CAR TIPS

There are several things you can do to save a significant amount of time and money over the lifetime of your car, as well as prolong its life.

• Read the owner's manual. Manuals contain useful information about how to keep your car running properly. Look for information such as: the type and weight of oil to use in various seasons; proper maintenance intervals; and the maximum load your car can carry or tow. If your car has a manual transmission, find out the proper shift points for maximum engine life; they are usually the same as described for maximum fuel efficiency.
  
  
• Change your car's oil regularly. One of the quickest ways to ruin a car's engine is to not change its oil, or worse, letting the oil level drop too low. Change your car's oil every 5,000 to 8,000 km, or sooner if you do a lot of driving in the city, in a dusty environment, or if you routinely carry a heavy load or tow a trailer.

Have the oil changed at a dealership, service station, quick-oil-change or repair facility. Most service stations include a "lube job" along with an oil change, as well as inspect other critical fluid levels in your car. Many new cars, however, do not need traditional lubrication since their parts are permanently lubricated and sealed.