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- Here are some tips that will help to keep your vehicle in tip top shape
and can save you some money.
- The tires on your vehicle should have the
air pressure of the tires checked regularly. An under inflated tire can cause
a tire to be damaged and lead to a blowout while operating your
vehicle. The correct air pressure for the tire can usually be
found on the driver's door jam and in the vehicle owner's
manual. The tire pressure listed on the tire is not the correct pressure. Properly inflated tires will last much longer and
neglected tires will wear at a much faster rate. An under
inflated tire that is inflated to the correct tire pressure will
also give you better fuel mileage.
- The coolant level on your vehicle should
be checked monthly. The coolant level can usually be visually
inspected at the plastic coolant reservoir. Look for a "High -
Low" or "Min - Max" line on the reservoir. The coolant level should
be between these lines. Add coolant if needed to bring the level
within the lines. If the reservoir is empty, the radiator cap
may need to be removed to add coolant to the radiator. "NEVER"
remove the radiator cap when hot to check the coolant level. The
best time to check the coolant level in the radiator is before it is started (like the first thing in the morning after the vehicle has been sitting all night) . If coolant is needed, use a mixture of 50 % coolant and 50 % water when adding.
- Visually inspect the belts and hoses for
cracks and look on the ground for any leaks that may be from your vehicle.
This inspection will help to spot a potential problem before it
can cause a breakdown, especially while on a trip. If the engine
is cold, you can also squeeze the hoses to feel for soft spots.
Soft spots on the hoses means the hose or hoses may need
to be replaced. Coolant hoses normally deteriorate from the inside to
the outside and this can cause a soft spot. This also can appear as a
swelled hose that looks larger than it should be in size. The water rushing
through the hoses wears out the rubber from the inside especially
at curves and bends in the hoses. This can be the cause of the swelled hose.
- In the summer months, try filling your fuel tank
in the morning as you can get cooler gas from the under ground storage
tanks. Buying fuel during the summer months in the mornings will save
you money. The savings is slight. However, the better fuel mileage your
vehicle gets, the greater the savings will be for you.
- In the winter months, add winter type windshield
washer solvent to aid in cleaning your windshield. Try using this type
of solvent 30 days prior to the onset of cold weather as the reservoir
for the windshield washer can have its old summer solution that may freeze.
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