Top Tips for Teens (and Parents!) to Keep Their Cars Running Well

& Parents! to Keep Their Cars Top Tips for Teens Running Well, and Staying Safe on the Road Tip # 1 Know your car's maintenance intervals and keep up with service Read and understand the maintenance schedule outlined in your owner's manual. Items that require regular maintenance include fluids, tires, brakes, and oil and filter changes. Oil and air filter changes are particularly important to keep the engine running efficiently and fairly easy for beginners. But don't hesitate to ask for help! Did You Know? vehicles built after should get an oil should get an oil change every 5,000 miles change every 2002 vehicles built before 2002 3,000 miles Tip # 2 Take care of your tires - make sure they can get you to school, work, etc. Tire maintenance is particularly important for safe and fuel-efficient driving, so take good care of them! Check them for wear every time you gas up, and keep them properly inflated. Driving on underinflated tires can shorten their lifespan, increase wear, and lead to significant tire damage from heat, potholes, and other road hazards. Also, proper tire pressure can improve gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent. Consult your owner's manual or tire sticker on the door jamb for manufacturer-recommended tire pressure settings. Did You Know? You can check for tire wear by using a penny! YOU NEED NEW TIRES Place the penny into one of the grooves in your tire tread. Make sure that the top of YOUR TIRES ARE GOOD If there is space above Lincoln's head: LIBLRTY It's time for new tires Lincoln's head is If any part of Lincoln's head is covered: Tires have safe amount of tread 2000 touching the tire. Tip # Don't ignore dashboard warning lights 3 Dashboard warning lights such as the Check Engine Light, Oil Light, Temperature Light, and Brake Light serve as notifications that something may be wrong with your car. When these lights come on, pay attention to them! Read the owner's manual so you know what each of them mean and how you should respond. Did You Know? If your Check Engine Light is blinking while you're driving, pull over or get to a mechanic right away. This usually If the light comes on and stays on without flashing - yet the car seems to be running smoothly- chances are your car can be examined by a mechanic after you get home, or when you can CHECK CHECK indicates a severe misfire that could damage your car's engine. get to one. Tip # Don't let your car run too low on/or out of gas As it's important to fuel your body with food, it's equally important to fuel your car appropriately, which means not letting your car run too low on gas. Most of today's vehicles have fuel-injected engines that rely on in-tank electric pumps that use gas to cool and lubricate its components. Driving your fuel-injected engine frequently on fumes could cause hundreds of dollars in repairs, and leave you stranded on the side of the road. A good rule of thumb - keep the fuel level above a quarter tank to keep your car running well, and to avoid running out of gas! Did You Know? You don't need to use the highest grade of gasoline for your car's engine to perform its best. The variation in quality between different grades of gasoline today is very small, so don't waste your money by filling up with premium gasoline unless your owner's manual says so. Tip # Steer clear - take care of your windshield The windshield is like the eye of your car - keep it clean and clear for safe driving! Some parts of the country are, or will be, experiencing their first rainfalls after months of being dry. You don't want to discover that your windshield wiper blades don't work when you need them most. Cracked wiper blades and those that skip, streak, or leave spots or smears should be replaced. You should also check spray nozzles for proper aim. If the nozzles are clogged, clean them with a needle. Use windshield washer fluid in the tank to prevent corrosion and remove stubborn dirt, grime and insects from your windshield. Whether it rains or not, use your spray nozzles and wiper blades every few weeks to keep them functioning properly. Did You Know? Carrying a squeegee with a scrubber in your car or trunk is a good idea. It can help remove splattered bugs and maximize visibility. Tip # 6. Teen life moves fast, but your car doesn't have to. Slow down - avoid speeding Perhaps one of the best ways to keep your car well maintained, and keep you safe on the road, is to avoid speeding! It may seem fun to drive fast, or you might simply be in a hurry (late for school, maybe?), but speeding is incredibly dangerous, and bad for your car. In fact, driving slower puts less demand on your car's engine and transmission, and also helps to reduce the amount of gas you use in the process. Avoid all driving habits that put stress and strain on your vehicle, such as fast driving, hitting curbs, and off-roading. It's also a good idea to slow down and increase your following distance when driving in harsh weather, as vehicles can lose traction in rain, snow and ice. Did You Know? SPEED LIMIT Speeding is dangerous because it reduces your reaction time to avoid a potential collision. Among serious crashes involving teen driver error, 1 in 5 crashes occurred due to speeding'. Remember that speeding is reckless driving. 15 1http://www.teendriversource.org/more_pages/page/why_teens_crash_so_often/teer brought to you by AutoMD.com & Parents! to Keep Their Cars Top Tips for Teens Running Well, and Staying Safe on the Road Tip # 1 Know your car's maintenance intervals and keep up with service Read and understand the maintenance schedule outlined in your owner's manual. Items that require regular maintenance include fluids, tires, brakes, and oil and filter changes. Oil and air filter changes are particularly important to keep the engine running efficiently and fairly easy for beginners. But don't hesitate to ask for help! Did You Know? vehicles built after should get an oil should get an oil change every 5,000 miles change every 2002 vehicles built before 2002 3,000 miles Tip # 2 Take care of your tires - make sure they can get you to school, work, etc. Tire maintenance is particularly important for safe and fuel-efficient driving, so take good care of them! Check them for wear every time you gas up, and keep them properly inflated. Driving on underinflated tires can shorten their lifespan, increase wear, and lead to significant tire damage from heat, potholes, and other road hazards. Also, proper tire pressure can improve gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent. Consult your owner's manual or tire sticker on the door jamb for manufacturer-recommended tire pressure settings. Did You Know? You can check for tire wear by using a penny! YOU NEED NEW TIRES Place the penny into one of the grooves in your tire tread. Make sure that the top of YOUR TIRES ARE GOOD If there is space above Lincoln's head: LIBLRTY It's time for new tires Lincoln's head is If any part of Lincoln's head is covered: Tires have safe amount of tread 2000 touching the tire. Tip # Don't ignore dashboard warning lights 3 Dashboard warning lights such as the Check Engine Light, Oil Light, Temperature Light, and Brake Light serve as notifications that something may be wrong with your car. When these lights come on, pay attention to them! Read the owner's manual so you know what each of them mean and how you should respond. Did You Know? If your Check Engine Light is blinking while you're driving, pull over or get to a mechanic right away. This usually If the light comes on and stays on without flashing - yet the car seems to be running smoothly- chances are your car can be examined by a mechanic after you get home, or when you can CHECK CHECK indicates a severe misfire that could damage your car's engine. get to one. Tip # Don't let your car run too low on/or out of gas As it's important to fuel your body with food, it's equally important to fuel your car appropriately, which means not letting your car run too low on gas. Most of today's vehicles have fuel-injected engines that rely on in-tank electric pumps that use gas to cool and lubricate its components. Driving your fuel-injected engine frequently on fumes could cause hundreds of dollars in repairs, and leave you stranded on the side of the road. A good rule of thumb - keep the fuel level above a quarter tank to keep your car running well, and to avoid running out of gas! Did You Know? You don't need to use the highest grade of gasoline for your car's engine to perform its best. The variation in quality between different grades of gasoline today is very small, so don't waste your money by filling up with premium gasoline unless your owner's manual says so. Tip # Steer clear - take care of your windshield The windshield is like the eye of your car - keep it clean and clear for safe driving! Some parts of the country are, or will be, experiencing their first rainfalls after months of being dry. You don't want to discover that your windshield wiper blades don't work when you need them most. Cracked wiper blades and those that skip, streak, or leave spots or smears should be replaced. You should also check spray nozzles for proper aim. If the nozzles are clogged, clean them with a needle. Use windshield washer fluid in the tank to prevent corrosion and remove stubborn dirt, grime and insects from your windshield. Whether it rains or not, use your spray nozzles and wiper blades every few weeks to keep them functioning properly. Did You Know? Carrying a squeegee with a scrubber in your car or trunk is a good idea. It can help remove splattered bugs and maximize visibility. Tip # 6. Teen life moves fast, but your car doesn't have to. Slow down - avoid speeding Perhaps one of the best ways to keep your car well maintained, and keep you safe on the road, is to avoid speeding! It may seem fun to drive fast, or you might simply be in a hurry (late for school, maybe?), but speeding is incredibly dangerous, and bad for your car. In fact, driving slower puts less demand on your car's engine and transmission, and also helps to reduce the amount of gas you use in the process. Avoid all driving habits that put stress and strain on your vehicle, such as fast driving, hitting curbs, and off-roading. It's also a good idea to slow down and increase your following distance when driving in harsh weather, as vehicles can lose traction in rain, snow and ice. Did You Know? SPEED LIMIT Speeding is dangerous because it reduces your reaction time to avoid a potential collision. Among serious crashes involving teen driver error, 1 in 5 crashes occurred due to speeding'. Remember that speeding is reckless driving. 15 1http://www.teendriversource.org/more_pages/page/why_teens_crash_so_often/teer brought to you by AutoMD.com