Cross Roads Automotive Utah's Independent Subaru Repair Specialists.
DISCLAIMER: Cross Roads Automotive, is an independent Subaru service, repair and performance facility. Cross Roads Automotive and its staff are not affiliated, approved nor endorsed by Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. or Subaru of America. Work performed is not guaranteed by Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. or Subaru of America.
Any third party products, brands or trademarks listed above are the sole property of their respective owner.
No affiliation or endorsement is intended or implied.
All content property of Cross Roads Automotive. Independent Subaru Maintenance and Repair . © Cross Roads Automotive 2009- 2011 .
How to Cope with Cold
Check your battery strength.
Faulty batteries cause more car starting problems than any other factor. At zero degrees, a good battery has 35 percent less starting power.
Park your car in the garage.
If you have no garage, put a tarp over the hood or park protected from prevailing winds. To keep doors from freezing shut, place a plastic trash bag between the door and the frame.
Keep the fuel tank at least half-full to avoid fuel-line freeze-up.
To avoid frozen door locks,
buy a lubricant available in most auto supply stores. If your lock freezes, heat your key with a pocket lighter but remember to wear gloves or hold the key with pliers. Or, fill a plastic jug with hot water. Hold it against the door panel or lock area. Do not throw hot water on the car. It may freeze and run the risk of cracking glass.
If you become stranded, stay with your vehicle. It provides excellent shelter from the cold and makes it easier for rescuers to locate you. If you can start your engine, run it only enough to keep warm. Make sure the exhaust pipe is snow-free. Keep emergency supplies in the car, such as a cell phone, boots, hats, gloves, blankets, a "coffee can heater," flashlight and reflective triangle.
Check your battery strength.
Faulty batteries cause more car starting problems than any other factor. At zero degrees, a good battery has 35 percent less starting power.
Park your car in the garage.
If you have no garage, put a tarp over the hood or park protected from prevailing winds. To keep doors from freezing shut, place a plastic trash bag between the door and the frame.
Keep the fuel tank at least half-full to avoid fuel-line freeze-up.
To avoid frozen door locks,
buy a lubricant available in most auto supply stores. If your lock freezes, heat your key with a pocket lighter but remember to wear gloves or hold the key with pliers. Or, fill a plastic jug with hot water. Hold it against the door panel or lock area. Do not throw hot water on the car. It may freeze and run the risk of cracking glass.
If you become stranded, stay with your vehicle. It provides excellent shelter from the cold and makes it easier for rescuers to locate you. If you can start your engine, run it only enough to keep warm. Make sure the exhaust pipe is snow-free. Keep emergency supplies in the car, such as a cell phone, boots, hats, gloves, blankets, a "coffee can heater," flashlight and reflective triangle.
Top 10 Tire Care Tips
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, under inflated tires are attributed to crashes that result in 660 fatalities and 33,000 injuries each year.
Recent research sponsored by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) conducted surveys of 1,000 drivers nationwide and found that:
• 63 percent of motorists cite tire pressure as the most effective way to increase gas mileage.
• Only 19 percent of drivers properly check their tire inflation pressure.
• Each month, three out of four drivers wash their cars while only about one in five correctly checks their tire pressure.
You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent and save up to $0.09/gallon by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure.
Here are 10 tire care tips:
1. Don¹t wait until it¹s too late ¬ Make it a habit to check your tire pressure at least once per month and before every long trip. Under inflated tires causes excess heat build-up that can damage tires and lead to a failure.
2. Know your pressure point ¬ the correct tire pressure is found on a sticker on the driver¹s door, doorpost or owner¹s manual NOT on the tire sidewall ¬ that¹s the maximum pressure for the tire.
3. Keep your cool ¬ to accurately measure your tire pressure, check tires when they are cold. Wait at least three hours after driving.
4. Take care of your spare ¬ Check your spare tire each month and keep it properly inflated so it¹s ready to go when you need it most.
5. Penny for your thoughts ¬ a penny can tell you if your tire is bald. Place a penny upside down into a tread groove. If you can see all of Lincoln¹s head, it¹s time for a new tire.
6. Keep yourself in line ¬ be aware of potholes that can not only damage your tire but can also jar your car¹s alignment.
7. Pick a date and rotate ¬ Make sure you rotate your tires every 6,000 miles to promote uniform wear and longer tire life.
8. Don¹t take a spin without a cap ¬ Driving without your tire valve cap allows for a slow leak of air from the tire and eventual under inflation.
9. Don¹t lose your balance ¬ It is important to have your tire balance checked periodically to avoid irregular wear.
10. Be a weight-watcher ¬ overloading your vehicle stresses your tires and can lead to damage.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, under inflated tires are attributed to crashes that result in 660 fatalities and 33,000 injuries each year.
Recent research sponsored by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) conducted surveys of 1,000 drivers nationwide and found that:
• 63 percent of motorists cite tire pressure as the most effective way to increase gas mileage.
• Only 19 percent of drivers properly check their tire inflation pressure.
• Each month, three out of four drivers wash their cars while only about one in five correctly checks their tire pressure.
You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent and save up to $0.09/gallon by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure.
Here are 10 tire care tips:
1. Don¹t wait until it¹s too late ¬ Make it a habit to check your tire pressure at least once per month and before every long trip. Under inflated tires causes excess heat build-up that can damage tires and lead to a failure.
2. Know your pressure point ¬ the correct tire pressure is found on a sticker on the driver¹s door, doorpost or owner¹s manual NOT on the tire sidewall ¬ that¹s the maximum pressure for the tire.
3. Keep your cool ¬ to accurately measure your tire pressure, check tires when they are cold. Wait at least three hours after driving.
4. Take care of your spare ¬ Check your spare tire each month and keep it properly inflated so it¹s ready to go when you need it most.
5. Penny for your thoughts ¬ a penny can tell you if your tire is bald. Place a penny upside down into a tread groove. If you can see all of Lincoln¹s head, it¹s time for a new tire.
6. Keep yourself in line ¬ be aware of potholes that can not only damage your tire but can also jar your car¹s alignment.
7. Pick a date and rotate ¬ Make sure you rotate your tires every 6,000 miles to promote uniform wear and longer tire life.
8. Don¹t take a spin without a cap ¬ Driving without your tire valve cap allows for a slow leak of air from the tire and eventual under inflation.
9. Don¹t lose your balance ¬ It is important to have your tire balance checked periodically to avoid irregular wear.
10. Be a weight-watcher ¬ overloading your vehicle stresses your tires and can lead to damage.
Inexpensive Preventive Checks
The following simple and inexpensive preventive checks will greatly extend the life of the vehicle, ensure safer operation and even benefit the environment.
Always consult your owner’s manual, but a good rule of thumb is to have the oil filter changed regularly, every 3,000 to 4,000 miles
Have all fluids checked, including brake, power steering, transmission/transaxle, windshield washer solvent and antifreeze. These fluids play a large role in the safety and performance of the vehicle.
Check tire inflation. Under-inflated tires can result in a loss of fuel efficiency. This is the least expensive form of preventive and safety maintenance. Tires should be checked once a month.
Keep your engine tuned. A fouled spark plug or plugged/restricted fuel injector can reduce fuel efficiency as much as 30 percent.
Check battery cables and posts for corrosion and clean them as needed. The battery fluid should also be checked and filled if it is low, except in the case of maintenance-free batteries.
Have the lighting system checked frequently, including headlights, turn signals, and brake and tail lights.
Check windshield washer blades for cracks, tears and windshield contact. Replace them approximately once a year or sooner if streaking begins.
Inspect engine belts regularly. Worn belts will affect the engine performance. Look for cracks and missing sections or segments.
Have the air filtration system checked frequently. The air filter should be checked approximately every other oil change for clogging or damage. This system ensures that the vehicle is performing at its peak condition.
The following simple and inexpensive preventive checks will greatly extend the life of the vehicle, ensure safer operation and even benefit the environment.
Always consult your owner’s manual, but a good rule of thumb is to have the oil filter changed regularly, every 3,000 to 4,000 miles
Have all fluids checked, including brake, power steering, transmission/transaxle, windshield washer solvent and antifreeze. These fluids play a large role in the safety and performance of the vehicle.
Check tire inflation. Under-inflated tires can result in a loss of fuel efficiency. This is the least expensive form of preventive and safety maintenance. Tires should be checked once a month.
Keep your engine tuned. A fouled spark plug or plugged/restricted fuel injector can reduce fuel efficiency as much as 30 percent.
Check battery cables and posts for corrosion and clean them as needed. The battery fluid should also be checked and filled if it is low, except in the case of maintenance-free batteries.
Have the lighting system checked frequently, including headlights, turn signals, and brake and tail lights.
Check windshield washer blades for cracks, tears and windshield contact. Replace them approximately once a year or sooner if streaking begins.
Inspect engine belts regularly. Worn belts will affect the engine performance. Look for cracks and missing sections or segments.
Have the air filtration system checked frequently. The air filter should be checked approximately every other oil change for clogging or damage. This system ensures that the vehicle is performing at its peak condition.
Important Items To Carry In Your Vehicle
In case of road-side emergencies, accidents or bad weather, always have in your vehicle the following items:
Jumper cables , Pliers, an adjustable wrench and a screwdriver , A first-aid kit , Blankets , A supply of any regularly needed or taken medications, Candles and matches, Sand or kitty litter for climates with snow or ice, Clean water,
Canned fruit or nuts and a can opener
In case of road-side emergencies, accidents or bad weather, always have in your vehicle the following items:
Jumper cables , Pliers, an adjustable wrench and a screwdriver , A first-aid kit , Blankets , A supply of any regularly needed or taken medications, Candles and matches, Sand or kitty litter for climates with snow or ice, Clean water,
Canned fruit or nuts and a can opener
Motor Oil Facts, Not Friction
There are meaningful differences in motor oils and choosing the right one can have a major impact on how well your car runs. Selecting the right oil is the quickest and cheapest way to improve your car's performance and reliability.
Base oils
The two primary types of base oils used are mineral and synthetic. Mineral oils are by-products of refined crude oil. Refining helps reduce the impurities but leaves molecules of all shapes and sizes. Synthetic oils are manmade compounds where molecules are all the same size and shape; consequently, synthetic oil has less friction and performs significantly better than mineral oils.
There's been sizable growth in the use of synthetic oils over the years. In fact, synthetic oils are often the factory fill in many new performance and luxury cars.
Additives
Regardless of the base oil used, chemicals must be added to give motor oil the characteristics needed to do its job. Typical additives that may be added to base oil include detergents to reduce the formation of residue, defoamants to deter absorption of air, anti-wear agents, antioxidants and others.
There is no easy way for a consumer to determine the quality of motor oil's additive package. Price is often an indicator of quality since the more advanced additive technologies cost more to produce. Performance is the ultimate measure of additive package quality.
Advances in lubrication
Some of the biggest technological advances in lubrication are now coming through advancements in chemical additives.
How to Choose
Mineral-based (conventional) motor oils. These are the cheapest and most widely available oils. They typically use standard additive packages that provide minimum levels of performance and protection.
Synthetic motor oils. These man-made oils are more expensive than mineral-based oils but are still widely available. Their performance advantages come predominantly from the synthetic base oil used. They have a longer service life and offer some improvements in protection. They typically use the same additive packages found in mineral-based oils.
High-performance 'specialty' synthetic motor oils. These motor oils are the most technologically advanced oils. Although they significantly outperform mineral based or synthetic motor oils, they are about the same price as standard synthetic motor oil. They are typically only available through auto parts stores and select oil change centers. These oils primarily differ in their use of more advanced, proprietary additive technologies.
.
There are meaningful differences in motor oils and choosing the right one can have a major impact on how well your car runs. Selecting the right oil is the quickest and cheapest way to improve your car's performance and reliability.
Base oils
The two primary types of base oils used are mineral and synthetic. Mineral oils are by-products of refined crude oil. Refining helps reduce the impurities but leaves molecules of all shapes and sizes. Synthetic oils are manmade compounds where molecules are all the same size and shape; consequently, synthetic oil has less friction and performs significantly better than mineral oils.
There's been sizable growth in the use of synthetic oils over the years. In fact, synthetic oils are often the factory fill in many new performance and luxury cars.
Additives
Regardless of the base oil used, chemicals must be added to give motor oil the characteristics needed to do its job. Typical additives that may be added to base oil include detergents to reduce the formation of residue, defoamants to deter absorption of air, anti-wear agents, antioxidants and others.
There is no easy way for a consumer to determine the quality of motor oil's additive package. Price is often an indicator of quality since the more advanced additive technologies cost more to produce. Performance is the ultimate measure of additive package quality.
Advances in lubrication
Some of the biggest technological advances in lubrication are now coming through advancements in chemical additives.
How to Choose
Mineral-based (conventional) motor oils. These are the cheapest and most widely available oils. They typically use standard additive packages that provide minimum levels of performance and protection.
Synthetic motor oils. These man-made oils are more expensive than mineral-based oils but are still widely available. Their performance advantages come predominantly from the synthetic base oil used. They have a longer service life and offer some improvements in protection. They typically use the same additive packages found in mineral-based oils.
High-performance 'specialty' synthetic motor oils. These motor oils are the most technologically advanced oils. Although they significantly outperform mineral based or synthetic motor oils, they are about the same price as standard synthetic motor oil. They are typically only available through auto parts stores and select oil change centers. These oils primarily differ in their use of more advanced, proprietary additive technologies.
.
Rust: A Nasty Four-Letter Word
Henry Ford told buyers of his Model T they could select any color as long as it's black. Today we see cars in any of 7,000 hues, including shades of rust that won't appear on color chips in new car literature.
"Serious rust damage, including a hole right through the metal, can begin with a minor scratch in a parking lot from a shopping cart," said Rich White of the Car Care Council. "Steel is strong and lasts a lifetime when it's protected, but when that protection is invaded, the metal is exposed to the elements. That's when rust begins its invasion."
Cover paint chips as quickly as possible, White recommends. For a quick fix until you can get some touchup supplies, dab a little clear nail polish on the scratch. Touchup paint can be found for virtually every vehicle ever built, including antiques. Use the paint code number shown on the identification plate located on a door jamb, in the glove box, under the hood, in the trunk under the carpet next to the spare or wherever else the car maker has hidden it. The owner's manual will tell you how to find it.
"Some uncommon colors will have to be ordered where auto parts are sold or from the Internet. Also available are scratch repair kits including everything needed from preparation to finishing a deep scratch," White said.
Small dents can be fixed with paint less dent repair, a service found either through local automotive suppliers, the classified section of the phone book or on the Internet.
Like so many aspects of car care, preventive maintenance is much easier and beneficial than corrective measures. Maintaining the original integrity of the finish keeps the vehicle in "like new" condition. The basic rules of body and paint maintenance apply:
Avoid parking in the hot sun; it can damage interior surfaces as well as the exterior. Wash the vehicle frequently, including areas underneath, with mild, safe products. Select and use cleaners and waxes carefully. A cleaner that is effective for one type of finish could be disastrous for another. Consult the vehicle owner's manual to be sure.
.
Henry Ford told buyers of his Model T they could select any color as long as it's black. Today we see cars in any of 7,000 hues, including shades of rust that won't appear on color chips in new car literature.
"Serious rust damage, including a hole right through the metal, can begin with a minor scratch in a parking lot from a shopping cart," said Rich White of the Car Care Council. "Steel is strong and lasts a lifetime when it's protected, but when that protection is invaded, the metal is exposed to the elements. That's when rust begins its invasion."
Cover paint chips as quickly as possible, White recommends. For a quick fix until you can get some touchup supplies, dab a little clear nail polish on the scratch. Touchup paint can be found for virtually every vehicle ever built, including antiques. Use the paint code number shown on the identification plate located on a door jamb, in the glove box, under the hood, in the trunk under the carpet next to the spare or wherever else the car maker has hidden it. The owner's manual will tell you how to find it.
"Some uncommon colors will have to be ordered where auto parts are sold or from the Internet. Also available are scratch repair kits including everything needed from preparation to finishing a deep scratch," White said.
Small dents can be fixed with paint less dent repair, a service found either through local automotive suppliers, the classified section of the phone book or on the Internet.
Like so many aspects of car care, preventive maintenance is much easier and beneficial than corrective measures. Maintaining the original integrity of the finish keeps the vehicle in "like new" condition. The basic rules of body and paint maintenance apply:
Avoid parking in the hot sun; it can damage interior surfaces as well as the exterior. Wash the vehicle frequently, including areas underneath, with mild, safe products. Select and use cleaners and waxes carefully. A cleaner that is effective for one type of finish could be disastrous for another. Consult the vehicle owner's manual to be sure.
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