Hello again, AskPatty Nation! Today we're going to give you some honest, blunt relationship advice, because it's come to our attention that some of you are users. Now, we don't mean to judge, you probably didn't realize you were doing it, but you're smothering your significant other. He really needs to breathe... so change that air filter already! Of course, we're talking about taking care of your car's engine. You didn't think we meant your boyfriend, did you?
Without proper maintenance, your car won’t perform properly, and there’s the distinct chance it will leave you stranded somewhere. While oil changes and tire rotations are part of basic maintenance, there’s also the need for tune-ups. However, things have changed from what they once were. Do you need a tune-up? What’s included in that type of service? When do you need to schedule them? Keep reading to learn the answers to these questions.
In this video, Jody DeVere, CEO of AskPatty.com, joins Easy
Does It host Ereka Vetrini to shine some light on what's really going on
under your hood. When it comes to car care, DeVere says
that the biggest mistake people make is "really not
understanding what your car needs." To combat this, she says, "Crack
open that dusty manual that's usually in the glove box of your car and
understand the basic needs of your car and the intervals that those should be done.
And then do it to the letter of the law. That's going to prevent a lot of
costly, long-term, expensive problems." Click here to watch the Easy
Does It Segment on Yahoo!Shine.
I always keep ChapStick in the cup holder of my car for a lip fix. A quick swipe is the extent of my makeup ritual. However, after observing a friend apply a full face while I was driving one day, I started thinking about what I should keep in the car for an instant touch-up.
In truth, your car can serve as the perfect dressing room. There’s enough natural light to see what you are doing and there’s a built in vanity mirror for close-ups.
However, before you read on, know that the following tips are not meant for when you are driving, stopped at a light or in a traffic jam. Putting makeup on is for those times when you are sitting in the car waiting for your kids to get out of school, parked in a lot waiting to go in for an appointment or clocked into a meter. Bottom line: NO APPLYING MAKEUP WHILE DRIVING.
About 1.3 billion gallons of oil are used for oil changes in
the U.S. each year, but only about 10 to 15 percent of that oil is repurposed.
You can make a difference and improve those figures by replacing your next oil
change with a “green” Eco Ultra oil change.
With more than 125 million
vehicles on the roadway and Americans relying on their cars for nearly
every part of their life, AAA recognizes one of the most stressful
things a motorist can encounter is a sudden breakdown. In 2012, AAA
received more than 28 million roadside assistance calls. While 58
percent of those breakdowns could be resolved at the roadside by AAA
technicians, nearly 12 million vehicles needed to be towed to a local
repair shop for further help.
“Being stranded with your vehicle can be a very stressful
experience,” said John Nielsen, AAA’s Director of Automotive Engineering
and Repair. “It is important to be prepared for a break-down. There are
several things to remember that can help keep you safe and get you back
on the road more quickly.”
If you want to add more years to the relationship between you and
your car, give it a little extra attention this Valentine’s Day in the
form of an oil change, tune-up or other loving service to make sure it
runs happily ever after. Just a little extra care can lead to a longer
life for your car, says the Car Care Council.
“There’s no debating the value of preventive maintenance to keep your
car running efficiently.By giving your vehicle a little more attention
now, you’ll avoid the heartbreak and unexpected expense of car trouble
down the road,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council.
The Car Care Council recommends you treat your car to regular care this Valentine’s Day and beyond.
Schedule a tune-up annually to optimize your car’s performance. A
well-tuned engine delivers the best balance of power and fuel economy
and produces the lowest level of emissions.
Change the oil and filter per the owner’s manual. Periodic oil and filter changes keep your engine clean on the inside.
Check the tire pressure monthly, including the spare. Your car’s tires affect its ride, handling, traction and safety.
Have the alignment checked annually. Potholes and other road
conditions, as well as normal wear, can take their toll on your car’s
steering and suspension. A wheel alignment reduces tire wear, improves
fuel economy and handling, and increases driving enjoyment and safety.
Inspect the windshield wipers and lights on the car. Lights and
wipers play a major role in safe driving, and they are normal wear items
that need periodic replacement.
The Car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be Car
Care Aware” consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of
regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For a copy of
the council’s Car Care Guide or for more information, visit www.carcare.org.
I recently had the opportunity to test
a brand-new product from Armor All. The company that produces a wide
variety of vehicle cleaners, protectants, and more has just
introduced this all-new product which has more uses than I can hope
to count in the span of one review, but suffice it to say this: the
Armor All team has one heck of a versatile product here. This is a
product whose aim is both cosmetic and
utilitarian – it protects, while giving you a look similar to what
you'd get at your local custom shop. Let's take a look at just what
this stuff does, and how mind-bogglingly useful it could be.
Protection
First and foremost,
this product is all about protecting your finish, and that's where
I'll start. One of the samples I received was the clear variety,
which may not look very impressive, but I sure had a perfect
opportunity to use it. On the week I was to sample this stuff, we
had a run of nasty weather in the mountains of Appalachia where I
live. A week of flooding that culminated in a pretty climactic nine
inch snowfall (more higher up – we lucked out there) effectively
delayed my road test, but also presented an opportunity. Once this
weather was passed, our roads were a mess of slush, salt, and
generally nasty stuff. Now, I don't need to tell any of our regular
readers of the importance of protecting your vehicle's finish from
the damaging effects of road salt, but today I get the distinct
privilege of showing you a great way to prevent it.
This stuff is truly
the only thing in its class, I've never seen anything like it. Armor
All Custom Shield Coating comes in a can that looks like any other
aerosol can, except it's a little larger. This product, once sprayed
onto your car, forms a solid coating shielding your car from
everything outside. It's hard to see with the clear version, but I
used it to coat my quarter-panels to protect them from all the muck
on our roads after our bout of inclement weather. Once it's on, it
will protect everything under it for three months. Here's the best
part, and it's pretty unbelievable: once you decide you want to
replace of remove the Custom Shield, it simply peels off, just like
vinyl.
A word to the wise,
here – make sure you follow instructions and apply four complete
coats, letting each dry in between. If you don't, I could see with a
test patch that peeling Armor All Custom Shield Coating off would be
more like peeling a sunburn than peeling a sheet of vinyl. With four
good, even coats everything works just fine.
Pizazz
There's
another side to this product that is just amazing to me – it is a
cosmetic product as well as a protectant. Available in several
colors (clear, white, black, and grey), you can use this stuff to do
a wide variety of custom work to your car in the comfort of your own
driveway, and it's easy.
I can't stress that enough. Armor All Custom Shield Coating, a
wiping cloth, and a roll of painter's tape are all you really need,
but if you're anything like me, a little strip of tape isn't much of
a margin for error. Full disclosure, I used a sheet of posterboard
for overspray, and had my trusty spouse hold it as I applied. I am
certain that it saved me some frantic wiping, so you may want to plan
on doing the same if you're not an experienced painter. I went with a
classic racing stripe, but you can also do a sweet two-tone effect, a
custom wheel treatment (to protect your wheels from road-grime) or,
if you get really creative, you could stencil on any number of custom
designs.
For ease of use, Armor All Custom Shield Coating gets top marks.
Just spray onto a clean, dry surface 6-12 inches away using even,
overlapping strokes (after taping off as necessary for your job), let
it dry, and repeat. As above – to be sure, make sure you do four
good coats, allowing time to dry in between. Before you remove the
tape, spray the edges one last time – you want wet edges for clean
tape removal, otherwise it tends to want to pull up what you've
already put down. Once you're done, marvel at your own abilities as
a custom shop artist, and drive with pride for up to 3 months –
then re-apply, or change it up with a whole new look.
To
learn more about the brand-new Armor All Custom Shield Coating, get
ideas, see pictures and videos, or to buy a can for your own DIY
custom project, visit www.aacustomshield.com
and use promo code SPRAY1 (all caps) to qualify for FREE shipping for
your order! The sky is really the limit with this stuff. AskPatty
has spoken. Armor All Custom Shield Coating is Awesome!
Most people make new year’s resolutions. Resolving to lose weight and
exercise can be tough ones to keep, but resolving to take better care
of your car has never been easier with the free online custom service schedule from the non-profit Car Care Council.
“Signing up for our free customized service schedule and e-mail
reminder service is a simple way to help you take better care of your
vehicle throughout the year,” said Rich White, executive director, Car
Care Council. “It is an easy-to-use resource designed to help you drive
smart, save money and make informed decisions about preventative vehicle
maintenance.”
The Car Care Council’s personalized online schedule and e-mail
reminder service, powered by DriverSide.com, is free of charge and can
be customized by motorists to help make vehicle ownership more
enjoyable, economical and convenient. Motorists’ customized schedule can
be easily created by visiting the Car Care Council’s website at www.carcare.org.
“Whether you do it yourself or take your car to a professional
service technician, following a preventative maintenance schedule will
help keep your vehicle safe, dependable and on the road longer,” said
White.
To help consumers become more comfortable with the auto service and
repair process, the Car Care Council produced a video entitled “Auto Service and Repair: What to Expect,”
which provides a wealth of information on such topics as finding the
right auto repair facility, what to expect at the shop and what
questions to ask. The video also covers the real truth about consumer
rights and the manufacturer’s warranty, and is available at www.carcare.org.
The Car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be Car
Care Aware” consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of
regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For a copy of
the council’s Car Care Guide or for more information, visit www.carcare.org.
Santa Monica, California: The Beetle is a model that needs no introduction; it’s not simply that the “bug” is known around the globe- it’s unique and carries with it a rich history of fun motoring.
Volkswagen brought its latest iteration, a convertible version of the updated Beetle, to the Los Angeles International Auto Show for the global debut of the 2013 VW Beetle Convertible. Although Beetle isn’t the best seller in this German automaker’s lineup, it is definitely the ‘halo’ for the brand and there was no better place than trend-setting LA to take the top off of the halo and also to talk about VW’s increased sales momentum in the U.S. and around the world. VW also brought a group of auto writers to the show and to the sunny and fun California coastal region that runs from Santa Monica to Malibu for a day of top-down motoring in the new Beetle Convertible. It is priced starting at $24,995, with its high-level version priced at $31,195.
What defines the new Beetle is an updated sleek, redesigned exterior and reworked interior. Volkswagen’s convertible bug is an airy, cute and clever version of the car that once redefined the very term “automobile” in the U.S.. Introduced in 1949 as the ‘type 15’ and reinvented in 2003 after a hiatus from the mainstream, the Beetle is an icon of the internal combustion engine, with seating for four adults and a happy-go-lucky character.
This year’s model looks both more modern and more retro at the same time, with a flattened-out, aerodynamic stance that juxtaposes design elements like plain button wheels.
