Critical Car Care Tips to Keep You on the Road This Summer

Whether you’re getting that new car ready for it’s first road trip, or an old car ready to face those hot summer days ahead, now is the time to have an Multi Point Inspection done on the vehicles you and your family will be driving. A recent campaign organized by the Car Care Council, found that seven out of ten cars failed at least one component of the vehicle inspection process. 

Under  Pressure: Check your tire pressure regularly. Fluctuation in temperatures can cause your pressure to change.. Proper inflation pressure can be located on the inside of the drivers-side door or in the owners manual. When you check your pressure, take a look at the tread depth on each tire. All tires have wear indicators between the treads that let you know when they need to be replaced.

It’s Electric! Winter weather can be hard on the electrical and ignition systems of your car. Batteries, spark plugs, and wiring are all put to test in frigid temps. This is even more important if you have a vehicle that you stored over the winter. Your battery will most likely have drained without frequent usage.  Industry professionals recommend cleaning your battery connections at least once a year.

Stay Cool: Two important systems wake up from hibernation when the weather gets warmer – cooling and air conditioning.

You’ll want to make sure your cooling system is in tact – check your coolant level and make sure there aren’t any cracked, loose, or leaking hoses. Do a once-over of your radiator to see if that plow truck you were following didn’t launch a rock through your grille. Before you need to crank the AC, make sure it’s working properly before a long road trip in the sweltering heat.

Be Conservative: As gas prices fluctuate, fuel efficiency is on every driver’s mind.

• Maintain your vehicle. A well-maintained vehicle is going to give you the best mileage.
• Lighten your load. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk can reduce your gas mileage by as much as 2%.
• Watch your acceleration. More than 80% of fuel is burned when you accelerate, so maintaining a constant speed and taking it easy during braking and acceleration can extend your fuel economy.

Plenty of fluids:  Your vehicle’s fluids play a critical role in vehicle performance– brake fluid, oil and transmission fluids, steering fluid, and washer fluid.

Modern transmissions can go thousands of miles before needing a full change, but low levels or leaks indicate a problem. Brake and steering fluid are not consumed by the vehicle and low levels would indicate a possible problem in those systems. Finally, remember to change your oil at the recommended intervals. It’s the easiest way to maximize vehicle performance.

To schedule a multi-point inspection or any other recommended maintenance service on your vehicle, please call us at 1-800-TOYOTAS or schedule your appointment online at www.downeasttoyota.com.

http://www.castrolcrew.com/Lab/?a=18&nicam=USCastrolSearch&nisrc=Google&nigrp=Castrol_Blogs&... 6/6/2011