NASCAR Legend, Auto Club Offer Tips for Summer Driving
NORWALK, Conn., June 16 -- As the summer driving season shifts into high gear and millions of Americans take to the road, it is important to get your vehicle in top condition to prevent your trip from grinding to a halt.
Legendary racing champion Bobby Hamilton and AutoVantage are teaming up to offer car-care tips to help you hit the highway safely.
"Driving in late spring and summer is different from other times of the year," said Bobby Hamilton, racing legend and AutoVantage spokesman. "Heat takes its toll on your car. Higher temperatures speed up a car's wear and tear, which can cause trouble. And that's the last thing you want to happen, especially on vacation."
"Consumers can keep their cars humming all summer -- and save money, too -- before they fill-up and drive to their vacation destinations," said Brad Eggleston, vice president of AutoVantage. "A service like AutoVantage can help save money, and provide peace of mind for short and long-distance road trips."
So before you head out the door, be your own Crew Chief. Follow these basic guidelines so you'll enjoy the ride:
1) Check your tires: Start by checking the pressure on all your tires,
even your spare. Having properly inflated tires (recommended amount
will be listed in your owner's manual or on your door jam) is not only
safe, but it also ensures you achieve maximum fuel economy. Use the
penny test to see if your tire tread is acceptable. Put a penny,
Lincoln head down, in the tread groove. Consider buying new tires if
the tread does not go past Lincoln's forehead. And here's a special
tip: buy a small air compressor that plugs into your cigarette lighter
for a quick fix if you get a flat. They cost about $20 and can be
found in most auto parts stores.
2) Go under your hood: Check to see if your oil needs changing
(every 3,000 miles) and while you're at it, have your belts and hoses
checked. If your car has been running hot, have a mechanic check your
antifreeze level, radiator and cooling system's operation. Be sure
your transmission fluid is clean. Ensure that cold air is still
flowing from the air conditioner. You don't want to go on a hot summer
drive without A/C.
3) Watch your gauges: Keep an eye on those gauges monitoring your car's
electrical system, oil pressure and engine temperature. Keep an eye
open for illuminated warning/ indicator lights. Just as with traffic
signals, red means stop. If you see any red lights flashing or shining
steadily, you should stop and have your vehicle towed into your local
repair facility. If there are any yellow lights flashing or steadily
on, and the vehicle seems to be running ok, chances are you'll be ok
until you get the vehicle to a repair facility, but don't let it go
too long.
4) Be a friend to your battery: Inspect your battery and cables for
corrosion, cracks and dirt. Replace your battery every four years. Air
conditioning systems, especially in traffic jams, put a big strain on
your battery/alternator systems. If in doubt, have it tested.
5) Treat wipers well: Check your wiper blades and replace them if they're
worn out. And don't forget to check your wiper fluid; it will help you
see more clearly on a long trip.
6) Gas up: Always keep your gas tank at least one-quarter full to keep
from running out of gas at unexpected times, like highway gridlock.
And never overfill your tank by "topping off" at the pump. It can be
dangerous and allows polluting gas fumes to escape.
7) Be prepared: Always travel with an emergency kit, just in case. Make
sure it includes a flashlight and batteries, flares or reflective
triangles, jumper cables and a first-aid kit.
8) Heat warning: Never, never leave children or pets alone in a car, even
for a minute. A locked car sitting in the summer sun quickly turns
into an oven. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says
that temperatures can climb from 78 degrees to 100 degrees in just
three minutes and up to 125 degrees in just eight minutes.
9) Duplicate your key: Keep a duplicate car key in your home, in case of
a lockout.
10) Share the road: Remember that summertime is the busiest time of the
year for road activity. Drive carefully and watch for bikers, joggers,
walkers and children playing. Also keep an eye out for road
construction crews.
Bobby Hamilton, a spokesman for AutoVantage, is the current NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion after achieving four career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victories. He founded Bobby Hamilton Racing, which owns and operates three trucks in the NASCAR circuit.
About AutoVantage
Membership in AutoVantage (http://www.autovantage.com/ or 1-800-876-7787) begins with a month-long trial that costs $1 and can be canceled anytime during the trial period. Unless you call toll free (1-800-876-7787) to cancel during your $1 trial period, your privileges will automatically continue for an additional 11 months at the $99.99 annual membership fee, and will renew upon expiration at the then-current year's fee and be automatically billed to the credit card you provide without your having to do anything further. Your satisfaction is important. You can call toll free to cancel at any time for a refund of the unused portion of your then-current year's fee, no matter how much money you've saved. Trilegiant Corporation, (http://www.trilegiant.com/) a leader in the membership services and loyalty businesses, offers AutoVantage. With Progeny Marketing Innovations, Trilegiant is now part of the Cendant Marketing Group.
About Cendant Marketing Group
The Cendant Marketing Group is a global leader in the membership, insurance and loyalty marketing businesses, delivering products and services that touch the lives of millions worldwide. The group is part of the Cendant Marketing Services Division, which includes Trilegiant, Progeny Marketing Innovations, Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions and Cendant International Marketing Services (Cims), and designs, develops and implements strategies and programs serving more than 100 million consumers around the world.
