Car Care Tips

October is Fall Car Care Month, and the Car Care Council recommends the following ways to fight rising gas prices:

Statistics show that a third of all vehicle accidents and almost half of traffic fatalities happen at night. Most of these are usually blamed on reduced driver vision.

That’s why it’s so important to make sure you keep your headlamps as clear and clean as possible. At night, our visual perception can be reduced by up to 70%, so you can imagine how much harder it is to see the road ahead if your headlamps are clouded over or hazy. 

In today’s economy, people are keeping their vehicles longer and looking for smart, affordable ways to maintain them. Rust and corrosion are glaring examples of what can go wrong when your car’s painted surfaces are chipped or scratched. Sometimes the fight against rust feels like an uphill battle; but if you can help avoid the cause, you may be one step ahead of the game.

Water turns to a vapor or boils at 212°F.  For every pound of pressure we put water under, it raises the boiling point 3 degrees.  15 lbs of pressure would raise the boiling point of water from 212°F to 265°F.  (These numbers are all altitude sensitive.)  So 15 lbs of pressure created by the radiator cap multiplied by 3.5 degrees will move water’s boiling point upwards 45+ degrees. So under pressure, your radiator liquid will boil at 245-265°F and not at 212°F.

Here’s a hot tip about car batteries: Warm weather is the time for major car-battery problems. Heat, not cold, shortens battery life, says the Car Care Council. The average life of a battery is three and a half years, and even shorter in warmer climates.

Car owners know they should keep their vehicles in good operating condition, but often they do not know where to turn for dependable service or what to look for in a repair shop.

The New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) rates vehicles to determine crash worthiness and rollover safety. The safety ratings are gathered during controlled crash and rollover tests conducted at NHTSA’s research facilities.

There are two types of Fathers...those who work on their own vehicles and those who don't. Whether your dad is a do-it-yourselfer (DIY) or a Do-It-For-Me type (DIFM), consider an automotive gift for Dad this Father's Day.

69% of male drivers work on their car, truck, mini van or SUV, according to the Car Care Council. Whether it's light maintenance, like changing the oil and replacing the wiper blades, or heavier projects, such as replacing brakes, most Dads enjoy taking care of their own vehicles. Automotive accessories, tools, parts, and products make ideal Father's Day gifts.

How much dirt and debris can a car’s engine air filter keep out? Depends on whom you ask. The average motorist will probably not know. But ask Kevin O'Dowd, and you can expect to hear, “Much more than you would expect.” And O'Dowd would know. He is an executive for MANN+HUMMEL Purolator Filters, a company with a long-standing history in the field of filtration. After nearly 90 years in the business, Purolator is still one of the largest suppliers of high quality automotive filters to the North American Aftermarket.