The road to a long-lasting automobile is maintenance

Auto technicians say the key to keeping vehicles running well today and down the road is routine maintenance. And what better time to focus on car maintenance than October -- National Car Care Month!

Better car maintenance can save money, improve safety, and reduce pollution. Each October, motorists across the U.S. observe National Car Care Month. Beginning in Ohio in 1980 and then expanding as a national effort in 1981, the event has earned the endorsement of car mechanics, consumer advocates, federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations alike.

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The goal of Car Care Month: Advance the benefits of cleaner air, energy conservation, safer roads, and consumer savings through proper car maintenance.

Proper maintenance prevents pollution. Motor vehicles generate three major pollutants: hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide. Hydrocarbons react with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight and elevated temperatures to form ground-level ozone. Ground-level ozone can cause eye irritation, coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath and can lead to permanent lung damage. "Ozone Action Days" are predicted each year so that we may try to prevent ozone levels from rising to dangerous levels.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, deadly gas. It reduces the flow of oxygen in the bloodstream and can impair mental functions and visual perception. In urban areas, motor vehicles are responsible for as much as 90 percent of carbon monoxide in the air.

What can you do?

• Avoid high speeds. Fuel efficiency decreases significantly at speeds at more than 55 miles per hour. In addition, high-speed driving causes heat buildup that accelerates tire deterioration.

• Drive smoothly. Smooth driving saves gas and lowers vehicle emissions. You should accelerate slowly, avoiding "jackrabbit starts"; shift to higher gears at the lowest possible speed if you have a standard transmission; and accelerate gently if you have an automatic transmission. If your car is equipped with overdrive, you should use it at the appropriate speeds; if your car is equipped with cruise control, you should use it. Also avoid sudden starts and stops, which increase wear on your tires.

• Avoid lengthy idling. Idling wastes gas. Don't start your car until you're ready to go, and keep winter engine warm-ups brief. Turn off the engine if you won't be moving for an extended period of time -- for example, if you're in stalled traffic or a long line at a drive-in window.

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• Don't rev the engine; it wastes gas. Revving the engine can dump gas on the cylinder walls, which increases engine wear. Revving can also overheat the vehicle's catalytic converter, which makes it less effective and can damage it.

• Minimize drag. Drag reduces fuel efficiency. Driving with the windows open, using roof- or rear-mounted racks, and carrying heavy loads increase vehicle drag. If you sometimes need to transport large items, use a removable rack or, if possible, carry the items in the trunk or inside the vehicle. And, because heavy loads increase drag, remove heavy items from the vehicle when you don't need to carry them.

• Keep tires properly inflated. Under-inflated tires decrease gas mileage and shorten tire life.

• Check the pressure in all four tires every two weeks with an accurate hand-held air pressure gauge. Because tire pressure changes with temperature, you should check and adjust pressure when the tire is cold -- when the vehicle has been sitting for at least three hours.

• Avoid rough roads and potholes. Because driving on rough surfaces is hard on tires and wheel alignment, it can reduce fuel efficiency.

• Make fewer trips in your vehicle. Vehicle emissions and fuel consumption increase not just with number of miles driven, but also with number of trips taken. Vehicles burn more gas and emit far more pollutants in their first few minutes of operation because their emission control systems have not warmed up and reached peak efficiency. To make fewer trips, you should consolidate errands and trips; try to drive during off-peak hours so that you can spend less time on the road and avoid excessive stop-start driving; and, when possible, car pool, ride mass transit, or bike to your destination.

Remember, paying attention to our vehicle's maintenance can extend the life of the car, improve air quality, reduce negative health impacts due to emission pollutants, and save money.

For more information on car care and National Car Care Month, visit www.carcare.org.