Page loading ... Please wait.

(ARA) - The approach of summer means just one thing to car buyers - the opportunity to score a great deal, especially on some used vehicles that dealers are motivated to move out of their inventory as 2010 really gets rolling.

Bargains can be hot at this time of year for those who know how to shop smart for a good used car. With "Cash for Clunkers" a fading memory and Americans still looking to buy used cars rather than investing in new ones that depreciate as soon as you drive them off the lot, the used car market is hotter than ever.

Brian Bossone, one of the creative minds behind SPEED's popular "Pinks All Out" series, knows a lot about used cars. After all, the series features common folks who buy and build or rebuild their own race cars to compete in the popular drag racing show. Bossone offers a few tips to help you ensure you're buying the used car of your dreams, rather than the lemon of the year.

Here are the top items you should inspect when buying a used car:

1. Look for paint and body repair. Evidence of body work could mean the car has been in an accident.

2. Check for fluid leaks. Any leaking fluid, from oil to windshield washer, could mean the car needs a costly repair.

3. Look at the engine. Does it sound smooth or rough? Does it smoke excessively?

4. Evaluate the overall wear and tear on all parts of the vehicle. Is the wear commensurate with the age and mileage on the vehicle?

5. Has the car been driven by someone who smoked in it? Transported pets or small children in it? All those things can leave odors behind in the vehicle - smells you might have to live with or go to great lengths to eliminate as the new owner.

6. What was the primary usage of the vehicle and are most of its miles highway or local driving?

7. Are all accessories in working order? The sunroof is great ... unless the motor to open it doesn't work.

8. How is the drivability? Do the brakes squeak? Does something in the passenger cabin rattle? Does the steering vibrate?

Avoid common mistakes, like buying on impulse without researching simple things like the resale value of the vehicle compared to similar makes and models, available vehicle history reports that list accidents and other issues and price comparisons with multiple sellers or online sites.

Be sure to ask for an inspection by a qualified source and request copies of vehicle maintenance records. Check online feedback on vehicle-specific forums for actual owner opinions and comments on common issues.

While local newspapers and neighborhood used-car lots can be great resources for finding good used vehicles, don't overlook online ones as well, Bossone advises. Craigslist.org, Racingjunk.com, eBay.com and Autotrader.com can also yield quality used vehicles.

Finally, when you think you're ready to buy, take the car to a mechanic you trust and ask him/her some key questions, including:

* Will this vehicle pass local or state inspection?
* Do you see any signs of paint repair, accidents or frame damage?
* Have you ever worked on this type of vehicle and are you aware of any trends toward excessive repairs for this make and model?
* Would you buy this vehicle if you were in the market for one and if not, what would deter you?

"Used cars continue to be a great deal for value-minded buyers, and with a little smart preparation, you can be sure your 'new' used vehicle gives you many years and miles of good service," Bossone says.

"Pinks All Out" airs every Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern time on SPEED. Visit www.SpeedTV.com to learn more.

Courtesy of ARAcontent - You should follow us on Twitter

(ARA) - In today's economic times, it's more important than ever to protect the investment in your vehicle - whether it's a vintage collector, luxury car or an everyday car. Yet, there are many misconceptions about car maintenance that make it difficult to know how to best keep your car in good running condition. Properly maintaining the engine and using high-quality fuel in the right grade will go a long way to help protect the life of your vehicle.

Here are a few useful tips from Shell Oil Products U.S. that separate fuel fact from fuel fiction:

* Regular maintenance will help keep your vehicle running longer and can help save money at the pump: Fact
Keeping up on regular car care services, such as changing the engine air filter, oil changes and transmission checkups, can help your vehicle run more efficiently and avoid major expenses in the future - no matter how old your car is. Following a vehicle manufacturer's motor oil recommendation can improve gasoline mileage by 1 to 2 percent. Be sure to look for motor oil that says "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol to ensure it contains friction-reducing additives. Keeping your engine properly tuned can improve gas mileage by an average of 4 percent. Also, finding and correcting smaller mechanical problems before they turn into bigger ones can help save you money in the long run.

* All gasolines are the same: Myth
In addition to basic vehicle maintenance, gasoline choice plays a vital role in the cleanliness and performance of an engine. So if you've been using lower-quality gasolines in your vehicle, it is important to clean up the gunk left behind in your engine. Gunk, also known as carbon deposits, can begin to build up in as little as 5,000 miles.

Audi, BMW, General Motors, Honda, Toyota and Volkswagen believe that TOP TIER detergent gasolines will help keep engines cleaner than gasolines containing only the Lowest Additive Concentration (LAC) set by government standards. Using high-quality, TOP TIER gasolines like Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines can help protect your engine against gunk and keep it performing at its best. For more information, visit www.passionate-experts.shell.com.

* Octane levels in fuel don't really make a difference: Myth
You probably associate octane with the numbers you see at the pump, but the technical explanation for octane is a fuel's ability to resist engine knock. If you use a lower octane fuel in an engine designed to use higher octane, engine knocking may occur, causing the car to shudder and lose performance. Most modern engines can sense knocking and go into a "safe mode" in order to protect the engine from serious damage, yet can reduce its ability to perform at its best.

According to Kelly Blue Book, 62 percent of new car models recommend premium fuel, which includes higher levels of octane. So check your owner's manual to determine what your manufacturer recommends. And if you have a performance vehicle that requires premium fuel (octane level 91 to 93, depending on the region), using the specified rating will help you achieve optimal engine performance.

However, it's important to remember that "premium grade" only references octane level, and doesn't always equal premium quality. Using a high-quality premium gasoline, like Shell V-Power, can provide benefits that go beyond octane. Shell V-Power contains a Nitrogen Enriched cleaning system with five times the amount of cleaning agents required by federal government standards, helping your vehicle achieve optimum performance.

Properly maintaining your engine is an important component in helping protect the life of a vehicle. In addition to basic vehicle maintenance like regular oil and filter changes and checking spark plugs, gasoline choice plays a vital role in the cleanliness and performance of an engine. Making these smaller, daily choices can help you to drive your vehicle longer, keeping more money in your pocket down the road.

Courtesy of ARAcontent - You should follow us on Twitter

(ARA) - What do your heart and your vehicle have in common? More than you may think - both require regular maintenance and preventive care to function properly. And when both are properly cared for, it can make a direct and significant impact on long-term health.

Every day, nearly 2,400 Americans die of cardiovascular disease, an average of one person every 37 seconds, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Meanwhile, according to the Car Care Council, nearly 80 percent of vehicles inspected during vehicle check-ups needed service or parts.

To help fight heart disease and educate people on maintaining a healthy heart and vehicle, Jiffy Lube and the AHA have partnered for year three of the Maintenance Partners for Life campaign to raise funds and awareness for the AHA's Go Red For Women movement.

"My daughter received a heart transplant four years ago and my husband was diagnosed with heart disease in 2000, so this campaign means a lot to me and I know how important it is to find ways to fight this disease," says Nina Sundell, district manager for Heartland Automotive Services, Inc., a Jiffy Lube franchisee. "I think almost everyone has a personal story to tell when it comes to heart disease, which is why I think so many people have connected with the Jiffy Lube Maintenance Partners for Life campaign. I encourage everyone to join in the fight because every single donation is a step toward helping families cope."

Heart health tips
The AHA offers some basic advice for taking care of your heart:

* Eating healthful, nutrient-rich, low-fat foods is one of the best ways to fight heart disease. Choose foods loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients, but low in calories. Veggies, fruits, whole-grain and high-fiber foods, lean protein and fat-free or low-fat dairy products are all part of a healthy, heart-friendly diet.

* See your doctor regularly and seek his or her guidance in living a heart-healthy lifestyle.

* Walk, jog, do yard work or some other form of physical activity for at least 30 minutes every day. Regular exercise makes your heart stronger and lowers your risk of heart attack and stroke.

You can learn more about heart health and find more tips at www.GoRedForWomen.org.

Support the cause
Starting Feb. 1, and running through March 14, 2010, customers can donate $3 at participating Jiffy Lube service centers and 100 percent of the funds will be allocated to Go Red For Women initiatives in the communities in which they are raised. In return, donors will receive a Maintenance Partners for Life savings book with more than $100 in savings. During the campaign, you can also donate by going online to www.JiffyLubeGoesRed.com. Since 2008, Jiffy Lube service centers from across the country have donated more than $2.3 million to the cause, and in 2010, Jiffy Lube seeks to raise another $1 million.

Vehicle health tips
When it comes to caring for your vehicle, apply the same concept of preventive care with these tips from Jiffy Lube:

* Oil is the lifeblood of your vehicle's engine. Check oil levels regularly and follow the guidelines in your owner's manual for how frequently you should change the oil.

* Blood has to flow freely to keep the body performing at optimum levels and eliminate risk of disease and infection; likewise, vital fluids, such as antifreeze or coolant, ensure your engine continues to perform at peak performance. Be sure to locate all fluid compartments and check for proper fluid levels regularly.

* Just as you maintain a regular schedule of doctor checkups and healthy eating habits, put your car on a regular maintenance schedule. Preventive maintenance and checkups help ensure your car continues to run properly. A technician should top off fluid levels, inspect belts and hoses, check tire pressure and engine oil, and make sure all lights are working on a regular basis.

You can find more car care tips at www.JiffyLube.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

###

EDITOR'S NOTE:

This article was funded and reviewed by Jiffy Lube International. - You should follow us on Twitter

(ARA) - Sugar is commonplace in the kitchen, but it may be a surprising ingredient when it comes to removing ice and snow from streets and highways.

A growing number of government agencies and snow removal contractors are turning to rock salt or salt brine that has been combined with naturally occurring sugars from renewable sources such as sugar cane and molasses. When these sugars and salt are used together, they can keep traffic moving during winter weather by removing snow and ice more efficiently and at lower temperatures than traditional road salt.

Understanding why this combination works starts with the fact that salt has to dissolve into a liquid solution before it will melt ice. The colder it gets, the longer it takes for salt to form a liquid. Adding a properly designed liquid sugar solution to road salt causes the solid salt to turn to liquid more quickly, removing ice and snow at significantly lower temperatures than the melting point of untreated salt. For example, one product available from North American Salt Company and Sifto Canada Corp., Thawrox Treated Salt, works at temperatures as low as 15 degrees below zero (Fahrenheit). Untreated salt loses some of its ability to melt ice at temperatures below 25 F.

In addition to its obvious public safety advantages in keeping roads clear in colder temperatures, the addition of natural plant sugars to traditional road salt also makes the salt "stickier." This causes the salt to stay where it has been spread, unlike untreated salt that tends to bounce and scatter during application.

Another benefit of a sugar-salt combination is that it can help reduce the need for sand applications, which sometimes are used to provide additional traction when temperatures are very low. Sand applications can create additional problems, including costly cleanup and negative impacts to air quality.

Snow removal crews report that sugar-treated salt applications during extremely cold temperatures let them clear more roads in less time, using less product, labor and equipment. The reduced labor costs, combined with the increased safety they can provide residents, make treated salt an economical choice when weather conditions warrant.

Residents might notice the different appearance of sugar-treated salts because they may have an orange or brown tint. The salt is highly visible once it is spread, but the color quickly breaks down and doesn't stain clothing or vehicles. Also, because the sugars are derived from molasses and sugar cane, there is no offensive odor that some other additives might provide, making it a friendlier product for residents.

With more winter weather on the way, road crews are looking for highly efficient de-icing products to keep drivers as safe and roads as clear as possible. So don't be surprised if your road salt arrives with a healthy dose of sugar this winter.

Courtesy of ARAcontent - You should follow us on Twitter

(ARA) - Top executives and leaders in the automotive industry recently gathered at the National Hot Rod Association Museum in Pomona, Calif., to discuss the future of the industry. The experts focused on the role of technology in changing the industry and expressed concern about the availability of qualified talent.

Job opportunities will abound for skilled automotive technicians, and industry professionals agree that many shops have trouble finding enough qualified employees. The experts stressed the importance of reaching young people early to recruit them into automotive careers and ensuring that they have top-notch training in the technical aspects of the field.

According to the 2010 Edition of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook, continued growth in the number of vehicles in use in the United States will lead to new jobs for workers performing basic car maintenance and repair, with more entry-level workers needed to perform these services. Additional job openings will also be created by the need to replace retiring baby boomers.

"The real demand is for qualified technicians - those with formal training, good diagnostic and problem-solving abilities and training in electronics and computer skills," says John Hurd, president of the WyoTech campus in Sacramento, Calif. "In fact, those without the required skills will likely face stiff competition for entry-level positions."

Despite the bright job prospects, finding talented employees with the right skill set is difficult. Hurd stressed that WyoTech makes an important contribution to the automotive industry by training young people for careers in automotive technology. He said that advances in automotive technology do not pose significant challenges for WyoTech, "As far as manufacturing, if you build it, we are going to train our technicians to fix it."

Many of WyoTech's students are entering the automotive industry from other fields and possess a passion for learning new technology. "We're seeing a lot of people entering the field from the construction field looking for opportunities - and finding them in the automotive industry," he says.

Hurd expressed the importance of reaching out to young people and helping them learn about the options for a career in automotive technology. "We have to introduce them to the industry early and really light that passion in them," he says. "That's the key to getting new people in the industry."

One of the challenges that WyoTech faces is a lack of basic knowledge among entering students. "We get students who don't even know what a screwdriver is, so we still have to start with the basics." Hurd went on to say that as a result, WyoTech adapted its curricula and programs not only to the technology, but also to the realistic needs of students today. "We've had to adjust to current and even advanced technologies so that we can introduce more hybrid technology and advanced diagnostics. You have to know how to tune the engine and chassis to work together, for instance. The adjustments we've made have allowed us to add to the programs. While we used to have a six-month program, we now go through nine-, 12- and 15-month programs so that students can raise their skill levels and become better employees."

Hurd stressed the importance of vocational education and technical colleges in helping the industry meet its future talent needs. "I think that society as a whole has to realize that four-year colleges aren't possible, desirable or necessary for everybody. A focused technical education can teach people the skills that they are going to need for the future they desire," he says.

Courtesy of ARAcontent - You should follow us on Twitter