Auto Maintenance Tips From Empire Lube

– Testing your car’s battery periodically is a good way to keep it from going dead when you least expect it.
– Battery terminals should be checked periodically for corrosion.
– Improper tire inflation is one of the main causes of excessive tire wear, so it pays to check your tires regularly.
– Check the fluid levels regularly. Most cars have 6 basic fluids to check; oil, transmission, coolant, power steering, brake fluid & windshield washer fluid.
– Check your owner’s manual and drain, flush, and replenish the cooling system when your car requires it.
– Rotating your tires on a regular basis prevents uneven wear and extends the life of your tires.
– Have your brakes inspected regularly.
– Change your car’s air filter when it’s dirty, to keep the engine running efficiently and on less gasoline.
– Have the radiator hoses inspected regularly there are two; upper and lower .
– If your car excessively bounces when you come to a stop or when you drive over a bump, its time to have the shocks inspected or replaced.

Fuel-Saving Tips from Empire Lube

Vehicle Gas Caps – About 17 percent of the vehicles on the roads today have gas caps that are either damaged, loose or even missing altogether. This causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year.

Dirty Air Filters – An air filter that is clogged with dirt, dust and bugs chokes off the air and creates a “rich” mixture, too much gas being burned for the amount of air, which wastes gas and causes the engine to lose power. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent, saving about 20 cents a gallon.

Worn Spark Plugs – A vehicle can have either four, six or eight spark plugs. Spark plugs fire as many as 3 million times every 1,000 miles, resulting in a lot of heat and electrical and chemical erosion. Dirty spark plugs causes misfiring, which wastes fuel. Spark plugs need to be replaced as recommended by the manufacturer.

Under/Over Inflated Tires – When your tires aren’t inflated properly it’s like driving with your parking brake on and can cost a mile or two per gallon.