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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-10-21, Page 89Supplement to The Goderich Signal -Star and The Clinton News Record, Wednesday, October 21st, 1987. 1�• to F�* • ,1 1111;,r11 di ") • l'dja;rix;a i latiritihaifilli,'Niialif11 UMUMMMOMearamatuaramatatainwun': nrr'gergin,eu, tie raa+alwa'.+a• gAWAAWAYWOW 'a'a,Y ••Y8N11' V11 'TVA.,M p`F ,With uncertain fuel prices, owning and operating an automobile is an expensive proposition. It is important Lo keep fuel effi- ciency in mind when buying a new car, but it isn't too late to save money on the car you already own, with the help of a few tips for efficient fuel use. The easiest way to save is by driving only when it is necessary. Use other available op- tions like walking, biking, and public transportation systems. Or make a telephone call instead. Ride -sharing on trips to work is also a good way to save energy and money. When you do use your car, try to combine a number of short errands or chores into one trip. It is estimated that we use 30 per cent of our gasoline on trips of less than 8 km. These short ventures consume excess fuel because the car's engine is not warm for much of the trip. Avoid jumpy starts, because more fuel Is used and the tires wear out more quickly. Sharp jabs on the gas pedal activate the ac- celerator pump, which supplies,extra fuel to the engine. Never rest your foot on the brake pedal while driving, however lightly; this could put needless resistance on the wheels. If you are waiting for someone, or are caught in a traffic jam, turn off the motor. Idling gives you zero fuel economy. Remove roof racks when they are not needed because they increase wind resistance significantly. Also, close your windows on the highway; open windows add to aerodynamic drag and raise fuel con- sumption. Fill your gas tank only to the first `click', BYp 1t' 1`!�� �,'S 1111 1 � l�^i „t j,, when the pump shuts itself off. Never top up the tank because the fuel might expand in warm weather and overflow the tank. Try to decrease your speed on the highway — tests show that most cars use 20 per cent less fuel when driven at 90 km/h than they do at 110 km/h. Allow plenty of time to reach your destina- tion. Driving to beat the clock forces you to speed, brake sharply, accelerate too rapidly and generally waste fuel and put strain on the ear-. In the winter, drivers have to be even more careful if they want to improve the fuel efficiency of their vehicles. For exam- ple, at —12 degrees C the average engine needs at least 15 km of driving to warm^ up fully, so it is even more important to eliminate short trips from your driving pat- tern. a It is not necessary to let your engine idle for a long period when starting in the winter — 30 second in all the car generally needs. It will warm best as it is driven, but be careful to accelerate smoothly. Watching the traffic well ahead of you and driving defensively, whether in winter or summer, is one of the best ways to save fuel. This allows you to travel at a consistent speed and avoid braking too often. If you are travelling on a hilly road, allow the vehicle to slow down a§ you climb the hs1_l, and speed up to the legal limit when descending. In other words, maintain even accelerator pressure. Professional truckers call this `road management'. Regular engine tuning is vital if you want to get the most for your energy dollar. Tun- ing should be done every four months, but a fall and spring tuneup are most important to get your engine ready for drastic temperature changes. This can cut fuel con- sumption by 10 per cent. Tire pressure should be checked every week in the winter because temperature changes affect the pressure, and underinflated tires adversely affect fuel consumption. If your tire pressures are 20 kPa or 3 psi softer than the manufacturer recommends, you are using about 1.`5 per cent more fuel than necessary. And remember to check the tires when they are cold. Snow tires running on dry pavement cause your car to consume 4 per cent more fuel than when you are using summer tires. So snow tires should be removed as early in the spring as possible. Radial tires have a well-documented potential for a 5 per cent or better improve- ment in fuel economy over bias ply tires. P - Metric tires represent the state of the art in tires engineered for fuel economy. These tires are lighter, operate at higher pressures for the same load and offer less resistance when rolling. An air conditioner adds weight to your car and can reduce fuel economy by as much as 6 per cent in a small car. When in use, it can increase fuel consumption by as much as 20 per cent in hot -weather stop -and -go driving. Car costs can be cut dramatically. Organize yourself to take advantage of alternatives like walking or biking, and try to allow for those minutes of extra car care that will save you money. 1 It's fall, the perfect time to get in gear Many motorists wait until the first cold snap to winterize their automobiles. 'I'he result is usually a frantic phone call to their local service station mechanic, who by this time, is already deluged with time consum- ing road calls for dead batteries, frozen radiators and various ignition ailments. Easy -to -perform tune-up To make sure your car will start when it's 10 below zero, an easy -to -perform winteriz- ing tune-up for your car's cooling system will take care of the cause of many of these annoyances. 1) Check the following for evidence of coolant leakage; upper and lower radiator hoses, heater core and hoses, cylinder heads, water pump, radiator and all drain plugs. A quality stop -leak solution may plug some of the minor holes in metal parts. Hose examination 2) Examine all hoses (coolant, heater, bypass, fuel line, power steering and air conditioning) for swelling, soft spots, cracks, a partially collapsed condition, cuts and general deterioration. Replace as necessary. If hoses are more than four years old, replace them regardless of visual condition. 3) Tighten all hose clamps. Replace those which can't be adequately tightened, or that show corrosion. 4) Check all V -belts for wear on bottom and sides. Pay particular attention to the alternator drive. Replace or retension as necessary. If belts are rnore than four years old, replace them regardless of visual condi- tion. 5) Check coolant for rust. Flush entire system if. necessary. Drain and refill with fresh coolant of 50-50 water and antifreeze. If coolant is less than two years old and isn't going to be replaced, check it for strength, and add as necessary for needed protection. 6) Inspect the condition of the radiator cap, gasket and spring. Check the radiator filler neck for nicks that could lead to a pressure loss. 7) Clean bugs, leaves, paper and other foreign matter off the front of the radiator. Remove by blowing out with high pressure air or water. 8) Check the condition of the' radiator overflow tube or hose, and make sure it has a good connection to the radiator. The final step 9) After the cooling system has been in- spected and serviced, remove the radiator cap and start the engine. If the coolant begins to circulate im- mediately, or if after you have reinstalled the cap, the upper radiator does not feel like it's conveying warm coolant, the thermostat will need replacing. Suggestions for getting a head start on cold weather car care Among the most important and least understood parts of today's modern automobile is the battery. Technically, a storage battery is an electro -chemical device. In the process of releasing electrical energy to your car, the battery produces hydrogen gas: highly explosive. This is why motorist are urged to heed these battery safety tips from Car Care Council: • 1) No smoking near a battery. 2) Keep your face away from the battery. Wear safety goggles. 3) Avoid sparks. When connecting booster cables cover both batteries with a cloth. Be sure the final ground (negative) connection is made to the frame of the stalled car, as far as possible from the battery. 4) Be careful with tools. A wrench or pliers that contacts a "hot" terminal or wire and a grounded part of the car can create a spark strong enough to burn metal. 5) When carrying a battery, use a good carrying device. Spilled battery acid can eat into your clothing ... and your skin ... very quickly. If you do get some acid on you, flush it off at once with water. Tire should be included in car -care schedule Your tires are designed to ride safer and wear longer when properly inflated with the correct amount of air. Properly inflated tires also help your car deliver better gas mileage because when your tires are pro- perly inflated, they create less "drag." Do yourself and your tires a favor. Check your air pressure today — and then get in the habit at least once a month.