Mountain Vehicle Maintenance: Car Care Tips for High-Altitude Drivers

MILE HIGH VEHICLE MAINTENANCE HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR CAR WHEN YOU LIVE IN A MOUNTAIN TOWN A MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FOR THE WHOLE YEAR MONTH 1 в CНECK EVERY MONTH Dash warning lights Engine light Tire pressure Visually inspect: Oil & tire rotation sticker on your windshield Windshield washer fluid levels Oil levels Tires 3 3 Driving lights YOU WILL NEED: A rag or paper towel to check oil level 1 A tire gauge CHECK EVERY 3 MONTHS OR 3,000 MILES %3D (WHICHEVER COMES FIRST) 5 All fluids under the hood: Automatic transmission ATF Power steering Coolant reservoir 3) 6 Battery and cables Wiper blades 7 Belts Hoses Replace Exhaust conventional oil and filter CHECK EVERY 6 MONTHS OR 6,000 MILES (WHICHEVER COMES FIRST) Replace synthetic oil and filter Inspect and replace air filter 1 3 as necessary Visually inspect your spare tire for inflation levels and condition Rotate tires 10 CHECK EVERY 12 MONTHS OR 15,000 MILES %3D (WHICHEVER COMES FIRST) Replace cabin air filter Inspect brakes 11 Inspect coolant (antifreeze) Inspect steering and suspension 12 3 Note when your timing belt was last changed and note when it's next due for a change 12 Most auto manufacturers specify major services at 30,000 miles, 60,000 miles, 90,000 miles and 120,000 miles. Some even have instructions at 15,000 miles. Check the instructions specific to your vehicle for other maintenance you might need to perform. HOW TO KEEP TRACK OF THESE REPAIRS Fuelly's aCar app Log Book For Android devices, Fuelly's aCar tracks maintenance schedules, fuel You can also manually log each time you perform maintenance on your vehicle. Keep this log book handy and updated. If you sell your vehicle in the future, this log book will become a big selling point. mileage and costs, and the general expenses for your vehicle. More information at www.fuelly.com/acar. HOW TO ADJUST FOR HIGH-ALTITUDE DRIVING Your engine will perform better when you feed it a higher octane gasoline. Stick to the same 93 maintenance schedule above. PRESS Check your tires' air pressure when changing altitude. Make sure you tires are in good shape when going to the mountains. HOW TO ADJUST FOR COLD-WEATHER DRIVING Check coolant (antifreeze) protection and levels in the radiator or reservoir. Stick to the same maintenance schedule above. Check power steering fluid levels. Check wiper blades. Use high-quality windshield Check clutch fluid levels. washer fluid that won't freeze. Inspect hoses and any items containing rubber: Brake wheel Brake and Brake cylinders clutch master calipers cylinders Check your battery's condition at your local repair shop. Snow tires are better than all-season tires. Keep in mind that 4WD or AWD vehicles don't stop any better than front-wheel-drive vehicles. And stopping is more important than going! Use lighter-weight motor oil in extremely cold weather. (The manufacturer's recommendation generally accommodates cold climates, not severe climates.) 10W-40 Wash the underside of your chassis to remove salt and mag chloride, which cause excessive corrosion. KEEP THESE IN YOUR VEHICLE, JUST IN CASE 1 2 Jack and tire iron 2 First-aid kit 3 Tire pump and sealer 4 Flashlight 5 Multi-tool 6 Water bottles 8 10 7 Fire starter 8 Energy bars Cardboard or piece of carpet 9 for tire traction 10 Windshield washer fluid 11 12 13 11 Thermal emergency blanket 12 One quart of oil 13 Coolant SOURCES: http://www.highaltitudelife.com/autocare.htm http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/o/article-car-maintenance-schedule http://www.carcare.org/car-care-service-schedules/general-service-schedule/ http://www.aalcar.com/library/pm.htm http://lifehacker.com/30-essential-things-you-should-keep-in-your-car-1263514115 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/25-things-you-should-always-have-in-your-car/ http://www.bankrate.com/finance/auto/20-must-haves-in-your-car-emergency-kit-1.aspx http://www.artofmanliness.com/2009/12/17/13-things-a-man-should-keep-in-his-car/ http://www.fuelly.com/acar/ CREATED BY We'll Work On Your Car - You Get Out and Hike. Enjoy Our Beautiful Boulder! Independent Motors - A Boulder Auto Repair Shop 5440 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder, CO 80303 (303) 449-8949 INDEPENDENT MOTORS IndependentMotors.net II 2.