Drive Time
5 Essential Summer Car-Care Tips
Before hitting the road this summer, make sure your ride is in good condition.
By Jessica L. Anderson, Associate Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
May 20, 2009
The weak economy is still putting a damper on travel, but low gasoline prices are enticing people into their cars. According to AAA, 27 million people will take a road trip this Memorial Day weekend, up from 26.3 million last year.
Last summer, travelers battled record-high gas prices -- a gallon of regular fuel cost $3.94, on average, on Memorial Day 2008. As Memorial Day 2009 approaches, the national average is $2.24 a gallon. If you drive 300 miles and your vehicle gets 25 miles per gallon, you'll spend about $20 less on fuel.
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Before you pack up the car, run through our checklist to make sure your ride is in good condition:
1. Kick the tires. And then get out the tire-pressure gauge and check that your tires are inflated to the level recommended in your owner's manual. Summer heat increases the pressure in tires, so test the pressure before driving far. Don't forget to check your spare as well.
Underinflated tires run the risk of a blowout, and overinflated ones make hydroplaning more likely in rainy weather. There's a financial payoff, too: Properly inflated tires increase your vehicle's fuel efficiency by up to 3%.
Check the tread while you're down there. Stick a penny in the tread gaps with Lincoln's head facing down -- if the head is fully visible, you need new tires.
A new line of tires, Goodyear's Assurance FuelMax, are designed to boost fuel economy. FuelMax tires improve fuel efficiency by 4% compared with the current line of Goodyear Assurance tires, and they carry a 65,000-mile warranty.
FuelMax tires are made of a new polymer that maximizes handling and durability, while providing 27% less rolling resistance to improve efficiency. Prices range from $73 to $122 per tire, depending on size, at www.tirerack.com.
2. Check the essentials. Check the oil after running the car for a few minutes. It should be at a sufficient level and appear clean on the stick. Though many technicians recommend an oil change every 3,000 miles, some manuals recommend 7,500 miles-check your owner's manual for guidance.
New windshield-wiper blades might be a good investment for summer driving. Thunderstorms often crop up without warning, and the previous winter's weather may have taken a toll on the blades' performance. Prices are typically $5 to $25.
3. Make a service stop. We'll leave it to your mechanic to tell you what needs to be done, but a quick tuneup before a long trip is a good idea -- especially because it could improve your fuel economy by 4% to 12%. Prices for a basic tuneup start at around $70 at Meineke and Midas, and both have coupons available on their Web sites.
4. Ditch the junk in your trunk. No hip-hop reference here -- just clean out your car. The more you haul, the more fuel you burn. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your mpg by up to 2%.
5. Prepare for the worst. You should keep an emergency kit with some necessities in your car in case you get stuck. The AAA 73 Piece Adventurer Road Assistance Kit ($55,www.amazon.com) includes jumper cables, an air compressor, tools and a first-aid kit. Black & Decker's Start It Jump-Starter ($50, www.bdonlinestore.com) can help you get back on the road without jumper cables.
We don't want to be a drag, but keep in mind that driving faster than 60 miles per hour decreases your fuel efficiency -- each 5 mph over 60 is like paying an extra 24 cents per gallon for gas. That money is better spent on a snack at the next rest stop.
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Reader Comments (4)
Posted by: Bob at 05/21/2009 08:46:32 AM
...While it is a good idea to check the oil after warming the engine a few minutes, when checking fluids it is even more important to have the car sitting on level ground and the engine off to insure an accurate reading. Hot oil means a hot dipstick. Also an oil level that is suddenly higher OR lower can indicate a serious mechanical problem. You also neglected the other engine fluid levels such as the antifreeze overflow tank, brake fluid, power steering fluid,windshield washer fluid,battery water"unless it's maintenance free" and the only fluid that you should check with the engine running ,the automatic transmission fluid. Summer is also a good time to have the brakes checked. This should be done at least once a year even if the brakes seem fine. I have a local shop who will do a brake inspection for free. Depending on how you drive, at least one set of brakes will need replacing every 2-4 years. If you wait till you hear a noise, be prepared to pay twice as much or more.
Posted by: 5w 30 oil at 05/27/2009 10:20:26 AM
Also: most new cars/trucks are designed to run on 5w30 oil. Unsmart oil changers too often put 10w30 or 10w40 in these engines which can destroy valve timing devices and void your warranty. SO: use the right weight oil (it is stamped on yerr oil filler cap).
Posted by: al at 06/14/2009 10:20:13 AM
contrary to info i found elsewhere on this site, an oil change every 3,000 miles is the best way to avoid serious engine trouble down the line. as master technician, i can safely say that the difference between an engine that's had regular oil changes and one that has not is amazing. saving a few dollars now will only lead to problems later. i make alot of money repairing damage caused by sludge buildup, low oil levels, diluted oil, etc....5w is right, use the correct viscosity, and change it every 3,000 miles. i do mine at 2,000.
Posted by: Trisha from WhiteHall at 08/27/2010 07:10:18 AM
My daughters car died and it seemed she got bad gas, she had the fuel pump replaced and it seems to get really warm. the furl pump is under the rear seat and when it get hot the car dies again, what r we not doing to get this problem fixed?