10 Minute Pre-Trip Checkup Can Pay Off
A properly maintained vehicle is safer and more dependable and will even
save a few dollars at the gas pumps. Motorists should plan ahead to allow
time to perform necessary maintenance themselves or at the local service
facility.
Car Care Council offers three suggestions for a traveler's 10-minute pre-
trip checklist:
- Check all fluids - There are several fluids that require
attention: Engine Oil, power steering, brake and transmission fluids, and
windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.
- Check all
hoses and belts - A belt failure can affect the electrical system,
air conditioning, power steering, and the cooling system. Cooling system
hoses may be deteriorating from within, so old hoses and clamps in marginal
condition might need to be replaced.
- Check the tires -
Check tire inflation and inspect the tread for uneven wear, indicating the
need for wheel alignment. Also look for bulges and bald spots.
Follow these tips to maximize fuel efficiency of your vehicle:
- Vehicle gas caps - about 17% of the vehicles on the roads have gas
caps that are either damaged, loose or missing altogether, causing 147
million gallons of gas to vaporize every year.
- Under inflated tires
- when tires aren't inflated properly it's like driving with a parking brake
on. It can cost a mile or two per gallon.
- Worn spark plugs - A
vehicle can have either four, six or eight spark plugs, which fire as many
as 3 million times every 1,000 miles, resulting in electrical and chemical
erosion from heat.
- Dirty air filters - A clogged air filter creates
a "rich" mixture - the proportion of gas to air is incorrect. This wastes
fuel and causes the engine to lose power. Replacing a clogged air filter can
improve gas mileage by as much as 10%.
- Don't drive aggresively -
Aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by as much as 33% on the highway
and 5% on city streets.
- Avoid excessive idling - sitting idle gets
zero miles per gallon. Letting the vehicle warm up for one to two minutes is
sufficient.
- Drive the speed limit - Gas mileage decreases rapidly at
speeds above 60 mph. Each mile driven over 60 results in an additional 10
cents per gallon. Increase fuel efficiency by using cruise control.
What People Say About Us
I've been going to Autowise for years. The people who work there are friendly and professional. Right now my family owns and maintains 5 cars. Autowise services all of them, and I have never been stuck by the side of the road in any of them because they do such good work. That is very important to me, especially when my children are behind the wheel. As far as price goes...cars are not cheap to maintain! I would recommend that you shop around. You might find a better price, but remember the old saying...You get what you pay for!
Professional & experienced staff!!
I take my two cars to them, I always had good experience with them. They identified the issue and proposed the fix, estimation and upon approval they did the fix. It worked great. I feel , they are honest hard working and only recommends what needs to be changed to keep the car in good condition. The quotes are reasonable This makes me trust them.
The shop is a great shop they have excellent mechanics that really know your car inside and out there little spendy but I recommend them!
The folks at AutoWise are terrific! They diagnose problems brilliantly, repair what needs to be done, but don?t ?push? to have unnecessary work done. They can take you home so you don?t have to wait there. All work on my 2003 Saturn Vue has been done by AutoWise and my old SUV runs well! Estimates on work are accurate and work is done in a timely manner. Because it is a family business, clients are always treated with courtesy and warmth. I highly recommend AutoWise and wouldn?t go anywhere else!
Good people and great service. My wife and I have been bringing our cars here for years. Mike and Laurie are a pleasure to deal with.
