Your car requires different types of maintenance checks for different seasons. The car maintenance routines for the summer season are very much different as those required for the winter season and so forth and so on.
Since fall is HERE and very soon it would be winter the car maintenance done during the fall season is basically a preparation for the coming winter months. About.com provides very practical tips on what your winter car maintenance checklist should be comprised of:
Check your antifreeze!
Your antifreeze (the juice that goes in your radiator) is an essential part of your car's winter protection. Your car contains a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze. Make sure the level is full and the mixture is close to 50/50. Many service stations and repair centers will check this mixture free, or you can buy a tester for around $5.
Check your tires!
The last line of defense between you and an oak tree are your tires. Winter is not the time to get cheap about your tires, so take the time to check the tread depth. The National Highway Transportation Safety Board says you need at least 2/32" of depth to be safe. It's been my experience, especially in winter weather, that anything less than 4/32" (1/8") be replaced soon. The old penny test is as reliable as anything to find out whether your treads are ready for winter action. Also, be sure to check your tire pressure. Believe it or not, they lose a little pressure when it gets cold, so pump 'em up.
Check your wipers
Wipers? What do your windshield wipers have to do with winter weather? Two things. First, anything falling from the sky is going to end up on your windshield, and unless you have a team of beavers riding on the hood of your car the task of clearing it falls on your wipers. Second, in areas that see snowfall in the winter, you're also driving through that soupy muck that's left on the road once the highway department does their thing. This muck includes a lot of sand and salt, both of which end up on your windshield. It takes wipers that are in top shape to keep your windshield clean and safe.
Check your windshield washer fluid!
You'll be using lots of washer fluid as you try to keep your windshield sparkly. A mile stuck behind an 18-wheeler will have your windshield looking a Desert Storm Humvee if you're low on washer fluid. *Tip: Don't fill your washer fluid reservoir with anything except washer fluid, it won't freeze!
We here at West Loop Auto Body are available for all of your car needs. From towing to tune-ups and collisions to complete car care. Give us a call at 866-738-1975.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
It's that time of year again......(I can hear that "oh eee oh" chant from wizard of oz.
The children are heading back to school!!! Retailers are smiling with all the new children clothes sales and Office Max is JUMPING!!!!
With all of this commotion it can be VERY distracting to the dangers of "School in Session" makes. It is this time of year that driver and passenger safety need to be at their HIGHEST AWARENESS. Please read the bullet points below and put them to PRACTICE!!
1. All passengers should wear a seat belt and/or an age- and size-appropriate car safety seat or booster seat.
2. Your child should ride in a car safety seat with a harness as long as possible and then ride in a belt-positioning booster seat. Your child is ready for a booster seat when she has reached the top weight or height allowed for her seat, her shoulders are above the top harness slots, or her ears have reached the top of the seat.
3. Your child should ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle's seat belt fits properly (usually when the child reaches about 4' 9" in height and is between 8 to 12 years of age). This means that the child is tall enough to sit against the vehicle seat back with her legs bent at the knees and feet hanging down and the shoulder belt lies across the middle of the chest and shoulder, not the neck or throat; the lap belt is low and snug across the thighs, and not the stomach.
4. All children under 13 years of age should ride in the rear seat of vehicles. If you must drive more children than can fit in the rear seat (when carpooling, for example), move the front-seat passenger’s seat as far back as possible and have the child ride in a booster seat if the seat belts do not fit properly without it.
5. Remember that many crashes occur while novice teen drivers are going to and from school. You should require seat belt use, limit the number of teen passengers, do not allow eating, drinking, cell phone conversations or texting to prevent driver distraction; and limit nighttime driving and driving in inclement weather. Familiarize yourself with your state’s graduated driver license law and consider the use of a parent-teen driver agreement to facilitate the early driving learning process.
West Loop Auto strongly advises that you review and practice the safety measures above with your precious loved ones.
Let's have a great start to school and lets have our DRIVING AWARENESS at its PEAK STATE!!
Until next time...
Tony Morice
West Loop Auto Body
General Manager
www.westloopauto.com
The children are heading back to school!!! Retailers are smiling with all the new children clothes sales and Office Max is JUMPING!!!!
With all of this commotion it can be VERY distracting to the dangers of "School in Session" makes. It is this time of year that driver and passenger safety need to be at their HIGHEST AWARENESS. Please read the bullet points below and put them to PRACTICE!!
1. All passengers should wear a seat belt and/or an age- and size-appropriate car safety seat or booster seat.
2. Your child should ride in a car safety seat with a harness as long as possible and then ride in a belt-positioning booster seat. Your child is ready for a booster seat when she has reached the top weight or height allowed for her seat, her shoulders are above the top harness slots, or her ears have reached the top of the seat.
3. Your child should ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle's seat belt fits properly (usually when the child reaches about 4' 9" in height and is between 8 to 12 years of age). This means that the child is tall enough to sit against the vehicle seat back with her legs bent at the knees and feet hanging down and the shoulder belt lies across the middle of the chest and shoulder, not the neck or throat; the lap belt is low and snug across the thighs, and not the stomach.
4. All children under 13 years of age should ride in the rear seat of vehicles. If you must drive more children than can fit in the rear seat (when carpooling, for example), move the front-seat passenger’s seat as far back as possible and have the child ride in a booster seat if the seat belts do not fit properly without it.
5. Remember that many crashes occur while novice teen drivers are going to and from school. You should require seat belt use, limit the number of teen passengers, do not allow eating, drinking, cell phone conversations or texting to prevent driver distraction; and limit nighttime driving and driving in inclement weather. Familiarize yourself with your state’s graduated driver license law and consider the use of a parent-teen driver agreement to facilitate the early driving learning process.
West Loop Auto strongly advises that you review and practice the safety measures above with your precious loved ones.
Let's have a great start to school and lets have our DRIVING AWARENESS at its PEAK STATE!!
Until next time...
Tony Morice
West Loop Auto Body
General Manager
www.westloopauto.com
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Driving Tips!!
· Always wear your seat belt and make sure all passengers buckle up, too.
· Adjust your car's headrest to a height behind your head-on your nect to minimize whiplashin case you're in an accident.
· Never try to fit more people in the car than you have seat belts for them to use.
· Obey the speed limits, Going too fast gives you less time to stop or react. Excess speed is one of the main causes of teenage accidents.
· Don't run red lights.
· Use turn signals to indicate your intention to turn or to change lanes. Turn it on to give the cars behind you enough time to react before you take the action. Also, make sure the signals turns off after you've completed the action.
· When light turns green, make sure intersection clears before you go
· Don't drive like you own the road; drive like you own the car.
· Make sure your windshield is clean. At sun rise and sun set, light reflecting off your dirty windshield can momentarily blind you from seeing what's going on.
· Don't blast the radio. You might miss hearing a siren or a horn that could warn you of possible trouble.
· Make sure your garage door is completely open before backing out of it.
· Drive into your garage straight, not on an angle.
· Make sure your car has gas in it. Don't ride around with the gauge on empty who knows where you might get stranded.
· Don't drink and drive, and don't ride with anyone who has been drinking. Call parents or friends to take you home if you need a ride.
· Don't take drugs or drive if you've taken any. Don't ride with anyone who has been using drugs. Even some over the counter drugs can make you drowsy. Check label for warnings.
· Don't drive with small children or even small teenage friends as passengers in a front seat that has a passenger-side air bag. They should be buckled up in the back seat. Recent transportation studies show that small children may be injured by the air bags even in low impact collisions. (Actually, it's safer not to drive with friends and kids in the car when you're learning to drive. They can be distracting.)
· Don't talk on the car phone, put on make-up, comb your hair, or eat while driving. People who talk on car phones while driving are four times more likely to have an accident. If you need to make a call, pull off the road to a safe spot and park.
· Don't leave your car in cruise control when you're driving late at night or when you're tired. If you fall asleep at the wheel, the car will crash at the speed you've set your control to maintain.
· Don't fiddle with the radio while you are driving. It's better to wait until you can pull over and stop because even taking your focus off the road for a few seconds could lead to an accident.
· Use good quality tireand make sure they are inflated to the right pressure (check your owners manual for what is right for your tires and car).
· Maintain your car. Bald tires, a slipping transmission, or a hesitant engine could lead to accidents
· Use headlights during daylight driving, especially on long stretches of desert highway and rural roads to make you more visible to oncoming drivers.
· Watch out for potholes, especially after bad weather
· Be on the lookout for motorcycles, bikes, and pedestrians
· When driving to a new place, get complete directions before you go. Figure out what exits you need to take before hand.
· If your car has been parked outside during a snow storm, check the exhaust pipes to make sure they are clear before starting up the car.
What drivers should know about sharing the road with Motorcycles
· Motorcyclists often slow by downshifting or merely rolling off the throttle, thus not activating the brake light. Allow more following distance, say 3 or 4 seconds. At intersections, predict a motorcyclist may slow down without visual warning.
· Turn signals on a motorcycle usually are not self-canceling, thus some riders, (especially beginners) sometimes forget to turn them off after a turn or lane change. Make sure a motorcycle’s signal is for real.
· Motorcyclists often adjust position within a lane to be seen more easily and to minimize the effects of wind, road debris, and passing vehicles. Understand that motorcyclists adjust lane position for a purpose, not to be reckless or show off.
· Because of its small size a motorcycle seems to be moving faster than it really is.
· Because of its small size, a motorcycle may look farther away than it is. When checking traffic to turn at an intersection, predict a motorcycle is closer than it looks.
· Because of its small size, a motorcycle can be easily hidden by objects inside or outside a car (door posts, mirrors, passengers, bushes, fences, bridges, blind spots, etc.). Take an extra moment to thoroughly check traffic, whether you’re changing lanes, pulling out of your driveway, making a left turn across traffic, or turning at intersections.
· Stopping distance for motorcycles is nearly the same as for cars, but slippery pavement makes quick stopping difficult. Allow a motorcyclist more following distance
· Maneuverability is one of a motorcycle’s better characteristics, but only at slower speeds and with good road conditions. Don’t expect a motorcyclist to always be able to dodge out of the way.
· Carrying a passenger complicates a motorcyclist’s task. Balance is more difficult. Stopping distance is increased. Maneuverability is reduced. Predict more problems when you see two on a motorcycle, especially near intersections.
· Mirrors are smaller on a motorcycle and are usually convex, thus giving a motorcyclist a smaller image of you and making you seem farther back than you really are. Keep at least a three or four second space cushion when following a motorcyclist.
· There are a lot more cars and trucks than motorcycles on the road, and some drivers don’t "recognize" a motorcycle and ignore it (usually unintentionally). Look for motorcycles, especially when checking traffic at an intersection.
· At night, single headlights and taillights of motorcycles can blend into the lights of other traffic. Those "odd" lights could be a motorcycle.
Tips on Driving In the Country
· Watch out for deer and other large and small animals. If you see a deer approaching, slow down and flash your lights repeatedly. Often, the deer will run away.
· Also, if you see one deer, watch out for others close by the often travel in pairs or groups.
· Watch out for pigs, chickens, cows, and skunks, too.
· When driving in the desert, watch out for animals like camels.
· If you get an insect like a fly or a bee in your car, don't try to kill it while you're driving! It could take your attention off the road and you could crash. Instead, pull over and park as soon as possible and get the bug out of the car or ask a passenger to take care of it
Tips on Driving In Bad Weather
· Turn your headlights on anytime you need to turn your windshield wipers on in rain, fog, sleet, freezing rain, or snow. It will help your visibility and also help other drivers see you.
· In winter, keep an ice scraper with a brush in your car in case it snows or sleets. Also check that you have wiper fluid/deicer in your car. If it gets messy while you are out, these will come in handy.
· Double the space you normally leave between you and the next car. You'll need more space to stop on slick roads.
· Brake gently
· Make sure your exhaust tail pipe is clear if you've had to dig your car out of snow or ice or if you've backed into a snow bank. If your tail pipe is blocked you could get sick or die from carbon monoxide poisoning.
· When driving on slippery surfaces like ice or snow use gentle pressure on the accelerator pedal when starting. If your wheels start to spin, let up on the accelerator until traction returns.
· Check that windshield washer works-you may need it in snow and sleet.
· Watch out for severe weather warnings before you drive. If a strong storm come on while you're on the road and it's raining too hard to see, try to find a safe place to pull over until the worst of the rain is over. If you see a tornado coming your way, safety experts suggest you find shelter or if that's not possible, then get out of car and find a ditch to take cover in, protecting your head and neck. It's hard to outrun a tornado.
Braking in bad weather can be tricky.
When braking on wet roads:
If you have ABS (anti-lock) brakes, do not pump brakes
If you skid with non ABS brakes and your wheels lock up, let up on the brakes to unlock the wheels, then brake gently.
· Listen to radio traffic reports and adjust your travel plans accordingly.
· Keep windows and windshield clear. Make sure wipers are working.
· Leave a window open a little bit to keep windshield from fogging up and to give you fresh air.
· Watch for danger spots ahead. You've probably heard that bridges and overpasses may freeze before the roads do.
· When starting out in bad weather, test your brakes to see how far it takes you to stop.
· If you are stuck in ice or snow, try putting your floor mats under the edge of the tires to give them traction
Tips On Parallel Parking
Learning how to parallel park is one of the hardest skills for new drivers to learn.
· Signal and pull up approx. 3 feet away from the car you want to park behind, aligning your rear tires with the other car's rear bumper.
· Put car into REVERSE, and turn wheels ALL THE WAY to the RIGHT.
· Slowly back-up until you are at a 45 degree angle. STOP.
· Turn the wheels ALL THE WAY to the LEFT.
· Slowly back-up until you are parallel with the curb.
· If done correctly you should be less then 12 inches from the curb.
· Practice will improve your judgment.
· Select a space that is at least six feet longer than your car.
· Flash your brake lights and put on your turn signal before you pull in.
· Always look back to check traffic.
· Take it slow and ease into the spot.
Exiting a parallel parking space
· Back-up straight as far as you can go without touching the car behind.
· Turn your wheels all the way to the left (in the U.S.) Then make sure that you put your car in drive.
· Put on your turn signal.
· Check traffic, including your blind spot.
· Make sure your right fender has enough room to clear the car in front of you.
· Turn wheels slowly to the right when you are halfway out of the parking space.
· Adjust your car's headrest to a height behind your head-on your nect to minimize whiplashin case you're in an accident.
· Never try to fit more people in the car than you have seat belts for them to use.
· Obey the speed limits, Going too fast gives you less time to stop or react. Excess speed is one of the main causes of teenage accidents.
· Don't run red lights.
· Use turn signals to indicate your intention to turn or to change lanes. Turn it on to give the cars behind you enough time to react before you take the action. Also, make sure the signals turns off after you've completed the action.
· When light turns green, make sure intersection clears before you go
· Don't drive like you own the road; drive like you own the car.
· Make sure your windshield is clean. At sun rise and sun set, light reflecting off your dirty windshield can momentarily blind you from seeing what's going on.
· Don't blast the radio. You might miss hearing a siren or a horn that could warn you of possible trouble.
· Make sure your garage door is completely open before backing out of it.
· Drive into your garage straight, not on an angle.
· Make sure your car has gas in it. Don't ride around with the gauge on empty who knows where you might get stranded.
· Don't drink and drive, and don't ride with anyone who has been drinking. Call parents or friends to take you home if you need a ride.
· Don't take drugs or drive if you've taken any. Don't ride with anyone who has been using drugs. Even some over the counter drugs can make you drowsy. Check label for warnings.
· Don't drive with small children or even small teenage friends as passengers in a front seat that has a passenger-side air bag. They should be buckled up in the back seat. Recent transportation studies show that small children may be injured by the air bags even in low impact collisions. (Actually, it's safer not to drive with friends and kids in the car when you're learning to drive. They can be distracting.)
· Don't talk on the car phone, put on make-up, comb your hair, or eat while driving. People who talk on car phones while driving are four times more likely to have an accident. If you need to make a call, pull off the road to a safe spot and park.
· Don't leave your car in cruise control when you're driving late at night or when you're tired. If you fall asleep at the wheel, the car will crash at the speed you've set your control to maintain.
· Don't fiddle with the radio while you are driving. It's better to wait until you can pull over and stop because even taking your focus off the road for a few seconds could lead to an accident.
· Use good quality tireand make sure they are inflated to the right pressure (check your owners manual for what is right for your tires and car).
· Maintain your car. Bald tires, a slipping transmission, or a hesitant engine could lead to accidents
· Use headlights during daylight driving, especially on long stretches of desert highway and rural roads to make you more visible to oncoming drivers.
· Watch out for potholes, especially after bad weather
· Be on the lookout for motorcycles, bikes, and pedestrians
· When driving to a new place, get complete directions before you go. Figure out what exits you need to take before hand.
· If your car has been parked outside during a snow storm, check the exhaust pipes to make sure they are clear before starting up the car.
What drivers should know about sharing the road with Motorcycles
· Motorcyclists often slow by downshifting or merely rolling off the throttle, thus not activating the brake light. Allow more following distance, say 3 or 4 seconds. At intersections, predict a motorcyclist may slow down without visual warning.
· Turn signals on a motorcycle usually are not self-canceling, thus some riders, (especially beginners) sometimes forget to turn them off after a turn or lane change. Make sure a motorcycle’s signal is for real.
· Motorcyclists often adjust position within a lane to be seen more easily and to minimize the effects of wind, road debris, and passing vehicles. Understand that motorcyclists adjust lane position for a purpose, not to be reckless or show off.
· Because of its small size a motorcycle seems to be moving faster than it really is.
· Because of its small size, a motorcycle may look farther away than it is. When checking traffic to turn at an intersection, predict a motorcycle is closer than it looks.
· Because of its small size, a motorcycle can be easily hidden by objects inside or outside a car (door posts, mirrors, passengers, bushes, fences, bridges, blind spots, etc.). Take an extra moment to thoroughly check traffic, whether you’re changing lanes, pulling out of your driveway, making a left turn across traffic, or turning at intersections.
· Stopping distance for motorcycles is nearly the same as for cars, but slippery pavement makes quick stopping difficult. Allow a motorcyclist more following distance
· Maneuverability is one of a motorcycle’s better characteristics, but only at slower speeds and with good road conditions. Don’t expect a motorcyclist to always be able to dodge out of the way.
· Carrying a passenger complicates a motorcyclist’s task. Balance is more difficult. Stopping distance is increased. Maneuverability is reduced. Predict more problems when you see two on a motorcycle, especially near intersections.
· Mirrors are smaller on a motorcycle and are usually convex, thus giving a motorcyclist a smaller image of you and making you seem farther back than you really are. Keep at least a three or four second space cushion when following a motorcyclist.
· There are a lot more cars and trucks than motorcycles on the road, and some drivers don’t "recognize" a motorcycle and ignore it (usually unintentionally). Look for motorcycles, especially when checking traffic at an intersection.
· At night, single headlights and taillights of motorcycles can blend into the lights of other traffic. Those "odd" lights could be a motorcycle.
Tips on Driving In the Country
· Watch out for deer and other large and small animals. If you see a deer approaching, slow down and flash your lights repeatedly. Often, the deer will run away.
· Also, if you see one deer, watch out for others close by the often travel in pairs or groups.
· Watch out for pigs, chickens, cows, and skunks, too.
· When driving in the desert, watch out for animals like camels.
· If you get an insect like a fly or a bee in your car, don't try to kill it while you're driving! It could take your attention off the road and you could crash. Instead, pull over and park as soon as possible and get the bug out of the car or ask a passenger to take care of it
Tips on Driving In Bad Weather
· Turn your headlights on anytime you need to turn your windshield wipers on in rain, fog, sleet, freezing rain, or snow. It will help your visibility and also help other drivers see you.
· In winter, keep an ice scraper with a brush in your car in case it snows or sleets. Also check that you have wiper fluid/deicer in your car. If it gets messy while you are out, these will come in handy.
· Double the space you normally leave between you and the next car. You'll need more space to stop on slick roads.
· Brake gently
· Make sure your exhaust tail pipe is clear if you've had to dig your car out of snow or ice or if you've backed into a snow bank. If your tail pipe is blocked you could get sick or die from carbon monoxide poisoning.
· When driving on slippery surfaces like ice or snow use gentle pressure on the accelerator pedal when starting. If your wheels start to spin, let up on the accelerator until traction returns.
· Check that windshield washer works-you may need it in snow and sleet.
· Watch out for severe weather warnings before you drive. If a strong storm come on while you're on the road and it's raining too hard to see, try to find a safe place to pull over until the worst of the rain is over. If you see a tornado coming your way, safety experts suggest you find shelter or if that's not possible, then get out of car and find a ditch to take cover in, protecting your head and neck. It's hard to outrun a tornado.
Braking in bad weather can be tricky.
When braking on wet roads:
If you have ABS (anti-lock) brakes, do not pump brakes
If you skid with non ABS brakes and your wheels lock up, let up on the brakes to unlock the wheels, then brake gently.
· Listen to radio traffic reports and adjust your travel plans accordingly.
· Keep windows and windshield clear. Make sure wipers are working.
· Leave a window open a little bit to keep windshield from fogging up and to give you fresh air.
· Watch for danger spots ahead. You've probably heard that bridges and overpasses may freeze before the roads do.
· When starting out in bad weather, test your brakes to see how far it takes you to stop.
· If you are stuck in ice or snow, try putting your floor mats under the edge of the tires to give them traction
Tips On Parallel Parking
Learning how to parallel park is one of the hardest skills for new drivers to learn.
· Signal and pull up approx. 3 feet away from the car you want to park behind, aligning your rear tires with the other car's rear bumper.
· Put car into REVERSE, and turn wheels ALL THE WAY to the RIGHT.
· Slowly back-up until you are at a 45 degree angle. STOP.
· Turn the wheels ALL THE WAY to the LEFT.
· Slowly back-up until you are parallel with the curb.
· If done correctly you should be less then 12 inches from the curb.
· Practice will improve your judgment.
· Select a space that is at least six feet longer than your car.
· Flash your brake lights and put on your turn signal before you pull in.
· Always look back to check traffic.
· Take it slow and ease into the spot.
Exiting a parallel parking space
· Back-up straight as far as you can go without touching the car behind.
· Turn your wheels all the way to the left (in the U.S.) Then make sure that you put your car in drive.
· Put on your turn signal.
· Check traffic, including your blind spot.
· Make sure your right fender has enough room to clear the car in front of you.
· Turn wheels slowly to the right when you are halfway out of the parking space.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Are we ready for Alternative Fuels!!!
The car show just left Geneva and if you get a chance you should check out what is next for the automotive industry...
Forbes came out with an article today; that I thought I would share...
By this time next year Chevrolet, Ford, Nissan and Fisker will each have a plug-in electric vehicle on the U.S. market. But until automakers can sell hundreds of thousands of them off the lot — not just to first-adopters and municipal fleets — they won't mean much to society. Experts say it'll take mass acceptance to significantly alter the way Americans consume energy.
"It's going to be very difficult, unless you have $8-a-gallon gasoline, for any normal consumer to look at a Volt or a Nissan Leaf," says John O'Dell, the senior editor of Edmunds' Green Car Advisor. "Right now it takes more than six years, with gasoline prices in the $3 range, for most people to earn back enough money purely on gasoline, to pay for an electric car."
Fortunately, while we wait for electrics to become cheaper and more practical, there are plenty of non-hybrid, gas-engine cars on the road that get exceptional fuel economy.
As one would expect, subcompacts like the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris fare best — but small cars aren't they only models that sip fuel. Ford's Escape small SUV and Volkswagen's Jetta sedan are solid, money-saving options as well.
To determine the vehicles with the best gas mileage, we evaluated mile-per-gallon fuel efficiency as measured by the EPA and five-year total fuel costs as measured by Vincentric, an auto-consulting firm based in Bingham Farms, Mich. (The data assumes an annual rate of 15,000 miles driven per vehicle and a price of $2.60 for regular fuel, $2.86 for premium and $2.75 for diesel. It also applies an inflation rate for the fuel prices, since the calculations predict costs over five years.)
We awarded points to the vehicles with the best city and best highway mileages, and to the vehicles with the lowest total fuel costs over five years, with one point going to the car with the best efficiency in each category, two points to the next-best, and so on. Lower points indicate better overall fuel economy.
We did not include hybrids in our tally because they would have dominated the entire list. Had we included them, the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Insight, Ford Escape and Fusion Hybrids, Mercury Milan Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid, Toyota Camry hybrid and Lexus 250h all would have made the cut.
Sales of hybrids and small-engine cars are directly related to gas prices — the higher the cost of a gallon of gas, the more these cars sell — but don't look for a major up-tick in price-per-gallon any time soon. The national average price of gas is $2.811, up from $2.608 last month and $1.933 a year ago. But forecasts from the U.S. Energy Information Administration predict that the annual average price for a gallon of regular gas will reach just $2.96 by 2011 — granted, with a possibility of reaching $3 a gallon at times this summer.
That's good news compared to the $4-plus spikes of July 2008, but it means automakers have less motivation to economize gasoline engines, says Mike Quincy, an automotive specialist for Consumer Reports.
"If gas prices go up to $4 a gallon, your hybrid, even on the used-car market, is going to be very attractive," Quincy says. "But you can't just put pressure on people to buy smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. They won't until they have to. They won't do it until the price of gas gets really expensive."
If fuel economy is already your chief priority, diesel-powered Volkswagens are the way to go. The $22,354 Volkswagen Golf TDI and the $22,830 Volkswagen Jetta TDI tied as the cars with the best overall gas mileage: The four-door VWs each get 30 mpg in the city and 42 mpg on the highway, with a 2.0L turbodiesel engine and a six-speed automatic transmission.
They also have amazing torque; their 236 foot-pounds of power are stronger than the supped-up Volkswagen GTI (207 ft-lbs) and nearly equal that of competitor Subaru Impreza WRX (244 ft-lbs).
Honda also has two models on our list, the $14,900 Fit and the $25,340 Civic GX (a four-door compact that runs on natural gas).
The Fit makes the cut mostly by virtue of its 27-mpg city efficiency. The $7,107 it takes to fuel it for five years is actually on the more expensive side when compared with the $6,881 required for the Toyota Yaris or the $6,712 required for the Ford Escape SUV
It takes just $5,297 to fuel the Civic, which is the least expensive of any car on the list. The sedan uses a 113-horsepower, 1.8L "SOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine" — a combustion engine that runs on compressed natural gas with almost no emissions. Fuel economy is 24 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway.
To really be taken seriously, though, even natural gas and hybrid vehicles will have to compete against the conventional engines on our list. They simply can't be beat in terms of price, performance and convenience, says Nissan's director of product planning, Mark Perry. Perry is leading the launch of Nissan's all-electric Leaf, due out in December.
"Anything long term, to really break out of the early adopter pattern and get the mass market, we have to be considered against other internal combustion engine cars, eventually."
Forbes came out with an article today; that I thought I would share...
By this time next year Chevrolet, Ford, Nissan and Fisker will each have a plug-in electric vehicle on the U.S. market. But until automakers can sell hundreds of thousands of them off the lot — not just to first-adopters and municipal fleets — they won't mean much to society. Experts say it'll take mass acceptance to significantly alter the way Americans consume energy.
"It's going to be very difficult, unless you have $8-a-gallon gasoline, for any normal consumer to look at a Volt or a Nissan Leaf," says John O'Dell, the senior editor of Edmunds' Green Car Advisor. "Right now it takes more than six years, with gasoline prices in the $3 range, for most people to earn back enough money purely on gasoline, to pay for an electric car."
Fortunately, while we wait for electrics to become cheaper and more practical, there are plenty of non-hybrid, gas-engine cars on the road that get exceptional fuel economy.
As one would expect, subcompacts like the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris fare best — but small cars aren't they only models that sip fuel. Ford's Escape small SUV and Volkswagen's Jetta sedan are solid, money-saving options as well.
To determine the vehicles with the best gas mileage, we evaluated mile-per-gallon fuel efficiency as measured by the EPA and five-year total fuel costs as measured by Vincentric, an auto-consulting firm based in Bingham Farms, Mich. (The data assumes an annual rate of 15,000 miles driven per vehicle and a price of $2.60 for regular fuel, $2.86 for premium and $2.75 for diesel. It also applies an inflation rate for the fuel prices, since the calculations predict costs over five years.)
We awarded points to the vehicles with the best city and best highway mileages, and to the vehicles with the lowest total fuel costs over five years, with one point going to the car with the best efficiency in each category, two points to the next-best, and so on. Lower points indicate better overall fuel economy.
We did not include hybrids in our tally because they would have dominated the entire list. Had we included them, the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Insight, Ford Escape and Fusion Hybrids, Mercury Milan Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid, Toyota Camry hybrid and Lexus 250h all would have made the cut.
Sales of hybrids and small-engine cars are directly related to gas prices — the higher the cost of a gallon of gas, the more these cars sell — but don't look for a major up-tick in price-per-gallon any time soon. The national average price of gas is $2.811, up from $2.608 last month and $1.933 a year ago. But forecasts from the U.S. Energy Information Administration predict that the annual average price for a gallon of regular gas will reach just $2.96 by 2011 — granted, with a possibility of reaching $3 a gallon at times this summer.
That's good news compared to the $4-plus spikes of July 2008, but it means automakers have less motivation to economize gasoline engines, says Mike Quincy, an automotive specialist for Consumer Reports.
"If gas prices go up to $4 a gallon, your hybrid, even on the used-car market, is going to be very attractive," Quincy says. "But you can't just put pressure on people to buy smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. They won't until they have to. They won't do it until the price of gas gets really expensive."
If fuel economy is already your chief priority, diesel-powered Volkswagens are the way to go. The $22,354 Volkswagen Golf TDI and the $22,830 Volkswagen Jetta TDI tied as the cars with the best overall gas mileage: The four-door VWs each get 30 mpg in the city and 42 mpg on the highway, with a 2.0L turbodiesel engine and a six-speed automatic transmission.
They also have amazing torque; their 236 foot-pounds of power are stronger than the supped-up Volkswagen GTI (207 ft-lbs) and nearly equal that of competitor Subaru Impreza WRX (244 ft-lbs).
Honda also has two models on our list, the $14,900 Fit and the $25,340 Civic GX (a four-door compact that runs on natural gas).
The Fit makes the cut mostly by virtue of its 27-mpg city efficiency. The $7,107 it takes to fuel it for five years is actually on the more expensive side when compared with the $6,881 required for the Toyota Yaris or the $6,712 required for the Ford Escape SUV
It takes just $5,297 to fuel the Civic, which is the least expensive of any car on the list. The sedan uses a 113-horsepower, 1.8L "SOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine" — a combustion engine that runs on compressed natural gas with almost no emissions. Fuel economy is 24 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway.
To really be taken seriously, though, even natural gas and hybrid vehicles will have to compete against the conventional engines on our list. They simply can't be beat in terms of price, performance and convenience, says Nissan's director of product planning, Mark Perry. Perry is leading the launch of Nissan's all-electric Leaf, due out in December.
"Anything long term, to really break out of the early adopter pattern and get the mass market, we have to be considered against other internal combustion engine cars, eventually."
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Medicines can impair driving!!
Medicine and driving do not mix!
Some prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and herbal or alternative remedies can be as intoxicating as having a couple of alcoholic drinks. The AAA foundation of Traffic Safety reported that 78 percent of drivers older than 55 take medications, but only one in four understands how drugs can impact their driving. Like alcohol, medicines can cause side effects that impair driving, such as sleepiness, slowed movement, blurred vision, dizziness, fainting, excitability, nausea and inability to focus or pay attention.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the effects of prescribed medications on driving. If you must take medications that could impair driving, your health care professional may be able to:
Some prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and herbal or alternative remedies can be as intoxicating as having a couple of alcoholic drinks. The AAA foundation of Traffic Safety reported that 78 percent of drivers older than 55 take medications, but only one in four understands how drugs can impact their driving. Like alcohol, medicines can cause side effects that impair driving, such as sleepiness, slowed movement, blurred vision, dizziness, fainting, excitability, nausea and inability to focus or pay attention.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the effects of prescribed medications on driving. If you must take medications that could impair driving, your health care professional may be able to:
- adjust the dosage;
- adjust the timing of the doses;
- add an exercise or nutrition program to lessen the need for medicine;
- change the medicine to that causes fewer side effects.
West Loop Auto Body is here for you and your vehicle. If you need a tow - let us know and we will be there shortly with one of our state of the art tow trucks. Call us at 866-738-1975 or check us out on the web at www.westloopauto.com. Serving chicagoland since 1950!
* article contributed from AAA Living Feb 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Winter Car Efficiency
At West Loop Auto Body, we want to make sure you are safe when driving your car during these harsh winters in Chicago. At the same time we want to make sure your car stays efficient.
Low temperatures take a huge toll on your vehicle, but don't let them hurt the environment or your wallet. Cold air increases the viscosity, or thickness, of fluids such as oil and gas, reducing gas mileage and forcing your engine to work much harder.
Warming the engine before driving helps get these fluids moving, but do not overdo it. Too much idling wastes gas and pollutes the atmosphere. LIMIT ENGINE WARM-UP TIME TO 5 MINUTES (turn the defroster on to clear your windows). The engine will continue to warm as you drive.
Low temperatures also effect tires, which lose 1 to 2 psi for every 10-degree drop in temperature. Under inflated tires reduce fuel efficiency. To save gas and $$$, check your tires often and keep them properly inflated. To know what psi you should keep your tires please refer to your vehicle's operation manual.
If you have further questions or need assistance - please call us at 866-738-1975 and West Loop will be glad to help you and your vehicle.
Low temperatures take a huge toll on your vehicle, but don't let them hurt the environment or your wallet. Cold air increases the viscosity, or thickness, of fluids such as oil and gas, reducing gas mileage and forcing your engine to work much harder.
Warming the engine before driving helps get these fluids moving, but do not overdo it. Too much idling wastes gas and pollutes the atmosphere. LIMIT ENGINE WARM-UP TIME TO 5 MINUTES (turn the defroster on to clear your windows). The engine will continue to warm as you drive.
Low temperatures also effect tires, which lose 1 to 2 psi for every 10-degree drop in temperature. Under inflated tires reduce fuel efficiency. To save gas and $$$, check your tires often and keep them properly inflated. To know what psi you should keep your tires please refer to your vehicle's operation manual.
If you have further questions or need assistance - please call us at 866-738-1975 and West Loop will be glad to help you and your vehicle.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Driving in Snow and Ice
West Loop Auto Body states the best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all, if you can avoid it.
Don't go out until the snow plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination.
If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared, and that you know how to handle road conditions.
It's helpful to practice winter driving techniques in a snowy, open parking lot, so you're familiar with how your car handles. Consult your owner's manual for tips specific to your vehicle.
Driving safely on icy roads
1. Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
2. Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
3. Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
4. Keep your lights and windshield clean.
5. Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
6. Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
7. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
8. Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
9. Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.
If your rear wheels skid...
1. Take your foot off the accelerator.
2. Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they're sliding right, steer right.
3. If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
4. If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
5. If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse — this is normal.
If your front wheels skid...
1. Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don't try to steer immediately.
2. As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in "drive" or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.
If you get stuck...
1. Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.
2. Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.
3. Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.
4. Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car.
5. Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction.
6. Try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner's manual first — it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. Each time you're in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.
7. Call West Loop Auto - we will send one of our highly skilled rescue recovering personnel to come help you. Call us 866-738-1975 - Been helping Chicago drivers since 1950!
Don't go out until the snow plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination.
If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared, and that you know how to handle road conditions.
It's helpful to practice winter driving techniques in a snowy, open parking lot, so you're familiar with how your car handles. Consult your owner's manual for tips specific to your vehicle.
Driving safely on icy roads
1. Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
2. Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
3. Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
4. Keep your lights and windshield clean.
5. Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
6. Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
7. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
8. Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
9. Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.
If your rear wheels skid...
1. Take your foot off the accelerator.
2. Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they're sliding right, steer right.
3. If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
4. If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
5. If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse — this is normal.
If your front wheels skid...
1. Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don't try to steer immediately.
2. As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in "drive" or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.
If you get stuck...
1. Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.
2. Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.
3. Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.
4. Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car.
5. Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction.
6. Try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner's manual first — it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. Each time you're in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.
7. Call West Loop Auto - we will send one of our highly skilled rescue recovering personnel to come help you. Call us 866-738-1975 - Been helping Chicago drivers since 1950!
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