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PAGE 12 - PLAINDEALER - FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1,1W3 AUTO FACTS CAR MAINTENANCE MYTHS If you believe a car driven only to church on Sundays by a little old lady is the best used car choice, you've been believing a myth FACT: Short trips allow moisture and fuel to build up in the crankcase and dilute the oil. That little old lady was doing more harm than good to her trusty automobile. MYTH: Engine oil never wears out. FACT: Additives are used up over time and oil becomes contaminated. With age. oil Ix-tomes thicker, thereby reducing gas mileage Oil always needs to be changed a<cording to the owner's manual directions. MY'IU: Automatic transmissions never require service. FACT: Most manufacturers and repairmen recommend regular maintenance. Transmission oil, like engine oil. becomes contaminated. Transmission life can be extended by changing the fluid, cleaning or replacing filters, and making necessary adjustments. Special attention is required if the car is subjected to any strenuous activity, like towing a trailer. MYTH: Bad batteries are the major cause of faulty engine starting. FACT: Batteries and cables are frequently the trouble, but engines often fail to start because they need a tune-up Tune-ups are recommended by maintenance experts every 12,000 miles for conventional systems and every 20,000 miles for new models with electrical engine systems. ^ MYTH: Anti-freeze should be kept full strength and need not be changed. FACT: Anti-freeze, like water, will freeze if it is full strength in the cooling system A gauge should be used and water added for the proper temperature range. Permanent anti-freeze isnt't really permanent. It should be flushed out every two years to prevent corrosion and eliminate deposits. Check hoses and clamps, too. MYTH: Automatic chokes should be set richer during cold weather. FACT: The thermostat within the automatic choke regulates the setting without any tampering on the owner's part. MYTH: Warm up the engine before driving for best results. FACT: Engines are best warmed by driving conservatively 10 or I) seconds after starting MYTH: Tire pressure should be the same in front and rear tires. FACT: Rear tires should have higher pressure for better steering response. riding comfort, and stability because they catry extra weight. For cars with front < wheel drive, exactly the opposite is true Small cars are populating highways, city streets, and country roads in greater numbers than ever before as Americans attempt to combat the rising price of gasoline But small cars handle differently than larger models, so driving skills must " be correspondingly tailored to fit small-car needs. Acceleration is slower on a small car, unless it is a racing model. This means the small car requires time and distance to pass and merge Situations in which a large car could pass or accelerate through a problem may mean the small-car driver must be patient, gauge the distance and abilities of his car carefully, and adopt a more conservative driving style. A small-car driver has less window space, larger rear "blind spots," and may be as much as nine inches closer to the ground thwi a driver in a large car. This calls for constant eye movement and extra caution at all times Road signs may be more difficult to see and hills more difficult to survey. Changing lanes is also more difficult. By watching for high signs, not passing when unable to see over hill crests, and driving more defensively, the small-car driver 'greatly increases safety for his passengers, himself, and other travelers. Since vision is more obscured, it is more difficult to anticipate dangerous situations Therefore, small-car drivers must allow more following distance so they have »ample time to stop in case of danger. Nighttime visibility is restricted in a small car because headlights are closer to the ground. The headlights of large following vehicles can also shine right through the rear window, making already hindered visibility even worse To be safe at night, the smali-car driver should reduce speed to compensate for any less- than-ideal driving conditions. ^ad weather also affects a small car's " handling Radial tires help, but to a limited degree A slower speed and extra * STRAIGHT TALK ON TIRES Tires needn't be costly or confusing. A few standard maintenance procedures will keep them and your car in tip-top running condition. Check your tires' air pressure at home or before you've driven a full mile for the most accurate reading. At the service station, add enough air to make up the difference between this "cold" pressure reading and the tire pressure recommended for maximum driving safety and performance For example, if the pressure were 23 pounds when driven a mile or less and your tires' recommended pressure is 31 pounds, the tires are eight pounds underinflated. However, by the time you reach the service station, warm tires will register a higher inflation, so add the number of pounds required to correct the original reading. It is the cold pressure which truly matters. Pressure should be checked at least once a month. Since tires typically "exhale" up to a pound of air a month, this regular check will help you keep them at peak pressure, before trouble can start. The metric-sized, radial tires on new-model cars should be inflated to the pressure indicated on their sidewalls for maximum fuel efficiency. Maximum air pressure increases fuel efficiency by reducing rolling resistance. Five to ten percent of a car's fuel consumption goes toward overcoming the tires' rolling resistance. Air pressure should not be changed in the summer or winter. In winter, tires lose a pound of pressure for every 10-degree drop in temperature If you reduce your tyes' pressure, it will only increase wear and fuel consumption. In summer, lower tire pressure can cause dangerous overheating and blowouts, as well. Balancing is necessary whenever you mount tires onto wheels, or when noticeable vibrations occur on smooth roads. For this reason, plan to leave your snow tires mounted on their wheels during storage. Radial tires provide a smoother ride at highway and most city speeds, but may seem a little rougher at speeds of 20 mph or less. Route radial tires from front to back and back to front on the same side if uneven wear is noticed Do not rotate them diagonally, as one does for bias-ply tires. Bias-ply ures can be mixed with radial* if the bias-ply tires are mounted on the front axle only It is not acceptable for bias-ply to be mixed with radials if the bias-ply are on the rear axle. Snow tires are needed in place of radials where snow accumulates up to two inches or more Snow tires should be mounted on the axle doing the pulling Front axle mounting for front-wheel-drive can and rear axle mounting for standard cars is appropriate. Your tires will take good care of you and your car if you take good care of them. SHIFTING TO SMALL-CAR DRIVING SKILLS following space between cars will make the journey on slick roads safer for everyone concerned. Wind also affects the small car. With the passing of a large truck or bus. the small car will be pushed away, then sucked toward the vehicle as it moves ahead of the car. By keeping both hands on the wheel, expecting a push and pull motion, and moving to the far side of the lane, this vacuum effect can be lessened. Driving a small car can be economical, safe, fun, and simple, but precautions must be taken. The vety ben guideline of all is to drive defensively when you're behind the wheel of any automobile It's especially good advice for those who enjoy the added incentives of owning a smaller car