Who would have thought that the recent red alert days for Beijing smog would actually have a benefit for the rest of the world. These first ever red alert days for air pollution during the last week show how much progress China needs to make to provide its urban dwellers clean air to breathe. For the rest of the world, however, the alarming news about how bad the smog inspection numbers are in one of the world’s largest metropolitan areas may actually make them concerned about their own environments.
One of the ways individual Americans can help control smog inspection numbers is by making sure that they properly maintain the vehicles they drive. In fact, some major cities in the U.S require a yearly smog inspection for every automobile.
In addition to limiting carbon emissions, vehicle owners who follow both mandated and suggested inspections and check-ups often find that their vehicle runs more efficiently. An efficient vehicle uses less fuel, less oil, and produces fewer fumes that are damaging to the environment.
An automotive repair service can help a driver check his or her engine maintenance while getting your car serviced. Just like rotating your tires extends the life of the tires, proper maintenance can extend the life of an entire vehicle. Consider the following maintenance tips and the benefits they offer:
- Gas mileage can improve by as much as 40% following a serious repair, such as fixing a faulty oxygen sensor.Improved gas milage not only makes the car more efficient, but also saves money at the gas pump.
- Tires should be inflated to recommended pressure levels and rotated every 6,000 miles to promote uniform tire wear, and be replaced if worn or damaged.
- Flush the cooling system and change coolant once a year. A cooling system is what keeps a car from overheating. It works by circulating a mixture of water and coolant throughout the entire engine. Over time, however, the coolant mixture becomes contaminated with scale and rust. These elements can clog and damage the cooling system components. Flushing out the entire system of contaminants replaces the coolant mixture with fresh coolant and water.
- Check out the owner’s manual for specifics for your exact vehicle, but in most models brake pads should be replaced every 20,000 miles. Some tires wear out faster or slower based on how the car is driven, the weight of the vehicle, the road conditions, and driving frequency. To compensate for this many mechanics recommend having break pads checked at every oil change.
