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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2011-04-14, Page 19THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2011. PAGE 19. Neil’s Repair Service Neil Warwick, Owner Hours: 8 am - 6 pm Monday to Friday General repairs to all makes of cars, trucks, farm equipment and ATVs • Tune-ups • Tires • Exhaust • Air Conditioning • Transmissions • Brakes • Licensed MTO Motor Vehicle Inspection Station 519-357-9508 183 Clyde Street, Bluevale Spring cleaning extends to auto exterior, engine NC –Ah, springtime. The days are getting longer, leaves are starting to sprout, and the great thaw begins. With this shift in weather comes the promise of warm summer driving and the time to prep your favourite ride for the road. You should begin by washing the exterior of your vehicle, and be sure to clean underneath to remove the corrosive salt, chemicals and grime that build up from winter driving. Use a high pressure hose, paying close attention to wheel wells and bumpers. Next, have your tires changed and rotated to ensure best performance and safety on the roads. While winter tires work best in the snow, they can accelerate and brake poorly and offer reduced tread life on dry asphalt. Spring is the best time to swap back to your performance- oriented summer or all-season tires, storing your winter set for later. Just like your tires, the fluids in your vehicle need to be checked each spring to ensure proper engine performance throughout the seasons. Chances are the radiator in your vehicle uses an extended-life antifreeze coolant to prevent it from freezing. Check the coolant level and quality, and consider flushing the radiator if necessary. Most vehicles require fresh coolant every 240,000 kilometres. While you're at it, be sure to check your oil and top up the rest of your fluids. The most common grade of engine oil in Canada is 5W30 which should perform well under both winter and summer driving conditions. Consult your owner’s manual for the recommended grade and quality of oil for your vehicle, and perform an oil and oil filter change at the recommended intervals to provide year-round protection. Beyond these measures, helping keep your engine running at its best this spring is as easy as filling up with a high–quality gasoline. “Gasoline primarily contains carbon and hydrogen molecules, and combustion can create a residue, called ‘gunk,’ which is a build-up of carbon particles on critical engine parts,” says Ken Mitchell, an engineer from Shell Canada. “This gunk has a porous surface that can negatively affect combustion and the performance of your vehicle. Some high- quality fuels clean and protect critical engine parts from the build–up of gunk while you drive.” After you’ve cleaned it from the inside out, take your ride out for a spin to feel the engine roar to life. Think about your summer road trips to come, and enjoy the ride. Canada’s Local Auto Glass Experts Windshield Replacement Window Tinting Truck, Car and SUV Accessories Auto Upholstery (seat repairs, etc.) Vinyl & Convertible Tops Sun Roofs Car Stereos Auto Detailing Rustproofing Auto Trader Photo Ad Center Mobile Service Stone chip Repairs ( free with Insurance ) Locally Owned & Operated Listowel, Ontario 190 mitchell Rd. S. (519)-291-1300 Toll Free - 1-800-663-5130 Five tonnes of pollution created annually by passenger vehicles CCC –There are approximately 18 million passenger vehicles on Canadian roads used for personal transportation, consisting of cars, pick-up trucks, minivans and sport utility vehicles (SUVs). Therefore it is no wonder they are a major contributor to air pollution, particularly in urban areas, emitting approximately five tonnes of air pollutants and gases annually. With the automobile purchase trend towards SUVs and minivans, which can emit up to 40 per cent more pollutants than the average car, air pollution has major adverse impacts on the environment and the health of Canadians, particularly children, the elderly, people with allergies, asthma or other respiratory diseases, and even healthy individuals who exercise outdoors. In the past two decades, keeping our air pollution- free continues to be one of Canada’s highest environmental priorities and challenges. One of the leading culprits of climate change, urban smog and acid rain come from exhaust emissions of vehicles. Despite the fact that manufacturers have made significant strides in improving automobile emissions and declining some of the pollutants from passenger vehicles, emissions are still growing, since there has also been an increase in the number of vehicles on the road. Maintain Your Car Properly One of the most important things you can do to help the environment and ensure our next generation can thrive in a smog-free environment is proper car maintenance. Following your vehicle’s recommended maintenance guidelines can reduce car emissions and enhance its performance. Proper car care will extend your vehicle’s life, optimize its gas mileage or fuel economy, and help reduce emissions by up to 0.3 tonnes annually – not to mention, increase its resale value. The following list of helpful tips will help you to reduce your long- term car maintenance costs and minimize harmful exhaust emissions that pollute the air: • Service your vehicle regularly, making sure to get an oil change and a tune-up. • Check your vehicle’s emission control system regularly. • For older vehicles, check that your gas cap is tightly fastened to prevent evaporation of gasoline. • Check tire pressure regularly and ensure they are correctly inflated. • Make sure your vital fluids, including oil, radiator, coolant, transmission, brake, and power steering fluids are not leaking and are at the proper levels. Check that your battery terminals and air filters are clean and the drive belts are tight. • Check your brakes and wheel alignment to see if they need adjusting. • Monitor your car’s fuel efficiency. If you are going to the gas station more frequently, something might be wrong with your car. • Purchase motor oil rated as “energy conserving”. Using the lowest multigrade of oil recommended in your owner’s manual could improve the fuel efficiency of your car, particularly when starting it when it is cold. • Ask your mechanic to inspect your air conditioning system in the spring to fix any refrigerant leaks that might be contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer. www.mccutcheonmotors.ca J.L. McCUTCHEON MOTORS LTD. Brussels 519-887-6856 or 1-888-351-9193 * Daily Rental • Plus HST and Licensing • Admin. Included USED VANS 2005 Dodge Caravan SXT - 7 pass., V6, loaded, red, 188,000 km . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,950 USED TRUCKS *2009 Dodge Dakota SXT Quad Cab - 4 WD, V8, silver, 43,000 km . . . . . . . . . . Reduced to $18,950 2008 GMC Sierra SLE EXT Z71 - 5.3, red, 83,000 km . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $21,950 2008 GMC Sierra - 2WD, reg. cab, V6, A/C, white, 18,000 km. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15,950 2008 GMC Sierra SLT - Crew, 5.3, leather, sunroof, blue granite, 116,000 km. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $23,950 2004 Chev Silverado LS EXT - 4WD, 4.8, V8, topper, silver, 118,000 km . . . . . . . . Reduced to $13,950 2004 Chev Silverado LT Z71 4x4 - Extn. cab, 5.3 V8, leather, loaded, red, 242,000 km . . . . . . Reduced to $12,950 SOLD USED SUVS 2007 Chev Equinox LS - FWD, V6, loaded, silver, 51,000 km . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $14,950 2007 Ford Edge SEL - AWD, sunroof, leather, gold, 82,000 km. . . . . . . . . . . . . Reduced to $20,950 2003 Kia Sorento - loaded, AWD, leather, black, 123,000 km . . . . . . . . . . . . Reduced to $7,950 USED CARS *2010 Chev Impala LT - 4 dr., V6, loaded, silver, 25,000 km . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $16,950 *2010 Dodge Caliber SXT - 4 dr., 4 cyl., heated seats, white, 19,000 km . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15,450 2010 Chev Impala LT - 4 dr., loaded, gold sport pkg., 35,000 km, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $17,950 2008 Chev Impala LTZ - 4 dr., 3.9, sunroof, silver, 58,000 km. . . . . . . . . . . . Reduced to $15,950 2007 Buick ALLURE CXL - 4 dr., sunroof, leather, loaded, burgundy, 30,000 km. . . . . . . . . . . . . $14,950 2007 Chev Cobalt SS - 2 dr., 4 cyl., 5 spd., sunroof, leather, orange, 87,000 km. . . . . Reduced to $9,950 Member of Used Car Dealers Association of Ontario SOLD