Four tips for long car life

Imagine a pair of twins who lived very different lives. One never smoked or boozed. He took care of himself with proper diet and exercise. The other smoked, drank and ate all the wrong foods. By the time they reached their late twenties, it wasn't 't be hard to spot which twin was which.

What if these twins had identical cars? You could bet which would drive the better looking, better running vehicle. Maintaining the health and vitality of a car is much the same as maintaining your own health. It has to do with good use and care habits.

Here are four reminders from the Car Care Council about maintaining a healthy car, truck or SUV. First, drive sensibly ... don't abuse the car; Second, feed it the right stuff, like quality fuel, oil and other fluids. Third, give it regular maintenance. And fourth, take care of minor problems before they become major.

Spend a minute thinking about your relationship with your car. It's depending on you to treat it well, so give it the best care you can afford, and it will repay you in reliability and longevity.

For more information on automotive maintenance, repair and enhancements, log on www.carcarecouncil.org.