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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-05-18, Page 16It's time for spring tune-up for your car The time to think about getting the family car ready for the warmer weather driving of summer is at hand, especially for do-it-yoursel­ fers who take pride in a job well done and, therefore, are willing to devote the required extra time. In recent years, auto manufac­ turers have gone to great lengths to reduce significantly the number of tasks to which car owners must attend, in order to keep their vehicles in peak operating condi­ tion. The use of high-energy ignition systems and unleaded fuel, for instance, has increased the aver­ age time between major tune-ups from about 7,500 miles to near 25,000. One thing the car makers have not been able to get rid of is the need for certain preventive maint­ enance work in the spring and fall, so as to offer as much protection as possible to the car for operation in weather extremes. That is why the forthcoming summer tune-iJj) Is so important, regardless of the amount of driving the car has seen over the winter months. Most systems involved in a spring tune-up can be taken care of with relative ease by the car owner with minimal mechanical ability, according toChilton Book Com­ pany’s Easy Car Care, one of the best books available on the basics of the automobile. It is just one of many automotive books offered by Chilton to help do-it-yourselfers to work on their cars. The spring tune-up should begin with the most thorough cleaning of the year. The reason is quite simple. First, it is much easier to work on a clean car than a dirty one, and, more important, as the car owner who wants to keep his investment in the best possible condition for the longest possible time recognizes, it is imperative to remove the ravages of winter. In Ontario, rock salt plays a major part in keeping roads open during and after typical winter storms. The salt does an excellent job of melting away snow and ice. But, at the same time, its residue clings to the underside of cars and, if it isn’t removed, will set in motion corrosion that eventually will eat through the car’s surfaces. Olds honoured as pace car at Indy 500 The 72nd annual Indianapolis 500-Mile Race will be paced by a specially constructed convertible version of the all-new 1988 Olds­ mobile Cutlass Supreme, powered by a special turbo-charged version of General Motor’s innovative Quad 4 engine. Indianapolis Speedway presi­ dent Joseph Cloutier says, “The Indianapolis Motor Speedway family is pleased to have Oldsmo­ bile as the Official Pace Car for an unprecedented eighth time since the Hulman family ownership began in 1945. Oldsmobile, celebrating its 90th anniversary in 1988, has twice used the Indy 500 pace car program to introduce all-new models. The 1949 Oldsmobile pace car intro­ duced its all-new Eighty-Eight model with its new engine, the Rocket V-8. More recently, Olds­ mobile utilized another all-new model with the Olds Calais as pace car for the 1985 race. Ixta Hosing down all four wheelwells will remove most salt buildup. However, a much more thorough job can be done at a typical commercial car wash by having the tire man go over each area with the soapy steam normally used on whitewall tires. The rest of the car’s exterior, including doorjambs and the areas where other panels come together, should be washed thoroughly and rinsed clear. The interior should be vacuum­ ed an upholstery-cleaning chemi­ cal used to remove stains. If the floor mats are made of carpet, they should be taken out of the car and cleaned. While the car is at the car wash for salt removal and exterior wash, it’s an excellent idea to steam­ clean the engine compartment. This will remove built-up oil and road grime, allowing the engine to run cooler and make repair work easier. If it’s possible to get the car up on a lift, there are afew checks that should be made before starting under-hood work. These include making sure the exhaust system is in sound condi­ tion, making sure there are no signs of leakage in the shock absorbers, testing the universal joints by moving the drive shaft or half-shafts, and checking the fluid 1987 Dodge 1Z> ton 1987 Pontiac 6000, 4 door with air 1986 Pontiac Bonneville, 4 door with air. 1986 Chevette Scooters, 4 door hatch-back, 2 to choose from. 1985 Pontiac Bonneville [LE] 4 dr. with air 1985 Chevy Blazer 4x4 with Tahoe Pkg. 1985 Pontiac Bonneville, 4 door with air. 1984 Ford LTD, 4 door with air. 1983 Buick Park Avenue, load­ ed with options. 1982 Chev Monte Carlo, 2 door HAMM’S CAR SALES Blyth 523-4342 •Gas Pumps*Repairsto most makesand models Now isthetimeto have your air conditioning servicedone & alignment wheel balance service & tune-up. Be Ready to Go In The Nice Weather! AIR CONDITIONING SPECIAL Complete Evacuation and Recharge Our class A Mechanic will •Checkall beltsand hoseson your cooling system •Complete leak test •Check Freon level and top up if necessary •Complete high/low pressure test •Complete performance and thermometer gauge test All for 95 Freon Only tOH Included level in the differential. The most important engine job to be performed at this point is to replace the engine oil and filter with premium products. Engine oil for the higher ambiant tempera­ tures of summer driving should be of a higher viscosity, as opposed to the thinner viscosity oil that should be used in colder temperatures. It should conform to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation as to the viscosity. When it’s Horsepower for the Home... Oldfield's has Big Savings on LAWN TRACTORS LIMITED TIME OFFER! ‘TILL MAY 28/88 Cut your lawn down to size with this quality lawn tractor from Canadiana. It featuresa 12 hp4cycle Briggs & Stratton engine, electric start, and a heavy duty 7-speed transmission. Its side-discharge twin blades cut a wide 39" CAAIADIAAIA 12 HP LAWN TRACTOR path. Adjustable high-back seat for comfort. When it comes to Car Care Products! We carry a full line of... Armorall Protection. Turtle Wax Products Chrome Polish Spray Nine-Multi-Purpose Cleaner • Genuine Leather Chamois • Air Fresheners • Soft Touch Brushes • Wash Mitts • See our great selection of C.B. Radios & other quality automotive products Oldfield Pr^Hlrdware and Radio Shack Ra*® Brussels 887-6851 '’■** PRO. This also is a good time to check and replace, if needed, the air filters and the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve. If ignition work soon will be due, you can do it now. With the high-energy ignition used in virtually all cars today, all you need to do is change the spark plugs at the recommended inter­ vals. In older cars, the plugs, points and rotor should be changed every 7,500 miles, and the distribu­ tor cap should be checked for cracks. All of this can be done on a Saturday morning - a small investment in time to assure a summer of trouble-free driving. Chilton offers more than 160 books on automotive repairs and main­ tenance for the do-it-yourselfer, beginner to experienced, and Chilton books are available at bookstores and automotive parts stores in Canada. $1699."