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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1991-10-16, Page 13NEW CARS USED CARS THE CITIZEN. WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 16, 1991. PAGE 13. Grease best known, least understood lubricant Automotive grease is one of the least known and most misunder­ stood of all lubricants. Most con­ sumers are unaware of the importance of using grease to reduce wear caused by friction on vehicle parts, such as disc brake Baking soda can help in cleaning your car Autumn is a time to store away your air conditioner, replace your day glow wardrobe for soft woolly sweaters, and to clean out your garage to make room for your car as the temperature begins to drop. After months of keeping your car parked outside in the rain and dust, it is time to bring it inside and pre­ pare for the long winter months ahead. Preventive maintenance wheel bearings, universal joints and the chassis. The following questions are asked most often: Q: What is the general composi­ tion of automotive grease? A. Automotive grease consists of begins with a proper cleaning. Baking Soda that is so useful in your house also works wonders in the car. Here are a few tips: •Battery - To clean corrosion from the terminals without using a wire brush, use a baking soda paste (three parts baking soda to one part water). After rinsing and wiping dry, reconnect the terminals and a fluid lubricant, such as petroleum oil, dispersed in a thickener, such as lithium soap. It contains addi­ tives to improve lubricity. The thickener serves to keep the lubri­ cant and additives in contact with the surface subject to friction. apply petroleum jelly to prevent future corrosion. Be careful when working around a battery - it con­ tains a strong acid. •Chrome bumpers and trim - Remove road grime with a baking soda solution. Sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge for extra tough spots. Rinse with water, polish with a soft cloth and admire the shine. •Upholstery - Perk up vinyl seats Q. How does grease perform? A. The fluid lubricant is gradu­ ally released from the thickener. The grease provides a tough, long- lasting film, excellent extreme pressure properties and good resis­ tance to waler washout for vehicle by wiping with a baking soda solu­ tion (four tablespoons baking soda to one quart of water). Be sure to rinse thoroughly and wipe diy. For stubborn spots, sprinkle baking soda right from the box on a damp sponge. •Floor mats - Make floor mats sparkle with a baking soda solution. For extra tough spots, sprinkle baking soda on a soft bristled parts. Q How often should I grease my car? A. The answer varies, depending on automobile models and manu­ facturers. For example, Chrysler suggests every 12 months brush. Scrub, rinse thoroughly and wipe dry. •Ashtray - Eliminate stale tobac­ co odors by adding a layer of bak­ ing soda to the bottom of the ashtray. This will help extinguish cigarettes and eliminate flying sparks, too. Empty the ashtray reg­ ularly and replace the baking soda. One of the most vital components of your car’s engine isn't monitored by some fancy computer or indicat­ ed by a needle on a gauge. It does­ n't cost an arm and a leg to replace or require a mechanic to repair. And yet, if not properly main­ tained, it's a gateway to serious engine damage. An ineffective air filter means trouble. Most engine wear is caused by abrasive particles of dirt which enter an engine unfiltercd. To be effective, an air filter must trap and hold these particles. The more dirt a filter can hold, the more effective it is. Frequently, however, air filters become clogged and restrict the necessary flow of air to the carbu­ reter. Internal combustion engines require great quantities of air, about 1,200 cubic feel for every gallon of gasoline, and any restriction of air­ flow causes an improper air/fuel ratio, reducing performance and fuel economy. ■ ?: WSs Read owners manual and save What is black and white, seldom areas and metal underbody parts to read and usually gathers dust in remove dirt, mud, and dust-control your vehicle's glove compartment? If you said it's the owner's man­ ual, go to the head of the class. If like most buyers of cars, vans and light trucks, however, you failed to read the manual carefully, be pre­ pared to pay for your oversight. “Nobody bothers to read them,” states Tom Walker, Protection Group Product Manager at Ziebart. “Yet the owner's manual spells out every precaution an owner must take to satisfy the manufacturer’s warranties on the vehicle.” Most of these precautions are especially critical when it comes to preparing your vehicle for winter, says Walker. “The average owner pays atten­ tion to such things as engine coolants, batteries, tires, belts and windshield wipers, and that's good,” he notes. “However, they seldom bother to check unseen areas that are equally critical to warranty maintenance.” Virtually every vehicle manufac­ turer specifies that drain holes in doors, quarter panels and fender wells must be kept open to prevent mud and moisture buildup in cor­ rosion-prone body components. High-pressure cleaning of enclosed chemicals is recommended, along with retreatment of surfaces that are exposed to continual dampness caused by humidity from salt-laden snow or sea air. Manufacturers also caution vehi­ cle owners to wash exterior body metals frequently to remove con­ taminants like industrial pollutants and dust-control chemicals that attack painted surfaces. “Getting a vehicle ready for win­ ter isn't necessarily a priority for most people during the fall months,” says Walker, “but they can save themselves time and money by preparing for the worst that winter weather inevitably brings.” Ziebart Tidy Car outlets special­ ize in a wide range of automotive aftermarket services for both new and used vehicles, many of them available on a while-you-wait basis. DAVE’S CAR OILING Drummond St. E., Blyth 523-4343 WE USE ONLY NEW ACID FREE HOT OIL Inner Fenders Trunk Lid Inner Fenders Dog Legs UndersideDoors & Door PostsOPEN: Mon. - Thura. 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Fri. & Sat. 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Weather permitting) CARS - 830.00 LIGHT TRUCKS & VANS 835.00 While most traditional pleated paper air filters are effective at trapping dirt, they become restrict­ ed quickly and require frequent replacement. Foam filters, on the other hand, are designed with a thicker, honeycombed network of cells, ensuring greater dirt trapping capacity, less restricted airflow, and longer service life. An innovation in foam air fillers recently introduced has proven to be even more effective. This new 2-stage air filter employs an expanded steel cage surrounded by two layers of lightly oiled polyurethane foam. Tests have shown that the increased maze of interlocking cells trap and hold more dirt than con- ventional filters and still allow sub­ stantially more airflow. In fact, a recent test revealed that the filter held over 350 per cent more dirt at the same rate of air flow than a popular conventional filter. What this means, of course, is better per­ formance, increased fuel economy, lower exhaust emissions, and longer engine life. PITCH-IN CANADA! Before you Buy SALES & SERVICE LTD.= on a good selection of fully re-conditioned Used Cars. WINTER'S COMING! We specialize •Exhaust •Brakes •Electrical • Alignments ?ECHUNL1aAQNUsALIFIED BRUSSELS 887-9269 GET SET FOR WINTER WITH A FALL TUNE-UP. For trouble free motoring! FEATURING NEW & USED CAR SALES - SERVICE - LEASING & INFO ...