The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1999-10-20, Page 17THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20,1999. PAGE 17. Gear Up for Fall Car Care How to do more to keep environment green Today's car is about 130 per cent more energy efficient than the cars of 25 years ago. If it uses less energy, it creates fewer emissions. Even the fuel we use is different - all automotive gasoline is now unleaded. Most of the new car you buy today is either made from recycled materials or is recyclable. Even the auto wreckers aren’t wreckers any more - they're auto recyclers. Car Care Canada believes that Canadians can do more to help keep our environment green. By keeping up with routine preventative maintenance, especially filter replacement and regular oil changes, drivers will keep their cars operating in the low emissions zone. They’ll also save money in the long term on repairs and on fuel. Most of the fluids used in cars are potentially harmful to the environment. When you look for a repair facility, make sure you choose one that has an active recycling program for engine oil and other engine fluids. There are other things drivers can do to reduce pollution. Because there is a direct link between the amount of fuel used and the amount of tailpipe emissions created, saving fuel means reducing pollution. Here are some green driving tips from Car Care Canada: • Plan your errands to avoid making a lot of short trips. Cars are at their least fuel efficient when cold. • Slow down. The difference between driving at 100 km/h and 110 km/h is about 10 per cent. • Don’t idle. If you’re just stepping into the convenience store for a moment, switch off your engine. You’ll save fuel, reduce pollution, and be less likely to have your car stolen. • Keep your tires fully inflated. Soft tires increase rolling resistance, which is the biggest contributor to fuel consumption at city driving speeds. • Smooth driving. Avoid sharp stops and starts in city traffic, and try to maintain a steady speed on the highway. Use your cruise control, if you have it. Look well ahead to anticipate blips in the traffic, so you can be in the free flowing lane. A lot has been done to make cars more environmentally friendly and fuel efficient. It’s up to drivers to keep them that way. Oil blends offer best of both Continued from page 15 is there before you start your engine, so you have no metal to metal contact even at start-up. Synthetic oils can be mixed with conventional mineral oils - they are fully compatible, and they are recyclable. There are also semi synthetic oils on the market. These blends of synthetic and mineral oil offer the best of both worlds - the low cost of a mineral oil and the high performance of a synthetic. Car Care answers some common questions about motor oil: Q. My owner's manual says I need an API (American Petroleum Institute) service rating SF engine oil. All I can find is SG. Is that okay? A. Yes. The API service ratings proceed in alphabetical order, so SG is a higher standard than SF. Owner’s manuals typically says "use SF or higher oils”, for example. However, you shouldn't put an SF oil into an engine that requires SG - that could void your warranty and shorten your engine life. Q. What's a multigrade oil? A. the grade of an engine oil describes its viscosity (ability to flow). At lower temperatures, oil thickens and doesn’t flow as easily - like molasses in January. The lower the number, the more easily it will flow at low temperatures. Multigrades are oils that contain additives called viscosity index improvers, and so they offer a range of viscosities (e.g. 5W30). The lower the number in front of the “W”, the greater the oil’s ability to flow at low temperature. The number after the “W” indicates the oil’s viscosity rating at normal engine operating temperatures. The “W” in the grade stands for winter. Q. Do I need a different oil in summer? A. Your owner’s manual will tell you what grade of oil your car needs. Most newer cars use a 5W3O oil year round. Older cars may need a bit more viscosity to keep the protective film on the cylinder walls. You’ll probably need to use a 10W30 in the summer, switching to a 5W30 in winter for better starting and cold performance. Q. Should 1 change the oil filter every time I change the oil? A. Most owner’s manuals call for a filter change every second oil change. However, the filter collects all the sludge and dirt from the engine, and your clean oil will be running through a dirty filter after every second oil change. Canadians average 2.8 oil changes per year. The difference between changing the filter every time and every second time is not much more than $5 a year. Considering the importance of clean oil to your engine, it’s awfully cheap insurance to change the filter every time. If nothing else, be sure to follow the instructions in your owner’s manual. Q. Can I mix different brands of engine oil? Yes, if you must. Because all oils are manufactured to API and SAE standards, you can mix different brands. Because every company has its own additives aimed at enhancing the oil’s performance in your engine, you should not make a habit of mixing them - you’ll get the best performance by using the same oil. At a pinch, it’s better to add a litre of 5W30 to an engine running on 10W30 than to run with low oil, but it’s not a good idea to mix grades. Q. How often should I check my oil? A. Get to know your car. Some engines bum more oil than others, and you may have to add a litre of oil once or twice between oil changes. Others don’t bum much oil. Check it regularly, whenever you get gas or at least once a week. If you’ve been driving, give the oil a few minutes to settle back into the sump. Then pull the dipstick out, wipe it off, put it back in ail the way, and pull it out again. Read the level of the oil - it should be between the lines marked “full” and “add”, or “max” and “min”, depending on your car. Come in and enter your name in our Christmas Draw for a new colour T. V. Draw to be made Dec. 24 Gas-Line Anti-Freeze Kleen Flo #426 Starting Fluid Kleen Flo #735 $99 ea. Fuel Injector Cleaner Kleen Flo #695 $095 wJ ea. Diesel Fuel Conditioner Kleen Flo #993 $^95 ea. G & Auto Parts ■ Auto Parts Plus Bill Giousher 523-9023 Turnberry St., Brussels 887-8002 MOTORING GIVE YOUR CAR FORD QUALITY CARE SAVE ON OUR FALL SERVICE SPECIALS Gary McArter 887-6027 FORD COLD WEATHER TUNE-UP - includes replacement of spark plugs - inspect air filter - inspect fuel filter - inspect pcv system - clean throttle body - check ignition timing ** vans extra ** dual plug system extra ** platinum plugs extra Starting at $59.95 Drivers wanted! Easthill Autohaus Hwy. 4, Walkerton 519-881-0835 or call 1-800-461-5456 ’ Sales • Leasing • Service • Parts Volkswagon FALL SERVICE SPECIAL OLD MAN WINTER IS ON HIS WAY... IS YOUR VEHICLE READY? - change oil & filter (includes up to 5 litres of Ford oil) - lube chassis - inspect and rotate tires - check all lights - inspect belts & hoses - check air filter - lube door hinges & latches - top up washer fluid - check anti-freeze - inspect exhaust - inspect brakes $34.95 DRIPLESS OIL UNDERCOATING Starting at $59.95 INSPECT - cooling system service - inspect hoses & clamps - rad condition - belts - cooling fan - flush & replace anti-freeze - up to 4 litres of anti-freeze $59.95 BASIC SERVICE SPECIAL - change oil & filter (includes up to 5 litres of Ford oil) - check under hood fluid levels - check tire pressure $21.95 BRIDGE MOTORS LIMITED FORD Hwy. 86 - Just East of Wingham 357-3460