The Not’s and Don’ts of Car Ownership, Part 1

As car owners we often don’t drive or take care of our vehicle’s like we should. (including me and especially my daughters) I have put together a list of some things to think about and at some time hopefully act on. (Me included) I hope you’ll find these helpful.

1 - Ignoring warning lights. The warning lights on your dashboard should not be ignored. Each light means something and some could mean something critical. For safety sakes get these checked out ASAP.

2 - Not having your oil changed. Engines can go longer between oil changes than they used to, however that's no excuse for not regularly having your oil changed. When your car has reached the interval listed in your owner's manual or your car's maintenance reminder light comes on get it done soon.

3 - Don’t put off repairs. Repairs can be costly however often times putting them off can cost you even much more. For example, delaying purchasing new brake pads when needed can lead not only to safety problems but also lead to the need to replace additional expensive components.

4 - Not keeping to a maintenance schedule. The maintenance schedule published in the owner's manual is a guide for what’s best to keep your vehicle in the most desireable operating condition.

5 - Not paying attention to leaks.  If there’s leaked fluids on the floor of the garage, your car is trying to tell you something. (A pool of clear water coming off of the air conditioning compressor is OK) Often times leaks can be the beginning of some bad stuff happening. Nip it in the bud and possibly save hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

6 - Not washing your vehicle regularly.  Washing your car does more than just make it look good. It gets rid of dirt and chemicals from the road that can cause damage to the paint. During the spring and summer, tree sap and bird droppings left on vehicles can eat into the paint and need to be removed as soon as possible

7 - Not waxing your vehicle regularly. Waxing your car a few times a year provides a barrier that protects its clear coat and the paint below it. Waxing creates a layer that takes the abuse and sheds dirt and other chemicals.

8 - Not using your emergency brake. When you park and rely on your transmission to hold the car, you risk costly transmission damage and create a possible safety hazard when you don't use the parking brake. Leaving the car in park alone can put tremendous stress on the transmission especially on the hills in the Atlanta area.

9 - Not using the correct fuel.  Surprisingly a lot of folks use the wrong fuel in their vehicle. Simply using premium unleaded in a car that only requires regular unleaded won’t cause you any trouble but in your wallet. Doing the opposite might cost you some power, but it usually won’t damage anything. However, using ethanol (E85) or diesel in a car not designed for it is a route to costly repairs. See your owner's manual for the correct fuel for your car.

10 - Don’t overfill your gas tank. Topping off your gas tank can compromise your car’s performance, damage your paint, and increase air pollution. When you overfill the tank, excess fuel can flow into the car’s vapor collection system, allowing liquid into a charcoal canister that is intended to hold fuel vapor, not fuel itself.

11 - Don’t run out of gas. When you run the car out of gas, you risk damaging your fuel pump, which is cooled and lubricated by the flow of gas. This obviously also can cause an unsafe situation.

12 - Not slowing down enough for speed bumps. Speed bumps are designed to slow your pace through neighborhoods and other congested spaces. If you do them right, they increase safety and won’t affect your car. Do them wrong, and you risk damaging your suspension, bumper, and underbody.

Don't forget about our other shop Atlanta Hybrid Repair. AHR is equipped to handle all your Toyota and Lexus service needs. AHR is smaller, so often it's easier to get an appointment. Gas powered and hybrids are welcome. Located at 5630 Peachtree Blvd. 1 mile away from the main shop across the street from Wendy’s and the Kia dealership. Call Robbie for appointment at 770-492-7437