Gas prices are simply discussed to often. But, we all know gas is back up in price and it is one of our largest and most frustrating expenses! So, why not try to get the best bang for your buck at the most important time. We’re sure you’ve heard this before, but here it is one more time!
Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned
Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done.
Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent.
Fuel Economy Benefit: 4%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.15/gallon
Keep Tires Properly Inflated
You can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.
The proper tire pressure for your vehicle is usually found on a sticker in the driver’s side door jamb or the glove box and in your owner’s manual. Do not use the maximum pressure printed on the tire’s sidewall.
Fuel Economy Benefit: Up to 3%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: Up to $0.12/gallon
Use the Recommended Grade of Motor Oil
You can improve your gas mileage by 1–2 percent by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil. For example, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can lower your gas mileage by 1–2 percent. Using 5W-30 in an engine designed for 5W-20 can lower your gas mileage by 1–1.5 percent. Also, look for motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.
Fuel Economy Benefit: 1–2%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.04–$0.08/gallon
Replacing a Clogged Air Filter on Modern Cars Improves Performance but Not MPG
A new study shows that replacing a clogged air filter on cars with fuel-injected, computer-controlled gasoline engines does not improve fuel economy but it can improve acceleration time by around 6 to 11 percent. This kind of engine is prevalent on most gasoline cars manufactured from the early 1980s onward.
Tests suggest that replacing a clogged air filter on an older car with a carbureted engine may improve fuel economy 2 to 6 percent under normal replacement conditions or up to 14 percent if the filter is so clogged that it significantly affects drivability.
The effect of a clogged air filter on diesel vehicles will be tested in the near future.
Note: Cost savings are based on an assumed fuel price of $3.87/gallon.
Women have come a long way in the world. The facts are, women have become a dominant force in business, automotive purchases, and business travel.
Women purchase more than 50% of all new vehicles, 48% of all used vehicles, influence 80% of all sales, comprise 40% of all business travelers, influence 80% of all luxury and family travel, own 38% of all US businesses contributing $1.6 trillion to the national economy and have now reached 59% of all Internet users.
They also comprise 40% of all business travelers today, up 5000% since 1970.
Despite male attempts to limit or prohibit female drivers in the late 1920′s and early 30′s, famous women motorists like writers Emily Post and Edith Wharton, and women’s automobile contributions during the World War I years were the most notable indicators of the existence of a core of urban and suburban women for whom driving was useful, necessary, or adventurous in the early years of the twentieth century.
American women learned early on, the possibilities of the automobile from the publicity offered by newspaper coverage of the pioneering transcontinental car journeys that took place between 1899 and 1908. They may not have been in the majority in terms of drivers when the first cars became available to Americans, but they surely existed.
Since then, women have become not only more independent and in charge of their own careers and finances, they have become the prime decision makers. Let’s face it, men, women hold the keys to the driver’s side. When it comes to deciding on your next automobile, where you will purchase it, or especially where you will take it for routine maintenance, just leave it to the ladies. And if you live in Wilmington, you know Atlantic Car Care is the most trusting, honest and reliable. Contact us today with any questions or concerns!
21 New Bern Street
Wilmington, North Carolina 28403
910-794-1390
Vehicles today really don’t require the attention they once did. In fact, these days all you have to do is listen to your mechanic since he most likely will let you know when to take care of what needs to be taken care of.
Yet, with the simplicity that has been set in place due to auto-reminders and routine maintenance schedules, we still don’t seem to follow the habits we easily could be. The people with the craziest schedules (the ones who drive their cars more every day) seem to have forgotten the importance of routine check ups, and the over-achievers spend too much time trying to get oil changes sooner than they really need.
Although maintenance intervals are now more widely spaced, even the newest cars require scheduled service to live long, productive lives. Whether yours is the latest model or you paid it off years ago, the trick is giving your car the maintenance it was designed to receive.
Every car is supplied with a maintenance schedule — in the owner’s manual or in a separate maintenance log book — that details that vehicle’s needs. A few minutes assimilating these requirements will help you avoid the following common car-maintenance pitfalls. Or you can create your own schedule, whatever works best for you, the importance is just knowing it is needed and necessary.
1. Proper Tire Inflation and Rotation
Tires leak air naturally and need the occasional check. Under-inflated tires can actually slowly suck up gasoline. Under, or over-inflated tires wear out sooner, and deliver the same emergency maneuver handling as marshmallows. You probably aren’t going to check tire pressures monthly, but how about twice a year? That’s not a lot to ask.
Furthermore, front and rear tires wear differently and should be rotated to even that wear. Most user manuals or maintenance schedules will let you know when this should be done.
2. Windshield Wiper Replacement
It’s much easier to avoid hitting things you can see! Simple as it is, that’s the concept behind replacing your windshield wipers before they fossilize into noisy uselessness.
Fall is the ideal wiper replacement time: after the blade-baking summer and before the fall and winter nastiness. Depending on location, wiper replacement may only be an annual affair in the South, like in Wilmington.
3. Tune-Up Timing and Saving
There are no more “tune-ups.” Valves no longer need adjusting, ignition timing is computer controlled and there are no carburetors to fiddle with. About all that’s left of the old tune-up drill are the spark plugs. These are often good for 100,000 miles, so don’t change parts to change parts. Instead, save up for those big 60,000- and 120,000-mile services when the timing belt, spark plug wires and coolant are due for replacement.
4. Fuel (Octane Overdose)
Here the rule is to supply whatever octane the engine is rated for and call it done. Higher-than-required octane does not yield more power or mileage, only oil company profits. Some engines are rated for premium 91 octane fuel but can burn 87 octane regular, thanks to the magic of knock sensors. In that case, run regular gas if puttering around surface streets, and premium fuel if full-throttle driving is part of your daily repertoire.
5. Oil Change Timing
Oil changes every 3,000 miles used to be required jobs, just like cleaning the accumulated dust from the corners of the molding in your house. Today, advances in engine design and lubricants make oil changes something to be done when the schedule calls for it, not when your grandfather says it’s time. Some cars call for 5,000-mile change intervals, some up to 15,000-mile stints. Others have a variable timer. Follow the schedule and use the oil called for by the manufacturer.
6. Worn out Tires
Tires wear out. The tire industry says tires are toast after five years, but they’re selling tires. It all depends on heat, sunlight and ozone conditions. If you’re not sure how old your tires are, a tire shop can read the date code stamped into the sidewall. Or your you can wait until they’re down to bear rubber and your mechanic will give you more than enough warning that its time.
7. Dirty Air Filter
Semi-clogged air filters hurt fuel economy. The question is, when is your filter dirty? Under a Norman Rockwell schedule of, an air filter might not see much grit. But grimy city surface streets or driving daily on a dirt road are often enough to overwhelm air filters. This one is about conditions. If you go near dirt, the air filter may need changing twice as often as the schedule calls for. At Atlantic Car Care, they will show you how dirty your filter is and you will understand.
8. Don’t Forget Your Brakes
This one is fairly obvious, if you notice anything different about your brakes — sound, feel or response — they are telling you to visit your mechanic. Now.
9. Tighten Your Gas Cap
Is the Check Engine light on? Then make sure the gas cap is on tightly before calling the dealer. No joke, this is one of the most common ways of setting off your car’s diagnostic system, since a loose gas cap defeats the fuel system’s venting arrangement.
10. The Garage in Your Home
Your house is your most valuable investment. Your car is likely your second most valuable investment. If you’re paying all that money, then why are you storing empty cardboard boxes and old holiday wreaths in the garage? Pitch that junk and put your car in the garage!
At Atlantic Care, we pride ourselves on letting you know what needs to be done and when, so you don’t have to. But if you don’t understand the importance of routine maintenance for one of your most valuable investments, than you aren’t going to listen to us either. First, understand that it needs to be done, let us take care of the rest!
Contact us today with questions or comments!
Atlantic Car Care
21 New Bern St.
Wilmington, NC 28403
910-794-1390
www.atlanticcarcare.com
What is a brake system?
Your car’s brake system is its most critical safety system. Because of this, you should check it immediately if you suspect any problems. A properly operating brake system helps ensure safe vehicle control and operation under a wide variety of conditions. Its important to always feel at ease that your brakes are going function at a red light or a stop sign.
What does it do?
When you push the brake pedal, the force generates hydraulic pressure in the master cylinder. This pressure flows through the hydraulic lines and hoses to the wheel cylinders and calipers, forcing the shoes against the drums (drum brakes) and the pads against the rotors (disc brakes). The resulting friction slows the vehicle and is relative to the amount of force applied at the brake pedal. As you know, the more force you put on the pedal, the faster the whole process will occur and eventually stop your vehicle. Wear and Tear
Brakes are a normal wear item for any vehicle and eventually will need replacement. Avoid letting your brakes get to the “metal-to-metal” point, which usually means accelerating expensive rotor or drum replacement.
Several factors that affect wear include:
Driving habits
Operating conditions
Vehicle type
The quality of brake lining material
Symptoms
Car pulls to one side during braking
Brake pedal pulsates when you apply the brakes
Brake pedal feels “mushy”
Noise when you step on the brake pedal
Repeatedly need to add brake fluid to the master cylinder
A good mechanic will check your brakes every visit and let you know what level your wear is at. At Atlantic Car Care, we’re in business to make sure your car stops when it’s supposed to stop, accelerates when its supposed to and functions the way a healthy engine should. If your car isn’t properly maintained, you’re putting yourself and everyone else on the road in danger.
Come in today and let us have a look!
www.atlanticcarcare.com
(910) 794-1390
21 new bern st wilmington, NC 28403
Tired of the Big City Grind? Looking for a great place to raise your family?
We are a busy shop in Wilmington, NCand we need a Great Technician that loves his/her work. If you are an A Level Tech and you are Looking for a Fantastic Opportunitywe want you. We offer great pay, benefits, continuing education and a positive working
environment. We are an established business with a good reputation and wonderful customers – What more could you ask? You owe it to yourself and your family to check out this opportunity.
We wantthe best of the best. If you are a Master Level tech with a minimum
of 7yrs of experience, have a drive to be the best, and want to take your career to the next level and want to live in a wonderful community- WE WANT YOU!
Please don’t apply if you don’t have the experience!
Suzuki auto repair requires complex knowledge and some very specialized equipment.
That is why our Suzuki car repair shop technicians are ASE certified and experts in the field. Our technicians have been factory training and we use the latest computer diagnostic equipment. This high level training and equipment is just one of the ways we ensure your complete satisfaction.
Wilmington N.C. Suzuki Auto Service
Here are some of the reasons to choose us:
Quality Service & Repairs
Technicians Trained in Suzuki Vehicles
Same Day In & Out Service
24 Month 24,000 Mile Warranty on All Repairs*
25+ Years of Experience
Trust
Done Right The First Time
Good Advice
No “Guess” Work
The Right Team
Auto Maintenance is Cheaper than Auto Repairs
Nationwide Warranties on Most Auto Repairs
No Warranty “Gotchas”
Suzuki Services We Perform
Engine
Suzuki Auto Transmission
Manual Transmission
Heating/Cooling
Steering/Suspension
Alignment
Road Trip Inspection
Pre-Purchase Inspection
Smog
Suzuki Clutch
Air Conditioning
Suzuki Maintenance
Suzuki Tune-ups
Battery
Tires
Brakes
Shuttle Service and Rental Vehicles
Make an appointment for your Suzuki today You won’t be disappointed with our work. We think you’ll be impressed with our customer service. “Give Us One Chance to Earn Your Trust”
Isuzu auto repair requires complex knowledge and some very specialized equipment.
That is why our Isuzu car repair shop technicians are ASE certified and experts in the field. Our technicians have been factory training and we use the latest computer diagnostic equipment. This high level training and equipment is just one of the ways we ensure your complete satisfaction.
Wilmington N.C. Isuzu Auto Service
Here are some of the reasons to choose us:
Quality Service & Repairs
Technicians Trained in Isuzu Vehicles
Same Day In & Out Service
24 Month 24,000 Mile Warranty on All Repairs*
25+ Years of Experience
Trust
Done Right The First Time
Good Advice
No “Guess” Work
The Right Team
Auto Maintenance is Cheaper than Auto Repairs
Nationwide Warranties on Most Auto Repairs
No Warranty “Gotchas”
Isuzu Services We Perform
Engine
Isuzu Auto Transmission
Manual Transmission
Heating/Cooling
Steering/Suspension
Alignment
Road Trip Inspection
Pre-Purchase Inspection
Smog
Isuzu Clutch
Air Conditioning
Isuzu Maintenance
Isuzu Tune-ups
Battery
Tires
Brakes
Shuttle Service and Rental Vehicles
Make an appointment for your Isuzu today You won’t be disappointed with our work. We think you’ll be impressed with our customer service. “Give Us One Chance to Earn Your Trust”
No matter what kind of vehicle you’re driving around, there are preventive measures everyone can take to make sure their car is environmentally friendly as possible.
By following a few simple measures, you can save gas mileage which in turn, preventive maintenance steps, you can help protect the environment by improving gas mileage, which in turn helps stay ‘green’ and also saves you money.
1. Regularly check and replace dirty air filters. An air filter that is clogged with dirt, dust and bugs chokes off the air and creates a “rich” mixture – too much gas being burned for the amount of air – that wastes gas and causes the engine to lose power. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car’s performance, but not miles per gallon.
2. Keep your car properly tuned for optimum performance. Regular tune-ups, maintenance and having clean air filters will help your car pollute less and burn less gas. Getting a tune-up can improve gas mileage by an average of 4 percent. Simply changing the car’s air filter can improve efficiency by 10 percent. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve gas mileage by as much as 40 percent.
3. Tire Checks – Around two billion gallons of gas each year could be saved if the tires on every American’s car were properly inflated. Optimal tire pressure for your vehicle is listed in the owner’s manual. Tires that are not properly inflated add rolling resistance that makes the engine work harder to move the vehicle. All of this increases fuel costs as much as three to five cents per gallon, and increases the risk of engine damage.
4. Gas Caps and Fill-Ups – Check your vehicle’s gas cap. Approximately 17 percent of vehicles on the road have loose, damaged or missing gas caps, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year. Topping off your gas tank when filling up your car can also release harmful vapors into the environment.
5. Vehicle Fuel System – By properly maintaining your vehicle’s fuel system, such as replacing your car’s fuel filter every two years or 24,000 miles and having your fuel injectors flushed our every 30,000 miles, you will not only have a cleaner, ‘greener’ car, but you will save money at the pump.”
Questions to ask your mechanic (Or Mike at Atlantic Car Care)
1. What is the most important thing I should do to my car to make sure I’m doing my part to protect the environment?
2. If my car emits a lot of exhaust, does this mean there’s something wrong with it?
3. Is the refrigerant in my car environmentally friendly and if not, what should I do?
4. Where can I take my used oil, oil filter and other fluids for recycling?
Contact us today to learn more!
Atlantic Car Care
21 New Bern St.
Wilmington, NC 28403
910-794-1390
www.atlanticcarcare.com
The changeover to the new year is an annual opportunity to reflect on, reset and repair those things about your life that have, perhaps, gone awry. Why do we choose New Year’s Day for this arbitrary exercise in self-betterment? Perhaps because we select New Year’s Eve for our yearly exercise in drunken buffoonery and debauchery; there’s nothing like a mind- and body-crushing hangover to inspire life-changing resolutions.
But while most of us pledge to better ourselves, few follow through. According to Psychology Today magazine, research shows that fewer than half of those who make New Year’s resolutions are still sticking to them six months later, and only 10 percent manage their self-discipline for a full year.
Clearly, people need help to be more resolute, and MSN Autos thinks the answer lies in the car, truck or SUV they drive. Focus, resolve and self-discipline help, but they obviously aren’t enough. So we decided to address seven of the most popular New Year’s resolutions and identify the vehicles that could help you make them a reality.
Resolution: Drink Less Alcohol Vehicle: Volvo S80 | Price: $37,950
Your car shouldn’t be what keeps you sober. But if you do have a drinking problem, and especially if you have a problem with drinking and driving, your vehicle may be a good place to start making a change. There are a variety of Breathalyzer-style ignition locks that keep a car from starting unless you give it a sample of your untainted exhalations — usually they are installed at the request of the courts — but Volvo is the first company to offer such a system as a factory option. Volvo calls it the Alcoguard system, and it is offered in Europe on several models, including the S80, the company’s large luxury sedan. Volvo has the system in limited testing in its American fleet. Alcoguard uses a wireless, fuel-cell tester that will not allow the vehicle to start unless the user has a blood-alcohol level of less than 0.2 grams per liter.
Resolution: Get a better education Vehicle: Porsche 911 | Price: $85,400
Technically, a car can’t make you smarter. But you can educate yourself on how to drive it better. That’s why Porsche created the Porsche Sport Driving School, which takes place at the Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala. The school has one- to three-day courses taught by professional race-car drivers who teach you how to pilot Porsche’s legendary sports cars aggressively around a tough track. Once you graduate, you are given official license to laugh at sports-car neophytes who fishtail their rides every time a curve gets too nasty. You, by contrast, will be heel-and-toe downshifting into turns in your 911, then blasting out of them with the skill of an expert. Such are the benefits of higher education.
Resolution: Get fit, lose weight Vehicle: Suzuki SX4 Sport | Price: $13,499
The SX4 is definitely a bargain, which could help you with the resolution below. But it won’t seem like one when you’re frequently pushing it to the nearest auto-repair shop. We picked the SX4 for this resolution because it routinely gets one of the lowest reliability ratings in J.D. Power and Associates’ annual reliability study; i.e., it breaks down a lot. Suzuki does offer a stupendous 7-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, so hopefully the frequent breakdowns won’t hit you in the pocketbook. But all the walking you’ll be doing while that vehicle is under repair should trim your figure. And the pushing will build leg and upper-body strength.
Resolution: Save money, manage debt Vehicle: Ford Fiesta | Price: $13,200
There are less expensive cars than the Ford Fiesta, but few seem like a better value. Ford offers plenty of fancy options for those willing to pay extra, without cheating the base trim out of fit-and-finish details such as supportive seats, sound dampening and plenty of airbags for safety, although the base trim doesn’t get standard power windows. Nevertheless, the Fiesta will save you cash in two ways. Its nearly 40-mpg fuel-efficiency rating keeps gas bills down so you can dedicate more of your money to pay off the small loan you took to buy this inexpensive, compact sedan.
Resolution: Take a trip Vehicle: Toyota Sienna | Price: $25,060
The minivan segment has been engaged in a war of options of late, meaning you can really luxe out one of these grocery-getters for maximum comfort on long road trips. The Sienna is a perfect example. One step up from the base trim gets you automatic sliding doors, seating for up to eight and tri-zone air conditioning. If you totally trick it out, you can get a split moon roof, power liftgate, dynamic cruise control, navigation system and rear-seat DVD entertainment center with dual-view screen. It’s like taking your living room on vacation with you. And the fewer people you carry, the more stuff you can haul — behind the front-row seats is 150 cubic feet of cargo capacity.
Resolution: Reduce, reuse, recycle Vehicle: 2013 Ford Escape | Price: To be announced
If you’re willing to make resolutions that you don’t have to act on immediately, the next-generation Ford Escape, which will arrive later in 2012, will give you eco-friendly credentials that would make a Prius owner blush. The performance numbers aren’t in yet, but Ford is offering a new 2.0-liter 4-cylinder version of its EcoBoost engine in the new Escape, which is a classic example of having your cake and eating it, too. The V6 version is already on many of its other vehicles, such as the F-150 and Flex. It uses direct injection and turbocharging to give those vehicles the power of a V8 engine, but with the fuel-efficiency of a V6. The new Escape also is baking eco-friendliness into the very core of its materials, using soy-based polyurethane foam in its seating and covering the floor with carpet made from recycled plastic bottles. So buying the Escape is a good place to start your new friendship with planet Earth. The next step is to stop using so many plastic bottles and so much fuel in the first place.
Resolution: Volunteer to help others Vehicle: Nissan NV | Price: $24,950
There are a million ways to lend a hand to your fellow man, and how you choose to do so is obviously up to you. But everybody is a little more helpful when they have capacious volumes of cargo space to offer. The Nissan NV is obviously built for work, but it speaks to the inner volunteer in everyone. It can be equipped as a traditional van or with a stand-up-inside raised roof. And in the tall-boy cargo-van configuration, the NV offers 323.1 cubic feet of cargo area. Imagine the groceries you could haul to the local food bank. The upcoming NV passenger version of this full-size van can be configured with seating for 12, which can shuttle a lot of octogenarians back and forth from the senior center.
Happy New Year Everyone from Mike Moore and the rest of us at Atlantic Car Care!
Atlantic Car Care
21 New Bern St.
Wilmington, NC 28403
910-794-1390
www.atlanticcarcare.com
Call Atlantic Car Care to make an appointment to check your transmission in Wilmington. 21 New Bern Street Wilmington, North Carolina 28403 9107941390
Do you have any plans around Wilmington North Carolina for the weekend? Maybe you and some friends and are taking the boat up to the lake. Maybe you’ll be having a lot of fun water skiing and doing a little fishing.
You got the boat all ready. It’s all gassed up. You packed lots of snacks and the cooler’s stocked – ready to go.
How about your tow vehicle? It has plenty of gas and you’ve even vacuumed it out, but is your auto maintenance up to date?
Stop and think. You’ll have some heavy traffic on your way out of town. Hilly terrain as you get to the lake. Some dirt roads – and it may be hot weather. And all the time you’re going to be towing around several thousand extra pounds.
That all adds up a lot of severe strain on your engine, brakes and transmission. Your transmission’s going to be working overtime, spending more time in lower gears. The internal transmission temperature is going to be much higher than normal. What’s a fun little blast to the lake for you is really severe duty for your transmission.
It’s important that you have enough transmission fluid. If you’re running low, the transmission will run to hot and won’t have the protection it needs to cope with the added stress of towing.
And if it’s time for a transmission service, you really should have it done at Atlantic Car Care before your trip. Transmission fluid breaks down and gets dirty over time. Whether you have an automatic or manual transmission, you need to have it serviced on schedule to make sure it runs efficiently.
Automatic transmissions contain a maze of passages that the fluid has to pass through to keep it shifting smoothly. If you neglect transmission service, the passages can get clogged up and you start to have problems. Neglect your transmission for too long, and it can fail. Believe us – you don’t want to pay for a major transmission repair.
You know, most of us in Wilmington North Carolina do a lot of our driving under severe conditions. Towing or hauling a big load is obvious, but there are lots of other things that constitute severe driving conditions. Things like short trips or driving in very hot or very cold weather. Also, dusty roads, city driving around Wilmington, and basically any driving that’s not at highway speeds or under ideal conditions is severe driving. We all need to think about whether or not we need to follow the severe service schedule.
So, consider going in for a full service oil change before you leave for the lake to make sure everything has been looked at. Ask for a trip inspection while you’re at it. Your Wilmington North Carolina service technician at Atlantic Car Care can check your belts and hoses and let you know if your brakes are in good shape.
Don’t forget the sunscreen. And to thank your Wilmington service technician, how about bringing him back a nice trout?
Gas prices are simply discussed to often. But, we all know gas is back up in price and it is one of our largest and most frustrating expenses! So, why not try to get the best bang for your buck at the most important time. We’re sure you’ve heard this before, but here it is one more time!
