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Are you looking to embark on a summer family vacation that won’t break the bank? Whether it’s heading to an amusement park or road tripping across the country, there are simple ways to spend within your means by making informed, cost-conscious decisions while on the road. Family budgeting expert Jonni McCoy has some important tips to help families plan and create affordable, memorable and stress-free summer trips.
Most states have passed some form of lemon law to protect car buyers in situations where they have purchased a vehicle that is defective beyond repair. Frequently, these laws apply only to new cars, but you should check with your state to be sure.
Want more horsepower without paying much to get it? Here are three ways today’s top engine builders get more power from their racing engines and their personal cars, without spending a lot of money to do it.
Many people don’t know how to select motor oil that will help them get optimum performance out of their car. People often just select the oil their father used, or they may take the suggestion of a counter person at an auto parts store who may not know any more about cars than they do.
There are meaningful differences in motor oils and choosing the right one can have a major impact on how well your car runs. Selecting the right oil is the quickest and cheapest way to improve your car’s performance and reliability.
With gasoline prices still hovering near $3 per gallon in many areas of the country, you may be wishing you could afford a hybrid. The good news is, you can probably increase your fuel efficiency and reduce fuel costs right now – without shelling out thousands more for a hybrid car or waiting a few more years until automakers produce cheaper, more plentiful hybrids.
Exit your car lease early - no penalties!
The cooler days of fall are an excellent time to prepare your car for the potential ravages of winter. According to the experts at the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), "Cold weather will only make existing problems worse."
A few minutes in the garage this fall could help prevent a much more time-consuming and unpleasant experience this winter. First, read your owner's manual and follow the manufacturer's recommended service schedules. No one knows your car better than the company that manufactured it.
With the rising cost of gas, it is getting less and less affordable to own a car these days. As a result of this increase in cost, car manufacturers have lately been very aggressive in promoting their line of hybrid cars designed to save fuel.
While a hybrid car in general does saves you some money on gas
(ARA) - Work and home responsibilities take an enormous amount of time each day. While being “under pressure” is not healthy for people, it’s also very bad for your tires.
Tires can lose 1 to 2 pounds per square inch (PSI) of pressure each month. When tires are “under pressure” they become more stressed and can get hot under the collar. Well, under the rim, anyway.
Excess stress on people can cause health problems. Excess stress on tires due to low inflation pressure can decrease fuel economy, make tires wear out faster and can affect vehicle safety. Under inflated tires generate heat that over time can cause tire failure.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that under inflated tires contribute to 660 fatalities and 33,000 injuries each year.
Unfortunately, 85 percent of American drivers fail to properly check tire pressure, according to a motorist survey by the Rubber Manufacturers Association. On the bright side, promoting healthy tires is simple and only takes five minutes each month. The key prescription: check the air pressure with a tire gauge.
Make sure that you check tires when they are cold -- before driving even a mile. This will ensure an accurate reading since tire temperature increases while driving and that causes tire pressure to rise.
Next, use the correct tire pressure for your vehicle. Nearly 45 percent of drivers do not know where to find the correct tire pressure for their car. Hint: don’t look on the tire! The pressure listed on the tire sidewall is the maximum pressure for the tire. Find a label on the driver’s door or check the owner’s manual. Vehicle manufacturers establish the recommended inflation pressure.
Finally, don’t forget to check the spare. Seventy percent of drivers never check the inflation pressure in the spare tire. Getting a flat tire is bad enough. A flat spare tire when you need it most just adds insult to injury.
To learn more about proper tire care and how to Be Tire Smart, visit www.betiresmart.org.
Courtesy of ARAcontent