- Take
Care Of Your Grad Gift
- BY RUDY HIEBERT
So you graduated,
congratulations. I hope you were lucky to receive a new car to
reward you for your well deserved accomplishments. Keeping your
new car will take some planning, so may I help you with doing
that? My suggestions will not cover everything but will do what
needs to be done. You're almost on your own and your Mom or Dad
won't always do it for you, I speak from experience.
Remember that car ownership is not only about filling it with
gas and paying the insurance will be your first goal. If you
had to pay back a car loan that would be added to your list.
Your owners
manual has a schedule to assist with maintenance that needs done
at the right time. Use it as if your life depends on it. This
is where I take a minute to explain to things about oil changes
and related lubrication essentials that are not fully explained.
You will see recommendations reflecting the types of engine and
drive train lubricants. You will not see reasons for better performance
from synthetic lubricants. Combining these omissions with promoting
frequent oil changes, dealers want you to see you every 3,000
miles or three months whichever comes first. Petroleum oils require
shorter drain intervals than synthetics. I recommend not pushing
the margin until you understand more about what's available.
If you are in an area that is environmentally conscious, you'll
need to pay for "AirCare". Using synthetic lubricants,
superior oil and air filters and superior fuel additive to keep
the insides of your engine, you'll pass if everything is running
to a top performance level.
Check your
engine's dip stick to make sure you keep the level to the full
mark is my last suggestion here in this aspect. Don't say your
too busy for this. If you're car dies on the freeway and you
see no oil on the dip stick, you'll kick yourself. Another bit
of advice I wish to pass on, and here again, from experience,
tires need rotating. Checking with the dealer and the manual
you will find that you may not be covered for replacement if
you wait too long between rotations. In my case, 10,000 kms was
the interval I should have adhered to.
Keeping the car's finish is one way to turn heads if that's your
style. I use Amsoil's Car Polish. It beads rain like nothing
I've seen. I also use Rain Shield on the windshield which is
a relief when you are hit by rain. Car care is visual but how
many times are you persuaded by first impressions? Use a good
leather and vinyl cleaner and protectant. The sun's UV rays kill
upholstry and the dash board. You need a good product that blocks
the intrusiion of the damaging attacks of the sun and dirt.
In conclusion, keep it between the lines and good luck in your
new grad car.
Rudy Hiebert
Amsoil Inc. Dealer
www.lubedealer.com/hiebert
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ARTICLE POSTED
JUNE 24, 2003
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