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Correct tyre pressure If you car handles in a
heavy, sluggish manner, chances are your tyres areunder-inflated.
The average tyre should be inflated to between 20 and 30 psi or
140kPa. to 210kPa. Don’t let your tyres sink lower than 15 psi or
105kPa, as the tyre may overheat, and deflate completely.
Is your tyre leaking? Check by placing a little
saliva on the valve. If it bubbles, you have a leak.
What’s that smell? An oily smell can mean engine
oil cap missing, gasket leaking, or excessive fumes from a warm
engine. A smell like rope burning may indicate a slipping clutch,
binding brakes or that the handbrake's still on. Petrol smells can
mean an overfull fuel tank, a leaking fuel tank, a petrol cap missing,
carburettor flooded, or a leaking fuel pump.
Gears crunching? If it’s difficult to get your
car in gear or there’s crunching, the synchromesh could be out of
alignment, or a gear itself, could be damaged. See your local Repco
Auto Repairer for advice.
Tyre tips At 120 km/h, your tyres will wear out
twice as fast as when you drive at 70 km/h. If your tyres are under-inflated
by twenty per cent tyre life can be reduced by thirty per cent.
Don’t inflate your tyres above 40 psi or 280 kPa. When the tyres
get hot from driving, the pressure will increase even more.
Save the environment Around 13% of our cars produce
approximately half the car pollution. The majority of these are
probably old, and poorly maintained vehicles. Maintaining your car,
maintains the environment, and saves you money in reduced fuel bills.
How to store your car If you’re going to store
your car for a few months here’s a few tips. Check the oil in the
engine, gearbox and differential are clean, and topped up to the
correct levels. The petrol tank should be full (to minimise condensation),
and the car should be mounted on wooden blocks or jack-stands. Don’t
use bricks or concrete blocks, as they're likely to deteriorate
and crumble. Take the handbrake off and disconnect the battery.
The battery should be recharged every month. This will ensure the
car starts up when you take it down.
Storing a car for up to 12 months Take the following
steps to minimise engine corrosion. Have someone drive the vehicle
once a month. If that's not possible, have the drive-wheels jacked
up off the ground, and run the engine at average revs for fifteen
or so minutes, every month.
Where to check for rust If buying a used car,
look for rust in the following places: under floor mats, under carpets,
inside boot wells, doorsills, door panels, as well as under the
vehicle.
Clean batteries One way to remove corrosion from
battery terminals is to wash them with a mixture of baking soda
and water.
Cleaning car chrome To prevent rust, polish with
methylated spirits, then rub on petroleum jelly for a lustrous shine.
Alternatively, rub on plain flour, then polish with a soft cloth.
Clean car windows 1 On foggy mornings, try rubbing
a cut, raw potato over the car windows. When it dries it will keep
the windows clear.
Cleaner windscreens 2 Get rid of windscreen film.
Just add a tablespoon of ammonia per 600 ml of water. It works better
than plain old soap and water. Fumes from new cars The plastic fittings
in most new cars give off fumes. These fumes can cause a haze on
the windows. Sponge with vinegar, rinse with water and wipe with
a dry cloth.
Keep your air conditioner longer Run the car's
air-conditioning for a good ten minutes each week, even in winter.
This prevents the refrigerant from leaking out.
Removing tar from paintwork Try margarine over
the tar marks, leave for a couple of hours, then wipe off with a
damp cloth. Repeat, if necessary.
Removing tar marks on the duco A cloth moistened
with eucalyptus oil will remove those unsightly tar marks. If the
tar marks cover a large area, dilute one part oil with four parts
of kerosene or petrol.
Wash me please Wash your car at least once a week.
It stops grime causing permanent damage.
Ballpoint pen stains To remove mix equal parts
of fresh calcium and fuller's earth (available at most chemists),
then add a few drops of methylated spirits. Make into a thick paste,
apply and wait till dry. Remove with damp cloth and dry thoroughly.
Repeat procedure if stain persists.
Removing marks on cloth seats First try to absorb
as much as possible. Sponge or spray with dry-cleaning fluid. Apply
warm water and vinegar. Rinse with water. Keep repeating until the
stain is gone. Blot dry.
Removing rego stickers Rather than a razor blade,
rub it with a wad of cottonwool, soaked in nail polish remover,
and the sticker will dissolve, then clean glass with methylated
spirits.
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