ARA Collision | Collision Repair

If you’re like me, you’re always trying to find a way to save a buck or two when it comes to filling up at the pump.  I found an article online that lists thirty different ways to save on gas.   Some of the tips are pretty interesting, so next time you jump in your car, remember these gas saving tips.

ENGINE WARM-UP

1. Avoid prolonged warming up of engine, even on cold mornings – 30 to 45 seconds is plenty of time.

2. Be sure the automatic choke is disengaged after engine warm up… chokes often get stuck, resulting in bad gas/air mixture.

3. Don’t start and stop engine needlessly. Idling your engine for one minute consumes the gas amount equivalent to when you start the engine.

4. Avoid “reving” the engine, especially just before you switch the engine off; this wastes fuel needlessly and washes oil down from the inside cylinder walls, owing to loss of oil pressure.

5. Eliminate jack-rabbit starts. Accelerate slowly when starting from dead stop. Don’t push pedal down more than 1/4 of the total foot travel. This allows carburetor to function at peak efficiency.

HOW TO BUY GASOLINE

6. Buy gasoline during coolest time of day – early morning or late evening is best. During these times gasoline is densest. Keep in mind – gas pumps measure volumes of gasoline, not densities of fuel concentration. You are charged according to “volume of measurement”.

7. Choose type and brand of gasoline carefully. Certain brands provide you with greater economy because of better quality. Use the brands which “seem” most beneficial.

8. Avoid filling gas tank to top. Overfilling results in sloshing over and out of tank. Never fill gas tank past the first “click” of fuel nozzle, if nozzle is automatic.

HOW TO DRIVE ECONOMICALLY

9. Exceeding 40 mph forces your auto to overcome tremendous wind resistance.

10. Never exceed legal speed limit. Primarily they are set for your traveling safety, however better gas efficiency also occurs. Traveling at 55 mph give you up to 21% better mileage when compared to former legal speed limits of 65 mph and 70 mph.

11. Traveling at fast rates in low gears can consume up to 45% more fuel than is needed.

12. Manual shift driven cars allow you to change to highest gear as soon as possible, thereby letting you save gas if you “nurse it along”. However, if you cause the engine to “bog down”, premature wearing of engine parts occurs.

13. Keep windows closed when traveling at highway speeds. Open windows cause air drag, reducing your mileage by 10%.

14. Drive steadily. Slowing down or speeding up wastes fuel. Also avoid tailgating – the driver in front of you is unpredictable. Not only is it unsafe, but if affects your economy, if he slows down unexpectedly.

15.Think ahead when approaching hills. If you accelerate, do it before you reach the hill, not while you’re on it.

GENERAL ADVICE

16. Do not rest left foot on floor board pedals while driving. The slightest pressure puts “mechanical drag” on components, wearing them down prematurely. This “dragging” also demands additional fuel usage.

17. Avoid rough roads whenever possible, because dirt or gravel rob you of up to 30% of your gas mileage.

18. Use alternate roads when safer, shorter, straighter. Compare traveling distance differences – remember that corners, curves and lane jumping requires extra gas. The shortest distance between two points is always straight.

19. Stoplights are usually timed for your motoring advantage. By traveling steadily at the legal speed limit you boost your chances of having the “green light” all the way.

20. Automatic transmissions should be allowed to cool down when your car is idling at a standstill, e.g. railroad crossings, long traffic lights, etc. Place gear into neutral position. This reduces transmission strain and allows transmission to cool.

21. Park car so that you can later begin to travel in forward gear; avoid reverse gear maneuvers to save gas.

22. Regular tune-ups ensure best economy; check owner’s manual for recommended maintenance intervals. Special attention should be given to maintaining clean air filters… diminished air flow increases gas waste.

23. Inspect suspension and chassis parts for occasional misalignment. Bent wheels, axles, bad shocks, broken springs, etc. create engine drag and are unsafe at high traveling speeds.

24. Remove snow tires during good weather seasons; traveling on deep tire tread really robs fuel!

25. Inflate all tires to maximum limit. Each tire should be periodically spun, balanced and checked for out-of-round. When shopping for new tires, get large diameter tires for rear wheels. Radial designs are the recognized fuel-savers; check manufacturer’s specifications for maximum tire pressures.

26. Remove vinyl tops – they cause air drag. Rough surfaces disturb otherwise smooth air flow around a car’s body. Bear in mind when buying new cars that a fancy sun roof helps disturb smooth air flow (and mileage).

27. Auto air conditioners can reduce fuel economy by 10% to 20%. Heater fan, power windows and seats increase engine load; the more load on your engine, the less miles per gallon.

28. Remove excess weight from trunk or inside of car – extra tires, back seats, unnecessary heavy parts. Extra weight reduces mileage, especially when driving up inclines.

29. Car pools reduce travel monotony and gas expense – all riders chip in to help you buy. Conversation helps to keep the driver alert. Pooling also reduces traffic congestion, gives the driver easier maneuverability and greater “steady speed” economy. For best results, distribute passenger weight evenly throughout car.

30. During cold weather watch for icicles frozen to car frame. Up to 100 lbs. can be quickly accumulated! Unremoved snow and ice cause tremendous wind resistance. Warm water thrown on (or hosed on) will eliminate it fast.

By Ernest Miles

I found a very informative article on car accident prevention.  Almost daily I see people doing the following mistakes on the road, I’m sure you have too.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Avoid-a-Car-Accident&id=327205

Just this morning I saw one woman putting on her make up on the way to work, not paying attention to what was around her.  She kept drifting over the lane she was in causing other drivers to swerve in the other direction.  I kept a safe distance behind her! This is a prime example on how not to prevent a car accident.

This past weekend I had car accident. Not sure how i could have prevented it. A guy hit me in a parking lot while I was sitting in my car.  He wasn’t paying attention when he was backing up and backed right into me.  Now, any responsible driver would have gotten out and assessed any possible damage they might have caused and exchanged information.  NOPE!  This guy got scared and took off, knowing I was still in my vehicle when he backed into me.  I got out of my car to see the damage, but the first thing I took note of was the type of vehicle he was driving and his license plate number, just in case he decided to take off.  The police showed up, but told me there was not any damage done to my vehicle, so they weren’t going to do anything about it.  It was 11pm at night and I couldn’t see any damage myself, plus my car hasn’t had a good bath in weeks.  The next day I checked out my car again just to see if i could see any damage in the day light.  You could see fresh scratches in the paint of my bumper.  I wasn’t THAT worried about it since I work at the best auto body shop in Seattle, but still mad that I was hit and the fact that it could have been avoided if he had been paying attention to what was around him, and he had car accident prevention knowledge.

This Article brought to you by ARA Collision.

www.aracollision.com

The voting has started!  Remember to vote for us for Best of Western Washington Body Shop.  Contest ends on October 11th.  Vote and you could win a trip to Los Cabos!  Visit www.KING5.com/best to vote under category: Body Shop – ARA Collision

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www.aracollision.com

The ARA Collision website has a new ‘Before & After‘ page of vehicles that were in our shop for repairs.   New photos will be added soon, so check back often.  Feel free to navigate back here and leave a comment …. or two =)

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When should I wash the car?

DON’T…. wait for a layer of crud to accumalate before washing.  Dead bugs, bird droppings, and chemicals from the atmosphere all leach acids that can strip away wax and eventually eat into your cars paint.  If left too long, they can cause damage that requires sanding and repainting the area to correct.

DO…. wash off dead bugs, bird droppings, and tree-sap mist as soon as possible.  Other than this, a weekly car wash will keep the finish in its best shape.  In addition, if you live in an area that suffers from acid rain, rinse your vehicle off after a period of rainy weather.  Otherwise, acidic chemicals in the rainwater will be left on the surface after the droplets have evaporated, leaving a mark that can permanently mar the paint.

DON’T…. use household cleaning agents like hand soap, dishwashing detergent, or glass cleaner on the paint.  These aren’t formulated for use on a car’s paint and may strip off the protective wax.

DO…. use a dedicated car-wash product, which is milder and specifically designed for use on automotive paint.  Apply the suds with a large, soft natural sponge or a lamb’s-wool mitt.

Grease, rubber, and road-tar deposits picked up from the road often accumulate around the wheel wells and along the lower edge of the body.  These can be stubborn to remove and may require a stronger product, such as a bug-and-tar remover.  Use a soft, nonabrasive cloth to remove these deposits, as they can quickly blacken your sponge.

Use a seperate sponge to clean the wheels and tires, which may be coated with sand, brake dust, and other debris that could mar the car’s finish.  Mild soap and water may work here; if not, a dedicated wheel cleaner may be required.  Be sure the cleaner is compatible with the type of finish (paint, clear-coat, chrome, etc.) used on the wheels.  A strong formula intended for mag wheels, for instance, can damage the clear coat that’s used on the wheels that come on today’s cars.  To be on the safe side, choose a cleaner that’s labeled as safe for use on all wheels.

Are there any general guidelines I should follow when washing a car?

DON’T…. wash your car when the body is hot, such as immediately after driving it or after it has been parked in the direct sunlight for awhile.  Heat speeds the drying of soap and water, making washing more difficult and increasing the chances that spots or deposits will form.

DON’T…. move the sponge in circles.  This can create light, but noticeable scratches called swirl marks.  Instead, move the sponge lengthwise across the hood and other body panels.  And don’t continue using a sponge that’s dropped on the ground without thoroughly rinsing it out.  The sponge can pick up dirt particles that can scratch the paint.

DO…. rinse all surfaces thoroughly with water before you begin washing to remove loose dirt and debris that could cause scratching.  Once you begin, concentrate on one section at a time, washing and rinsing each area completely before moving on to the next one.  This ensures that  you have plenty of time to rinse before the soap dries.  Start at the top, and then work your way around the car.

Work the car-wash solution into a lather with plenty of suds that provide lots of lubrication on the paint surface.  And rinse the sponge often.  Using a seperate bucket to rinse the sponge keeps dirt from getting mixed into the sudsy wash water.

When rinsing, use a hose without a nozzle and let the water flow over the car from top to bottom.  This creates a sheeting action that helps minimize pooling of water.

How should I dry the car when I am done?

DON’T…. let the car air dry, and don’t expect a drive around the block to do an effective job.  Either will leave watermarks, which in areas with hard water are the minerals left after evaporation.  In addition, don’t use an abrasive towel or other material that can leave hairline scratches in the paint.

DO…. use a chamois (natural or synthetic) or soft terry towels.  If you choose towels, you may need several.  It’s best to blot the water up instead of dragging the towel or chamois over the paint.  The drying process can be speeded up by using a soft squeegee to remove most of the water on the body, but be sure the rubber is pliable and that it doesn’t pick up bits of dirt that can cause scratches.

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