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Be car care aware with 7 steps to a greener car Metroland Newspapers Carguide Magazine April is Earth Month in Canada and you can make a positive impact with your vehicle and save money at the same time. It doesn't matter if the car you're driving is new or old, big or small. There are preventive maintenance steps every vehicle owner can take to make sure their car is green, clean and lean this spring, summer and all year long, according to Car Care Canada. By following some simple preventive maintenance steps, you can help protect the environment by improving fuel consumption, which in turn saves money at the pump. Step One: Keep it Clean · The products that you use to clean and care for your car should be environmentally friendly. Check the labels of items to make sure they are recognized as truly green. · Do not pour antifreeze or other engine fluids into sewers, on the ground or into floor drains. Bring used engine fluids to a certified recycling location for disposal. · If you change your own oil, be sure to properly dispose of it as well. One litre of oil can make a slick larger than a football field! · Never pour used oil down the drain or into the ground. · Changing the oil and the oil filter as recommended in the owner's manual is one of the best ways to keep the engine running trouble free. Step Two: Keep your car properly tuned for optimum performance. A well-tuned engine delivers the best balance of power and fuel consumption and produces the lowest level of emissions. A 21st Century tune-up for modern vehicles includes the following system checks: battery, charging and starting; engine mechanical; powertrain control (including onboard diagnostic checks); fuel; ignition; and emissions. A proper tune-up can improve fuel consumption by an average of four per cent. Step Three: Have the spark plugs checked. A vehicle can have four, six or eight spark plugs, which fire as many as 2 million times every 1,000 kilometres. This results in a lot of heat, electrical, and chemical erosion. Step Four: Maintain the cooling system of your vehicle. A cooling system thermostat that causes the engine to run too cold will lower the fuel efficiency of a car by as much as one or two mpg. There also are improved radiator caps on the market today that allow the cooling system to operate at a higher temperature before boiling over, increasing the system's efficiency and reducing emissions. Step Five: Watch your Tires. Improper tire maintenance causes 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 to be released into the environment annually and is estimated to cost Canadian light-duty vehicle owners almost 643 million litres of fuel per year. At 99 cents per litre for regular unleaded gasoline, that amounts to $637 million a year in wasted fuel! Tires that are not properly inflated add rolling resistance that makes the engine work harder to move the vehicle. Tire pressure should be checked at least monthly, including the spare. Step Six: Green Driving Tips. Aside from maintenance, your driving plays a big role as well. Jerky and aggressive driving can increase fuel consumption by as much as 37 per cent and also increases wear and tear on your vehicle. Avoid sudden starts and stops and go the speed limit. Thinking ahead, getting directions and planning your errands in one trip will minimize unnecessary kilometers and will also make driving less frustrating. Step Seven: Go Green, Clean and Lean Visit http://www.carcarecanada.ca for a link to the free Family Road Trip Guide, which includes tips for saving gas and protecting the environment. 17 · Wednesday, March 31, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com FREE VOLVO OIL CHANGE If you have never been to Volvo of Oakville For service NOW is the time! Enjoy a Free Oil Change when you Visit us for the very first time. See rules and details below. Bring your Volvo into Volvo of Oakville for the very first time and enjoy a free oil change. No strings, no gimics ­ just free! If you drive a Volvo and have never been to Volvo of Oakville, just drop by anytime and we'll change your oil no matter where you bought your car, or where it's serviced! One oil change per car. Some restrictions may apply. BUT HURRY ­ IT'S A LIMITED TIME OFFER! Valid from March 1st to April 17, 2010. 770 Pacific Road, Oakville Phone: (905) 825-8088 SERVICE DEPARTMENT OPEN SATURDAYS 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. VOLVO OF OAKVILLE www.volvoofoakville.com Call Volvo of Oakville for details or visit our website.