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Simple Vehicle Check

A simple vehicle inspection before a family vacation can help avoid the short fuses, inconvenience and potential safety hazards of breaking down many miles away from home, says the Car Care Council.

“It’s easy to keep the sparks from flying from car trouble on a road trip,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “A quick vehicle check can give motorists peace of mind and save them from the hassle of a roadside breakdown. In just 10 minutes, drivers can make sure their car is ready for travel and then take steps to have any problems fixed before heading out for vacation.”

Right in their own driveway, motorists can identify how road-ready their vehicle is with the 10-minute inspection recommended by the Car Care Council. If repairs or maintenance are needed, they can be performed before hitting the road.

•       Check all fluids, including engine oil, antifreeze/coolant, windshield washer solvent and power steering, brake and transmission fluids.

•       Check the hoses and belts that can become cracked, brittle, frayed, loose or show signs of excessive wear. These are critical to the proper functioning of the electrical system, air conditioning, power steering and the cooling system.

•       Check the tires, including tire pressure and tread. Uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots.

•       Check the wipers and lighting so that you can see and be seen. Check that all interior and exterior lighting is working properly and inspect and replace worn wiper blades so you can see clearly when driving during precipitation.

Speeding...

We all know that speeding can reduce the fuel economy of your vehicle, but just how much of a difference does it make?

Saving time doesn’t always mean saving money, and in the case of getting to your destination quicker, it could cost you at the pump. Consumer Reports recently conducted a study to see how speeding affected fuel efficiency on various popular vehicle models and its findings may have you thinking twice before you speed.

Take the HondaAccord LX for example. According to Consumer Reports, driving at a steady 55 mph returned 49 mpg, but increasing that to 65 mph saw a return of 42 mpg. While averaging 75 mph, the Accord LX only got 35 mpg – a 29-percent difference between 55 mph and 77 mph.

Mathematically speaking, driving 200 miles at 75 mph instead of 55 mph will save you an hour of time, but will burn an extra 1.5 to two gallons of gas. For some people however, saving an hour of time is worth spending an extra five to seven dollars.

Burnsville Motors