1. Check your tire pressure regularly. Low tire pressure means more of the surface of your tire touching the road, which increases friction and decreases your fuel mileage.
2. During winter months, use an engine block heater before starting your vehicle to improve fuel mileage and decrease strain on the engine.
3. Walk or take a bike. You can get exercise at the same time! Driving short quarter mile trips uses a lot of fuel and is hard on the engine.
4. Drive smoothly. Avoid heavy acceleration or heavy braking. Speeding, rapid acceleration and heavy braking can use as much as 33% more fuel than sensible driving.
5. Service your car regularly. A well-tuned engine alone can improve fuel economy, so follow your car manufacturer’s recommendation for servicing, and change your oil as required. It’s also important to keep your entire vehicle well maintained. A poorly maintained vehicle will increase fuel consumption. Even replacing dirty spark plugs can improve fuel consumption, so you should read the vehicle owner’s manual thoroughly to familiarize yourself with its mechanical maintenance requirements.
6. Use the correct grade of oil in your engine. Following your manufacturer’s motor oil recommendation can improve fuel efficiency. Look for motor oil that says “energy conserving” on the label.
7. Use cruise control on major roads and in free-flowing traffic. Maintaining a constant speed can improve gasoline mileage.
8. Avoid idling. When you idle, it wastes gasoline, and you are getting exactly 0 km/litre.
9. Avoid higher speeds. The faster you go the more wind resistance you’ll encounter and the more fuel your vehicle will consume just to maintain speed. In general, increasing your speed from 100 km/h to 120 km/h will increase fuel consumption by about 20 percent.
10. Plan your outings to avoid separate trips. Combine your errands into one outing to avoid short separate trips. This planning helps avoid unnecessary cold starts and keeps your car’s engine running warmly and more efficiently.

Whether running errands around town or commuting to work, these money-saving driving techniques can help you get the most out of every drop of fuel.

1. A licensed mechanic can do a safety inspection to ensure that all is in working order. We do a full car safety inspection for no charge during an oil change (upon request), or for a minimal charge on its own. Contact us today to book an appointment!
2. Make sure your Air Conditioning system is in top shape. Now (when it’s still cold) is the time to check it out; if you wait until you need it, not only will you be sweating, you’ll be waiting in line along with all the others who are trying to get their car slotted in for service.
3. Good tires are needed for long trips. You can inspect your tire tread depth yourself by placing a penny head first in the tread groove. If the tread doesn’t cover the top of the Queen’s head, or if you see cracking on the sidewalls or uneven wear, you might want to bring the car in for an expert opinion. Being on the side of the road with a blown tire can put a real damper on your family vacation.
4. Speaking of tires, keeping them inflated to the proper pressure not only improves fuel economy, but it also ensures that your car will handle optimally in any emergency maneuvers.
5. Engine overheating and coolant problems are the number one cause of summer car issues. Be sure to top up your coolant and check the condition of your radiator hoses. It’s never a bad idea to have us flush the coolant system and replace it with new, top-of-the-line coolant.
6. Check your bulbs. During the cold winter months, most of us travel from the car to the house as quickly as possible. Now that the weather’s getting more bearable, take a few minutes to check your headlights (lowbeam and highbeam), signal lights, brake lights and emergency flashers.
7. Check your wiper blades. Winter is extra hard on windshield wiper blades; cold hardens the rubber and road salt/debris ruins their edge. We’d be happy to install a new set of blades to give you the best visibility in the rainy season.
8. Engine oil should be replaced at recommended intervals. Using the correct weight & viscosity of oil recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer is important.
9. Before any long trips, bring your car in for a tune-up. We’ll take the worry out of driving long distances and give you the “all-clear” to relax and enjoy your summer vacation.

Book your appointment today at Pat Cook Automotive!

But what makes gives winter tires that extra traction? They have specialized rubber compounds and tread designs to handle the cold temperatures. The tread remains flexible to prevent snow buildup and help with traction on ice.

A study conducted by the Canadian Press and Leger Marketing (1) showed winter tire usage across Canada: Québec has the highest usage at 84%, with the lowest usage in the Prairie provinces (only 10%). Surprisingly, only 29% of Ontario drivers make use of winter tires. While still only 42% of Canadians use winter tires, the trend is unmistakable: more and more people are switching to winter tires.

All Season Tires: Good enough?

All-season tires are designed to be adequate in just that – all seasons. As a result, they are not designed for optimal performance in any one season. This may be satisfactory in parts of North America where the season changes are not as drastic as Canada, but in the “Great White North,” all-season tires are likely not going to give you the control and traction you need.

The tread design of an all-season tire is not as aggressive as that of a winter tire and is also not as flexible in the cold. An all-season tire’s tread will quickly get packed with snow and you may lose traction.

How to tell if your tires are optimal for Canadian Winter conditions

Winter Tire Rating

On February 1, 1999 the Rubber Manufacturer’s Association (RMA) and the Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) introduced a winter tire grading.

These tires are specifically designed for severe snow conditions and meet snow traction performance requirements. Tires meeting this standard are marked with a pictograph of a peaked mountain Snow Tires Grading. This standard helps drivers choose a tire that will help make their winter driving safer.

Storing Winter Tires

The best place to store winter tires is in a cool, dry location. (Basement, or possibly a garage). You can lay them down flat, stacked on top of each other, but no taller than 4 high. This offers the most support and should eliminate any fitting problems the following fall. We also recommend that you return to the store/dealer from where you purchased your tires, and ask for storage bags. This will protect the tires from natural ozone in the air which can cause tire rubber to dry and crack. Wrap each tire individually and stack them. Stored tires should be kept away from electric motors or welders as these produce ozone which will damage the rubber over time.

Winter Driving Tips

• If you install winter tires, switch all four tires, not just two. Using just 2 winter tires can cause the car to spin unexpectedly because of greater traction on only two wheels.
• When driving in rough winter conditions, be prepared and bring the following: jumper cables, tire chains, flares, blankets, food, gloves, boots, a flashlight, a cell phone, a first aid kit, an ice scraper, and a towing cable.
• Slow down, especially before corners and before going down hills.
• When you first get on the roads, test your brakes and steering.
• Watch out for black ice, as well as extra ice on bridges, overpasses, and intersections.
• Don’t use cruise control in the winter.
• Don’t follow other cars too closely and give yourself extra room to stop safely.
• Check your local weather forecast before driving to prevent getting caught in undesirable conditions.

(1) http://www.betiresmart.ca/pdf/2005_1204.pdf

Why preventative maintenance?

• More dependable vehicle
• Less chance of a costly breakdown
• Safer car for you and your family
• Helping the environment by reducing emissions
• Keeping the resale value of your vehicle high
• Keeping your warranty intact

Scheduled Maintenance

Car manufacturers create detailed schedules that outline the required maintenance to be done on various components and systems. Depending on your vehicle’s mileage, there is a specific list of tasks which will ensure proper operation of these systems and prevent premature wear. The manufacturer also indicates any services that must be done to maintain your factory or extended warranty.

Our Equipment

Our facility is equipped with an automotive information system that provides this detailed data. The ALLDATA® system even lists high-tech specialty lubricants required for your particular vehicle. On top of this, we can see diagnostic information, factory-issued Technical Service Bulletins, and repairs, specific to your vehicle. The bottom line: efficient, dependable and cost-effective service for you and your vehicle.

Book an appointment today to see what maintenance your vehicle might need!

More and more mechanics are recommending rust-proofing or undercoating, even if you are already starting to see rust on your vehicle.

While rust proofing won’t reverse any damage that has already been done, it will stop any rust that is starting, keep it dormant, ultimately extending the life of your vehicle.

Brake lines, fuel lines, emergency brake cables, wiring harnesses, and more – all of these will fall prey to rust if left unprotected. With a quality undercoating, the effect of rust on those parts can be almost completely eliminated.

If you want to keep your car, truck or van running longer in these economic times, rust proofing is an easy and affordable way to protect it from the harsh Canadian winter.

It’s never too late to have your vehicle protected! Contact us today to book an appointment.

Welcome to our new website! We will be using this website for promoting our specials, helpful tips, and other great content. Check back often to keep up to date!

Pat