Additional power for your car

A vehicle is a major purchase and such an indispensable part of daily life that it is strange that so many people put the upkeep and care of their car on the back burner. Many times, it takes the cost of a major repair to make some realize what they could have done to avoid their predicament. An incredible amount of money, time, and emotional stress can be saved by making the effort to helping your car last.

Get a Repair Manual

I am not suggesting that you need to learn how to re-build your transmission. A repair manual specific to your car will be able to give you very valuable facts and specifications for your vehicle, so that you are better equipped to avoid the transmission re-build in the first place. These manuals are very easily found online or at your local auto parts store.

Fluids

Learn about various types of fluids running through your car and the differences between them. How is motor oil different from transmission fluid for example. Where do the brake fluid and power steering fluid go? What should those fluids look like? When should you change them?

Maintenance

Follow the regular maintenance schedule in your manual. A lot of research was done to determine the best times and which parts need to be changed out or tightened up. You may want to shop around not only for a fair price but also to find a mechanic that you can trust. An honest mechanic will be able to tell you what services you need based on what he or she sees during inspection and maintenance history.

Don’t Forget…

Many people will get regular oil changes but neglect the tires, brakes, alignment, and suspension of their car which can lead to very costly repairs as well as dangerous conditions where safety is concerned. The engine may be in tip top shape, but if your brakes are bad and can’t keep you from hitting that pot hole and your shock absorbers are worn, you could dislodge all sorts of hoses, bolts, clamps, and various parts vital to your engine. This could also cause injury to you and your passengers.

Spend the Money

Budget the money for oil changes and maintenance. The money spent on these is only a fraction of what you would spend if a small problem were to become something where you would have to borrow money or max out your credit card to cover. If you lose the use of your car, you lose mobility and also the ability to get to work or take care of many of your daily errands. Putting aside a little money here and there specifically for service to your car will protect you from a very stressful and difficult situation.

You don’t need to be an automotive expert to effectively maintain your vehicle. If you take the time to learn a little about your car and put forth the effort to care for it, you will make the most of your investment and dramatically lengthen the life of your car.By Jesus Garza

You’ve already made the decision to lease a car over buying and it’s great that you’ve figured out which option is best for you. But it’s still a commitment and you should know exactly how to approach car leasing companies. You don’t want to enter into a lease without getting all the answers you need before hand. The last thing you want is to sign and lease and be hit with fees or information you didn’t know about before hand. These are some questions you should ask when getting into car leasing deals.

How long is the lease?

The first question you should ask is how long the lease will be for the contract you are signing. It’s usually in 12 month increments from 24 months and on. But sometimes it is an odd number, so you’ll want to be absolutely certain how long you signing on.

What is the amount due when the lease is signed?

The over all amount can be made up of various fees, security deposits, registration fees and the like. Make sure the leaser is upfront with costs from the get go. If you feel like they are trying to hide something, it may be time to check out a different company.

Are there mileage restrictions when leasing a car?

Leases often restrict how many miles a year you can use, since the car is not technically yours. Ask how many miles you are allowed and if you can increase the number of miles. Doing so usually requires either an upfront fee or a per-mile fee when the lease is over.

What falls in the realm of “wear and tear”?

Leases usually come with certain liabilities, like excessive wear and tear being something you’ll have to take care of or pay extra charges for. Ask the leaser exactly what falls into the realm of this so that you can be certain of what is expected of you.

What happens at the end of the term of car leases?

This depends on the kind of lease you are under, an open-end or close-end lease. A close-end lease lets you either return the car and pay any costs due. Or you can buy the car at the residual value that was stated when you started your lease. An open-end lease is not as common. At the end of the lease if the car isn’t worth the residual value, you pay the difference.

What is the fee for returning the car before the end of the lease?

There usually is a fee to return the car early. You should know ahead of time how much it’ll be, but more often than not it’s a pretty large sum. Make sure it’s something worth paying if you need to return the car early for any reason.

No matter who you go to or what car you are looking to lease, make sure you have this list of questions and any others handy. You’ll feel more confident entering in a contract when you know all the little details ahead of time.By Mark Etinger

Odds are that you are not going to get every feature you want on your next car. To be sure, every driver would love the luxury that comes with high-end vehicles, but certainly a majority of drivers cannot afford to pay for those kinds of lavish features. For most consumers, the name of the game is affordability and, more often than not, a used car is the way to go if you wish to keep financially afloat. When searching for your next vehicle, it is important to keep in mind that used cars have a lot to offer, but also that there are some features that will have to be sacrificed to keep within a strict budget. An issue may occur when deciding which features are necessary and which you can do without. By paying close attention to the following tips, you can determine what you really need in your next vehicle and can focus your used car search on automobiles that present all of the necessities. Narrowing your search will allow you to spend less time looking at cars you have no intention of purchasing and more time negotiating a sale.

Consider aesthetics. Sure, you want your car to look good, but if two cars are identical, except for their price and their color, is it really worth it to pay extra for the blue car? You want your vehicle to represent you, to be a reflection of your personality, but surely you like more colors that just blue. Besides, people will be expecting your trademark hue, so if it comes down to color, make sure that you know how open minded you are and if you are willing to step out of your comfort zone and embrace a new aesthetic. If you are willing to consider different colors, body styles, and interiors, you will find that the options available to you will multiply.

Know the purpose of your next vehicle. Obviously, your next car should be a helpful tool– not just something that looks good in the driveway. If you have kids, odds are you will not be looking for a sports car. Similarly, if you own a construction company and need a new corporate ride, a sedan is probably not the way to go. Remember that when buying a used car you will have to deal with the selection at hand, but it is not worth sacrificing the functionality of your vehicle. Just because a great deal is out there does not mean you have to buy it.

Pay attention to features. Everyone would love cruise control, satellite radio, and a navigation system, but these luxury features add to the price of the car and, to top it off, you may not even use them. Before even looking for a used car make sure you know what features you absolutely need and which ones you can do without. Unless you have a money tree in your backyard, chances are that you have to be conscious of how much you pay for your next car.

When dealing with used cars it may be necessary to sacrifice some of the features you have been daydreaming about– but do not do so unless you absolutely do not need them. Paying a little more for a car you love, and getting great use out of, is better than paying less and finding yourself missing the features that you need.By Levi Quinn

When you look at a well-detailed car, one of the first things you’ll notice is how clean the car floor mats are. Having car floor mats can save you wear and tear on your car’s floor and up your trade in value. You may not think about car mats all that much, but having a good set can make the difference between a worn floor and a showroom condition vehicle.

Car mats come in several different types. They are usually sold in pairs of four. They come in car or truck sizes and can be tailor made for a particular vehicle. Heavy duty mats are designed for industrial use such as tractor trailers that will see lots of wear.

Not only do car floor mats protect the carpet underneath your feet, they also help protect your feet from slipping. When you’re driving, you need your feet to remain on solid ground and not slip under a petal. A good set of mats will stay in place and have a rubber backing.

You can have car mats customized with logos, names and graphics. Many car mats are universal and will fit any make and model of car. If you’d like to add a little flair to those standard mats, you can get them with details that show off your personality and zest for life.

Not only will your carpets be protected from rain, snow and grime, but your shoes will too. If you’ve ever forgotten to replace your car mats after washing them, you know how awkward it feels to have your shoes slide on bare carpet. You’ll scrape the backs of your heels and end up ruining a good pair of shoes.

Having a quality set of car mats can really make a difference. Spills can be lifted up off the mats much more easily than if the spill occurs on the floor of the car. Stains like milk and juice can be deadly as they fester and smell. With a car may, you just lift it and wash it.

Look for mats that trap dirt and stones. Rubber edged mats with raised grooves are best for back seats where kids climb in and out. They’ll catch all the crackers and Cheerios that otherwise would be ground into the carpet for good.

Check online for car mats from cute to funny to elegant. You’ll love the selection and you can order them to match your car’s interior.By Alexander Sutton

Todays sophisticated European engines produce higher horsepower densities per cubic inch and subject the engines motor oil to severe operational conditions. Throw in all the emissions control equipment on these cars and the oils used must demonstrate exceptional anti-wear performance and meet the strict formulation requirements needed to meet the most current European motor oil specifications.

Those specifications at this writing are VW 504/00/507.00, VW, 502, 505 and 505.01, BMW LL-04, Porsche C-30, ACEA C-3, ACEA A3-B3/B4, Mercedes Benz 229.31 and 229.51 etc. Since most European car makers specify oil change intervals that are considerable longer than those of U.S car makers, oils meeting these specifications need to demonstrate excellent high temperature/high shear performance (HT/HS) to maintain viscosity and provide adequate engine protection.

In addition, turbocharged direct injection (TDI) engines are common in European vehicles. Motor oils used in these applications must be very thermally stable to handle the high operating temperatures and resist deposit formation while providing adequate turbocharger cooling. Thermally stable oils help keep oil passages clean and promote fluid circulation so turbocharger bearings stay cool and lubricated

Because of the sophisticated and extremely efficient pollution control equipment used on European vehicles, almost all European car makers require oil used in these applications to be formulated with lower amounts of sulphated ash, phosphorous and sulfur. (SAPS) SAPS is a commonly used anti-wear additive in motor oils.

The problem is that oils with excessive sulphated ash, phosphorus and sulfur (SAPS) can harm modern exhaust treatment devices. Diesel particulate filters (DPF’s), for example, require low-SAPS motor oil to help prevent filter plugging. This is why using motor oil that does not meet the correct specification can cause engine problems and that annoying check engine light to come on!

Because SAPS additives provide a high degree of wear protection, its reduction has caused some motor oil formulators considerable difficulty in producing a engine oil that both provides outstanding protection and meets the car makers requirements for use with their engine advanced pollution control equipment. The most ideal motor oil for European engine is high grade synthetic oils engineered for the above specifications. Synthetic oils have very low pour points protecting the engine from oil starvation and providing immediate oil pressure when the outside temperature is low while its thermal stability withstands high-temperature/high-RPM breakdown to resist deposit formations that starve TDI systems of lubrication.

This is why some of the biggest names in European cars such as Mercedes and Porsche are factory filled with synthetic oil and many require the use of synthetic oil to maintain the cars warrantee.

Amsoil Inc. introduced the first American Petroleum institute rated motor oil in 1972. Today Amsoil is considered the world leader in high grade synthetic lubrication and offers synthetic motor oils specifically engineered for the most demanding European car applications.By Larry Crider