Summer car care

Ebony, May, 1995

AWARM spring afternoon is a perfect opportunity to prepare your car for the upcoming season and to make sure it's in tip-top condition for trouble-free short- and long-distance driving. Inspecting your vehicle and making sure that all the parts are in proper working order now can help avoid trouble on the road later. So set aside some time this spring to follow the car care tips listed below.

* A tune-up by a reputable mechanic should be the first thing on your vehicle maintenance list. Also consider changing the engine oil from a light weight to a heavy weight type during summer. Some car manufacturers recommend the change because a heavy weight oil can help your car's engine perform more efficiently during the hotter summer months. Consult your owner's manual. Throughout the remainder of the summer, check your engine oil level every time you buy gas. Clogged air and oil filters should be replaced and the fuses and alternator should be inspected as part of the tune-up.

* Check your car's cooling system to make sure it has the correct amount and proper mixture of coolant. Since you should avoid using only plain water, keep a spare bottle of coolant in the trunk and use the recommended 50/50 mixture of water and coolant.

* Remember that the air conditioning unit makes your engine work harder and use more fuel. During moderate weather, turn it off and ride with your windows down and the vents open. Fuel economy also can be improved by driving at moderate speeds and avoiding rapid acceleration, abrupt turns and continuous braking.

* Even if your battery is the "maintenance-free" type, regularly inspect its water levels.

* Underinflated tires wear out faster, can signal alignment, suspension or wheel-balance problems, and can cause dangerous blowouts. Keep a reliable spare in your trunk in the event of a flat tire. Also regularly rotate your vehicle's tires and check tire pressure on a monthly basis.

* Hoses, drive belts, brakes, headlights and other exterior lights should be inspected for signs of wear. Replace any worn light bulbs or damaged parts and make sure your lights are clean, aligned and working properly. Keep an old towel in your trunk to clean mudsplashed headlights and taillights.

* Age can harden wiper blades and and render them useless. So make sure your blades are fresh and in proper working order and the windshield wiper fluid tank is filled. Cardboard sunscreens on your front and back windshields will also keep your car's interior cool and protect the dashboard's finish.

* To help maintain control of your vehicle and reduce the chance of skidding, slow down during wet, rainy weather and avoid sudden turns, stops or accelerations. Put more distance than usual between your car and the one ahead of you in case it stops suddenly. In wet weather, hydroplaning occurs when your vehicle's tires leave the road's surface and ride on a thin layer of water. If this happens, take your foot off the accelerator, but don't use the brakes or turn the steering wheel. As you slow down, your tires will cut through the water, grip the road and give you control again. Take your time moving through deep water. After you're back on dry road, lightly pump your brakes to test them. If they are wet, shift into low gear and ride slowly, braking lightly until they are dry.

* An emergency tool kit--stocked with battery cables, a working flashlight, a first-aid kit, spare fuses, a jack, a tire gauge, an empty gasoline can and flares--is indispensable should your car break down. Flares will alert emergency vehicles, while enabling other motorists to see you and possibly avoid collisions. However, you should never carry gasoline or other flammable liquids in your trunk.

* Inside your glovebox, keep the car's registration, proof of insurance and a pen and a pad of paper to write down license plate numbers and the other motorist's insurance policy number in case of an accident. In addition, it's also wise to keep change for telephone calls and tolls, and, of course, your vehicle's owner's manual should be accessible.