Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-10-25, Page 19THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012. PAGE 19. 14 Orchard Lane, Brussels Insurance Claims Welcome • Free Estimates • Collision Repairs • Spray-In Truck Bedliners • Classic Car Restorations Deer Damage? and Detailing 519-523-9725 Continued from 15 cleaning agents on your cloth than directly on the dashboard. In hard-to- reach-areas, consider using a soft- bristled paintbrush or cotton swabs to clean in crevices. Wipe down everything with a dry cloth or towel afterward. WINDOWS Having clean windows is essential to driving safely. Cleaning the windshield and windows is relatively simple to do with a glass cleaner spray and a lint-free cloth. Use caution when cleaning the rear windshield if it has a defogger/ defroster grid on the window. These wires can be damaged easily. Clean with the direction of the defroster grid lines. FRESHEN THE CAR Place an air freshener or spray a product on the air intake vent to eradicate musty smells in the car. It also is important to replace the cabin air filter periodically, otherwise you could be breathing in dust and dander that is trapped in the filter. These are the basic steps to cleaning a car’s interior. Other detail work can be done depending on your preferences and the make of the car. Routine maintenance helps others see you have pride in your vehicle and can ensure a better return on your investment down the line if you choose to sell. Clean windows are safe windows Electric cars offer greener driving with challenges NC –Now that Canada is half way to meeting its 2020 target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), consumers may be wondering what they can do to help the country cross the finish line. Adopting greener driving habits is certainly one way, especially by incorporating new technologies, such as electric vehicles. Here are two examples of electric vehicles available on the market today – battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). Battery electric vehicles use an electric propulsion system for all phases of driving. One hundred per cent of their propulsion comes from a zero-emission electric motor, powered by a large on-board battery pack that can be re-charged from the electric power grid or an external source. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles use both an electric motor and an internal combustion engine, so the vehicle functions like a BEV but once the battery is depleted to a predetermined level, the vehicle will automatically engage the internal combustion engine extending your range. BENEFITS • Electric drives will improve the fuel efficiency of your vehicle, reduce fuel costs and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. • The cost of electricity per kilometre is attractive, at about three cents/km, compared to the average gasoline vehicle at about 13 cents/km. Over 200,000 kilometres electricity would be about $6,000, while gasoline would be about $26,000. • Electric drives are substantially more efficient than combustion engines and drive trains. The energy conversion efficiency is about 60 per cent for electric vehicles compared to about 20 per cent for gasoline vehicles. CHALLENGES • The current challenges with BEV and PHEV are battery-related. The battery packs are expensive, which drives the cost of the vehicle up, and store a relatively small amount of energy, which limits driving range. • Electric vehicles need somewhere to plug in. Although standard 120-volt home outlets will work, charge time is about 16 to 20 hours. A 240-volt home charging station can be installed to reduce the charge times to six to 10 hours. If you want to research more about electric vehicles, the Natural Resources Canada website has more information at www.oee. nrcan.gc.ca Bill Glousher 40655 Cranbrook Rd. R.R.#4 Brussels, ON N0G 1H0 Work 519-357-8596 Res. 519-523-9023 glousherautoparts@bell.blackberry.net PURCHASE 4 MICHELIN® TIRES AND GET A MAIL-IN REBATE OF $70 FROM OCTOBER 5 TO NOVEMBER 30, 2012 ON PASSENGER OR LIGHT TRUCK TIRES ONLY. HURON TIRE & AUTO HIGHWAY 4 SOUTH OF CLINTON519-482-3752 michelin.ca 2012 2012FALL CAR CARE 2012 NC –How would you like to inhale clouds of road salt, sand and debris as you travel down the highway? That doesn’t sound very appealing, but it’s the everyday life of an automotive air filter in cold- weather driving. “Winter is hard on motor vehicles, and that certainly holds true for their air filters,” says Jay Buckley, an ASE-certified master mechanic and technical training manager at Fram Group. Canadian winters can be considered extreme operating conditions, he points out, which means that engine air filter replacement should occur more frequently than under less-severe conditions. All engines require a steady flow of clean air in order to operate efficiently and perform at their best. A tiny particle of dirt that gets into the engine can score the cylinder walls, ultimately shortening engine life. “A quality air filter must strike the right balance between its filtering efficiency, basically its ability to trap dirt, and making sure a high enough volume of air can enter the engine,” Buckley explained. Eventually, even the best air filter gets clogged and must be replaced. Replacement intervals vary by vehicle manufacturer, but a good rule of thumb is every year or 20,000 kilometres. Since scientific tests have proven that a clogged air filter can reduce engine performance, it only makes sense to check and replace this maintenance item at least that often, especially for vehicles that operate in northern climes. “Don't neglect your engine’s air filter,” Buckley cautions. “It’s the first line of defense against dirt.” I t 's T h a t T i me A g a i n ! Repairs to all makes & models of cars & trucks Located 2 miles south of Blyth Corner of London Rd. & Hullett-McKillop Rd. Jack Van Dorp 519-523-9308 Get your car or truck ready for the cold winter now — book your Fall & Winter tune-up • General Repairs & Maintenance • Oil Undercoating • Brakes • Tune-Ups Filters protect, preserve engines