All posts in Auto Maintenance

Prepared for a Break Down? 4 Crucial Items to Keep in Your Vehicle

by Anica Oaks on 2015/12/18 in Auto Care with Comments Off on Prepared for a Break Down? 4 Crucial Items to Keep in Your Vehicle

When it comes to your personal safety and well-being, it always pays to be prepared. This includes preparing yourself for any emergencies that you might experience when you get in your car and head down the road. Here is a look at four emergency items that everyone should keep in their vehicle at all times.

First Aid Kit

Every single vehicle should have a stocked first aid kit in the trunk or cab at all times. Smaller kits that are created specifically for vehicles are quite affordable and can be purchased at practically any store. These kits will typically include a handful of bandages in various sizes, pain relievers, a tourniquet, latex gloves, antiseptic wipes, and tweezers. Larger kits might have an assortment of additional gear such as hand-crank radios and sterilized water.

Blankets

Anyone who lives in a climate with freezing temperatures or will be driving through a colder area should keep extra clothing and blankets in their vehicle. A human’s internal temperature only needs to drop by two degrees in order for hypothermia to take place, and this can result in permanent damage to their organs and other soft tissue. At the very least, drivers should have a water-resistant jacket and thick blanket in their trunk. Those who would like to be even more prepared should consider a sub-zero sleeping bag.

An Old Cell Phone

It might seem counterintuitive to keep a second charged cell phone in your vehicle, but these devices are important for a few different reasons. The first reason is that cell phones can make emergency calls even if they do not have an active calling plan. A driver can also switch out their SIM card if their first phone dies. Plugging your SIM card into the second phone will allow you to make calls to anyone that you need including a heavy towing service in Texas or other emergency services.

Water

Going just a few hours without water or any other liquids can impair one’s judgment as their body begins to shut down to protect itself. Having a couple jugs of clean water in your car will allow you to protect yourself from the harsh side effects of dehydration. Typically, drivers will want these water jugs to contain distilled water so that they can use it in their radiator if their car begins to overheat. Most cars require a mixture of 50 percent radiator fluid and 50 percent distilled water.

Having just these four items in your vehicle will keep you safe and comfortable if your car breaks down and you find yourself stranded on the side of the road.

What Makes Fuel Efficient Cars so Effective?

by Carsurfer Admin on 2015/12/14 in Saving Fuel with Comments Off on What Makes Fuel Efficient Cars so Effective?

Fuel efficient vehicles are rising in popularity, and for good reason. Renewed awareness of the world’s environmental problems have made the public more responsible in how they use energy. Many of these cars are one of the best investments to make, particularly considering how much time the average American spends driving. There are a number of reasons these cars are highly effective and below explains some of their common technology.

Direct Injection

Traditionally, fuel would be delivered into the engine through a variety of different methods, depending on the vehicle. However, these methods were inefficient, resulting in lower gas mileage and higher expenses. Direct injection ensures the maximum effectives per gallon of gas, enabling cars to improve their fuel efficiency in ways they’ve never before been able to before.

More Lightweight

For years, cars were becoming heavier and heavier, since automakers were equating weight with safety. However, with new materials going into the construction more automobiles are becoming safe without being heavy. Cars are now becoming lighter, which gives them more efficiency and increases their overall gas mileage. Smaller vehicles are also making a comeback. Rather than investing in enormous monstrosities, people are opting to purchase small, less intrusive vehicles. As a result of their size, less fuel is needed to power them.

Speed Caps

Going above the recommended speed for your vehicle is part of driving. After all, speeds of 80 mph or higher are very common on the interstate. That said, they also burn more fuel than slower speeds. Because many cars are being built with upper limits on how fast they can go, their fuel economy is improving.

Streamlining

Because wind resistance is a major source of extra fuel uses, automakers have begun to build cars that are more streamlined. While this has been a common practice in the racing for years, the practice has only recently begun to apply to family vehicles. By streamlining the vehicle, it reduces the amount of drag the car experiences, and improves the fuel economy.

Conserving oil, and making the most of your gas is a great way not only to save money, but to help the environment. Fossil fuels are limited, so conserving them as long as possible is in our best interest. New cars are being given a lot more technologies to be greener and help the world out. See if you can save money on your own by making some similar modifications.

Places like Advance Auto Parts can recommend small changes that make your car run more efficiently. You can also save money on parts with online coupons from places like discountrue. Today there’s no excuse to live the past and let your car get away with hurting the environment.

Garage-Less Care: What the Cold Weather Can Do to Your Car

by Carsurfer Admin on 2015/12/07 in Auto Care with Comments Off on Garage-Less Care: What the Cold Weather Can Do to Your Car

As winter is approaching, most of us are busy with holiday preparations and house winterization, and though your car is loved and used every day, you probably don’t think about things you could do to winterize it like you would for a house. If you don’t have a garage to store your car in, then it’s going to need some extra attention. It’s important to take the necessary steps to care for your car before and during the winter.

Batteries Die

In order to avoid being late for work because your car won’t start, check your battery before winter hits. The terminals should be clean and tight. Batteries also need to be replaced every three to five years. If you’ve reached that time frame, find a new battery made to survive in cold temperatures.

Tires Lose Pressure

As the air starts to cool between seasons, the lowering temperatures causes tires to lose pressure. The wrong tire pressure will lower the road performance of your car and not only can that cause damage to your tires, but could cause failure during snowy and icy conditions. The best way to prevent this is by checking your tire pressure weekly. It may be a hassle, but tire gauges are cheap, and many gas stations offer free air.

Fluids Thicken

The cold temperatures not only turn rain drops into snowflakes, but it also thicken up the fluids that help your car run smoothly. Some of these fluids need to be able to move quickly around the engine for the car to properly start and run. Before winter even arrives, check all the fluids in your car to make sure they’re in good condition. You can also buy products that are made specifically for cold temperatures. Throughout the winter months, be aware of the condition your fluids are in and always top off before a long drive.

Without a garage to hide your car in, the winter cold can bring a lot of damage. Between a loss in tire pressure, a dead battery, and some thick fluids, you could end up having to pay a lot to fix some pretty preventative problems. And paying for anything right after the holidays is never fun. See if your local auto parts store or Newgate School can recommend any tips for preparing a vehicle for winter. If you take the time to look after your car before winter arrives, then maybe you can save yourself some heartache.

How to Protect Yourself after Being Hit by a Drunk Driver

by Anica Oaks on 2015/11/06 in Auto Accident with Comments Off on How to Protect Yourself after Being Hit by a Drunk Driver

Car accidents are dangerous. The aftermath of a car accident can often be a significant portion of the overall danger, because it is then the financial realities, medical issues and the overall burden of car repairs, wasted time and inconvenience manifest themselves.

All of these things are only magnified if the accident involves a drunk driver.

Technology to the Rescue

In the age of mobile technology, phones and tablets, every human being is equipped with virtually unlimited capacity to document any event on their own. Photographic and video evidence are both incredibly powerful and often conclusive in any legal matter.

The practical ramifications of this are clear. After an accident, you should be taking pictures of everything, especially anything with letters or numbers on it. License plates, VIN numbers, driver’s licenses, insurance cards, and so forth.

Secondly, don’t forget to take pictures of the surroundings, starting with the road in both directions. Take pictures of the pavement and nearby structures. Photograph the accident from every angle and be sure to photograph any accident evidence: skid marks, glass, metal, paint, dents, scrapes, car parts, etc.

The Authorities

If it is at all possible, anyone involved in a drunk driving accident should interview all of the relevant authorities, starting with the responding police department. However, you should not answer any questions until you have a chance to speak with legal counsel, even if you aren’t at fault.

Firefighters and ambulance drivers or emergency medical personnel should be at least identified. Get numbers and names if possible. All of these people will become crucial sources of information and possibly testimonies at a later date.

Legal Advice

Even if you don’t think you’ll need an attorney, it is often a good idea to at least speak with someone involved in personal injury or vehicle accident litigation. Firms like Racine Olson will often alert you to things you may not have considered. A qualified and experienced attorney can also often be a good candidate for organizing all the information related to your case.

Insurance

It goes without saying that if you are ever in a car accident, your second call should be to your insurance company. This is doubly and triply true when dealing with an accident with potential criminal liability, even if you are not at fault. Your insurance company can coordinate their efforts with your legal representatives and assist you in obtaining any official documents related to the accident, the aftermath and your case. You pay premiums for this service. You might as well use it.

Keeping your cool and making sure you approach an accident with a calm and reasoned attitude will often be the difference between major financial problems an accompanying legal trouble versus a favorable outcome.

Snow Approaches: 4 Winter Weather Checks for Your Car

by Anica Oaks on 2015/11/04 in Auto Care with Comments Off on Snow Approaches: 4 Winter Weather Checks for Your Car

Before winter weather and heavy snows hit, it is vital for automobile owners to check some things on their vehicles. By being prepared, drivers can prevent a breakdown in frigid temperatures. Many automobile products can be purchased ahead of time to fit into any budget.

Coolant and Windshield Washer Fluid Levels

Checking the fluid levels of the coolant and in the washer bottle is an important part of maintaining a vehicle for winter. Antifreeze may not sound important, but it is the fluid that keeps a vehicle cool. An automobile can overheat in the winter without proper coolant levels, which can lead to catastrophic engine failure.

Tires

Every driver should regularly check their tire pressure and the tread level on their tires. A low tire can not only cause more fuel to be consumed, but it can also cause a vehicle to slide on ice more easily. It is easier to get an under-inflated tire stuck in deep snow.

Restock Emergency Kit

The U.S. Government suggests that one of the most important things that drivers can do is to prepare their emergency road kit with items needed for snow and ice. Adding a bag of sand and salt to the car can help when getting stuck in the ice or heavy snow. A shovel, warm clothing, extra blankets, and food rations are other items that should always be in an emergency kit during the winter.

Hoses and Belts

Hoses and belts can easily rip or break from dry rot. The cold temperatures of winter make it more difficult for hoses and belts to maintain their shape because of contraction during freezing temperatures. Any hairline cracks, bulges, or weak spots will burst or rip when the temperatures drop and the snow flies.

Windshield Wipers

Every driver wants to maintain clear vision while they are driving. Regularly replacing windshield wipers by purchasing them at a local store (including with coupons for Sears.com) is a huge part of keeping a good view. Drivers should think about replacing their wipers every fall to make sure they have excellent visibility when the weather turns cold.

Battery

A car or truck battery is stressed to the max when the temperatures drop. The cold can zap the energy in a battery quicker than anything else. Drivers should always make sure the terminals are clean and free of corrosion before the snow hits.

Getting a vehicle ready for snowy weather is a simple process as long as the driver follows the above strategies. Keeping a car or truck prepared for winter is a crucial part of being safe. Many products can be purchased ahead of time like windshield wipers and coolant.

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