First Snow Of Season Tests Winter Driving Skills
By Jack Nerad
No matter where you live in areas that get snowfall, the first snow of the season
often catches some drivers off guard. According to AAA of Michigan, a state that
gets more than its share of winter weather, the leading cause of traffic crashes
on ice-slicked, snow-clogged roads is following the car in front too closely. To
avoid this problem, it recommends doubling your following distance on slippery roads
from the usual gap of three seconds to six seconds.
A good way to measure the six-second-time gap is to pick out a distinct road marking
or sign, and then begin counting when the car ahead passes that spot - "one-thousand-one,
one-thousand-two..." all the way up to "one-thousand-six." We recommend going in
numerical order in this progression.
In addition to keeping your distance, it also makes sense to use extra caution on
shaded areas and bridges, overpasses and intersections. These are all areas where
ice is likely to form first or be slipperiest because the shiny ice surface has
either been polished by previous traffic, a thin layer of water covers melting ice
below or a temperature difference exists.
Poor weather also has a deleterious effect on your ability to see other vehicles
and pedestrians, so improve your visibility by clearing all snow and ice from the
entire car. Snow left on the hood or roof can quickly migrate onto your windows
impeding your ability to see. And don’t forget to clean off your exterior mirrors
as well. Remember, too, that driving with headlights on low beam provides better
road illumination in snow and fog than using high beams.
Make sure that your automobile is up to date on its service schedule. Click Here to schedule a service appointment at
your nearest MileOne Service Center.
Most of us take for granted many of the wonderful technologies that we have today.
One example would be the windshield wipers. Can you imagine not having windshield
wipers? Even after the windshield wiper was invented in 1903 it was not electric.
Instead, the driver had to reach out the window and do it by hand. This could be
kind of tricky and dangerous to do while driving down the road. In 1910, the windshield
wiper became a standard item on cars, but was still not made electric for years.
Even though the windshield wiper is a great feature to have, they can still be irritating.
It's amazing how often windshield wipers need to be replaced. This great little
invention seems to wear out quite quickly. The rubber wears quickly causing the
blade to not properly clear the windshield. Of course the one spot that seems to
quit working first is right in the driver's line of vision. For most people this
is quite irritating, and causes a trip to the store for a new set. Here are a few
things that will shorten the life of your windshield wipers and have you making
the trip even more often.
One cause of quick wear on windshield wipers is when they are used to remove hard
snow. How many of us get in the car in the morning, start it, and turn on the windshield
wipers? I know that I've been guilty of this one. You don't have time to start the
car, or clear the windshield properly, so you just use the wipers. This may clear
your windshield for you, but it is hard on your wiper blades. The blades are just
rubber and using them to scrape the hard snow off the windshield can cause them
to become deformed.
Another cause of quick wear would be trying to use your wiper blades to scrape the
ice off the windshield. When it's that cold outside who wants to stand outside and
scrape the ice off their windshield? It can be especially damaging if you just squirt
a little windshield washer fluid on the windshield to get the ice wet, and then
use the wiper blades to scrape it off. This little trick seems to work pretty good,
and quickly too. The problem with this is it will also cause your wiper blades to
become deformed and not work properly.
Winter is not the only time your windshield wipers may become damaged. Some people
use their windshield wipers to get dirt or sticks or other debris off their windshield
without using the windshield washer fluid. Using your wiper blades on the dry glass
is not good for them. If you need to get debris off your windshield you should use
the windshield washer fluid first so that the blades can move easier. The fluid
allows the blades to glide smoothly across the windshield instead of scraping and
making that horrible noise they make when it's dry.
When your windshield wiper blades start to chatter when you use them, or start to
leave streaks you may want to invest in a new set. Just remember what causes extra
wear on your windshield wiper blades, and try to avoid doing it.When your windshield
wiper blades start to chatter when you use them, or start to leave streaks you may
want to invest in a new set. Just remember what causes extra wear on your windshield
wiper blades, and try to avoid doing it.
Make sure that your automobile is up to date on its service schedule. Click Here to schedule a service appointment at
your nearest MileOne Service Center.
Salt takes ice off streets, but hurts cars, concrete and plants
By Richard Jauron
While de-icing materials improve travel conditions, they can damage automobiles,
concrete surfaces and landscape plants. De-icing salts can damage landscape plants
when excessive amounts accumulate in the soil. The most serious damage typically
occurs near major streets and highways where salt from runoff accumulates in the
nearby soil.
Excessive use of salt by homeowners also can create other problems. Trees, shrubs,
perennials and turf grasses are susceptible to salt damage. Additionally, spray
from passing vehicles can damage roadside plants, particularly evergreens.
Salts affect plant growth in several ways. When high levels of salt are present
in the soil, plants are unable to absorb sufficient water even though soil moisture
is plentiful.
Salt takes ice off streets, but hurts cars, concrete and plants
Plants suffer a salt-induced water shortage termed "physiological drought."
High levels of salt restrict the uptake of essential nutrients by plant roots. Excessive
amounts of sodium and chloride ions in plant tissue are toxic to many plants. High
sodium levels damage soil structure. Salt deposited directly on plant foliage can
cause dehydration of plant tissue.
The symptoms of salt injury to deciduous trees and shrubs include stunted growth,
marginal leaf scorch, early fall coloration and twig dieback. Accumulation of salt
in the soil over several years might result in progressive decline and eventual
death.
Salt damage to evergreens results in yellowing or browning of the needles and twig
dieback. Evergreens near heavily salted roadways are often damaged by salt spray.
Make sure that your automobile is up to date on its service schedule. Click Here to schedule a service appointment at
your nearest MileOne Service Center.
I am not sure what air pressure my tires should have in them. I do not see anything
marked on the tires themselves, and I do not have my owners manual. How can I find
out the proper tire pressure?
Checking Tire Inflation Pressure When vehicle manufacturers select
a tire size for a vehicle, they evaluate the vehicle's gross axle weights, the anticipated
use of the tire, and the tire diameter and width. Adjustments to these factors give
the manufacturer a way to improve handling and appearance. This is especially true
for performance tire sizes. The size selected is rarely limited to only one capability
(i.e. carrying the vehicle's weight).
The tire usually needs to have additional load capacity as well. This extra capacity
is important because without it all of the tire's performance would be used up just
carrying the weight of the vehicle and little would be left for durability at high
speeds or responsive handling. For all vehicles produced since 1968, the original
tires sizes and inflation pressures (including the spare) are listed on a vehicle
placard. This placard can be located on:
- The driver-side door or door jamb (Ford vehicles on the rear passenger door jamb)
- Glove box or counsel door
- Fuel filler door
- The engine compartment
Additionally, some manufacturers also list the original tire pressure in the vehicle's
owner's manual. If a car's inflation pressure has varied from that which was recommended
by the manufacturer, it's likely that the tire's wear and performance characteristics
have also changed.
Under-inflationIf your vehicle's tires are under inflated by only
6 psi it could lead to tire failure. Additionally, the tire's tread life could be
reduced by as much as 25%. Lower inflation pressure will allow the tire to deflect
(bend) more as it rolls. This will build up internal heat, increase rolling resistance
and cause a reduction in fuel economy of up to 5%. You would find a significant
loss of steering precision and cornering stability. While 6 psi doesn't seem excessively
low, remember, it usually represents about 20% of the tire's recommended pressure.
Over-inflation If your tires are over inflated by 6 psi, they could
be damaged more easily when running over pot holes or debris in the road. Higher
inflated tires cannot isolate road irregularities well causing them to ride harsher.
However, higher inflation pressures usually provide an improvement in steering response
and cornering stability up to a point. This is why participants who use street tires
in autocrosses, track events and road races, run higher than normal inflation pressures.
Effects of Time and TemperatureTire inflation pressures change
due to time and temperature. Tires lose about 1 psi per month due to air escaping
through the rubber as it stretches. If you were to check your tires only every six
months, it would not be uncommon to find them under inflated by as much as 6 psi.
Tire inflation pressures also fluctuate with changes in the outside air temperature.
This occurs at a rate of about 1 psi for every 10°F (plus or minus). So the tires
you set correctly with an 80°F ambient temperature will be under inflated by 6 psi
at 20°F.
If you add the variations of time and temperature together, it is easy to understand
why a tire's inflation pressure should be checked frequently. Improper inflation
can cause tires to wear irregularly and can void manufacturer's warranty.
Another advantage of checking tire pressure frequently is that it allows a slow
leak to be found and repaired before it permanently damages a tire. Tire pressures
should be checked once a week, preferably before the vehicle has been driven. Spending
about two minutes a week will help you get the optimum performance your tires can
offer!
What is the most environmentally friendly way I can wash my car: doing it myself
or going to the local car wash?
Few people realize that washing our cars in our driveways is one of the most environmentally
un-friendly chores we can do around the house. Unlike household waste water that
enters sewers or septic systems and undergoes treatment before it is discharged
into the environment, what runs off from your car goes right into storm drains --
and eventually into rivers, streams, creeks and wetlands where it poisons aquatic
life and wreaks other ecosystem havoc. After all, that water is loaded with a witch’s
brew of gasoline, oil and residues from exhaust fumes -- as well as the harsh detergents
being used for the washing itself.
Commercial Car Washes Treat Waste Water
On the other hand, federal laws in both the U.S. and Canada require commercial carwash
facilities to drain their wastewater into sewer systems, so it gets treated before
it is discharged back into the great outdoors. And commercial car washes use computer
controlled systems and high-pressure nozzles and pumps that minimize water usage.
Many also recycle and re-use the rinse water.
The International Carwash Association, an industry group representing commercial
car wash companies, reports that automatic car washes use less than half the water
of even the most careful home car washer. According to one report, washing a car
at home typically uses between 80 and 140 gallons of water, while a commercial car
wash averages less than 45 gallons per car.
Think Green When Washing Your Car
If you must wash your car at home, choose a biodegradable soap specifically formulated
for automotive parts, such as Simple Green’s Car Wash or Gliptone’s Wash ‘n Glow.
Or you can make your own biodegradable car wash by mixing one cup of liquid dishwashing
detergent and 3/4 cup of powdered laundry detergent (each should be chlorine- and
phosphate-free and non-petroleum-based) with three gallons of water. This concentrate
can then be used sparingly with water over exterior car surfaces.
Even when using green-friendly cleaners, it is better to avoid the driveway and
instead wash your car on your lawn or over dirt so that the toxic waste water can
be absorbed and neutralized in soil instead of flowing directly into storm drains
or open water bodies. Also, try to sop up or disperse those sudsy puddles that remain
after you’re done. They contain toxic residues and can tempt thirsty animals.
Vehicle Prep for Daylight Savings Time
Inspect your vehicle's lights every month so you're not left in the dark
Proper vehicle lighting will be vital to safety when daylight-savings time ends
on October 26. To prepare for fewer hours of daylight and the extra hours of darkness,
the Car Care Council encourages motorists to take a few minutes to inspect their
vehicles to ensure that all of the lights are working properly. The Car Care Council
recommends checking all vehicle lighting on a monthly basis, including the headlights,
turn signals, brake lights, side lights, parking lights, tail lights, backup lights
and license plate lights. Whether you do it yourself or visit a professional automotive
technician, it is important to repair or replace non-functioning lights immediately.
Something as simple as a burnt-out brake light could potentially have major consequences.
Results of vehicle inspections during National Car Care Month found:
- 8 percent of vehicles inspected needed work on at least one of their turn signals.
- 6 percent of vehicles had problems with at least one of their brake lights.
- 5 percent of vehicles failed their side light inspection.
- 1 percent of vehicles failed the inspection for their headlights, parking lights,
tail lights, backup lights and license plate lights.