Vehicles & More Fall Care Guide 2009

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www.yankton.net Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan Monday, October 5, 2009 PAGE 15 Vehicles and More Fall Care Guide 2009 Caress Your Car Through Harsh Winter Weather (MS) -- Though technology has made substantial advancements since the dawn of the 21st century, those advancements have, in many ways, made life more complex. A telephone, for instance, is no longer just a phone, but rather a portable handheld device that allows us to check e-mail, text message friends and family and, of course, make and receive phone calls. The auto industry has not been immune to this ever-changing and increasingly complex landscape. Auto manufacturers continue to develop hybrid automobiles and have even altered their longstanding guidelines on vehicle maintenance. However, with winter quickly creeping up, it's important for drivers to combine both the new industry standards while maintaining some of the traditional methods to ensure their vehicles stay strong throughout the coming season. Monitor Motor Oil Vehicle maintenance often begins with motor oil. Simply put, without lubrication, friction between engine parts results in engine wear. That highlights the need for routine monitoring of motor oil levels and changing the motor oil per the vehicle manufacturer guidelines. However, the type of motor oil drivers use is also important. Synthetic motor oils, for example, provide significant performance benefits over their conventional counterparts, particularly in colder weather when conventional motor oil thickens as the temperature drops. As a result, conventional motor oils slow Avoid the need for a helping hand this winter by making vehicle maintenance a priority. starting rpm, restrict oil flow to critical engine parts and increase wear on bearings and rings. Each of these decreases engine life. Conversely, synthetic motor oils still flow or pump at temperatures up to 60 and 70 below zero, allowing cars and trucks to start with greater ease. Fight the Freeze Those who aren't necessarily fond of winter weather no doubt recall the harsh temperatures of the 2007-08 winter. To combat the long winter, people tend to bundle up. What many vehicle owners might not know is that cars need to be protected from harsh winter weather as well, most notably with antifreeze. An inadequate antifreeze can result in serious damage to a vehicle, including water pump failure and a cracked engine block. That said, it's important for drivers to maintain antifreeze levels throughout winter while also using an antifreeze that can protect an engine against freezing. But traditional ethylene glycol (EG) antifreezes have grown less appealing in recent years as the nation has grown increasingly eco-friendly. EG antifreeze boasts a sweet smell and taste that's attractive to both animals and children. Propylene glycol-based antifreezes are safer than ethylene glycol antifreezes because they are safe if accidentally ingested by animals, and don't smell or taste sweet, reducing the likelihood that pets or children will be drawn to them. What's more, adjusting the propylene glycol antifreeze doesn't require much effort, as AMSOIL Propylene Glycol Antifreeze is compatible with all other antifreeze products and does not require a complete system flush before usage. Easy Tips To Maintain Vehicle Value A special section of the Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan and Vermillion Plain Talk Winterize Your Pickup Truck Get Your Truck Ready To Drive In Cold Weather By Dale Wickell, About.com You may think your truck is tough, but is it tough enough for winter? For many of us, winter brings cold, snow, and ice--all conditions that can tax every part of your pickup. All systems should be prepared for winter, from the battery, to the cooling system, to the paint. Check the Antifreeze Antifreeze and water are normally mixed at a 50/50 ratio--half water, half antifreeze, a mix that usually brings your protection level to twenty degrees below zero. If your area temperatures dip below zero, drain a small amount of mix from the radiator and replace it with straight antifreeze. Check the protection level and repeat to adjust as needed. Too much antifreeze can cause cooling problems in hot weather, so don t get carried away, or plan to change it when spring arrives. Check the Battery Water should cover the lead plates inside your pickup truck's battery. If levels are low, add distilled water. Adding water will dilute the electrolyte solution within the battery, so be sure to recharge it afterwards. More battery checks: Make sure battery cables and terminals are clean and tight. Remember that no matter what you do, a battery can fail without warning. Winter Tire Safety Tires should have good tread. Inspect them for wear. Cold temperatures lower tire pressure. Adjust pressure as needed based on the manufacturer's recommendation. Remember that pressure stats printed on sidewalls indicate the maximum amount of air pressure tires should be inflated with they are not recommended pressures. Switch to snow tires if you regularly travel through snow, or if the snow you do get falls on hilly or steep roads. Depending on your weather and road conditions, you may need to use either studded snow tires or tire chains. Many states have laws prohibiting their use or limiting use to certain months of the year, because using chains or studded tires on dry roads can cause damage to roads. Chains and studs greatly increase stop- ping distance on hard roads, so must be used with care. Windshield Washer Maintenance Use a washer solution that won t freeze in your winter temperatures. Top-off the solution regularly since you ll use your windshield washers more often when traveling on slushy streets. Wiper Blades Replace wiper blades that are more than six months old. If there s frost, frozen rain, or snow on your windshield, make sure wipers are free before turning them on, otherwise you may end up with torn blades, a blown wiper fuse, or a damaged wiper motor. Engine Oil Changes Check your owner s manual for the recommended viscosity of oil that s appropriate for your winter temperatures. Stay up-to-date on oil changes. TRUCK, Page 16 please Good maintenance can keep your vehicle on the road for years to come and keep you safer on the road. Many drivers think maintenance equals oil changes. In fact, most people change oil more often than they need to but don t rotate their tires as frequently as they should. That s a big mistake. Proper rotation can add as much as 10,000 miles to the life of a set of tires. There s more you can do to keep your vehicle operating reliably. Here are a few tips from AAA. Keep maintenance records. Maintenance records are good diagnostic tools and proof you have cared for your vehicle, which can enhance the vehicle 1s trade-in or resale value Run your engine for a few minutes before powering up the heater, air conditioner, wipers, and other accessories. Accelerating with a cold engine can cause premature engine failure. If your vehicle has fuel injec- tion, keep the tank at least onequarter full. Cornering with a nearly empty tank disrupts the flow to the fuel pump. Look for cracks or looseness in engine belts. Broken belts are a major reason for roadside breakdowns. Your local AAA club also may be a valuable resource for maintenance help. Many clubs operate vehicle care centers; offer annual car check inspections of brake fluid levels, battery connections, lights, belts and hoses by AAA Approved auto repair staff; and provide AAA's battery service, a mobile service that tests and replaces batteries 24 hours, seven days a week. For more information on vehicle maintenance and other carrelated issues, visit www.AAA.com. 1509 East Hwy 50 605-665-3693 1-800-658-3388 Yankton, SD OR 900 West Cherry 605-624-8681 1-800-658-3383 Vermillion, SD How are your Brakes? MASTER-TECH AUTO CLINIC 605-665-7680 Todd & Lori Heckenlaible 2901 Broadway, Yankton Lewis & Clark up to 5 qts. oil and 1 filter Stop in for a FREE brake inspection during the month of October. Tire & Lube Express Standard Oil Change Service and Fuel System Cleaning Service Combo nly o $ 00 Yankton Store Only 665-2628 Oil, Lube & Filter Change $ Wheel Alignment 4 wheel alignment Lewis and Clark Ford Lewis and Clark Ford Lewis and Clark Ford 45 19 $ 95 49 99 Expires 10/31/09 Plus Tax Expires 10/31/09 We will work on your vehicle no matter where you bought it! www.yankton.net Phone # 605-664-2000 316 Capitol St. Yankton, SD Get it in Gear with the Specialists! 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