Car Tips

Oil reduces the friction in your engine and keeps it running smoothly. Check your oil at least once a month to make sure that your car has enough oil and that the oil isn't contaminated. To find out whether your car needs oil, do the following:

1. When the engine is cold (or has been off for at least ten minutes), pull out the dipstick and wipe it off on a clean, lint-free rag.
   The oil dipstick typically has a ring on the end of it and sticks out the side of the engine.
2. Shove the stick back in again. If the dipstick gets stuck on the way in, turn it around. The pipe it fits into is curved, and the metal stick bends naturally in the direction of the curve if you put it back in the way it came out.
3. Pull the dipstick out again and look at the film of oil on the end of the stick.
4. Notice how high the oil film reaches on the dipstick and the condition of the oil.
   If your oil looks clean enough but only reaches the "Add" level on the dipstick, you need to add oil. You can get some oil the next time you fill up at the gas station, or you can buy a bottle at an auto supply store and add it yourself. You can determine the proper weight oil to purchase by looking in your owner's manual.
   If the oil is dirty and grimy and grimy or smells of gasoline, you probably need to have it changed. You can pay a mechanic or an oil-change place to change it for you or change the oil yourself. The task is easy and can save you money.
5. Put the dipstick back in.

KNOWING HOW OFTEN TO TUNE UP YOUR CAR

Tune-up intervals vary from one vehicle to another. You should tune up most older cars every 10,000 to 12,000 miles or every year, whichever comes first. Newer cars with electronic ignition and fuel injection systems are scheduled to go from 25,000 miles to as many as 100,000 miles without needing a major tune-up.

See your owner's manual for recommended tune-up intervals, but be aware that even if it says that the vehicle doesn't require scheduled tune-ups very often; checking periodically that your car is working at peak efficiency is in your best interest. If you do a lot of stop-and-go driving or pull heavy loads (like a camper or boat), your ignition system may need to be tuned more often more often, no matter what type of system you have.

Here are some of the symptoms that tell you that your ignition system probably needs to be tuned or adjusted:
Your car stalls a lot. The spark plugs may be fouled or worn, the gap may need adjusting, or the idle speed or an electronic sensor may need to be adjusted. Stalling can also be caused by problems with the fuel system. If you're having trouble pinpointing the cause, you can help your automotive technician diagnose the problem if you're aware of whether the engine stalls when the weather is hot or cold, or when the air conditioner is on.
Your car gets harder to start. The problem can be in the starting system or can be due to an electronic component, such as the starting sensor or the ignition or the ignition system's computer. The problem may also lie in the fuel system, so have that checked out, too.

DEALING WITH AN OVERHEATED VEHICLE

Even the happiest, most beautifully tuned vehicle overheats occasionally. If you find yourself in stop-and-go traffic on an extremely hot day, chances are that your car’s dashboard temperature indicator may rise or a warning light may come on. Here’s how to help your vehicle regain its cool:
At the sign of overheating, shut off air conditioner and open your windows. Doing so decreases the load on the engine and helps it cool off.
If you continue to overheat, turn on the heater and blower. Doing so transfers the heat from the engine to the interior of the car.
If you are stopped in traffic and the temperature gauge is rising, shift into Neutral and rev the engine a little. Doing so makes the water pump and the fun speed up, which draws more liquid and air through the radiator. The increased air and liquid circulation helps cool things off.
Try not to ride your brakes. Crawl along slowly, on little more than an idle, rather than moving up and then braking repeatedly. Brake drag increases the load on the engine and makes it heat up.
If you think that your vehicle is about to boil over, drive to the side of the road, open the hood, and sit there until things cool off. Don’t open the radiator cap under these circumstances, and if your engine boils over, don’t add water until the engine is quite cool again. If you must add water when the engine is still a little warm, add the water while the engine is running in Neutral.