1. Check all fluids, including engine oil, power steering, brake and transmission, as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.

“As delightful as driving and road-trips can be during the summer season, the increased use and added mileage can take a toll on engines. From everyone at Universal Lubricants, let’s take the time to be safe and be smart before getting behind the wheel this weekend,” said John Wesley, the company’s chief executive officer.

Ensuring proper oil maintenance goes a long way to keep your car humming healthfully. By asking for ECO ULTRA® — a re-refined engine oil which cuts fossil fuel use, lowers greenhouse gas emissions and reduces harmful environmental impacts on our Nation’s waterways—American drivers can take care of their vehicles and the natural landscapes their cars pass through these final summer days.

The U.S. produces approximately 1.3 billion gallons of used oil each year, and only 10% of it is re-refined.  The overwhelming majority of used oil is either improperly disposed of (damaging the environment) or burned as an industrial fuel and gone forever.  Dedicated to reversing this unnecessary waste, Universal Lubricants produces ECO ULTRA® recycled products, which when used for the average five quart motor oil change, reduce the national need to import two barrels of foreign oil, every time.

“ECO ULTRA® provides American drivers the performance and reliability they expect in high quality motor oil while representing the apex of sustainable car-care solutions,” added Wesley. “And so, this Labor Day we’re calling on Americans to view the end of driving season as an opportunity to begin a new tradition: to practice safe engine maintenance and smart environmental stewardship. We’re calling on Americans to switch to ECO ULTRA® motor oils.”

*Universal Lubricants is one of America’s oldest, most trusted used oil collection, new oil refining and distribution leaders. The company operates 28 facilities in 14 states and operates one of the world’s most technologically advanced re-refineries right here in Wichita, Kansas where I’m located.

Source Universal Lubricants

“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

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

While today’s tires last longer than ever, flats and blowouts still occur occasionally, but what might have been a minor inconvenience in the past has become a potentially serious situation since more and more automakers are switching from standard spares to downsized emergency tires – or eliminating spare tires entirely.

But Goodyear is hoping it has a solution that can provide a safety net for motorists – and a big bump to its bottom line. The tire maker is working on a new concept it calls Air Maintenance Technology that could all but eliminate the need for spare tires on any vehicle.

The AMT technology uses a miniaturized pump contained within the tire itself to maintain the optimal pressure. The system would effectively be able to overcome all but a major leak or blow-out. “This will become the kind of technological breakthrough that people will wonder how they ever lived without,” said Jean-Claude Kihn, Goodyear’s Chief Technology Officer. “A tire that can maintain its own inflation is something drivers have wanted for many years. Goodyear has taken on this challenge and the progress we have made is very encouraging.”

According to a report by Edmunds, the number of vehicles equipped with conventional spare tires has decreased by 38% — or 51 vehicles – over the last five years. While many of those models have been switched to mini-spares, others have no spare at all anymore.

One solution is the use of so-called “run flats,” tires with incredibly stiff sidewalls that can continue to be driven – albeit at lower speeds and for short distances – even after a catastrophic failure. But eventually, a motorist using a run-flat would need to find a garage or some other source for a repair or replacement tire.

Goodyear’s AMT could eliminate that need almost entirely. It could also ensure that tires stay inflated under normal conditions. Studies show that modern motorists tend to forget to check tire inflation, yet a severely underinflated tire can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 3.3%, Goodyear says, even while impacting a vehicle’s handling and braking ability. Low tires are also more likely to wear out prematurely.

Conceivably, the AMT system would make it unnecessary for a motorist to even bother checking. “While the technology is complex, the idea behind the AMT system is relatively simple and powered by the tire itself as it rolls down the road,” said Kihn.

The development of the AMT tire is being partially funded with the help of a $1.5 million grant from the Department of Energy. That project is focused on developing the technology for commercial truck tires. A separate grant focusing on consumer tires has been provided by the government of Luxembourg, where Goodyear has its Innovation Center.

The tire maker has not said when it hopes to bring the Air Maintenance Technology to market.

“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.

                     -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