Monday, September 29, 2014

5 Mistakes That Could Ruin Your Car

You may want to think twice next time you want to put off that oil change. There are a number of common car mistakes you might be making that could actually ruin your vehicle.

1. Delaying regular maintenance
Regularly maintaining your car is vital to your car's longevity. Regular maintenance includes oil and filter replacement, as well as transmission fluid, air filter and brake pad care. Every vehicle manufacturer specifies a different maintenance routine, which can be found in your owner's manual. While regular maintenance requires you to invest some time and money, it's peanuts compared to the cost of a new engine or transmission. 
2. Ignoring dash warning lights
When a warning indicator lights up on your dash panel, it's important to address the problem immediately. If you don't know what the light means, check your owner's manual or call your mechanic. Dash warning lights can alert you to some very serious problems, such as a coolant leak, which can cause your engine to overheat. A simple preventative repair can often prevent a large problem down the line. 
3. Shifting while moving
The transmission is one of the most complex and expensive parts in your car and it's important to use is as it was intended. Be careful not to shift from drive to reverse or vice versa while the car is still moving. This "jerky" shifting places excess strain on the transmission's internal gears and can instantly destroy it. 
4. Jerky driving
We all know someone who accelerates wildly on every straightaway only to brake hard at a traffic light or stop sign. This type of driving won't destroy your car immediately, but will cause your engine, transmission and brake system to deteriorate much more quickly than intended. Cars that have been abused will have premature fluid leaks, broken seals and mechanical problems. 
5. Putting off tire replacement
Tires for some cars can be expensive, so replacing them is an unwelcome cost. Driving on bald tires is very risky, however. If a tire blows out while you're driving, you can lose control of your vehicle and have a serious accident. And if you drive with bald tires in the rain, the risk of hydroplaning goes up tremendously. A new set of tires may seem pricey, but probably costs less than your car, and even less than your insurance deductible.
Click the link to read the full article: http://aol.it/ZGy48v

Monday, September 22, 2014

USA's Most Inconsiderate Drivers

Do the drivers you see every day seem rude? Are they constantly using a phone while driving, tailgating, or not using their turn signals? Find out what behaviors other drivers find most annoying, and which states the drivers are guiltiest of participating in those behaviors.



Idaho ranked as the No. 1 rudest state in the study. Survey respondents' attitude toward this potato-producing state is rooted in its alleged bumper crump of both speedy spuds and slow-rolling couch potatoes. "The roadways of Idaho present a dichotomy of drivers: Those who are moving so slowly that they're judged to be rude, and the aggressive drivers who speed around them and flip them off," Insure.com said in a statement.

The five driving behaviors that bothered survey participants the most, followed by the percentage reporting so, were:

• Talking on a mobile phone while driving, 47 percent
• Tailgating, 37 percent
• Not signaling turns, 35 percent
• Weaving in and out of lanes, 28 percent
• Driving too fast, like every road is a highway, 26 percent

It bears noting that in Cars.com's recent poll seeking readers' opinions on the most-annoying driving behaviors respondents overwhelming identified "camping out in the passing lane" as the most egregious offense. Our poll's choices represented the most frequently expressed complaints in the comments section of our previous post on the subject.

The study's top 10 rudest states list is split almost evenly between the western and eastern U.S. On the opposite end of the spectrum, North Dakota drivers are, by default, the most polite in the nation, ranking No. 51.

Insure.com's entire list of all 50 states and the District of Columbia is as follows; see where your discourteous drivers rank:

1. Idaho
2. Washington, D.C.
3. New York
4. Wyoming
5. Massachusetts
6. Delaware
7. Vermont
8. New Jersey
9. Nevada
10. Utah
11. Alaska
12. Louisiana
13. Connecticut
14. Rhode Island
15. Iowa
16. Oklahoma
17. California
18. Alabama
19. Arkansas
20. Mississippi
21. Colorado
22. New Mexico
23. Florida
24. Ohio
25. Georgia
26. Illinois
27. Texas
28. Hawaii
29. Kansas
30. Virginia
31. West Virginia
32. Kentucky
33. Maryland
34. Arizona
35. Michigan
36. Indiana
37. Pennsylvania
38. Tennessee
39. Missouri
40. South Carolina
41. South Dakota
42. North Carolina
43. Washington
44. Nebraska
45. Wisconsin
46. Oregon
47. Minnesota
48. Montana
49. New Hampshire
50. Maine
51. North Dakota

Read the full article from Kicking Tires here: http://bit.ly/ZsaDji

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