Technology

Although much is made of the high cost of car maintenance and repair, rarely do people think about paying attention to low-cost items that could, if neglected, bring high cost consequences. Take for example the oil filter or engine air filter. These are often undervalued as a maintenance item because more misconceptions exist about them than any other part on a vehicle.  Some of these fallacies are listed below.

We play the odds with practically everything we do in life, whether it’s something as mundane as turning on the tap for hot water or driving through a nasty thunderstorm at night. According to the website http://funny2.com the chance of dying from contact with hot tap water is 1 in approximately 5 million, and the chance of being killed by lightning is about 1 in 2.3 million! On the more positive side, the odds of finding out that your child is a genius are much higher – 1 in 250.

Your car’s windshield protects you against stones, bugs, sand, grit and other roadside debris. Your car’s windows protect you from heat, cold, rain and snow. Your car’s brakes protect you from dangerous collisions. … No less important is your car’s cabin air filter which is designed to ‘safeguard’ your respiratory health and well being – especially when the windows are rolled up and the A/C or heating is turned on

Our cars are a substantial investment, and regular maintenance helps protect that investment.  A regular oil change is a relatively inexpensive form of preventive maintenance and helps avert premature engine wear and extend the life of your vehicle.  Recommended intervals for an oil change range from every 3,000 miles to 10,000 for newer vehicles.  Ultimately it should depend on the age of your vehicle and your personal driving habits.

Hours spent in a hot, stifling vehicle can spoil a weekend getaway or vacation. Conducting a periodic under-hood inspection may help you spot air conditioning problems before they spoil your trip.

Here’s what to look for: Note: Always be extremely careful any time you’re under the hood while the engine is running. Stay away from all rotating components with your hands, clothing, and hair, and always wear eye protection around a running engine.

1. Are A/C component mounting bolts in place and tightly secured?

Vehicle braking systems have finally received the attention that they have needed for many years. Modern technology has delivered a solution for vehicles that will keep their wheels shining and brake noise to a whisper, while still allowing drivers to experience the performance they expect. Motorists can now start their weekends with a quiet ride around town instead of a morning of scrubbing brake dust off their wheels.

While the increasing complexity of today's cars, light trucks, and SUVs has put many tasks beyond the capabilities of light do-it-yourselfers (DIYers), filter changes can still be easily handled by most DIYers. In fact, the opportunity for car owners to change their own filters is actually growing, thanks to a design change in newer vehicles that includes never-before-used filters that clean the air you breathe.  

Statistics gathered at a recent National Car Care Month inspection campaign conducted by the Car Care Council show that 30 percent of the vehicles failed because they had low, overfull, or dirty engine oil. ‘Clean’ oil is the life-blood of any engine and changing it and the oil filter frequently is what keeps the vehicle’s engine running smoothly, mile after mile.

TRICO Products announces the availability of new Exact Fit® Wiper Blades engineered to fit the unique pinch tab arms on current vehicles including the: BMW 5 and 6 Series; Buick Lucerne; Mercedes-Benz ML, R and SLK Class; Pontiac G6; and Volvo S, V and XC Series. The new blades also will accommodate future vehicles such as the 2007: Audi Q7; Cadillac Escalade; Chevrolet Avalanche, Suburban and Tahoe; GMC Yukon; Mercedes-Benz GL Class; and Saturn Aura.