PAGE 2 THE EXPONENT, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2018 How to prepare for an out-of-town breakdown Road trips make for excel- lent getaways. Whether you’re embarking on a weekend excursion or a lengthy vaca- tion, driving yourself to your destination is a great way to travel, especially for families looking to save money. Though no one wants to think about the possibility of a vehicle breakdown while out of town, such things do happen. How prepared drivers are can go a long way toward determining how af- Some advance preparation can help drivers avert out- fected they and their passen- of-town disasters. gers will be if this happens. assistance offered through an and need to be replaced. But insurance company or motor if part of Lincoln’s head is • Get a checkup before club may include tow trucks always covered, your tires skipping town. It sounds free of charge up to a certain can probably withstand the simple, but many drivers may number of miles, allowing trip. Worn tire treads can overlook the importance of travelers to get their cars back make it hard for tires to safely vehicle checkups before de- home without breaking the navigate roads in inclement parting on weekend getaways bank. weather, so don’t discount or longer trips. A full checkup • Inspect tires, including the importance of this simple (including an oil change if the your spare. Many a road trip step. recommended interval has has been derailed or thrown • Bring along some passed or is approaching) can off schedule due to a flat tire basic tools. Pack some basic uncover any problems that or tires. Before departing, tools, such as screw drivers, might derail a trip. check the condition of your wrenches, pliers, a trolley • Examine your options in existing tires, including the jack, a battery charger, and, of regard to emergency roadside spare, as well as the air pres- course, duct tape, which may assistance. Insurance provid- sure in each one. Firestone help you temporarily solve ers typically offer emergency notes that many vehicle some issues on your own. roadside assistance to policy manufacturers recommend This is especially important holders for a nominal fee, and replacing tires at six years, for drivers who intend to visit memberships in clubs such regardless of tread wear. Tires remote locations where mo- as AAA also are inexpensive. that get heavy usage should bile phone networks may be That’s especially true when be replaced even more fre- inaccessible and the nearest drivers compare the cost of quently. To determine if tread tow truck might be far away. extra coverage or AAA mem- wear is something to worry Hone your tire-changing bership to the potential price about, Firestone recommends skills before hitting the road tag of a tow truck and out-of- the penny test, which involves and make sure tools are still town repairs. Drivers should placing a penny head first capable of performing the note that out-of-town repairs into several tread grooves kind of basic maintenance may require costly overnight across the tire. If the top of that might help your vehicle shipping of parts so travelers Abraham Lincoln’s head is safely return to civilization. can get back on the road as always visible, then your Vehicle breakdowns happen, quickly as possible. Roadside tires are shallow and worn even while on vacation. How to avoid and repair flat tires Nothing can delay road trips more sud- • Tire treads: The Allstate Insurance denly than flat tires. Unfortunately, because company says to look for worn tire treads. tires are the only part of the vehicle constant- Check for wear bar indicator marks located ly in contact with the road, wear and tear is to between the tread pattern of the tires. If the be expected. wear bar is level with the treads, it’s time for The National Highway Traffic Safety- Ad new tires. Otherwise, place a quarter between ministration says that flat tires and blowouts the grooves of the tire. If the tread doesn’t are a leading cause of highway traffic acci- extend beyond the top of Washington’s head, dents. Even though flats cannot be prevented, it’s a good idea to replace the tires. there are ways to make tires less vulnerable • Construction sites: Drivers should try to and make vehicles safer along the way. avoid areas under construction. Rocks, nails, metal shards, glass, and divots in the roads Flat tire avoidance can cause punctures and eventually flats. Routine inspection and tire maintenance is essential to their performance. In addition, Flat tire repair paying attention to road hazards and avoid- When flats occur, having the right tools ing them when possible can prolong the life and understanding the procedure for fixing of tires. the flat is key. • Tire pressure: Tires should be main- Drivers will need an inflated spare tire, tained at the correct air pressure indicated on a jack, a lug wrench, bracing material (to the sidewall or as advised by the manufactur- keep the vehicle from rolling, such as a brick er. Tires with too much air can be damaged or piece of wood), and the vehicle’s owner’s by bumpy roads and potholes. Tires that are manual. Goodyear says it is essential to fix not inflated enough may increase friction on the flat in a safe area away from traffic and on the roadway, resulting in a blowout. Check a flat surface. tire pressure routinely, and do so when • Use the owner’s manual to find the cor- the tires have rested for three hours. Many rect position to place the jack to lift the car. vehicles now monitor tire pressure automati- • Remove hubcaps or center covers to ac- cally and alert drivers through a signal on the cess the lug nuts. With the lug wrench, loosen dashboard. lug nuts in a counterclockwise direction. • Tire wear: The advisors at Select Auto • Take off the tire and put on the spare. Imports say that inspecting tires for uneven Replace and tighten the lug nuts. Replace wear should be a routine part of mainte- hubcaps or covers. nance. If tires show uneven wear, they may • Slowly lower the vehicle and drive be more susceptible to flats or blowouts. Tire cautiously to ensure the spare is in working rotations can help alleviate uneven wear. The order. NHTSA recommends tires be rotated every • Purchase a new tire or have a hole 5,000 miles. plugged or repaired at a tire center. THE EXPONENT, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2018, PAGE 3 n How to recognize n potential brake problems Maintaining a vehicle is more than just a way to protect one’s financial invest- ment. Vehicle maintenence can protect against accidents and make the road safer for drivers and their passengers as well as their fellow motor- ists. Fully functioning brakes are an important component of automotive safety. In its 2015 Crash Stats report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that brake-related problems accounted for 22 percent of crashes where vehicular Drivers must address symptoms of a faulty braking failure was cited as the cause system early on to reduce their risk of accidents. of the collision. Bad brakes are particularly notorious for parts, resulting in more ex- • Pungent odors: Fires- rear-end collisions. Faulty, pensive repairs if they’re not tone Tire Company says a worn brake lines, antilock addressed promptly. burning smell may be indica- brake system malfunctions • Pulling: If the car pulls tive of worn out brake pads and worn brake pads and to one side when apply- and friction on the tires. discs are some potential ing the brakes, this may Each of these issues require brake problems. indicate brake pad linings immediate attention. It is important that are wearing down unevenly. • Vibrations: Certain vi- motorists learn to recognize A brake adjustment may be brations may indicate brake the first symptoms of brake necessary. Pulling also may issues. Rotors can become trouble so they can address be indicative of an object or warped from metal-on-metal issues before they put driv- debris caught in the brake rubbing, potentially leading ers, their passengers and fluid. to a failure of the vehicle to other motorists at risk of • Less responsive: If when brake properly. Vibrations accident or injury. pressing on the brake pedal also may indicate tires are the brakes just do not seem misaligned. These problems • Unusual noises: to be as effective as they once can be properly assessed by a Screeching, grinding, rub- were, or it is necessary to trained mechanic. bing, and high-pitched press the pedal harder for Do not let potential brake sounds are common the brakes to engage, there problems go unchecked. indicators that brake pads, may be a brake fluid leak or Keeping brakes in good rotors and other parts of the an air leak. Check under the working order helps drivers braking system need atten- vehicle to see if any fluids are stop more readily and avoid tion. Worn pads can cause pooling. collisions. damage to other vehicle Why clean air filters are important Vehicle owners likely know to check fluid levels and get their cars’ oil changed, but air filters may not be at the top of their mainte- nance checklists. Despite being a relatively inexpensive part, air filters often go over- looked. Air filters have an important job in a vehicle, prolonging the life span of engines and helping cars run more smoothly and ef- ficiently.

Purpose of vehicle air filters Replacing air filters is an inexpensive way Vehicle combustion engines operate with to keep vehicles performing at peak capac- a mixture of fuel and air. Without oxygen, ity. gasoline or diesel fuels cannot burn properly and power the engine. The air filter’s job is to • Reduce stress on the engine. Because of prevent dirt, dust and other debris from be- the air-to-fuel mix in engines, even a mixture ing sucked into an engine. Otherwise, grime that is slightly off balance can affect what is can build up and impede engine performance going on under the hood. That means the or cause erosion of parts under the hood. engine must work harder to get enough clean It is much more cost-effective to routinely air into the chamber to complete the combus- change air filters than replace expensive tion cycle, says the Automotive Training Cen- engine parts. Rather than ignoring air filters ter. until the last minute, drivers can take steps • Enjoy more power. A filter that is satu- to keep filters clean and functioning at peak rated with dirt will restrict air flow. In such performance. instances, drivers may notice a lack of power • Improve fuel efficiency. Clogged air during acceleration. Replacing the filter can filters reduce air flow to engines, resulting in easily restore that pep. an improper ratio of air to fuel. As a result, • Reduce vehicle emissions. Environmen- spark plugs can be negatively affected and tal concerns are a priority for many people. the engine may idle roughly or misfire. These By keeping the engine working properly, scenarios can greatly affect fuel efficiency as with the advantage of clean, unobstructed air well as cause engine deposits from rich fuel. entering the chamber, a vehicle may produce To save money and trips to the fuel pump, lower emissions. replace filters regularly. According to Gear- R eplacing air filters is an easy fix that Heads, for older cars, studies have indicated many drivers can do themselves, or ask their that by replacing a dirty air filter, one can im- mechanics to do during oil changes or other prove gas mileage by as much as 14 percent. repair shop visits. 4 simple ways to extend the life of your vehicle

Automobiles are signifi- washing and waxing can over time. Drivers of older cant investments. According remove dirt that, if left on a vehicles without tire pressure to Kelley Blue Book, the vehicle, can gradually scratch alerts should routinely check average transaction price for paint and contribute to chips tire pressure and keep tires light vehicles was $34,968 in and rust. Over time, rust can adequately inflated. Vehicles January 2017, marking a 3 affect vehicle performance that are slow to accelerate percent increase from just a and may even compromise from resting positions may year earlier. the safety of drivers and their not have enough air in their The decision to spend passengers if bad enough tires. tens of thousands of dol- frame rust affects structural lars on a new vehicle is not integrity. Routine washing 4. Adhere to maintenance one consumers should take also can remove road salt guidelines. lightly. Once drivers purchase from vehicles. Salt can build Drivers may have heard their new vehicles, they can up during winter when roads that today’s vehicles were protect their investments and are routinely treated during built to go longer periods of get greater returns on those and after snowstorms. Road time between oil changes and investments by prioritiz- salt can be extremely cor- tuneups than the vehicles of ing maintenance and taking rosive and, if left unremoved yesteryear. But drivers should simple yet effective steps to from a vehicle, can contribute still adhere to manufacturer- extend the lives of their cars to rust that ultimately can recommended maintenance and trucks. cause extensive damage to a guidelines. Upon buying vehicle. new vehicles, drivers should 1. Drive defensively. read their owners’ manuals Aggressive driving is danger- 3. Routinely check tire pres- to determine recommended ous and can have adverse sure. maintenance intervals, and effects on a vehicle. When Many of today’s new stick to those intervals for driving, always obey posted vehicles alert drivers when as long as they have their speed limits and avoid ac- tire pressure is low. Drivers vehicles. celerating and decelerating should not ignore such warn- Cognizant of the sizable quickly. Such a style of driv- ings, as low tire pressure can investments they’re making ing can strain vehicle engines affect engine performance when buying new vehicles, and drive trains while nega- by forcing it to work harder many drivers want to get tively affecting fuel efficiency than should be necessary. as many miles out of their and wearing down brakes, Engines that are forced to vehicles as possible. Simple states the National Institute work harder than they need maintenance and safe driv- of Automotive Service Excel- to likely won’t last as long as ing habits can go a long way lence. those that run efficiently. Low toward keeping vehicles on tire pressure also negatively the road for years to come. 2. Maintain a clean vehicle. affects fuel efficiency, poten- Car washes do more than tially costing drivers sub- just clean a vehicle. Routine stantial amounts of money PAGE 4 THE EXPONENT, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2018