A Little Knowledge Goes a Long Way

After a long winter, Canadians are now ready to give up their hibernating ways for some adventure and sunshine. For many this means family vacations, trips to the cottage, camping excursions, and weekend road trips. Whatever your style, chances are you are getting ready to hit the road, but are you confident that your car is in good enough shape to get you there efficiently and safely? This Car Care Month, it’s time to find out.
Many Canadian car owners know enough to bring their vehicle to a technician for regular maintenance or to fix a problem, but how car savvy are you? If like many Canadians you are mostly in the dark when it comes to the workings of your vehicle, here are some tips that will save you worry and money in the long run:

• Fluids such as transmission fluid keep your car lubricated and running smoothly, while coolant removes heat from your engine and returns it to the radiator where the heat is dissipated. As you can imagine, all of your car’s fluids are important to its functioning, but with use they become contaminated and stop working the way they should. Replacing these fluids regularly will ensure that your car runs as efficiently as possible.

• Keep your vehicle control and stability by replacing your shocks and struts after 80,000km, as recommended by automotive experts. Worn shocks and struts can reduce your stopping distance, prematurely wear out your tires, and cause a bumpier ride. New shocks and struts improve vehicle stability and maximize tire to road contact, which means they’re safer, smoother, and keep you more in control.

• Your cabin air filter is designed to trap pollen, bacteria, dust, and exhaust gases to prevent them from entering your car’s ventilation system. Like all of your vehicle’s filters, your cabin air filter is a normal wear item that requires regular checks and replacement to ensure that it’s in top working order and is keeping your air clean.

• If your battery is more than three years old, it’s probably time to replace it. Over time driving habits, weather conditions, and corrosion can reduce the effectiveness of your battery. To avoid getting stranded, get it checked and replaced when necessary.

• Don’t wait for failure; replace your oxygen sensor as part of normal preventative maintenance! Fresh oxygen sensors can improve fuel economy by as much as 10-15% and can save you an average of $100 each year on fuel. They also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate expensive damage to the catalytic converter, and ensure optimal engine performance.

Regular preventative vehicle maintenance enhances safety, protects the environment, and saves you money, but when push comes to shove, making decisions about which maintenance habits you should focus on isn’t always easy. That’s why learning a bit more about your car than you knew yesterday is always a good thing.

For these and other maintenance tips, visit www.BeCarCareAware.ca.