Greetings,

As mentioned before, it was tradition to work on cars rather than watch sports and this rule especially applied on holidays. My Dad always had all annual or major maintenance slated for the Thanksgiving holiday. In California this isn’t such a bad idea being it's when we consider the start of “bad weather� season. Typically it was just a little tune up; oil change, spark plugs, new air filter and PCV valve (and yes, that stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation not Pollution Control Valve!) but sometimes it was new brakes, valve cover gaskets or aftermarket mods. More importantly, this was a very important time for my sister who for some reason thought all a car needed was gas to run.

I’m here to share with those out there like my sister some of the basics to keep from cursing your car out on the side of the road in Barstow! All cars need maintenance, no matter if you have a 36k or a 100k warranty there is still routine as well as preventative maintenance that should be performed on a regular basis. Today I am going to give a little rundown of a few simple steps to keep you out of the emergency lane.

First off here is my little disclaimer: All of my recommendations are rules of thumb in the industry, for specific maintenance schedules please check your owner’s manual or contact your local authorized dealer.

I want to share a few maintenance steps that apply to everyone. Most of you find yourselves at the gas station once a week or every 150-300 miles. So 4 times a month you have an extra few minutes to care for your car. Don’t hook up the pump then sit on your rump, make use of this down time!

1. Check your oil: Even the newest of cars potentially “use� oil. My car has only 2,500 miles and I have topped it off a little since my first “break in� oil change. Even my girlfriends 2004 Honda Accord needs a little top off every few months. Oil has more jobs than just to lubricate all metal parts in your engine. Oil is also there to prevent friction buildup, to transfer heat away from the combustion cycle as well as to clean out chemicals and buildup in the engine. As temperamental as some engines are today this is more important than ever to maintain proper oil levels.

Be sure to check what specific grade oil your vehicle takes. Almost every manufacturer puts the required oil weight on the oil cap, if not check your manual. The oil stick can be found on the side of a standard motor (European and some domestics) and the front of a transverse or “side-set� motors (Mostly Japanese and some American ). Most oil stick handles are red but some aren’t so look hard. Your owner’s manual can show you the exact location as well.

2. Check your air pressure: The only thing that keeps you on the road is your tires. They may look big but each contact patch (a.k.a. footprint) can be as small as 3�x6� which isn’t much for a 2 ton automobile. Tire manufacturers also state it’s not uncommon for tires to lose an average of 1-2 pounds of pressure per month. So, take the time to check the tire pressure at least once a month and while doing so visually inspect the tire for any potential damage and uneven wear. DO NOT go off the sidewall for tire pressure! This is an old practice that needs to end. The correct tire pressure is specific to the car, not the tire itself. The pressure on the sidewall is stating the max pressure allowed for that tire not what the actual operating pressure should be.

DOT has required since the mid-nineties that vehicle tire pressure be noted not only in the owner’s manual but on the car. For most the pressure ratings are in the driver’s door jam but others vary. For example; BMW puts their tire pressure on the inside of the gas door. It is found that 80% of flats occur when there is 20% or less tread on a tire.

Side note:
If you are unsure how much tread you have or don’t know how to inspect your tires, stop by your local tire shop for a free inspection. Big Brand Tires does this free of charge, as most shops do.

I hope this helps my fellow motorists out there. We need all the help with Southern California drivers in a big hurry to get nowhere fast!

Cheers, Lance