“Simple car maintenance, such as topping off coolant and checking tire pressure, is vital for your vehicle to run at an optimal level, in particular when driving during extremely hot days,” said Jim Brown, Prestone brand marketing. “As heat waves continue across the country, we are reminding car owners to take some basic steps to help keep their cars on the road.”

Prestone certified technicians recommend five easy tips to keep your car running smoothly through the summer heat.

1. Check and top-off your fluids: transmission fluid, water, break fluid, and coolant
2. Monitor your tire-wear and pressure frequently (set to manufacturer’s specifications)
3. Check your oil every 1,000 miles – and change it every 3,000 to 7,000 miles
4. Inspect your brakes at least once a year
5. Scheduled maintenance: follow your vehicle’s recommended maintenance schedule

Additionally, the American Automobile Association (AAA) warns that many Americans could find themselves stranded this summer if they neglect proper auto maintenance, reporting that 8.7 million vehicles will break down between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

*Proprietary study surveyed more than 1,000 American car owners about their car maintenance habits; margin of error of +/-5%

 Source Prestone

Brakes are necessary (duh!), but they’re inherently wasteful: They take the kinetic energy of a moving car—energy it took pricey gasoline to generate—and turn it into heat that’s lost to the air. Everyone knows that accelerating until the last moment then braking hard to stop is less efficient than slowly coasting to a red light. But PM’s test data (illustrated above) prove what a huge difference coasting makes. The lesson: Whenever possible, anticipate that a light will turn red and ease off the gas. Generally, the less you have to brake, the better your fuel economy.

2: Avoid Slowly Crawling Up to Speed

Conventional wisdom says that jackrabbit starts consume more fuel. But it turns out that nursing your speed up to the limit too slowly also lowers mpg. How can that be? Cars get poorer fuel economy in lower gears, and accelerating too slowly prevents up-shifting at an efficient rate. The best acceleration rate varies with the vehicle, gear ratios and weight. But in our testing we found that taking 15 seconds to accelerate to 50 mph used less fuel than taking 30 seconds to reach the same speed, because the car entered its top, fuel-saving gear sooner.

3: Close Windows and Use A/C at High Speeds

It’s a fierce efficiency debate: Open the windows in summer to avoid running your energy-intensive air conditioner, or keep the windows closed and the a/c on to preserve your car’s aerodynamic profile. (We’ll leave aside the option of sweating it out.) PM’s testing settled the issue. Driving at 55 mph with the a/c running, we got 24 mpg; turning it off bumped us up to 28 mpg. Then we opened all four windows, one at a time, and lost 1 mpg per window until we were back at 24 mpg. So at that speed, it’s a wash. But aerodynamic drag rises exponentially with speed­—the faster you go, the more the open windows hurt efficiency. The answer? Below 55 mph, open the windows and leave the a/c off. But at 60 mph or higher, keeping them closed and the air conditioning running will burn less fuel. 

4: Cruise at a Slower Speed

Since the power required to overcome aerodynamic drag is a function of the velocity cubed (in other words, it shoots up quickly), a car’s jump from 40 to 60 mph requires less fuel than the increase from 60 to 80 mph. (The hit to fuel efficiency is roughly twice as severe in the higher range.) So go slower, right? Well, yeah, but fuel efficiency isn’t the only thing that matters. Some studies suggest that the old 55-mph limit saved fuel but cost us more in terms of lost work hours. Then there’s safety: Going 55 mph when traffic is cruising at 70 can be dangerous to everyone. Just don’t go 80. That will drain your tank quickly—and the costs add up if you also have to pay for a speeding ticket.

Source Yahoo Autos

Whether transporting children to the grocery store or piano lessons, the only part of a vehicle touching the road are the tires and neglected tires can lead to serious consequences. Improperly maintained tires contribute to an estimated 600 fatalities and 33,000 injuries per year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Cooper Tire advises all drivers to conduct do-it-yourself maintenance checks that take less than 10 minutes a month to perform, to create a safer vehicle for precious cargo in-tow.

Put your coat on. Brush your teeth. Be careful, your face will freeze that way. Finish your homework. From Wally Cleaver and the soccer coach’s daughter, every child is familiar with these ‘mom-isms.’ In comparison, “Don’t forget to check the tires before we visit Grandma,” seems trivial. However, according to the Rubber Manufacturer’s Association, more than half of drivers do not know how to check tread depth and only 17 percent of vehicles on the road have four properly inflated tires – dangerous statistics considering the potential consequences of improperly maintained tires, including blow outs, longer stopping distances and less control when handling the vehicle.

In order to bring the importance of tire safety and maintenance to the forefront, Cooper Tire, Cars.com and MotherProof.com set out to uncover where exactly tire safety ranks among other parenting concerns, such as education, health and nutrition.

Mothers were asked to rank areas they pay the most attention to, regarding their children, and what proactive steps they take to benefit their families. Buying nutritious groceries ranked the highest, by more than 90 percent, with encouraging daily exercise, daily teeth brushing and non-required reading outside of school following behind. Although safety ranked highest as the category mothers pay the most attention to overall, beating out health, nutrition and education, less than one percent of responses reported automotive maintenance as a tactic to ensure their child’s safety, with zero responses mentioning tire safety. An alarming finding, especially as almost half of the mothers surveyed revealed spending more than four hours per week shuttling their kids around town.

Mothers are also considerably unfamiliar with how to conduct proper tire maintenance techniques. Nine out of 10 mothers do not regularly maintain their vehicles, leaving the duties to a male household member or professional. A quarter of the mothers surveyed do not know how to find their vehicle’s correct tire pressure, properly check tire pressure and tread depth, or change a tire.

Examine tread: the only piece of a vehicle to touch the road is the tires, making tire tread a key factor in handling, cornering, accelerating and braking.

• Tire tread depth should be more than 2/32 of an inch deep all around the tire and drivers can check this by using a U.S. penny. Insert the edge of the coin into the tread with Lincoln going in headfirst. If the top of Lincoln’s head is covered by tread that means there is at least a minimum acceptable amount of tread; if the top of his head is visible at any location on the tire, the tire is worn out and it’s time to replace it. For winter weather driving, the more tread depth, the better.
• While examining the tread, also look for signs of uneven wear or damage such as cuts, cracks, splits, punctures and bulges. These conditions shorten the life of tires and if not corrected, further tire damage or air loss may occur.

Test air pressure: tire pressure plays a critical role in the overall performance of tires as under-inflation creates excessive stress on the tire, while over-inflation can cause uneven wear in addition to handling and braking issues.

• Tire pressure decreases by about one pound per square inch for every 10-degree drop in outside air temperature.
• Drivers should follow the guidelines found in the vehicle owner’s manual or tire placard (or sticker) attached to the vehicle door edge to determine the correct tire and air pressure for their vehicle. A common myth is that the tire pressure listed on the sidewall is the optimal pressure, while in reality it is the maximum pressure.
• Air pressure should be checked when the tires are cool, meaning they are not hot from driving even a mile.

Source Cooper Tire & Rubber Company

“With these four easy steps, motorists can identify how road-ready their vehicle is right in their own driveway and, if repairs or maintenance are needed, they can be performed before leaving home,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council.

• Check all fluids, including engine oil, power steering, brake and transmission, as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.
• Check the hoses and belts that can become cracked, brittle, frayed, loose or show signs of excessive wear. These are critical to the proper functioning of the electrical system, air conditioning, power steering and the cooling system.
• Check the tires, including tire pressure and tread. Uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots.
• Check the wipers and lighting so that you can see and be seen. Check that all interior and exterior lighting is working properly and inspect and replace worn wiper blades so you can see clearly when driving during precipitation.

“No one wants to experience the hassle of car trouble away from home,” White said. “With this simple pre-trip vehicle inspection, you can have peace of mind because you took steps to avoid spending your holiday weekend on the side of the road.”

The Car Care Council also recommends that motorists restock their emergency kit and consider a pre-trip tune-up to help the engine deliver the best balance of power and fuel economy. To further save on fuel costs, avoid aggressive driving, observe the speed limit and eliminate excessive idling. Gas caps that are damaged, loose or missing should be replaced to prevent gas from spilling or evaporating.

Source Car Care Council

“We are pleased to partner with the National Safety Council on this important back to school program,” said Gary Catapano, senior vice president of Safety for First Student.  ”School buses are the safest form of transportation on the road today, and it is critical that everyone has access to this important safety information and does their part to keep students safe when traveling to and from school.”

The Back-to-School Safety site features checklists and safety precautions parents can review with their children to help keep students safe while walking, riding bikes and taking the bus to and from school.  In addition, key facts about teen driving, playground and backpack safety are included, as is important information on bullying signs and prevention. Featured public service announcements review important safety rules and urge motorists to stay alert and heed the school bus signals when children are getting on and off the school bus.  

School buses use yellow flashing lights to alert motorists that the bus is preparing to stop. Flashing red lights and an extended stop sign means the bus is stopped and students are boarding or leaving the bus. Motorists are required by law to stop until the red lights stop flashing and the stop sign is no longer extended.

First Student is committed to promoting safety as an NSC member organization and the recipient of the 2009 Green Cross for Safety Medal. For more information on back-to-school safety on roadways and at school, visit nsc.org/back2school.

Source First Student, Inc.

Excessive heat and overcharging shorten the life of a battery. Heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, which then damages the internal structure of the battery. A malfunctioning component in the charging system, usually the voltage regulator, allows too high a charging rate, which will eventually destroy a battery.

To get the most life out of a battery, the council recommends having the electrical system checked to make sure it is charging at the correct rate. If your car’s battery is the type that needs to be topped off, check it often, especially in hot weather and add distilled water if necessary. Keep the top of the battery clean. Dirt can become a conductor, which drains battery power. If corrosion accumulates on battery terminals, it becomes an insulator and inhibits the current flow.

The cooling system also works harder during hot temperatures to prevent overheating of the engine. To keep the cooling system working effectively, the coolant and distilled water mixture for a vehicle’s radiator should be 50:50. As a reminder, never open a hot radiator cap when checking the coolant level in the reservoir.  

As a rule of thumb, the coolant should be changed annually on most vehicles. This will keep the cooling system fresh and clean inside, which helps prevent corrosion and assures that the coolant has the proper boiling point and protection. A pressure test, thermostat test, a cooling fan test and a visual inspection for leaks and corrosion should also be done annually. Hoses and drive belts should be checked for cracks, bulges or frayed edges.

The radiator should be kept clean by periodically using a garden hose and a soft brush to carefully remove bugs, dirt and debris.

Tires also need special care in warmer weather as high temperatures put added stress on them. To maximize tire life and safety, check the tire condition and inflation pressure monthly, and have the tires rotated every 6,000 miles. Summer heat will cause the pressure within a tire to rise, therefore, it’s important to check the pressure when tires are cold. The owner’s manual includes the recommended air pressure for your vehicle’s tires.

“It takes very little time and money to make sure your car runs properly during summer, and although breakdowns happen, they can definitely be minimized by taking a few extra preventive maintenance steps,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council.

The council reminds motorists that the vehicle’s exterior also can be damaged by sunlight, UV radiation, acid rain, salt, dirt and air pollution. To protect the paint and finish, vehicles should be washed weekly and waxed every six months.

Source Car Care Council

                     -Rear-facing infant seats and convertible seats

                     -Forward-facing car seats

                     -Booster seats and backless boosters

• Rear-facing infant seats are generally suitable for babies up to 22 pounds (about 10 kilograms), roughly from birth to 12 months.
• According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), all children ages 12 and under should ride in the back seat.
• Rear-facing car seats provide greater protection for the baby’s head, neck and spine than forward-facing seats.
• For children older than 1 year and heavier than around 20 lbs (9.1 kg), a forward-facing seat becomes suitable.
• According to the NHTSA, placing a child in the back seat instead of the front seat reduces the risk of death by 27 percent, whether the car has a passenger-side airbag or not.
• When a child is too big for a harnessed car seat, it’s time to use a booster seat. A child is to be considered “too big” if he exceeds the manufacturer’s weight limit or the top of his head is higher than the top of the seat. Usually a child will need a booster seat between the ages of four or six.
• Usually by the age of six, or when a child can sit up straight on his own without slumping or slouching, he can graduate from a full booster seat to a backless booster seat. A backless booster seat is simply a standard booster seat without the backrest.
• A child ready to use an adult seat belt without the aid of a booster seat will be around 4 feet, 9 inches (about 1 1/2 meters) tall and roughly eight years old. Please keep in mind that, because children do vary in size by age, some children could still need a booster seat at the age of 10 or 11.

Source HowStuffWorks.com