Filters

Most car nuts consider themselves good stewards, but even the most common checks get overlooked in between kids’ events, early days at the office and the occasional weekend travel. The Women’s Board of the Car Care Council joins me in encouraging you to check these six items that often get neglected: 1. Keep time - Basic engine maintenance. Check that little book in your glove box under all the napkins. There is a service schedule. If you’re always running around you probably qualify for the “severe duty” schedule.

Driver’s education classes rarely include instruction on vehicle maintenance. The Women’s Board of the Car Care Council reminds parents that someone must be responsible for teaching young drivers basic automotive maintenance. After all, one day this teen is going to buy a car, which probably will be her second biggest investment. Here’s how to help make it a better one. 1.Your new driver needs to understand that any vehicle, regardless of age, needs routine maintenance. Make sure she knows and follows the maintenance schedule for her vehicle.

The Women’s Board of the Car Care Council encourages women to improve their “car smarts” and pass along this information to the rest of their family. Female drivers already are on the right tract, according to the Women’s Board, who said that three out of four women think that following the recommended maintenance schedule for their car is either “important” or “extremely important.” There’s no one like a parent to teach the next generation how to treat a car with special care.

One of the easiest and most important tasks to prepare your vehicle for winter driving is to inspect the level and freshness of your vehicle’s antifreeze. The Car Care Council recommends that motorists check their antifreeze every 12 months or 12,000 miles to help protect the engine from freezing and overheating, as well as from rust and corrosion damage.

Maintaining Present Vehicle May Be Key to Long-Term Financial Happiness. How will you spend your tax refund? Big-Screen TV? Cell Phone? Clothes? The Car Care Council has a better idea for your money: spend it on your second biggest investment, your car.

If you get headaches, allergic reactions or breathing problems riding in your car, it’s probably time to change the cabin air filter. Cabin air filters clean the incoming air and remove allergens, and should be replaced every 12,000 to 15,000 miles, or per the owner’s manual, according to the Car Care Council.

More than 80 percent of new domestic and import vehicles sold in the U.S. today come equipped with cabin air filtration systems or a slot where one can be installed.

It’s definitely time for spring cleaning if someone writes “wash me” on your vehicle. Even if your car hasn’t reached that point, a good cleaning of the inside and outside prevents the buildup of damaging chemicals and dirt, reduces the potential for rust from road salt and helps ensure proper visibility needed for safe driving, according to the Car Care Council.

It doesn’t cough or wheeze but there are telltale signs that your vehicle’s cooling system is under the weather. The most noticeable symptoms are overheating, leaks, a sweet smell of antifreeze and repeatedly needing to add coolant, according to the Car Care Council.

“Cooling system neglect is cited as a principal reason for mechanical failure of a vehicle,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “In addition to the danger and inconvenience of a breakdown, the damage to the engine and transmission can add up to big bucks.”

It doesn’t matter if the car you’re driving is new or old, big or small. There are preventive maintenance steps every vehicle owner can take to make sure their car is as “green” or environmentally friendly as possible, according to the Car Care Council.

By following five simple preventive maintenance steps, you can help protect the environment by improving gas mileage, which in turn saves money at the pump.

The Car Care Council has launched a digital version of its popular Car Care Guide that can be easily accessed through the council’s Web site at www.carcare.org.