A week or so before you leave, have regular maintenance done, like oil and filter change. Specifically, ask the shop to check the air filter and change it if necessary. Changing the air filter is an inexpensive way to enhance fuel economy and performance. Also have them check the tires again. If the pressure has gone down since the last check, you may have a leak that can be fixed on the spot.

HAVE  YOUR REPAIR SHOP CHECK THE RIRE PRESSURE AND ADJUST IT.

If the pressure is too low, it can cause a blowout at high speed. Also have them check the tread on the tires for excessive wear. (You can also do this yourself by placing the head of a penny into the tread of the tire. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, you probably need new tires.) Be sure to have your repair shop check to see that the spare tire is inflated and the appropriate tools are available to install it if necessary.

HAVE THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP CHECK THE COOLANT

Are you going somewhere with a warmer or colder climate? Let your repair shop know so your mechanic can adjust the mixture of water and antifreeze to ensure the car is protected against temperature extremes.

BY A ROAD ATLAS OR GPS

If you don’t have a current road atlas, get one. Hours and hours of expressway can get boring. Getting off the beaten path can add an entirely new dimension to your trip.

CLEAN OUT YOUR CAR

The day before you leave, thoroughly wash and vacuum the car. It’s much nicer to have your trip in a clean car.

MAKE SURE YOUR PAPERWORK IS IN ORDER

Make sure your license, registration and insurance are all current and accessible.

FILL THE GAS TANK.

Might as well get it out of the way now. Besides, gas is often more expensive on the road.

LOOK AT WHAT YOU’VE PACKED

Open your suitcases and take one last look — do you really need all that stuff? Did you forget anything?

RELAX!

Enjoy your trip!

For maximum protection, most oil companies say to change the oil every 3,000 miles or three to six months regardless of what type of driving you do.

A new engine with little or no wear can probably get by on 7,500 mile oil changes. But as an engine accumulates miles, it dumps more unburned fuel into the crankcase which dilutes the oil. This causes the oil to break down. So if the oil isn’t changed often enough, you can end up with accelerated wear and all the engine problems that come with it (loss of performance and fuel economy, and increased emissions and oil consumption).

Regular oil changes as part of preventative maintenance are cheap insurance against engine wear, and will always save you money in the long run if you keep a car for more than three or four years. If you are planning on moving or going on a long trip you should have your car’s oil, tires and all fluid levels checked.

WHAT ABOUT THE OIL FILTER ?

To reduce the costs of vehicle ownership and maintenance, many car makers say the oil filter only needs to be replaced at every other oil change. Most mechanics will tell you this is false economy.

The oil filters on most engines today have been downsized to save weight, cost and space. The “standard” quart-sized filter that was once common on most engines, has been replaced by a pint-sized (or smaller) filter. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that a smaller filter has less total filtering capacity. Even so, the little filters should be adequate for a 3,000 mile oil change intervals but may run out of capacity long before a second oil change at 6,000 or 15,000 miles. Replacing the oil filter every time the oil is changed, therefore, is highly recommended.

Something goes wrong with your car and you’re faced with a high repair bill. It would be nice to get a new car, but is that the smartest decision? Would you be better off fixing your current ride, or is it really time to buy a new one? The answers to these questions will vary, so let me give you some information that might help you make a more informed decision.

REASON TO FIX YOUR CURRENT VEHICLE.

If you aren’t sure if fixing it is the right thing to do, here are a few reasons why it is a good idea to bite the bullet and get the repairs done.

• It is almost always less expensive to repair a car than buy a new one.
• Although something as severe as a blown motor or failed transmission will run you in the thousands of dollars to replace, it still isn’t enough to buy a new car. (It would certainly make a nice down payment, but then there are the monthly payments to consider.)
• Insurance and registration fees will go up with a new car.
• A new car typically loses an estimated 20 percent of its value the moment you drive it off the dealer lot. Your existing car has already taken that depreciation hit
• Repairing it now will keep you on the road and give you more time to save up and get your finances in order.
• You have a sentimental attachment to your car. Maybe it was your first car, a gift from a loved one, or a dream car you finally were able to purchase. For you, buying a new car means giving up an old friend.

REASON TO BUY A NEW CAR.

There are times when it’s time to buy that new vehicle. Here are some reasons for it:

• You don’t want to worry constantly about future breakdowns. Your mechanic told you to expect more things to go wrong with your vehicle.
• You’re tired of the back-and-forth to the repair shop. Some things are fixed the first time around, while others seem to need constant attention or do not get fixed right the first time. Either way, trips to the mechanic are costing you too much time away from work or family, in addition to money.
• You’re tired of your old car. Perhaps it embarrasses you, it rattles like crazy or you have to bang on the A/C to get it working. Every morning when you walk outside and see the neighbor’s car, you long for something new. That’s perfectly normal. Just take a good look at your budget and make an honest assessment of your financial situation.
• You want something safer. Your car is old enough where it’s simply not safe to drive.

A good rule of thumb to estimate when it’s time to throw in the towel, is if the cost of repairs is greater than either the value of the vehicle or one year’s worth of monthly payments and increased insurance payments.

GET AN HONEST ESTIMATE.

The only way to make an accurate decision, is to know what to expect. Ask your mechanic to fully inspect the vehicle and let you know what it really needs to run like new.

It’s the end of the year, which in the auto industry means various ‘of the year’ lists are appearing to sum up the most significant new cars and trucks of the past 12 months. In addition, one of the most watched parts of this automotive award season is the annual Ward’s Auto 10 Best Engines list.

The jurors at Ward’s evaluated 37 new or improved powertrains and showing automakers’ current emphasis on fuel economy that group included 15 turbocharged four-cylinder engines, four electric powertrains, and the first-ever hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain to be eligible for the award. They made up what the jurors called the most diverse field ever.

Here are Ward’s 10 best engines for 2015:

• 127-kilowatt electric motor (BMW i3)
• 6.2-liter OHV V-8 (Chevrolet Corvette Stingray)
• 6.2-liter Supercharged OHV V-8 (Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat)
• 1.0-liter Turbocharged DOHC 3-cylinder (Ford Fiesta)
• 100-kW Fuel Cell (Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell Vehicle)
• 1.5-liter Turbocharged DOHC 3-cylinder (MINI Cooper)
• 3.0-liter Turbodiesel DOHC V-6 (Ram 1500 EcoDiesel)
• 2.0-liter Turbocharged H-4 (Subaru WRX)
• 1.8-liter Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Volkswagen Golf)
• 2.0-liter Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Volvo S60)

The supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V-8 from Dodge has generated plenty of buzz everywhere else, and with 707 horsepower it certainly has the muscle to be considered a great engine. It’s joined by another 6.2-liter V-8, the naturally-aspirated small block from the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, which was eligible again because it made the list last year. The 2015 Subaru WRX’s boxer four also made the cut.

We’ve all heard about the shortage of skilled tradespeople in the United States, and the increasing age of those that are left. If you’re at this site, it’s probably safe to say that you have some slight interest in Auto Repair. Maybe you’re a Mechanic yourself, an avid DIY-er, or simply the curious sort. Perhaps you know someone who is. Whatever the case may be, if a new career is in the offing, there’s no reason to not consider Auto Repair. In fact, there are ten really good reasons to consider it!

1. JOB STABILITY.

The need for Mechanic is kind of like the need for doctors – everyone everywhere will always need them. Being a Mechanic offers you a certain level of security: a good Mechanic can always find employment, and the job can’t be outsourced!

2. LESS STUDENT LOAN DEBT.

College students these days are graduating with tens of thousands of dollars worth of student loan debt. Choosing a trade like Auto Repair often means you can attend vocational school or a community college for significantly less money, and then enter an apprenticeship where you’re actually paid while you learn the trade.

3. ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

Auto Repair is a licensed and regulated trade, and you can choose to work your way all the way up to the master level if you have the ambition to do so. Master Mechanics have a higher salary, more job flexibility, and more opportunities than many other professions.

4. JOB VARIETY.

Mechanics work in all kinds of industries. You could find a job designing Auto systems for new Auto, deciding how to manage, repair, and expand Auto systems, or developing new Auto technologies.

5. INDEPENDENCE.

Professional Mechanics can always choose to go into business for themselves. Owning your own Mechanics business means you can work when you want and where you want, which is great for those who have family obligations or need flexibility in scheduling or location.

6. PERSONAL BENEFITS.

As a Mechanic, you’ll be working your body and your mind all the time. Analyzing problems, developing solutions, and handling day-to-day business transactions will keep your mind sharp, and the physical requirements of the job can keep your body active and healthy.

7. JOB SATISFACTION.

Mechanics really do save lives. Without good Auto Repair systems to deliver Best Results About Driving, we would all be at risk of catching potentially Accidents.

8. SOCIAL INTERACTION.

As a Mechanic, you won’t be stuck in an office all day. You can be out and about, meeting and interacting with new people all the time. If you’re a friendly person and offer your clients good customer service, you can also generate a significant amount of income through these positive interactions.

9. RESPECT.

There are plenty of jokes and biases, but thankfully, more and more people are realizing what Mechanics do for us, and respect for the trade is growing. Indeed, the entire social landscape regarding skilled trades is shifting. After all, not everyone can be a Mechanic – people try to fix extensive problems themselves, make it worse, and then realize that they need you, the professional, to fix things for them.

10. NO MORE Auto Repair Bills.

Once you’ve got the skills, you’ll never need to pay someone else for Your Auto and Car repairs! This is probably the least important reason to become a Mechanic, but hey, if you’re on the tipping point this just might help you make the decision!