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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1992-10-28, Page 11FALL CAR CARE Times -Advocate, October 28, 1992 Page 11 Recesslon-proof your car this fall Acid rain on your roof, decay- ing leaves Muck '-- to your hood, mud in your wheel wells, brake dust on your wheels and road salt under your rocker panels. These are just a few of the corro- sive substances that will assault your car this fall and winter. The best prevention? -Make it a habit to keep your car clean - now and throughout the winter. "Sooner or later you will want to trade or sell your car. No matter how •well you maintain the engine, you cannot convince a buyer that a car with oxidized, dull. paint and evidence of rust developing is a good investment. "But don't wait until trade-in time to restore a neglected finish. Routine car washing at a profes- sional car wash is an investment that pays itself back many times over," says a president of the world's largest organization of pro- fessional car wash owners. Study on acid rain A recent independent study was completed showing the acid rain damage to auto finishes is wide- spread. Says a scientist who studied the problem and an authority on the ef- fects of acid rain on man-made ob- jects, "Acid rain damage is far more commonplace than I had ex- pected. I even put test panels on my own car and the spots formed." Explains another organization who has also studied acid rain and airborne pollutants, "Modem cars are finished with a lacquer -like clear coat that is vulnerable to acid precipitation and pollutants. Acid eats through the clear coat to create whitish, dull spots that cannot be removed. The solution is to wash the car professionally after rain, snow or fog. The professional wash process minimizes the chance of acid rain permanently staining the car." Mud gives rust a foothold Mud collects in the crevices un- derneath your car where it holds moisture to the metal. In colder cli- mates, the mud is mixed with road salt. This increases the corrosive action and your car is eaten from the inside out. Even a heated garage is no haven, since heat accelerates oxida- tion. To protect against this kind of damage, and to keep corrosives ' from getting foothold, include an undercarriage treatment with regu- lar washing. Many people who wouldn't think of letting an oil change to go past 3,000 miles, neglect their car's body. A collector of pre -1976 clas- sic American cars points out, "I look for cars with well-maintained bodies. I can always repair or swap a neglected engine and have a beautiful car. But if the body is shot, no amount of body work or repainting will ever equal the beau- ty or value of a perfectly main- tained original paint Job." Whether automatic or self -serve, regular professional car washing is affordable and usually costs less than having a suit dry cleaned. Pro- fessional car washes also offer a myriad of valuable, reasonably - priced special services\ and addi- tional protection packages. Car washes help environment Additional protection against oxi- dation and damage -to -the car's fin- ish can be obtained with the fre- quent use of wax or clear coat conditioners. For long-lasting pro- tection and additional beauty, you might try a hand -applied wax. Pro- fessional orbital -buffers are used to brighten the finish and create a deep lustre free of swirl marks. In additional to protecting your car from environmental damage, car washes also protect the environ- ment. Lycott Environmental Re- search Inc. states that the home washer uses about 80-140 gallons of water to wash a car, while a pro- fessional car wash uses an average of 30 gallons per car. In additional, professional car washes use biodegradable solutions that are disposed of through sani- tary sewer systems and municipal wastewater treatment facilities. The waste products generated from a home car wash go into the storm sewer, where the effluent flows di- rectly into ground water or area riv- ers, lakes and streams, harming plant and animal life. Don't leave your car out in the cold Contrary to popular belief, winter is one of the most im- portant times of the year to keep up your car's appearance. Left untreated, the snow, salt, mud, and freezing temperatures of the sun wreak hav- oc on a vehicle's surfaces, and in the long tent can reduce its value. Many people think they only need to wash their cars in the sum- mer= in fair weather. But the ex- treme temperature changes of a winter day, as well as its elements - snow, mud, and salt - damage the surfaces of your car. Rocks from the road create small chips in the paint. The road's mud and salt, which both absorb and hold water, forms a layer over the paint, and slowly corrodes it. Win- ter's freeze/thaw process of night and morning worsens the situation, causing "micro cracks." Water en- ters the cracks, and through the same process causes cracks to en- large. With each expansion, water pene- trates further through the paint, until it eventually reaches metal and be- gins rusting. Rust will spread under the paint layers, and bubbles can form on the paint surface due to the expansion of metal during the rust- ing process Although it's not always possible, frequent washing' and waxing - per- haps on the first clear day after a stoma - is the best preventative measure. Just waiting until the next rain storm won't adequately do the job - it would be like taking a bath without soap. Armor All recommends the fol- lowing: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 111::11m OUR association began when you purchased your vehicle. opar • CUSTOMER CARE •• • • • • • • EXETER FOR AUTOMOTIVE PARTS AND SERVICE CHRYSLER 136 Main St., N. Exeter NOM 1$3 Phone: 236-1525 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • '- FOR AUTOMOTIVE • Wash your vehicle with a prod- uct specifically formulated for cars. • Ordinary household dish soap, which is sometimes used because it's handy and less expensive, may strip the wax off a car's finish and leave the paint unprotected. • Be sure to hose off all the mud caked in crevices. • Dry with a clean, cotton flannel cloth. • Then apply wax or polish to form a protective layer that helps • repel water and dirt. • Just as important, be sure to ap- ply a protectant such as Armor All which will help to prevent fading and hardening of your car's rubber and vinyl surfaces. Putting extra effort into winter car care will help to preserve your investment. Think of it as a survi- val kit for your car's appearance. CUSTOMER CARE pjLiOIL& FILTER CHANGE Includes: Installation of up to 4 litres of Mopar Engine Oil and a Mopar Oil Filter. Lube Chassis $239 dietti • • • • EXETER • • CHRYSLER • • • LTD. LTD. • 136 Main St., N. • Exeter NOM 1S3 • • Phone: .23 fs-1625 • PARTS AND SERVICE e,9 Rentals 44* • •401.. • • • • • • • • • 0 • • • • • • • • • • Preserve and protect: Prepare your vehicle early to guard against harsh winter driving It's quite easy to spot Mie early signs of winter: leaves falling, chilly breezes and out- door enthusiasts preparing their gear for the rugged months ahead. It also is the time when cost-conscious car and truck owners should prepare thew vehicles against harsh winter conditions. The old saying That an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is nevermore true than when it comes to protecting your vehicle against wintertime ele- ments. It is recommended total recondi- tioning of interior and exterior surfaces, clinging a number of are- as the owner seldom sees: beneath the vehicle, inside the engine com- partment and under door panels. Interior surfaces that require closest attention include carpeting and upholostery. Sand, grit and grime built up during peak k smiler driving months can cause automotive fabrics to age prematurely. If left unattend- ed, they tend to deteriorate even faster when exposed to cold - weather elements like salt -laden mud and water. By starring clean in the fall it will be easier and more economi- cal to overcome the ravages of winter condit$ons next spring. Degreasing the engine compartment with a high- pressure professional wash provides additional sav- ings. The car's motor will run cleaner and leaner. It is also recommended that application of high- quality waxes or sealants to care for exterior painted surfaces. Constant exposure to the sun, compounded y the effects ot'salt and airborne pollutants th xist in most parts of the country during the win can cause paint to ,oxidize rapidly. That definitely affects the trade-in value of your car. The ugly truth is that no vehicle can withstand the corrosive effects of salt and water, so preparing your car for harsh win- ter driving will help preserve and protect It. What you need to kown about motor oil In today's society, Americans operate on the fast track with no time to slow down. It is important to keep your automobile in perfect operat- ing condition so you do not find yourself standing in your tracks. Experts emphasize the impor tance of closely monitoring engine oil levels and changing the oil and oil filter frequently to preserve the automobile engine. Low oil levels can result in in- creased engine wear and eventual- ly lead to engine failure as the en- gine becomes starved for oil Engineers estimates that perhaps half the cars on the road today are running at least a quart low. Engines on the new cars often hold less oil than in years past, magnifying the problem of run - Hing low on oil The oil simply has to work harder, and it is prudent to use a high quality oil. With an increased emphasis being placed on the educated consumer, changing your motor oil and oil fil- ter is the first step in easy car care maintenance at home. Changing your own oil can be completed with six easy steps and can save you money, too. Before you begin, you will need the follow- ing items; an oil filter wrench, the amount and type of motor oil rec- ommended for your car's engine, an oil filter, a wrench to remove the drain plug and a low, wide pan to catch the used oil. Step 1: Position car in a safe spot, run engine up to operating tempera- ture, then um off. Set the parking bake. Step 2: Place drain pan under the car, beneath the oil drain plug. Use the wrench to loosen the drain plug. The oil will be hot, so watch your hands. Step 3: Next, remove the oil fil- ter with the filter wrench. When re- moving the filter, keep in mind to tum the wrench counter clock wise. . Be careful not to tum the oil fil- ter upside down, because it will be filled with oil. Step 4: After allowing enough time to drain the oil fully, replace and tighten the oil drain plug, and install the new oil filter.To ensure proper fitting, tighten the new filter by hand and use your finger to put a light film of oil on the filter gas- ket to ensure a tight seal. Step 5: Check the owner's manu- al for the oil fill location and add new oil. Use the proper weight for your car and climate. Step 6: Disposeofthe used oil in an environmentally safe and legal- ly recognized manner. Combat the inconveniences of winter A faulty heat- er may be one of. the most annoying in- conveniences of winter driv- ing Most passenger compartment heaters use the coolant to warm the_inooming_fresh air. Besides providing driver and passenger comfort, the warm air directed against the inside windows gener- ally prevents fogging and icing, which can obscure vision. You can troubleshoot the system yourself by following these recom- mendations provided by engineers. Caution: The engine should be cool before servicing the cooling system. Check coolant level Begin by chocking the coolant level in the radiator and the plastic reservoir located near the radiator. A low level will reduce or cancel the flow of coolant to the heater, thereby reducing or preventing any heat output. If you must add coolant, you should mix 50 percent antifreeze with 50 percent water for adequate wintertime protection. check the mixture with an economical hy- drometer, available at most auto parts stores. The radiator pressure cap helps to raise and control the tempera- ture of the coolant in the system. Replace the cap if the seal or rub- ber gasket is damaged, or if the spring is broken. The thermostat, normally located at the engine connection of the upper radiator hose, regulates the flow of coolant to the radiator. When the thermostat fails or malfuc- tions, the engine will either overheat or take longer to reach it is proper operating temperature. It is a good practice to replace the inexpensive thermostat every four to six years. Replace the hoses Rubber hoses convey the liquid coolant between the engine, radiator and heater. Inspect for softness, cracks and dogs, -and immediately replace any haw dal show signs of wear. These hoses also can fail, without warning, from the inside. Cracks in the tube destroy the rein- forcement, and produce a burst or pinhole leak. Other important coolant hoses worth checking run parallel from the engine to the heater, normally found under the dashboard. These should be replaced every four years to avoid coolant loss and an overheat- ed engine. Coolant circulates throughout the engine by means of the water pump, which is driven by either a V- shaped belt, a V -ribbed belt, or both. Loose or wom belts could mean failure of the drive. Whatever the visual condition, replace the belts every four years. These troubleshooting steps could solve the problem of a malfunction- ing heating system. An experienced auto technician should check for other trouble areas, such as a clogged or leaking heater core, faulty electrical connections and fuses, a brokcen blower motor or a non-operating heater control value. How to communicate Even though today's vehicles are high-tech marvels, when it comes to automotive maintenance and repairs, some things stay the same. Whatever type of repair fa- cility you patronize - dealership, service station, inde- pendent garage, or national franchise - old-fashioned communication between customer and shop if vital. Do you r homework Get involved and take an active role. Read the owner's manual, familiar- ize yourself with the basic components, follow the service schedules, list- ed in the manual, and keep a log of all repairs and service. Get in the habit of keeping good records. Use all of your senses to inspect your vehicle frequently. Check for: • Unusual sounds, odors, drips, warning lights, smoke. etc. • Changes in acceleration, engine performance, gas mileage, fluid lev- els. • Worn tires, bells, hoses • Problems in handling, braking, vibrations or steering. Note when the problem occurs. is it constant or periodic? When the ve- hicle is cold or after the engine has warmed? At all speeds? When did the problem first begin? Describe, do not diagnose Once you go to the repair facility, be prepared to describe the symp- toms. Many shops are very busy, so try to be concise, but avoid establish- ments where you feel rushed, intimidated, or that your comments are not welcome. Carry a written list to give to the technician or service manager. This is especially important in larger shops, where the work order may be passed from service writer to technician. Resist the temptation to suggest a specific course of repair or to demand an on -the -spot diagnosi• . Just as you would with your physician, tell where it hurts and how long it's been that way, but let the technician diag- nose the problem and recommend a remedy. Ask questions Ask as many questions as you need. Do not be embarrassed to request every -day definitions and non-technical terminology. Request that the repairs be performed by a technician certified in the ap- propriate arca, such as brakes or engine performance. In addition to technician credentials, look for other sigophof profession- alism such as overall neatness, customer service awards, membership in the Better Business Bureau, up-to-date equipment and a positive profes- sional attitude from the shop personnel.