until they find a damp, dark place to grow symptoms—these pesky invaders can seem almost invisible at times. that they become a problem. One place they love to grow is in your Most health problems caused by mold involve the spores getting into car’s heating/cooling/air conditioning (HVAC) evaporator box. This your lungs. Stuffiness or a runny nose may be the sign of a mold allergy, evaporator is the area where the air from your A/C blows out through along with shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing. In more severe the vehicle’s interior vents, and the air that resides in this area is generally cases, exposure to mold may cause headaches, fevers or skin rashes in moist and warm—an ideal breeding ground for mold and mildew. some people. If you smell a musty or moldy smell when your air conditioner is Mold may make people who do not suffer from asthma have asthmaturned on, that is a telltale sign of mold and mildew growth. These like symptoms, and for those who do suffer from asthma, mold can moldy and musty odors are waste products given off by actively growing aggravate their symptoms and even bring on severe attacks. molds—and a good sign it’s time to do something about their infestaMildew is a fungus that is often mistaken for mold because they both tion. grow in the same An A/C odor elimenvironments and, for ination service allows the most part, cause your service technimany of the same When you think of the fact that the air you cian to eliminate the health problems. breathe inside a vehicle can be as much as harmful mold and When mildew five times worse than the air outside, using mildew—as well spores are breathed in as their unpleasant through the nose they this service to eliminate the hazardous mold odors—built up in may cause sneezing and mildew coming from within the evaporayour evaporator. This or nasal drip, or even tor box can greatly help any vehicle’s interior service only takes lead to a sinus infecabout 20 minutes, tion. to be a healthy one. and it can be perIf mildew spores are Kristen Clark formed at the same breathed in through time your technician the lungs, they could International Lubricants is changing your oil, start to irritate, resultadding little to no ing in coughing and time to your vehicle’s wheezing. Excess service. mildew spores could lead to an upper respiratory infection, especially in “When you think of the fact that the air you breathe inside a vehicle people with allergies or a disease that weakens the lungs. can be as much as five times worse than the air outside, using this service If you suffer from any of the aforementioned symptoms when you get to eliminate the hazardous mold and mildew coming from within the in your vehicle, there’s a good chance it is the mold or mildew in your evaporator box can greatly help any vehicle’s interior to be a healthy HVAC system causing your symptoms. An A/C odor elimination service one,” said Kristen Clark, marketing manager for International Lubriwould be a start to terminating mold and mildew, and help you start cants, Inc. feeling better. This particular service provides instant benefits that you can actuIf you don’t suffer from these symptoms, but simply want to keep your ally smell. One benefit is, of course, the clean, fresh scent coming from family safe and healthy—with an added benefit of a vehicle that smells the vents. Another, perhaps more important benefit, is that the service clean and fresh—an A/C odor elimination service is your best choice. reduces allergens and organic toxins from entering the interior of your Remember, it’s not the moldy, musty smell itself that could be the vehicle’s cabin. problem. It’s the mold or mildew behind the smell that could be threatThe A/C odor elimination service eliminates odors that air fresheners ening the health of you and your family.
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Know Your Stuff
Maintain Good Records when you are ready to sell your car. Preventative maintenance records Keeping should be kept for your vehicle preventative from the very first to the very last maintenance day of ownership, if possible. But records on your if you don’t have any records on vehicle will be a big your vehicle, now is the perfect help if you decide time to start! Plus, it only takes a to sell your car. few minutes each week to maintain your records. Keeping preventative maintenance records on your vehicle will be a big help if you decide to sell your car. They can help increase its resale value, and can help you sell it faster. Just like your checkbook, you should keep your vehicle records in a safe place. But as long as you can get to your records quickly and easily when a maintenance questions arises, the method doesn’t really matter. All you have to do is take all of your car’s records and decide which method of record keeping you find best, easiest, whatever. Just like everyone has their own personal “style,”— driving, fashion or otherwise—everyone has their own record keeping style. Some people prefer to keep their records by hand. My grandmother still does! For some, it’s the most accurate method. However, with today’s technological advancements, there are other options. Some desktop programs allow you to keep your records stored on your computer’s hard drive. by Jessica Odom Using a desktop program allows you to VehicleMD Staff Writer simply input your vehicle’s information and be done with it. However, sometimes these records may not be readily at hand, and since they are kept on your computer’s hard drive, they may be subject to your everyday computer viruses. One of the best options may be a database that is always easily accessible and protected. Where might you find one? The Internet. Some websites allows you to simply input OU BALANCE YOUR CHECKBOOK, DON’T YOU? Of course, that’s how your information and walk away. Unlike using you keep track of what condition your finances are in. Have you ever thought a desktop program, you can take it with you about keeping a ledger to tell you the condition of your car? Maybe not, but when you go. They can also be accessed from it makes sense because your car is likely one of the largest financial decisions you’ll any computer or even your cell phone. Plus, make. Here, we’ll break it down so you understand exactly what you should do. you’ll know they are always safe because they are backed up online. The way you keep your records is completely It’s simple—any and all maintenance reYou may even choose to keep gas receipts, up to you! Now that you understand all the cords, including things such as oil changes and too. Fuel records will help you better undertire rotations, should be kept for each of your stand your vehicle’s fuel economy and will give important reasons to keep vehicle records, what’s stopping you? vehicles. a potential buyer an idea of what to expect
for the
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THE BACK PAGE
Earth Friendly Facts
Moving Toward a Greener World By Taking Care of Your Car Do your homework: The amount of recycling in 2007 saved the energy equivalent of 10.7 billion gallons of gasoline. Visit: recyclingfacts.org
Smart Moves
n Change your vehicle's
dirty air filter. It can improve your fuel mileage by as much as 10 percent.
n Properly inflate your
tires. A tire that is underinflated by two psi can reduce fuel economy by 1 percent.
80
Percent of scrap tires in the United States are being reclaimed in various ways.
In
22 VehicleMD
Did you know? It
takes about 85 percent less energy to produce re-refined motor oil than it does to produce motor oil from crude oil.
2003
STATISTICS The oil from a single oil change can contaminate ONE MILLION GALLONS of drinking water—or a year’s supply for 50 people. 2.5 QUARTS OF RE-REFINED OIL can be produced from one gallon of used motor oil. Recycling all the oil filters sold annually in the United States would result in the recovery of about 160,000 TONS OF STEEL, or enough to make 16 new stadiums the size of Atlanta’s Olympic Stadium. In terms of weight, 10 PERCENT OF ALL PLASTIC PARTS used in the Mini Cooper by BMW Group are made up of recycled parts. (Source: Auto Alliance)
Ford Motor Company has used grille reinforcements, window frames, engine covers and trunk carpets manufactured from more than 50 MILLION recycled plastic soda bottles in its vehicles. (Source: Auto Alliance)
n 56 million tires were recycled for civil engineering projects. n 12 million tires were ground up and used in rubber-modified asphalt for roads and athletic tracks.
All motor oil is not created equal.. Introducing EcoPower ® Eco-Frieendly Motor Oil. Alll the exttra protectiion of a syntheticc-bleendd formulationn with a muuch smaller carbon footprinnt. Make a decision that shows you care as much for thhe planet as you do for youur vehiccle. Choosee EcoPower ®frrom Safety-K Kleen ®. Visit ecopoweroil.ccom to find a retailer nearest you.
EcoPower uses up to 85% lesss energy to produce than oil refined frrom crude EcoPow wer conserves resoources and reduces depeendence onn foreign crude EcoPower is a synthetic blend to proviide extra protection andd performance EcoPowerr is guaranteed and exceeds manufacturers’ warranty requirements*
Now available nationwide. Ask your retailer about EcoPower www.ecopoweroil.com or visit ecopoweroil.com * for vehicles requiring an API SM/ILSAC GF-4 certified motor oil
©2010 Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc.
WHAT IS THAT SMELL? Eliminating the Foul Odors from Mold and Mildew in your Vehicle
Mold spores magnified
Anyone who drives has come across that one vehicle, where, once you turned on the A/C or heater, an odor of the foulest proportion raced out the vents and filled up the cabin with a putrid musty smell. Rolling down the windows was once the only option until your senses were stunned into blocking the smell out. This smell is a tell-tale sign that it is time to flush out the bacteria, fungi and other microbes that are happily residing in the moist, dark and dank areas of the vehicle’s evaporator core. When mold and fungus spores are sucked into the A/C of your vehicle
The air you breath inside a vehicle could be up to 5 times worse than the air outside!
Mildew magnified
they land on a damp surface (the evaporator and its enclosure) and begin to grow and proliferate. In a system with a plugged up A/C drain or one that is in constant use, the box and evaporator will never dry out enough for the organic invader to die and go away. This is not just a superficial problem, either. It is actually hazardous to your health! Several studies have cited fungal and mold infections as the source of over 90% of chronic sinus problems. Not to mention, the EPA now classifies indoor airborne allergens as one of our most important environmental concerns.
Ask your service provider get rid of the smell today! • • • • • •
Leaves a clean, fresh scent Eliminates odors air fresheners can’t Reduces allergens and contaminates Improves air quality Maximizes cooling system efficiency Quick and convenient, can be done while waiting for any other service • Unlike other products, no drilling is required. • Ideal for cars, trucks, vans & RV’s This facility doesn’t carry Kool-It? Have them contact us! International Lubricants Inc. www.Lubegard.com / (800) 333-LUBE(5823)
A look inside a typical evaporator system
Odor! s e t a n Elimi ens! g r e l l A s Reduce rilling! No D Part # 96030 KOOL-IT® is released into the HVAC system and its super foaming action flushes out and neutralizes unwanted contaminants that live in A/C and heater systems.
mold and mildew ©2009 International Lubricants, Inc. All rights reserved.