Take Care of Your Car (so it will take care of you)

If you’ll take some simple but essential steps to care for your car, you can expect many years of reliable and smooth performance. In fact, experts say it’s possible to actually double the life of your vehicle by sticking to a regular maintenance plan. Treating your car with TLC can also save cash.

When Your Car Complains

• Here are some warning signs you shouldn’t ignore-for your family’s safety as well as your car’s dependability. Report these problems to a mechanic as soon as possible:
  
• Difficulty starting

• Unusual vibrations 

• Brake-pedal softness or hardness; brake noise

• Steering-wheel pull

• Unfamiliar engine noise

• Engine roughness and loss of power

• Stalling at traffic lights 

• Steering wheel pulls to the left or right while you’re driving

• Uneven tire wear

• A ride that is noticeably less comfortable

• Clutch chatter or slipping

• Exhaust-system roar; rust holes in the muffler

• Horn failure

• A gauge that shows an abnormal reading

• Fluid leakage on the pavement beneath a parked car. Green or yellow spots could be coolant-you may have a bad water pump or a leak in the radiator or heater hoses. Red spots are usually caused by transmission fluid. You may need new transmission seals. Black or dark-colored slippery fluid is oil. You may have an engine leak. If you see an oily liquid with very little color, this is probably brake fluid and you should have your brake system checked immediately. (Warning: Don’t ever get even a little bit of brake fluid on your car. It will eat away the finish.) Water leakage is probably just condensation from your air conditioner and not a problem.

• If you smell gasoline and see thin, watery spots, be very careful; gas leaks are the leading cause of car fires.

Car Cash-Savers

• Buy gas in the morning. Because the warmth of the sun expands the gas in a station’s fuel tank, you’ll get as much as 5 percent more fuel for your money by purchasing it early.Fill up before the light comes on.

• Make it a habit to fill up when the tank is half empty. This is safer and allows you to stop when you are passing a station with the best price.

• You may not need to buy higher-octane gas. Use the lowest octane gas that does not cause your engine to knock when you accelerate. Check your owner’s manual for guidance.

• Avoid the urge to top off your fuel tank. Gas can expand in your tank and overflow.

• Keep it light: don’t drag around extra weight in your trunk, and if you have a detachable roof rack, remove it when you’re not using it. Your car will use fuel more efficiently.

• Keep your tires filled properly. As much as 2 percent of your fuel can be wasted if your tires are not fully inflated.

• Avoid long periods of idling. Restarting actually uses less fuel than idling for more than a minute.

• Change your air filter regularly. Gas mileage sinks when the filter is dirty.

• Learn to add oil and windshield fluid yourself. Purchase oil and fluid by the case at Costco or Sam’s, or at an auto discount store.

• Save as much as 17 percent of your fuel by driving 55 mph instead of 65.