Many of
you are probably familiar with that email forward that's been going around
regarding refueling
tips to help consumers get the most out of their gas money. While Snopes
found that a mixture of that advice is both false and true, there's still something to be said about the importance
of being conscious about your gasoline consumption and how the maintenance of
your vehicle will affect your fuel efficiency, and ultimately, your savings.
Twice a
year, before summer and winter, I try to do a routine checkup of my car; I'm
pretty proud of myself for being able to do this on my own without having to
pay a lot of money to some mechanic. Here's my summer vehicle checkup routine;
hopefully, these five tips will be just as useful to you as they were to me in
making sure my car is in the best fuel-saving shape possible for the summer
heat.
Check Your Radiator and Coolant Level
In the
summer, perhaps the most important part of your car's engine is the radiator,
which is responsible for cooling your engine while it runs in the heat. When
your car engine is still cool, check the coolant levels in your radiator. There
should be a coolant fluid reservoir within easy reach under the hood; check to
make sure the fluid level is between the 'cool' and 'warm' lines. If it's
beneath the 'cool' line, then you'll need to add some more engine coolant.
Check your manual for specifics!
Check Your Tires
You may
not realize this, but air temperatures outside can drastically affect the air
pressure within your car tires. That's why tires have a recommended pressure
when cold, because the friction of the tire on the road warms the air inside
it, causing the air to expand and increase the pressure within the tire. When
the outside air is already warm, the air in your tires is already expanded a
bit, which means a properly filled tire could actually gain too much pressure
once it's warmed up on the road. Make sure you check your tire pressures in the
morning before you start driving to make sure the cold pressure is within the
recommended range. Otherwise, you risk running an improperly inflated tire,
which could lead to unusual wear and even damage to your tire, as well as
altered fuel efficiency.
Change Dirty Filters
Air
filters and oil filters keep your engine running smoothly. The air filter
scrubs the air and keeps foreign particles from entering your engine's
combustion system while an oil filter keeps metal shavings and gunk from
cycling through the engine, which would increase friction and heat in the
system. It's a good idea to change your air filter each season; refer to your
car's maintenance history and manual to see if you're due for an oil and oil filter
change.
Check Hoses and Belts for Wear and Tear
Hoses
and belts connect the various parts of your engine together. Hoses run coolant
into the engine block, while belts operate the various peripheral devices on
your engine, such as your air compressor for your A/C and your alternator for
your car's electrical system. These hoses and belts can fail in extreme heat,
especially if they're old, so you should check them to make sure they aren't
cracked. Look at areas where stress would make them susceptible to cracks, such
as angles in the hoses or the channels on the underside of the belt.
Recharge Your A/C System
Finally,
you should check your A/C system. While it's probably not the most important
system for your car, it is important for your safety. Staying cool and
comfortable in your car will keep you alert and driving safely. Ideally, you're
A/C should hold a steady temperature when the car engine is idling; once you
see a rise in temperature when idling, it's probably time to get a mechanic to
take a look at your system. You might need anything from a Freon recharge to a
new compressor, depending on the issue. This is really the only system that
you'd want an expert to work on; it's worth the money, believe me!
This is a guest post by Nadia Jones who blogs at online school about education, college, student, teacher, money saving, movie related topics. You can reach her at nadia.jones5 @ gmail.com.
Comments