Sunday, February 23, 2014

Do Deer Whistles Really Work?

Do Deer Car Whistles Really Work? Millions of drivers throughout the United States have felt the terror that runs through your blood right before your car smashes…

The post Do Deer Whistles Really Work? appeared first on Dashboard Blog.

Source: http://www.grandsportautobody.com/blog/deer-whistles-really-work/

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Recommended Service Intervals At Atlantic Car Care

Most people in the Wilmington area are aware that automotive manufacturers have recommended service intervals. Following recommended service intervals is very important. The engineers that design our vehicles have tested the various systems and components to meet durability and safety standards. Some of these standards are self-imposed and others, like those for emissions components, are government mandated for the areas around Heampstead, Burgaw and Leland in North Carolina.

The maintenance schedules are designed to achieve the standards. Think of the benefits of following recommended intervals as falling into three general categories: Protection, Efficiency and Safety.

Protection. Let’s start with motor oil. First of all, the engineers recommend a particular weight and type of motor oil for your sedans. All of their oil change recommendations assume using the proper motor oil. Motor oil contains detergents and other additives that clean the engine and provide corrosion resistance. Over time, the additives are depleted. The oil also becomes contaminated by water, dirt and combustion gases.

Extending your interval beyond the recommendation means that your sedans engine will be operating without the full protection of fresh motor oil. It also means that sludge can form in contaminated oil and clog up passages in the engine, starving parts from needed lubrication.

Efficiency. Some services are designed to keep automotive systems operating efficiently. For example, the fuel system gets clogged up with gum and varnish from the fuel. Fuel doesn’t flow efficiently which reduces fuel economy. A fuel system cleaning restores the fuel system’s efficiency and increases your gas mileage.

Safety. Your brakes are obviously one of the most important safety systems on your sedans. The manufacturer has scheduled brake pad replacement as well as power brake fluid drain and replacement intervals. Because brakes are so important, a brake inspection is also on the schedule to head off problems before they result in an accident.

Check your owner’s manual for recommended service schedules or talk with your Wilmington service advisor at Atlantic Car Care by calling 9107941390. You’ll find our shop located at 21 New Bern Street in Wilmington, North Carolina 28403.

You may be surprised to learn that various inspections may be on your list of factory recommendations for your sedans. These inspections are usually at major intervals like fifteen or thirty thousand miles. They’re designed to uncover important parts that may be close to failing.

Your sedans owner’s manual can tell you when to change your oil, but it can’t tell you that you have a radiator hose that’s bulging and about to burst. For that you need a trained auto technician. These scheduled inspections are in addition to the multi-point inspections done with a full-service oil change.

Source: http://www.atlanticcarcare.com/service-intervals/recommended-service-intervals-at-atlantic-car-care

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Saturday, February 22, 2014

When Should I Get an Engine Tune-Up?

Engine Tune UpThe engine of your vehicle is just like your heart and your brain combined—it is the activity center of your car and keeps every other part of your car in working condition. If your engine is not working correctly, your whole vehicle could suffer the consequences. Family Tire & Service is a full-service auto repair in Grapevine that offers quality engine tune up services.

Just like your own health, your vehicle requires frequent attention in order to maintain a good bill of health. Ignoring or putting off maintenance for your vehicle could result in the development of some very serious engine problems. Scheduling routine maintenance for your engine at least once a year will ensure that your engine remains in top shape for your daily commute.

Any time the “Check Engine” light appears on your car’s dashboard means that your engine has detected problems and needs immediate attention from a service professional. When left undetected, problems with a car’s oil pressure or a gasket can require costly repairs or replacements later on. Our service team at Family Tire & Service uses state-of-the-art diagnostics tools to detect these serious problems before they ruin your day—and your wallet.

Family Tire & Service understands that your car is both an important investment and your means of transportation, so we guarantee that our team will take great care of your vehicle from the time it enters our shop until the time you drive away. When your car is so important, why not take it to the best auto repair service in Grapevine? Call Family Tire & Service at 817-488-5520 today to schedule your next engine tune up. You can also contact us using our convenient online service scheduler.

Source: http://www.familytireandservice.com/blog/when-should-i-get-an-engine-tune-up/

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Seven Holiday Shopping Safety Tips

  Many people do not realize that the parking lot at a shopping mall is often the most dangerous place to be during the happiest time of…

The post Seven Holiday Shopping Safety Tips appeared first on Dashboard Blog.

Source: http://www.grandsportautobody.com/blog/seven-holiday-shopping-safety-tips/

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Car Service Tips for the Electrical System

A vehicle's electrical system is more intricate than ever before, even though it is basically the same design as 30 years ago. This is a major problem that offers a challenge to vehicle owners. Problems associated with the driving operability are caused by variations in voltage due to the use of computerized controls. Even the smallest change in voltage can alter the controls in an electrical system. If regular car service is neglected, car problems can start from poor electrical connections due to lose connections and the buildup of corrosion around the battery posts. A good quality car repair requires the use of a higher level of technology than just a decade ago.

Source: http://www.elkrivertireandauto.com/tips-blog/car-service-tips-for-the-electrical-system

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Road Trip Games For Kids

Road trips are big adventures for kids, and they can create unforgettable memories. To make a road trip remain pleasurable for the duration of the trip, here are some road trip games for kids that will keep them entertained and occupied while you travel:

“I Spy” is a road trip game that has withstood the test of time. “I spy with my little eye, something red.” This easy-to-learn game is perfect for preschoolers, and can keep them entertained for unbelievably long periods of time. The directions are simple: One person spies something and recites the line, ending in a clue. Everyone else takes turns trying to guess the mystery item.

“Road Trip Bingo” is a fun road trip game that requires a little planning ahead of time, but can be a terrific scavenger hunt. All you need are clipboards, bingo cards, and a bag of pennies. The bingo cards will list various things that may be seen on the road trip. As the gamers see the things listed on their bingo cards, they cover each item with a penny until the winner covers all the squares and shouts out “Bingo”.

“License Plate Game” is an easy game where the goal is to spot license plates from all 50 states. To play, write down all the states you see during the road trip. Keep track of Canadian, European, and Mexican license plates, too.

“Tic Tac Toe” is a classic road trip game. All you need are two players, a pencil, and a pad of paper to play this popular standby. Player One places an X on the grid, Player Two plots an O. They continue to take turns until one player has three across.

“Hangman” is another game that’s perfect for kids. The first player thinks of a person, place, movie or book title—it could be anything, really. Instead of writing out the saying, she leaves an underscore for each letter in each word. The second player guesses one letter at a time. If the mystery saying contains the letter, it is written in the correct place. If not, the first player draws a head on the hangman scaffold. When enough incorrect letters have been guessed, the dead body is complete and the second player loses. If the guesser solves the puzzle before the body is complete, he wins.

“The Alphabet Game” is a fun game for kids that can read road signs. Starting with “A”, look for road signs that begin with the letter until you get to “Z”. This game works best when played on long road trips.

If you are planning a road trip with the kids, Robert’s Auto Repair is available to make sure your vehicle is roadworthy and safe. To schedule your pre-road trip safety inspection, contact Robert’s Auto Repair at (831) 373-1534. We are conveniently located near Highway 1 and Del Monte Blvd. at 234 Ramona Avenue, Monterey, CA 93940. We look forward to serving you soon!

 

Source: http://www.roberts-autorepair.com/blog/road-trip-games-for-kids/

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Means Testing And Credit Counseling In Bankruptcy Proceedings

Means Testing And Credit Counseling In Bankruptcy Proceedings

Are you contemplating filing for bankruptcy in the state of Arizona? Then try to think a few essential things over first. Filing for bankruptcy shouldn’t be done haphazardly. It’s something that requires serious thought and planning as well. Usually, a person who is suffering severe and almost irreversible financial difficulties is one who should properly contemplate bankruptcy proceedings. But if you still have enough assets to cover your debts, then there may still be other better options for you to consider. That’s why it’s highly recommended that you should talk things out with a licensed bankruptcy lawyer in the state before actually going for it.

An experienced bankruptcy lawyer in Arizona will most likely require you to first undergo the means test and mandatory credit counseling before he will consider filing your bankruptcy petition. Why is this so? Stemming from the 2005 Reform Laws, these requirements were incorporated to the United States Bankruptcy Code in order to prevent abuses on the system. In the past, filing for bankruptcy was resorted to by more than just a few individuals to just frivolously avoid their financial obligations. This opened the doors to abuse which is why these tests were introduced as amendments to the existing legislation.

Essentially, the means test is for the purpose of evaluating the present income of the person as well as his remaining assets, assuming any are still left. The result of such assessment will determine whether he can file for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 or if he has no choice but to pursue a Chapter 13 bankruptcy instead. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy can only be filed if after undergoing the means test, the individual is found to be with very minimal to no assets left to cover his outstanding debts to his creditors. Your current income will also be calculated and reviewed accordingly to see if it can still be sufficient enough to meet your outstanding financial obligations.

As for the mandatory credit counseling, this lays down several crucial requirements for you to fulfill before you can file your petition. By the very term “mandatory,” failure to meet such requirements would lead to the dismissal of your petition by the bankruptcy courts. These requirements include:

  • Meeting with an approved credit counselor for a 90-minute session within 6 months before filing your bankruptcy petition;
  • Completing money management classes before your debts will be discharged; and
  • Developing a debt repayment schedule in case you’re filing under Chapter 13

Failure to undergo the means test or to fulfill any of the requirements for mandatory credit counseling will most likely lead the courts to dismiss your petition and at times, with prejudice as well. Thus, you have to be very prudent and discuss your bankruptcy plans thoroughly with a bankruptcy attorney in Arizona to make sure that you’re literally doing the right thing. Consult with your bankruptcy attorney today and put your financial burdens to rest for good.

Bankruptcy Lawyers in Arizona

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Source: http://www.windshieldreplacementphoenix.org/news/means-testing-and-credit-counseling-in-bankruptcy-proceedings/520/

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Brake Repair: Prevent an Early Brake Replacement

When you step on the accelerator, your car usually moves forward. But what happens when you step on the brake pedal? Does your car keep on moving, or does it stop when and where you want it to? If you're worried and think your vehicle is in need of brake repair, an inspection by a brake repair technician can tell you if you need a complete brake replacement and what it will cost. Of course, the age, make, and model of your vehicle will determine the form of brake repair needed.

Source: http://www.elkrivertireandauto.com/tips-blog/brake-repair-prevent-an-early-brake-replacement

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Friday, February 21, 2014

How to Protect Auto Glass and Avoid a Windshield Replacement in Winter

Winter is a tough time, not just for the farming folk but also for urban dwellers, what with the many problems it brings for cars.  Winter usually sees businesses in vehicle repair, such as auto glass repair businesses and car repair shops, getting an abrupt increase in the number of customers for windshield replacement jobs and front-end restoration after a gruesome run-in with the elements.  There are some protective measures you can take, though, especially where your windshield is concerned.  Following the steps described below can help you avoid that costly windshield replacement.

The first step to avoiding windshield replacement is putting your car in a safe place.  Obviously, a garage is the best place for parking your car in winter—or just about any time of year—but if that is not available, you should at least try to park it up your driveway or at a location where it is unlikely to have a run-in with some overzealous wielder of the snow thrower.  The snow thrower is a major culprit when it comes to cracked windshields, so try to put your car out of harm’s way.  The same goes for tall bushes, areas where snow tends to pile up, and trees: make sure your car is not parked in a location where the snow accumulated in these areas might fall on it and crack your windshield due to the sudden weight.

Another option for keeping your car protected is to look for a tarp cover for it.  There are car covers and windshield covers being sold on the market that just make use of easy-to-handle straps.  You can set these over your car’s auto glass and keep the frost from getting to it that way.  There is a caveat, though: if you are expecting serious snowfall, you should probably go with another preventative option.  This is because if enough snow piles up on the cover, it might be another headache to have to deal with, given that its heft shall make it difficult to remove.

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to prevent nasty cracks from snow leading to windshield replacement work is to use frost-preventing solutions.  There are actually quite a number of these on the market now, and some of them even need only be applied about once a month or so for your car’s auto glass to naturally repel (think “easy to slide off” instead of “bouncing off” here) H2O.  The downside to this is that it can get quite costly, as these are not exactly cheap.  Still, if you factor in the fact that the price of a windshield replacement nowadays can go from $300 to $1000 for luxury vehicles, a $15 or $20 bottle of anti-ice formula hardly seems that costly.

Arizona Termites and Termite Control Phoenix and Arizona Termite Control

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Source: http://www.windshieldreplacementphoenix.org/auto-glass/how-to-protect-auto-glass-and-avoid-a-windshield-replacement-in-winter/487/

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Wishing You All A Very Merry Christmas

The family of Robert’s Auto Repair wishes you and yours a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We will be closed on Christmas Day and New Years Day, but will otherwise be open to serve you.

We want to thank all of you, from the bottom of our hearts, for your patronage of our auto body, mechanical, detail, and tire service facility. May you all be safe and healthy over the holidays. We look forward to serving you the next time your vehicle needs any type of auto repair.

With love and respect,

The Robert’s Auto Repair Team

 

Source: http://www.roberts-autorepair.com/blog/wishing-you-all-a-very-merry-christmas/

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Top 10 Ugly Cars – Do you agree?

By Cars.com Staff, Cars.com

Designing a car is no easy business. It’s a process that takes years and is often split between studios located across the globe — conceptualizing, modeling, wind-tunneling, focus-grouping. When the final product arrives at your local auto mall, it’s been vetted more times than a presidential candidate.

After all that, it baffles us that an auto industry spending billions in product development could still turn out ugly cars. We’re not talking bland, designed-by-committee machines that leave you forgetting they exist. We’re talking rolling eyesores or comic relief on the drive home — cars whose owners you can only hope won them on a game show from hell.

We offer our picks for the top 10 ugly cars from the U.S. market over the past 30 years. We retired the Pontiac Aztek, an SUV even onetime GM product chief Bob Lutz admitted had an “unbridled homeliness.” Don’t get us wrong: The Aztek is ghastly. But it always makes these lists, and we wanted to give others a chance to shine. We are equal-opportunity offenders, after all.

Toyota Tercel wagon, 1983-87

Boxy hatchbacks aren’t inherently ugly, but when you add in odd angles and a rearmost window that looks like it dropped out of a Lego kit, things start to go wrong. It goes completely wrong when you circle around back and realize some joker has slapped an ATM on the back of your car.

Ford Mustang SVO, 1984-86

How do you take an automotive icon and make it ugly? Hire a designer from Ford, circa 1984. That’s when the automaker issued a performance variant of the Mustang called SVO. Already burdened with the econo-hatchback design of other Mustangs, it added a two-tiered spoiler and uniquely awful grille. The hood scoop looked like an aftermarket add-on.

Ford Probe, 1989-92

This may be the only car on the list owned by a Cars.com staffer. “My ’89 Probe was a pale brown called Mocha, so that alone could have influenced it falling on an ugly list,” says Managing Editor David Thomas. Latte hue or no, the Probe’s angular design and beefy proportions were not a good combination.

Chevrolet Lumina APV, 1990-93

Perhaps Chevrolet thought it was grabbing the future with its wedge-shaped Lumina APV, but all it proved was it could make a minivan look like a giant DustBuster. When we reflect on this injustice against families, we’re not saddened that GM is out of the minivan biz.

Ford Taurus, 1996-99

Rounded corners came into vogue in 1990s automotive design, but Ford went too far. Replacing the sensible ’95 Taurus with oval madness left all the aesthetics of a beanbag chair. One reviewer found more than six dozen elliptical shapes, from headlights to the amoeba-shaped dash insert for the stereo and climate controls.

Subaru B9 Tribeca, 2006-07

Subaru gutted it out for two model years before succumbing to its senses and overhauling the B9 Tribeca’s front, but two years of that appalling grille were two too many. We wish we could go back to a time when we hadn’t seen the B9 Tribeca.

BMW 5 Series GT, 2010-present

The 5 Series GT makes us long for the days when BMW had a proper midsize wagon in its lineup for folks who wanted a little more utility. You might think the sacrifices the GT makes in cargo versatility would lead to better looks, but the opposite is true. Why, BMW? Why?

Honda Accord Crosstour, 2010-present

Honda had to quell an internet backlash when the Crosstour debuted on Facebook. With its oversized grille and robotic headlights, the wagon suggests an automotive equivalent to the “before” photo in a rhinoplasty ad. Worst of all? You’d think the bean-shaped proportions would yield good utility, but the Crosstour has less room than most rivals.

Lincoln MKT, 2010-present

Is it a whale? Is it a piano? We prefer to think of it as what happens when a bunch of designers play a game of, “No, I can draw an uglier line than you.” Not to mention that it looks like their paper became folded, resulting in that god-awful rear-window line.

Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet, 2011-present

An all-wheel-drive convertible with reasonable ground clearance is good in theory. But the CrossCabriolet adapts the concept to the Murano SUV’s cluttered face, lops off two doors and squeezes the rest from a piece of Silly Putty. Leave the top up and the bloated tail joins two rear windows, neither of which offers much driving visibility.

Chevrolet Lumina APV photo courtesy IFCAR

© Cars.com 01/3/2012

 

Source: http://www.cartalksecondopinion.com/blog/2012/01/03/top-10-ugly-cars-do-you-agree/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=top-10-ugly-cars-do-you-agree

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S. California Auto Glass Repair Shop Offers Discount for Services During Holiday Season

A South California auto glass repair shop, PG Auto Glass, has just announced that it is going to be making available a discount to customers this holiday season in order to ease the financial burden that most people go through during this time.  As pockets are emptied by Christmas gift expenses, holiday party costs and the like, people do end up being a little lighter in the pocketbook than they were before Christmastime, which PG Auto Glass representatives say may have negative results on the necessary maintenance work people need to do to keep their vehicles in tip-top shape.  Hence, the company is offering a 10% discount on its services this season, in the true spirit of giving.

The auto glass repair shop’s discount can be seen on its website, where a coupon has been put up by the company for customers interested in taking advantage of the promo.  This is actually quite a good idea, not just for the customers but also for the company.  Recent forays by many windshield repair and replacement stores in coupon as well as groupon promotions indicate that consumers are more enthusiastic than ever about taking on coupon discount schemes.  Experts say this is most likely because of the recession affecting people’s perceptions as well as their pockets, where consumers are becoming more and more sensitive to discount possibilities and are quicker to respond to discount offerings from companies because of the clear potential to save money that way.

As such, a lot of companies in the auto glass repair and replacement industry—as well as other industries, as a matter of fact—have been putting up coupons and groupons of late, trying to entice customers.  For the most part, it seems to be successful, according to the reports of most of the companies trying it out.  PG Auto Glass’s 10% discount scheme shall be likely to see good rewards for the company, especially as the new year comes ever closer.

A new year’s approach might seem unrelated at first to the question of whether or not an auto glass repair company’s bid to draw in customers with a discount on services can work, but it may actually be closely linked to it.  One thing that the approach of New Year’s Day always does to people is bring out a tendency to fix or spruce up things that are already run down or which need to be repaired to some extent, in an effort to make a fresh start for the new year.  As a result, people’s desire to actually get their old and broken car glass repaired is more likely to be high, and only a little more nudging—such as a coupon discount from a company—may be required to draw out the desired reaction.

For more information please visit Termite Control in Tempe or Termite Control in Glendale

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Source: http://www.windshieldreplacementphoenix.org/art/s-california-auto-glass-repair-shop-offers-discount-for-services-during-holiday-season/457/

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History Of Uncle Frank/Part 4 – The Singing Star

Uncle Frank Myers With Rat Pack in Winston SalemThis archival photo depicts the “Rat Pack” circa 1960 on location in Las Vegas and proves the little-known fact that Uncle Frank Myers was one of the original members of the superstar performing group, along with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Dean Martin.

As a matter of fact, Uncle Frank accidentally inspired their most well-known project, when Frank, Dino and Sammy bought beautiful Cadillac convertibles from his Las Vegas dealership. Uncle Frank declared at the price he was giving them, the cars were a “steal.” Sammy happened to be eyeing one of the big casinos when he heard the word and instantly came up with the idea for their hit movie, Ocean’s 11.

Unfortunately, that led to a break with the Rat Pack, as Uncle Frank couldn’t clear enough time for the filming – “Sorry, boys,” he said, “I got too many great deals I want to give folks.” He was replaced by Peter Lawford, who was not quite as good-looking as Uncle Frank, but got by.

About Uncle Frank

Uncle Frank has lived many lives and has many stories to share. He currently resides in Winston Salem, NC where he spends his days as the Frank Myers Auto Maxx Mascot.

Be sure to read History of Uncle Frank/Part 3 – Uncle Frank The Football Star and check back for future editions later.

* Uncle Frank Sez: “All content in The History Of Uncle Frank is a mixture of parody, poor satire, and/or (very) lame humor. It is for entertainment purposes only.”

 

Source: http://www.winstonsalemusedcars.com/articles/frank-myers-history-part-4/

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Make Regular Oil Changes A New Year’s Resolution!

For many people, the end of the holiday season is the time to make resolutions for the coming year. Unfortunately, the economy continues to fight stubborn financial problems. Your budget may be tight and, as a result, you will need to keep your old car a little longer than you expected. That's why it's important to take care of the seemingly small vehicle maintenance issues, such as regular oil change intervals.

To keep your vehicle in top-running performance for 2014, here are three of our top resolutions. Resolve to:

Source: http://www.excelautoandtire.com/tips-blog/make-regular-oil-changes-a-new-years-resolution

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Thursday, February 20, 2014

2013 Ford Escape Goes Green, Literally

KenafPlant_media
The eco-friendly gimmick war continues to rage on. On the heels of Chevrolet unveiling eco-impact labels on its new vehicles, Ford has announced that its new-for-2013 Escape will be made with plant material.

Ford is replacing some of the materials in the Escape’s doors with kenaf, a tropical plant related to cotton and okra. Kenaf is edible and looks like bamboo; it’s currently used in making cosmetics and paper products.

Ford says using the plant improves the vehicle’s fuel economy because it reduces the weight of the door bolsters by 25%. Its fuel economy gains weren’t specified, however. The automaker says kenaf will help save oil in other ways, too. Because the plant replaces oil-based materials previously used in Escape’s doors, “the use of kenaf is anticipated to offset 300,000 pounds of oil-based resin per year in North America,” Ford said in a press release.

When the redesigned compact SUV goes on sale this spring, kenaf will join Escape’s soy foam seats and head restraints, recycled-tire climate gauges and carpet made from plastic bottles.

Ford’s Escape certainly isn’t the first green vehicle. Land Rover’s new-for-2012 Range Rover Evoque, for example, is made with 35.2 pounds of recycled plastic, or about 1,000 16.9-ounce plastic bottles.

Read the full article here

Source: http://www.cartalksecondopinion.com/blog/2012/01/27/2013-ford-escape-goes-green-literally/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2013-ford-escape-goes-green-literally

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Recommended Service Intervals At Atlantic Car Care

Most people in the Wilmington area are aware that automotive manufacturers have recommended service intervals. Following recommended service intervals is very important. The engineers that design our vehicles have tested the various systems and components to meet durability and safety standards. Some of these standards are self-imposed and others, like those for emissions components, are government mandated for the areas around Heampstead, Burgaw and Leland in North Carolina.

The maintenance schedules are designed to achieve the standards. Think of the benefits of following recommended intervals as falling into three general categories: Protection, Efficiency and Safety.

Protection. Let’s start with motor oil. First of all, the engineers recommend a particular weight and type of motor oil for your sedans. All of their oil change recommendations assume using the proper motor oil. Motor oil contains detergents and other additives that clean the engine and provide corrosion resistance. Over time, the additives are depleted. The oil also becomes contaminated by water, dirt and combustion gases.

Extending your interval beyond the recommendation means that your sedans engine will be operating without the full protection of fresh motor oil. It also means that sludge can form in contaminated oil and clog up passages in the engine, starving parts from needed lubrication.

Efficiency. Some services are designed to keep automotive systems operating efficiently. For example, the fuel system gets clogged up with gum and varnish from the fuel. Fuel doesn’t flow efficiently which reduces fuel economy. A fuel system cleaning restores the fuel system’s efficiency and increases your gas mileage.

Safety. Your brakes are obviously one of the most important safety systems on your sedans. The manufacturer has scheduled brake pad replacement as well as power brake fluid drain and replacement intervals. Because brakes are so important, a brake inspection is also on the schedule to head off problems before they result in an accident.

Check your owner’s manual for recommended service schedules or talk with your Wilmington service advisor at Atlantic Car Care by calling 9107941390. You’ll find our shop located at 21 New Bern Street in Wilmington, North Carolina 28403.

You may be surprised to learn that various inspections may be on your list of factory recommendations for your sedans. These inspections are usually at major intervals like fifteen or thirty thousand miles. They’re designed to uncover important parts that may be close to failing.

Your sedans owner’s manual can tell you when to change your oil, but it can’t tell you that you have a radiator hose that’s bulging and about to burst. For that you need a trained auto technician. These scheduled inspections are in addition to the multi-point inspections done with a full-service oil change.

Source: http://www.atlanticcarcare.com/service-intervals/recommended-service-intervals-at-atlantic-car-care

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2013 Ford Escape Goes Green, Literally

KenafPlant_media
The eco-friendly gimmick war continues to rage on. On the heels of Chevrolet unveiling eco-impact labels on its new vehicles, Ford has announced that its new-for-2013 Escape will be made with plant material.

Ford is replacing some of the materials in the Escape’s doors with kenaf, a tropical plant related to cotton and okra. Kenaf is edible and looks like bamboo; it’s currently used in making cosmetics and paper products.

Ford says using the plant improves the vehicle’s fuel economy because it reduces the weight of the door bolsters by 25%. Its fuel economy gains weren’t specified, however. The automaker says kenaf will help save oil in other ways, too. Because the plant replaces oil-based materials previously used in Escape’s doors, “the use of kenaf is anticipated to offset 300,000 pounds of oil-based resin per year in North America,” Ford said in a press release.

When the redesigned compact SUV goes on sale this spring, kenaf will join Escape’s soy foam seats and head restraints, recycled-tire climate gauges and carpet made from plastic bottles.

Ford’s Escape certainly isn’t the first green vehicle. Land Rover’s new-for-2012 Range Rover Evoque, for example, is made with 35.2 pounds of recycled plastic, or about 1,000 16.9-ounce plastic bottles.

Read the full article here

Source: http://www.cartalksecondopinion.com/blog/2012/01/27/2013-ford-escape-goes-green-literally/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2013-ford-escape-goes-green-literally

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Five ways to spot the perfect city car for you

buy a city carFor those who live in the city, getting around is as much about looking the part as it is about finding a practical travel option.Trendy city cars are important because they allow us to get around more easily and are better suited to driving in an urban environment than other vehicles which may struggle with the specific road demands of this environment.

So, what should you look for when planning to buy a city car and how do you know when you’ve found the right one? Here are some tips on how to spot the best city car for you.

1) Test drive

You won’t know whether you really like a car or not unless you actually drive it yourself so a test drive is crucial. Even if you like the look of a car and its performance data is attractive, when you actually drive the vehicle you may not enjoy the experience. You can’t know unless you actually take it for a test drive so this should be the first step before making a final decision.

2) Research

Brochures and websites can’t tell you everything but they will allow you to narrow down your options before hitting the forecourts to find your dream car. Use thorough research to devise a shortlist of cars to test.

3) Opinions

Research doesn’t just have to entail consulting publications and experts so why not ask your friends what cars they prefer to drive when living in the city? They are unlikely to all drive the same vehicle so you should get a good variety of opinions to base your decision on.

If they live locally to you then they may even be able to suggest dealerships which you can use to find your perfect car or other hidden hotspots.

4) Evaluate

Consider all the different tasks you will be using the vehicle for;picking up and dropping off your kids at school, driving to the supermarket or to the gym – all these places will have different parking arrangements which may suit one car better than another. If you live close to a motorway and plan to drive on it regularly then you’ll want a car with quicker acceleration so make sure you evaluate these factors before buying.

5) Use your surroundings

Take a look around where you live and see what cars fill the roads and parking spaces. This will give you a good indication of the types of car and models which are popular for city driving.

Source: http://www.autoscraze.com/five-ways-to-spot-the-perfect-city-car-for-you.html

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Tips to Pick Best Car Insurance

Best Car InsuranceCar insurance is not only a legal requirement to driving a vehicle, it’s a smart investment that will protect you and your vehicle in the event of an accident. Even minimal policies will go a long way in helping you to recover physically and financially from a car accident. But with so many insurance companies, policy options, and insurance terminology and jargon, it can be hard to know what to select. These tips should help you make the best choice in picking car insurance Charlotte NC for your vehicle:

First, go with who you know, which means you should pick a car insurance company who you can rely on. Some insurers are practically household names, simply because they are that well known for being fair and good to their customers. Whether you pick a national company or a small homegrown chain, it’s important to do plenty of research on your options, and pick an insurer who has a solidly positive reputation. Pick a company that stands by its customers, offers an array of policies, and provides plenty of 24/7 support and claim processing.

When selecting coverage, make sure you pick the policy that provides the coverage that you need. If you’re driving a brand-new, high end luxury vehicle, your chosen policy should provide generous coverage for it. Likewise, if you’re still driving the same used vehicle you purchased when you graduated from college, and you’re now getting ready to send your child off to college, opt for a lower-cost policy that takes into account the depreciated value of your still-worth-everything-to-you vehicle.

Make sure that your auto insurance policy doesn’t just cover your vehicle, but that it also covers you. Some type of medical coverage is mandatory in just about every state, but don’t hesitate to ask questions or do research to find out the average cost of medical-related car accident expenses, and then get your policy adjusted accordingly. And on that note, consider the possibility of property damage, and make sure that your coverage has provisions for that, too.

Last but certainly not least, find out about discounts. Your gender, age, driving record, the type of vehicle you drive, where you live, even your status as a homeowner versus a renter and military status can all have an effect on how much you pay every month for your vehicle’s insurance.

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Source: http://www.autoscraze.com/tips-to-pick-best-car-insurance.html

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Boost the performance of your car: The best auto repair

The auto repair business is in its full bloom.There are various ways which will certainly help you in finding the best technician who will address all your…

The post Boost the performance of your car: The best auto repair appeared first on Dashboard Blog.

Source: http://www.grandsportautobody.com/blog/boost-performance-car-best-auto-repair/

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