Expert Advice

Weight is the enemy of fuel economy. Everyone in DC knows this makes sense.

Some of us in the DMV area carry a bunch of unnecessary weight, and I’m not talkin’ what you see in the mirror.

Guys: sports equipment and tools. Ladies: well, just take a look around the passenger compartment and trunk. I think my car has about forty-five pounds of French fries on the floor.

When it comes to their vehicles, some auto owners don’t have a maintenance mindset. They know they need to take care of their cars, but it just seems really hard to get them to remember to do it. Unfortunately, drivers too often learn a hard automotive lesson when a little routine maintenance would have prevented a significant breakdown.

There are a surprising number of small, inexpensive parts that can lead to expensive engine damage when they fail. It doesn’t seem right. Fortunately a lot of those things can be taken care of in routine maintenance, such as fuel filter service.

Because new cars are more expensive, Washington DC residents are driving their old cars longer. The average car is now over nine years old and 68% of vehicles on the road have more than 75,000 miles/120,000 kilometers. As cars age, their performance drops, they have difficulty idling for long periods, and are more sensitive to weather extremes.

Your cooling system is very important. It circulates coolant through the radiator and your engine to protect your late model vehicle from overheating. The heart of the system is the water pump.

There are five main components to the cooling system:

Every car in Washington DC, is at risk for theft. So it’s up to auto owners to make cars a less appealing target and more of a challenge – hopefully sending potential thieves to look elsewhere.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau recommends a layered approach to protecting vehicles.

When you get an oil change, it’s always a safe bet to just use the type of oil the automobile manufacturer recommends. But sometimes, when we’re asked if we’d like conventional or synthetic oil, we choose the cheaper one.  That’s not always the best option.

Working up a sweat is a great thing to do in a gym around Washington DC, but not in your car. When there’s a problem with a car’s air conditioning  system, most Washington DC drivers will feel it right away. The question is, how long do you put up with it?

Unless you live in Death Valley, you really don’t hear much any more about cars overheating. That’s because cooling systems in vehicles have been much improved. That doesn’t mean you can’t overheat your late model vehicle engine, though.

Who doesn’t like to take a road trip? Summer vacations open up many great destinations, and going by car gives you a chance to stop and see the sights on the way. Freedom from daily schedules, new sights and the open road – it’s great! But there’s nothing like car trouble to bring the fun to a grinding halt.