Are You Enviromentally Conscious When It Comes To Your Automobile?

By changing a few habits you  can do  your  part in helping the environment.



Regular  maintenance and better driving habits are two easy-to-implement strategies that  will help your vehicle last longer and even get a better resale price.


The following tips can put you on the road to environmentally conscious vehicle  care:

•Keep the engine running at peak performance—a misfiring spark plug can reduce fuel efficiency as much as 30 percent. Replace filters and fluids as recommended in the manual.


• Don’t ignore that ‘Service Engine’ light.

•Keep tires properly inflated and aligned to reduce the engine’s effort and help with gasoline consumption.
( your tires will last longer too, saving you money and easing the burden at recycling centers.)


•Avoid speeding and sudden acceleration ; (boths guzzle gas). When waiting for friends or family, shut off the engine. Consolidate daily errands to eliminate unnecessary driving.


•Remove excess items from the vehicle, since less weight means better mileage.


•If you do your own repairs,  be sure to dispose of engine fluids and batteries.

How Much Does Your Vehicle REALLY Cost You Per Year?

  For some, vehicles  are a necessity. They need a car to get to and from work, and other places.  People who live in big cities, often don’t need a car, but own a car, even if they’re only using it every once in a while.


Whether you drive a total beater, or a nice, expensive, luxurious gas-guzzler  youe need to look at all the costs involved in car ownership


· Car Insurance



· Cost of Gas and Fuel



· Maintenance and Repair



· Vehicle related licensing, registration and other fees



· Car purchase, loan payments and finance charges



· Parking, tolls, etc.





The average  cost of owning a car in the US is…$19,799.00 per year.


To fugure out how much you are spending  try  http://www.bikesatwork.com/blog/the-real-cost-of-car-ownership

What is Distracted Driving ??

Distracted Driving is any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving. These actions take the driver’s attention away from the road and traffic.

Driving becomes secondary in importance to another activity that is happening inside the car, truck or cycle while the vehicle is in motion.



These types of distractions include:

•Texting


•Using a cell phone or smartphone


•Eating and drinking


•Talking to passengers


•Grooming


•Reading, including maps

•Using a navigation system


•Watching a video


•Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player




REMEMBER ...

All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety.

Distracted driving kills and injures thousands of people each year.




What can you do:


•Protect lives by never texting or talking on the phone while driving.


•Be a good passenger and speak out if the driver in my car is distracted.


•Encourage my friends and family to drive phone-free.


April is Distracted Driving Month-
  Get the facts, Get involved, and help keep America's roadways safe.

Is Your Four Wheel Baby Ready For the Warmer Weather ??

Good Bye   Cold Mornings ~ Hello Warm Driving Weather



The following are some steps you can take to prep  your vehilce  for spring  and  to repair it  from months of harsh winter driving.

• Undercarriage Road salt – Road salt can damage your vehicle’s undercarriage by eating away or corroding the metal. A thorough cleaning at a car wash should do the trick.


• Check the tires – It’s crucial to check your tires after weather changes because tire pressure changes about 1 pound per square inch for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit change in temperature.



• Wiper blades – Windshield wipers take a beating during the winter weather – wiping away dirt, debris and salt and gravel spray. Make sure the blades are making full contact with the windshield and have not dried out.



• Rotate tires – This should be done roughly every 5,000-10,000 miles and it can extend the life of your tires significantly by reducing wear.



• Change oil and filter – Some car makers suggest changing to a heavier oil to help your vehicle’s engine perform more efficiently during warmer weather.



• Change air filter – Your car’s air filter prevents dust and other debris from getting into the engine’s running parts, meaning less efficient use of gas and weaker engine performance.



• Flush and fill cooling system. This is cheap insurance against engine failure. Experts recommend flushing every 2 years for most vehicles.



• Check radiator and gas caps – Tight fitting caps on the radiator and gas tank are important. Radiator caps can corrode and deteriorate, so it’s a good idea to replace yours as often as you flush the cooling system.



• Check battery and plugs – Make sure battery posts and connections are clean. Spark plugs fire as many as 3 million times every 1,000 miles.



• Clean the interior – It’s easy to use your car or truck as a storage area for all kinds of things (including useless junk and garbage), especially in the cold months when you don’t feel like cleaning your car in the freezing cold. Take the time to de-clutter your car. It’s worth it.

Should You Worry About Your Check Engine Light Being On?

A "Check Engine" light can be a headache for any  vehicle owner. It has to be one of the most frustrating and confusing facets of owning a vehicle. It's just a light with no information telling you what the problem is.




The Check Engine light — more formally known as the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) — is a signal from the car's engine computer that something is wrong.



Occasionally, the Check Engine light comes on when nothing is wrong with the car. It could  just be a temporary problem caused by a change in humidity or other factors. In this case the  light should go off by itself after a short time.




Five most common are causes  are :



•O2 sensor
•Loose gas cap

•Catalytic converter

•Mass air flow sensor (monitoring the amount of air mixed in the fuel injection system)

•Spark plug wires


  Check Engine lights come in orange, yellow or amber, depending on the manufacturer. If the light begins flashing can be a   more serious problem

What to do ....

Check to make sure your gas cap is on and give it a few more clicks to tighten it up.

 If that doesn't work, head to a mechanic or an auto parts store -- it's best to get a professional to diagnose the problem ( and some will even perform this service for free) .

Remember ... Even though the vehicle  could be driving just fine, you may be wasting fuel, putting out lots of pollution and damaging the engine.