Auto Trust

Service at a dealer is not mandatory to keep your warranties in effect. Maintenance may be done by any qualified service facility or person who is skilled in automotive service. Keep all receipts as proof of completion, and have the service provider fill out the Maintenance Record. The Maintenance Schedule in your vehicle owner's manual specifies how often you should have your car serviced and what areas need attention. It is essential that you have your car serviced as scheduled to retain its high level of dependability and safety, to protect the environment, and to enhance and maintain your vehicle's value.

Most owner manuals for today's vehicles come with two maintenance schedules, one for normal driving conditions and another for "severe' conditions. If you live in Canada, you should follow the severe conditions maintenance schedule, regardless of how you drive your vehicle. Some people think that the severe-condition schedule applies only to "aggressive" drivers, but that's not the case.

Car Care Canada reminds people that the proper maintenance schedule depends on the environment in which they drive their vehicles, not on their habits behind the wheel. Severe conditions include the following:

• Cold weather
• Idling extensively or driving in stop-and-go traffic
• Driving less than 8 kms per trip; or in freezing temperatures, driving less than 16 km per trip
• Driving in temperatures over 32° C
• Towing a trailer, driving with a roof rack, or driving in mountains
• Driving on muddy, dusty, or de-iced roads

Most owner manuals recommend that Canadian drivers follow the maintenance schedule for severe conditions (which was developed by automotive engineers). By maintaining your vehicle according to this schedule, you'll help keep your driving trouble-free while preserving the longevity of your vehicle and enhancing its resale value.

Summer is the season for major car-battery problems. Heat, not cold, shortens battery life, says Car Care Canada. Excessive heat and overcharging are the two main reasons for shortened battery life. Heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, damaging the internal structure of the battery. A malfunctioning component in the charging system, usually the voltage regulator, allows too high a charging rate. That's slow death for a battery.

To get the most life out of a battery:

• Be sure the electrical system is charging at the correct rate; overcharging can damage a battery as quickly as undercharging.
• If your battery is the type that needs to be topped off, check it regularly, especially in hot weather. Add distilled water when necessary.
• Always replace a battery with one that's rated at least as high as the one originally specified.
• Keep the top of the battery clean. Dirt becomes a conductor, which drains battery power. Further, as corrosion accumulates on battery terminals it becomes an insulator, inhibiting current flow.

A vehicle relies on the effectiveness of its vital fluids to keep its moving parts operating efficiently, reliably and safely and you ignore them at your peril. The list of liquids includes gasoline, motor oil, anti-freeze, windshield wiper fluid, brake fluid, automatic transmission fluid, specific lubricants for manual gearboxes, the transfer cases in four-wheel-drive vehicles and the differential in rear-drive vehicles, plus power steering fluid.

All are specially formulated high-tech chemical cocktails, so the correct type and grade must always be used and, because they can break down with time and usage, they need replacement at the intervals specified in a vehicle's owner's manual.

Make the most of your fuel budget with these gas-saving tips:

• Vehicle gas caps: about 17 percent of the vehicles on the roads have gas caps that are either damaged, loose or are missing altogether, causing over 25 million litres of gasoline to vaporize each year.
• Under inflated tires: when tires aren't inflated properly it's like driving with the parking brake on and can cost a cent or two every two litres.
• Worn spark plugs: a vehicle can have either four, six or eight spark plugs, which fire as many as 3 million times every 1,500 kilometres, resulting in a lot of heat and electrical and chemical erosion. A dirty spark plus causes misfiring, which wastes fuel. Spark plugs need to be replaced regularly.
• 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 is 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 5 cents per litre.

An off-lease vehicle can be a good deal if you know what you're getting into. Leasing has become a popular way of acquiring a vehicle. For those who face the decision regarding turning the vehicle in at the end of a lease versus taking ownership, Car Care Canada offers a suggestion: Invest in a comprehensive inspection by an independent expert before the lease has expired.

This is especially important in the case of a high mileage vehicle. A vehicle with 80,000 km or more may need maintenance and repair work that can add hundreds of dollars to the cost of acquisition. The checklist should include such parts as drive belts, brake pads, filters and fuel ignition system components. While few, if any, of these components will need attention on most lease-end vehicles, the possibility of excessive wear or damage does warrant a close inspection. Even in early stages of a lease, a damaged rubber CV boot, for example, can soon lead to expensive repairs.

Inspect, balance, check inflation and rotate tires. Check inflation on the spare and make sure the jack is in place.

Looking for the real story on synthetics? Wondering what's true and what's not? These are some misconceptions about synthetics, and facts to set the record straight:

• MYTH: Once I use synthetic motor oil in my car, I cannot switch back to conventional motor oil.
• FACT: Synthetic motor oils are compatible with conventional and part synthetic (blend) motor oils. However, synthetics deliver superior engine protection versus conventional oils.
• MYTH: Using synthetic motor oil will void my vehicle's warranty.
• FACT: Using synthetic motor oil will not void your vehicle's warranty. Synthetics are formulated to not only meet minimum required industry standards, but also, in many cases, meet tougher industry and vehicle manufacturer standards.
• MYTH: Synthetic oil is only for new cars.
• FACT: Quality synthetic motor oil can be used in old as well as new cars, including vehicles in which conventional oil was previously used. Synthetic motor oils are beneficial for the good health, long life and top performance of new and old cars.
• MYTH: You need to allow a break-in period for new vehicles before using synthetic motor oil.
• FACT: In the past, it was recommended that conventional motor oil be used for your first oil change to allow for some controlled wear to break-in the new engine. However, with current engine technology, a break-in period is not necessary. You can use synthetics immediately.

The 3 Key Benefits of Synthetic Oils

• CLINGS TO YOUR ENGINES WALLS. What does this mean for you? No metal on metal contact (especially on start up) and LONGER ENGINE LIFE!
• STAYS IN GRADE LONGER. What does this mean for you? NO SLUDGE, MORE HORSEPOWER and IMPROVED FUEL ECONOMY.
• PROVIDES SUPERIOR COLD WEATHER STARTING. What does this mean for you? Less stress on your other key engine components – starter, battery and spark plugs.