But is it wise to buy a used transmission? By definition, a used transmission is used. A portion (or perhaps a majority) of the transmission’s life is gone, isn’t it? How do you know when to buy a used transmission and when not to?

Is a rebuilt or refurbished transmission worth it? Image copyright Flickr user Brownpau (click for details)

Here are a few tips to help you determine whether a used transmission is right for you, and how to find a good one.

1. Do your homework. First, the importance of doing your homework cannot be overstated. If you spend the money on a used transmission without knowing what you’re getting into, you will be sorely disappointed. Shop mercilessly online to find the best price from an accredited seller. Shipping won’t be cheap on such a heavy item, so if you can find a seller near you, you might go pick your transmission up yourself to save a few bucks. If not, take the shipping costs into account when doing price comparisons. More times than not, what looks like the “best” deal will come with exorbitant shipping fees.

2. Know exactly what you need. This could also fall under the category of doing your homework, but you need to know precisely what you are looking for. On newer vehicles (say newer than 1992), you can usually match the transmission you need by knowing your vehicle’s engine, year, make, and model. However, that’s not always the case. SO, before you spend big money, make sure you find out the exact model number you need, or at least get the seller to guarantee it’s the right transmission (they can usually figure it out with your vehicle’s VIN number).

3. Get a guarantee. Don’t even think about buying a used transmission without an insurance policy or a product warranty. This will protect you from damage during freight, installation, and use. A warranty will refund or replace your transmission if it doesn’t work for any reason. Because of the relative anonymity of shopping online, you may feel you’re taking a leap of faith. The warranty is there to guarantee you are getting the best quality for your money. A good seller will have customer reviews available for you to read as well, so take advantage of these to help you decide. If you are satisfied with your purchase, do the next guy a favor and leave a detailed review. After you install the transmission, keep up with the maintenance to make sure you get the most life from your purchase.

4. Manual transmissions are easier. Manual transmissions are far simpler to work with than automatic. In most cases, even among seasoned professionals, damaged transmissions are considered a lost cause. Replacing a manual transmission is a more approachable task. So, if you have a dead manual transmission on your hands, take heart: buying a used or refurbished or recycled transmission is going to be easier for you than for someone with an automatic.

NOTE: That’s not to say that you can’t replace an automatic transmission with a used or rebuilt unit. It’s just harder sometimes, depending on the make and model.

Bottom Line: Used transmissions, or transmissions built from recycled or salvaged parts, are typically as reliable as their new counterparts and a good deal less expensive. Shopping online gives you the option to comparison shop, and even though you cannot thoroughly examine the transmission, you will be able to get a product warranty. Compared to hunting for a transmission at the local salvage yard – and then doing the dirty work of removing the transmission you find and rebuilding it – buying a used/refurbished/rebuilt/recycled transmission online makes a heck of a lot of sense.

Author Lawrence Reaves writes about Used Ford engine from Woodfins and Used Transmissions from Woodfins

There’s also the fact that, if you run out of gas, you know your car isn’t going very far. That’s why we pay so much attention to how much gas is in the tank. The thing is, there are other fluids levels in your car that you shouldn’t ignore. In some cases, a drop in one of these other fluid levels will just be an inconvenience. For example, a few years ago I was behind a truck that took a mud puddle too fast and splashed some mud up on my windshield. It was at that moment that I realized I was out of wiper fluid.

In other instances, low fluid levels can be downright dangerous. Running out of oil can damage your engine, sometimes beyond repair. Transmission fluid, antifreeze, and brake fluid are additional fluids that you really don’t want to run dry on, as they can all lead to catastrophic mechanical failures.

Car maintenance is incredibly important. MSN Autos says that “even the newest cars require scheduled service to live long, productive lives.” Checking fluid levels can be a hassle, but it’s usually a lot easier to prevent something bad from happening than it is to fix it after it really happens. It’s a lot cheaper, too. Wouldn’t you rather spend the $40 for an oil change than you would $6,000 – $12,000 for a major engine repair? I would!

Not long ago I was online looking for a quote on car insurance and instead I found information that showed me that my oversights on my essential fluids might cost me an arm and a leg in the future-forget about the high prices of gas!

The following is a short list of 5 fluids that you should keep your eye on as far as general car maintenance is concerned:

1. Oil- The oil is the lifeblood of your car’s engine. It must remain at safe levels at all times. Whatever you do, don’t let the oil level drop below the minimum level. A good rule of thumb is to check your engine’s oil level every 2 weeks – preferably just before you start your car first thing in the morning. It’s also a good idea to keep a quart of oil on hand to add a little bit just in case your low.

Now there’s something really important to know here about checking your oil – it’s a good idea to do it on all vehicles, but it’s essential to check the oil on older vehicles and/or vehicles with more than 100k miles on the odometer. As vehicles age, they’re more prone to burn a little bit of oil during normal driving…so if you’re driving a car that’s more than 8 years old, or if it has more than 100k miles, you need to check the oil religiously.

2. Transmission fluid- The good news is that transmission fluid is necessary but it rarely gets low. It should be checked on a regular basis, and for most drivers this can be done when the oil is changed. Fortunately, most decent shops will check your transmission fluid for you at the same time that they put new oil and a new filter on your car. However, if you change your own oil and need to check  the transmission fluid level yourself, there are some things you should know:

• The need to check transmission fluid really only applies to vehicles with an automatic transmission. While manual transmissions do technically have some fluid, it almost never needs checked. Furthermore, some vehicles now come with sealed automatic transmissions that never need to be checked (you just service them every 60-100k miles).
• On many vehicles, the transmission fluid must be checked while the engine is running and the vehicle is level. However, there are some cars that don’t need to be running…so check the instructions in your vehicle owner’s manual before getting started.
• When you check the transmission fluid, you want to make sure that it doesn’t smell burnt.
• Generally speaking, transmission fluid is red or green. If your fluid looks dark red, dark green, or some other color, that could indicate a problem.
• If you feel the transmission fluid is low, smells or looks bad, your next move is to have it looked at by a professional. Transmissions can cost at least $1,500 to rebuild, and it’s not uncommon for them to cost $4,000 to rebuild/repair…so get it checked if you’re not sure about the fluid. The sooner you get it looked at, the less it will cost you in the long run.

3. Coolant- There are four things to know about checking your vehicle’s coolant:

1. Don’t open anything until your engine is cool. If the radiator cap is hot or even warm to the touch, don’t open it unless you’re sure you know what you’re doing. It’s OK to check a coolant system that’s cool.
2. On many vehicles, you don’t ever need to touch the radiator cap. There’s something called a coolant overflow tank instead, and you can often determine if you’ve got enough fluid by simply looking at the overflow tank. If you don’t, you open and fill the overflow tank to the appropriate level.
3. Coolant should be a bright, clean color (typically green). If the coolant looks “muddy,” rusty, or just generally dirty, have it checked. Often times this just means the coolant needs to be flushed, but sometimes it can indicate a head gasket failure…and that’s something you want to know about earlier rather than later so you can plan accordingly.
4. You can overfill your car’s coolant system if you’re not following instructions, and that could result in a nasty overflow that will probably put a good scare in you if it happens on the highway. SO, before you put any coolant in your car, check the instructions in your owner’s manual.

4. Brake fluid- Brake fluid shouldn’t get low very often. If it does get low on a regular basis, then you might have a leak so you should get it checked out. Brake fluid should be at least 2/3 full. It’s very important not to get water in the system so either do it on a sunny day or inside a garage. Also, make sure not to get brake fluid on you, your clothes, or your car’s paint…it’s highly corrosive.

5. Windshield wiper fluid- It might not be as important as brake fluid or transmission fluid, but when you really need it you’ll wish you had it. You’ll probably notice when you’re low on windshield wiper fluid: you’ll try to wash your windows and get barely a squirt out.

So the next time you’re doing your research to find the best rates on car insurance to save yourself some money, consider the money that you’ll also save by keeping your fluids in check. What will just take a few minutes of your time will actually save you lots of money and heartache in the future.

About the Author - Melissa Cameron is a freelance writer and full time mother of two. She became interested in car maintenance problems when she found herself stranded on the side of the road in a rainstorm due to a faulty transmission. Now, she spends her “free time” trying to find creative ways to stretch her resources and learning the latest developments on the products she loves.

But not all mechanics are what they seem to be…mechanics have the unfortunate reputation of being slightly unsavory, and tweaking the cars of unsuspecting grandmothers so that the car will break down and they’ll have to come and get it fixed again and again and again…

What To Look For

To prevent a potential mechanic rip-off situation, there are some things you can look for that can indicate the quality of the shop you’re about to do business with. People may say you can’t judge a book by it’s cover, but well, that’s a book. You do have the right to take a look around the garage and judge what you see, assuming you are able to correctly interpret what you find!

• How well maintained are the 2 post lifts and the 4 post vehicle lifts? Are they Bendpak, or are they of perhaps lesser quality? Is there visible rust or wear and tear?
• How well is the equipment maintained in the shop?
• How clean are the floors?
• Is the place (relatively) clean overall?
• Are the mechanics certified to be doing this work – can you see the actual certifications? ASE certification is very common and a good standard, but look for membership in your local chamber of commerce too.
• Are there any reviews of the shop on Google, Yelp, Angie’s List, etc?
• A big indicator that a lot of people sometimes forget about is the actual state of the cars currently in their parking lot. Do they look like functional, working cars, or are they simply lawn ornaments?

You should also take into consideration how you found the garage. Did you just happen to see it on the roadside and decide to stop in, or was it recommended to you by a friend or family member? Especially for those of us that are a little less motor-literate than the rest of the population, I would strongly suggest going off of the recommendation of people you know and trust the opinions of.

Finally, when you interact with the technician himself (or herself).

• How do they interact with you?
• Are they knowledgeable about your car make and model?
• Do they try and determine what is going on with your car just based on your oh-gosh-I-don’t-know-anything-about-cars description, or do they actually do a full review of your car?
• Can they actually articulate to you what is going on with your car, or do they avoid a full explanation?
• Does your car get repaired and then die again a few weeks later?
• Do they try and sell you on preventative maintenance that seems unnecessary?

These are all definitely warning signs that something is more than a little off with this roadside mechanic. Take heed of the alarm bells going off in your head and get out before you get in too deep and your car is inadvertently totaled, or stuck with a lifetime of repairing the “repairs” that your “mechanic” did.

Buyer beware!

Jackie Ryan is a freelance writer who works often with suppliers of Bendpak products, including durable 4 post lift – hopefully you won’t be seeing your car hauled up on one by a mechanic who doesn’t know what he’s doing…

Don't let the complex-looking auto repair shops fool you - you don't need a lot of tools to get started.

Fortunately, as a beginner, you don’t need to buy the entire Teng Tools catalogue. There are just a handful of tools that count as “must haves”. If your garage based activity ever grows beyond basic maintenance to modding or restoration work, then you can gradually expand your collection, but while you’re just learning all you need is a basic set of decent quality tools. Here’s a list:

Safety gear:

• Eye protection
• Leather glovesOil spill collector
• A fire extinguisher suitable for gasoline fires (you should already have one of these in the garage – if not, get one before you get anything else!

Basic Tools:

• A screwdriver set
• Hex keys
• Open end wrenches
• A ratchet set
• A set of pliers
• A torque wrench
• A basic jack
• A torch

If you’re planning on doing any wiring work, you’ll also need a multimeter, and a tool for crimping, stripping, and cutting wires.

Most of the above can be obtained from any hardware store, or out of the Teng Tools catalogue. In addition to the above, it’s a good idea to have some overalls or old clothes to use while you’re working on the car, and plenty of rags lying around for cleaning up grease and oil.

You should also invest in a copy of the maintenance manual for your car. Maintenance and repair manuals are invaluable for beginners and experts alike.

One useful tip for beginners is that instead of relying on the manual for every little step, take photographs as you work. This makes it easier to tell what goes where. The diagrams in the manual aren’t always clear! Besides, digital photos are free!

A basic set of car repair tools shouldn’t set you back a lot of money, even if you invest in branded equipment such as Teng Tools. Considering that most of the equipment you need can be used for other purposes beyond just car repair, it makes sense to buy the best equipment you can afford, even if you aren’t sure how much work you’ll want to do on your car. Yes, Teng Tools are more expensive than unbranded tools, but if you look after your Teng Tools well they will last a lifetime. A cheap screwdriver set from the corner shop will probably snap the first time you try to undo a stiff screw with it.

Buying low cost tools is a false economy. They may be OK as a child’s first set for practicing bicycle repair, but when you’re working on something major such as a car or a motorbike, it’s better to make sure you have the right tools for the job.

This post was written by Crispin Jones on behalf of Tool Orders. Crispin is a keen motorist who enjoys writing about all aspects of car ownership.

Getting your car ready for the track involves a little more than checking the oil.

BMW cars, however, are special. While most manufacturers offer a special performance version of their vehicle that is track-worthy, almost every car BMW produces is a solid choice for the driver who needs daily transport as well as a track car at the weekends. By carefully choosing your car in the first place, it’s possible to get the best of both daily driver and race car worlds without too many compromises.

In this guide, we will look at the main steps you should to take for race car preparation before you turn up for a track day.

Race Car Preparation 101

Brake Discs and Pads – Before you hit the track you should ensure you have close to brand new brake disks and pads. With this being said, they should have been bedded in for at least 100 miles (longer for some brands, be sure to check the box if you go with after-market pads) before you take them to the track.

Tires – Of course, tires matter at the track. If you’re carving up the corners, a good tip is to increase your tire pressure by 10% to decrease the wear when on the track. If you’re looking for maximum grip at the drag strip, and if you don’t mind a little tread wear, decreasing tire pressure is a good way to help them ‘hook up.’

Engine Oil – ‘Road friendly’ oil is not the best to use on a track. Your engine will be at higher revs for longer periods of time when it is on the track. Therefore, it is a good idea to change your oil to one that can deal with increased temperatures…something synthetic like Royal Purple or Mobile 1 is a good choice. It’s also a decent idea to bring a full bottle of this oil with you to the track, just in case your engine burns a little bit of.

Suspension – Never go to a track day with poor suspension. Your suspension will be tested more than ever before. Therefore, it is a good idea to make sure your bushings are tight, your shocks are operating at spec, and that you don’t have any weak components that could break at the wrong time. If you’re not sure how to check these things, head over to the local mechanic and pay for them to take a look.

Remove Loose Items – Items like empty beer bottles (kidding), that spare blanket and survival kit you keep in the trunk, all the junk floating around in the glove box, etc. should all be removed. At high speeds, these items can become intrusive…or worse. Ever been hit by a Kleenex box doing 55mph? Not fun.

Tool Kit – Bringing a small tool kit with a tire pressure gauge to the track is a good idea. Furthermore, having a fire extinguisher is always a benefit, and depending on the event it may even be a requirement.

Fuel – Too much fuel will prohibit your performance, but on the other hand, if you run out of fuel, your session is over. Remember, you will not get the same MPG on the track so prepare yourself for this before you reach the track.

Using Performance Parts

Performance parts are essential for any track day. Buying BMW performance parts for your BMW, for example, will ensure that your car is much better on the track. Furthermore, if you make alterations to improve the car, you could be increasing the value of it as well.

Be Smart

Race Car Preparation is essential before any track day, but there are plenty of other points you need to consider. If you are racing your everyday car on a track, then you should limit your speed and try not to go too wild. While it may be fun to try and get 140 MPH out of your BMW 3 series with BMW performance parts if you need to use it to get to work the day after, it may not be the most sensible idea.

This post was written by Crispin Jones on behalf of DMS Racing, who can provide a race car preparation service for your car. Crispin is a keen motorist and enjoys writing about all forms of transport.

Image copyright Sharif Sharifi - click to see original

A muffler is a device that reduces the exhaust sounds created by your car’s internal combustion engine. They reduce noise by routing sound through a series of passages and chambers until the opposing sound waves are absorbed and cancelled. However, the muffler and the rest of the exhaust system do more than just reduce noise.

An exhaust system must also funnel exhaust gases away from the passenger compartment. Exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, nitrogen and sulfur oxies, and other byproducts of burning gasoline and diesel that are bad for your health. Carbon monoxide, in fact, is potentially lethal in that it reduces your body’s ability to absorb and transport oxygen. Prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide gas (which is colorless and odorless) can cause nausea, headaches, loss of consciousness, and even death. Therefore, taking care of your exhaust system is important – it’s not just about sound, it’s about safety too.

So how do we know when our muffler is behaving normally or if it needs to be replaced?

If you drive a high-performance muscle car, you can expect to hear a throaty growl from your muffler. For the rest of us, a loud muffler or one that that is noticeably louder than in the past, usually means that you have problem. Holes are common in exhaust systems on older vehicles, and because holes leak out toxic exhaust gases, this is a potentially dangerous situation. Additionally, a loud muffler can also grab the attention of your local law enforcement officials. Many municipalities have noise ordinances and issue hefty tickets for noisy mufflers.

If your muffler isn’t any louder than it used to be, but you hear a new noise like rattling and/or ticking, that could also be a problem. A rattling sound may mean that your exhaust system is loose or misaligned. Rattles are often serious (you don’t want a loose part of your exhaust system to fall off your car), so they should be checked out by a qualified technician as soon as possible.

A ticking sound coming from underneath your car can be normal, especially after you park your car. As hot metal parts in your exhaust system cool, they often make a ticking noise. However, if you hear a new ticking noise that you didn’t hear before, that could be a symptom of a problem in another part of the exhaust system such as a loose exhaust manifold.

Remember: mufflers and exhaust systems with holes or cracks can allow exhaust fumes and carbon monoxide to enter your passenger compartment. For this reason, it’s important to pay attention to the sounds your car makes and take it in for an inspection if you hear something you’ve never heard before.

Playing Russian roulette with your vehicle’s tires is no different than playing with a gun. However, it’s not just the driver who is put at risk, but the passengers and passers-by who happen to be near the car when a tire bursts and the vehicle loses control.

Every tire manufacturer will suggest a conservative tire maintenance program, especially when it comes to when tires should be changed and rotated. But these manufacturers do not know if the driver is a racer, a long-distance sales rep who does a lot of highway miles, or a little old lady who rarely travels faster than 40 mph. Each of these users will have a different level of wear on their tires, not to mention that things like typical terrain and weather conditions effect tire wear.

No tire or vehicle manufacturer can foresee all of these conditions, so it’s unwise to accept the manufacturer’s recommended tire maintenance at face value. The responsibility is thus totally with the driver to check their tires regularly. Don’t play Russian roulette with your tires; it’s best to avoid all risks.

The easiest thing for a motorist to do is once a week check the air pressure in the tires at the local filling station. This alone will alert owners to constant deflating tires, or tires looking damaged or beginning to misshape. Buy yourself a decent tire gauge and make it a habit every time you fill up.

If you check your air pressure regularly, you’re also more like to spot tire cracking, worn patches on the tires, bulges, and blisters. There’s no need to be a tire expert to know what these things are – if something doesn’t look right, you’ll want someone who is a tire expert to look at it soon.

As far as tread depth, some people use the famous “penny test” (putting a coin in the tread of the tires), but the truth is that it’s just not that simple. Tires should have at least 3/8^th of an inch of remaining tread – if they don’t, or if you don’t have the ability to measure that correctly – it’s best to leave it to professionals to have your tires checked for wear.

While we’re at it, let’s dismiss the notion that someone can assess the inflation of their tires just by looking. In earlier times, it was possible to see that the tires were a little low on pressure by observing their ‘sag,’ but newer tires do not always give that impression. In fact, some newer tires always look low.

Do not over-inflate tires: it will reduce the life expectancy considerably.

On a regular basis, a professional tire or automotive service provider should check all your vehicle tires. Are they in need of rotation? Is the tread wearing incorrectly? Are the tires in need of replacement? It’s recommended to get these questions answered and be aware of potential problems, lest one goes driving home one night to have a tire burst and take a life. All because the tires were not regularly checked!

Accidents cannot be stopped, but the Russian roulette on car tires can be minimized hugely by just a few minutes of checking. Or by a quick visit to the professional service center.

Bonus: a simple checklist for tires

• Make sure the tire valves all have caps that are secure, and ensure that the valves are not leaking air.
• Check for foreign items stuck in the tires. Remove them before they may go deeper into the tread.
• Never travel with a deflating/deflated tire. Always have an air pump in the car to get you to safety.
• It is very easy to overlook the importance of a good quality tire. An emergency breaking, or sliding on snow or ice is a little late to consider that the tires are up to the job. Make tomorrow the day those tires are thoroughly checked for peace of mind.

Author Bio: John Grant is a British entrepreneur and freelance writer. He spends his time exploring the wonders of science and engineering, and is passionate in particular about automotive care – including everything to do with car tires – and preventative maintenance.

Dish soap contains ingredients that, while great for dishes, can be quite nasty for your car. Or, more specifically, your car’s wax. You could be forgiven for thinking or even trying dish soap as an alternative to proper car soap, but think about it this way: Dish soap is designed to strip the oils and whatnot from dishes and pans. Wax, which protects your paint from the elements (and which most cars have a coat of), isn’t something you want to “strip away.” You get the picture.

Sometimes, however, using dish soap can be okay. As long as you know what you are doing, using dish soap can be effective for removing tough tree sap or bird poo, and obviously it also works if your primary goal is to strip your car down to a pre-wax state.

Question #2: Will drying the car with an old shirt scratch the paint?

Ah, the old shirt question. The safest thing to do here is avoid drying your vehicle with any cloth or material that isn’t made for this purpose. The thing is, you could use that old shirt, or diaper, or rag or whatever but you have at your disposal, but there are so many better options available for a low cost that it really doesn’t make sense. You’re better off using a clean chamois, a 100% cotton terry cloth towel or – best of all – a microfiber towel. None of these items will scratch your paint, whereas an old shirt (or old towel) could scratch your paint.

Here’s another point: commercial car washes all use chamois or micro-fiber towels. Why wouldn’t you?

Question #3: Is the early evening or night time a good time to wash my car?

I heard once “night time is the right time”, cheesy saying? Yes, but in the case of washing your car it’s true, and there are several good reasons for this.

• Washing your car in the day – especially if it’s hot out – can be plain dangerous when it comes to your windshield’s health because cold water and hot glass do not mix.
• Crowds at your local car wash are always a bother. Night washing keeps the crowds at bay, simple enough, right?
• You need light when you wash your car, that’s a given, but the sun is hot, that too is understood, so having artificial light is perfect for car washing not only because you will be spared the likelihood of water spots, but also because swirl marks on your glass are much easier to see using artificial light.

Dispelling myths about caring for your car is smart. With a little know how, taking great care of your car is easy and your car will thank you!

About the Author: Chris Bjurlin owns a professional auto detailing shop in Phoenix as well as a Phoenix-area car wash.

Reader question: I bought a Nissan 350z in November 2008 and after 2-3 weeks of driving it off the lot, the airbag light came on. I have taken the car into the service center twice. The first time they tried to fix it and the second time they replaced the unit.

Just recently the light came on again, and I’m just tired of it. Does this mean that the car is considered a lemon? Please help!

Accurate Auto Advice Answer: The scenario you describe doesn’t fall under the legal definition of a “lemon.” Here’s my definition of a lemon:

A new vehicle with a problem that can not be fixed after three repair attempts by the manufacturer, during the period of the manufacturer’s warranty.

It’s important to note that only the original purchaser of a new vehicle can appeal for a lemon law claim.

Since this is only the second instance, you would need to let the dealer make yet another repair and then wait to see if it fails once more. If it does fail, then you will have passed the test for three failed repairs.

My suggestion – electronics can be tricky. Give the dealership a chance to fix what you’ve got and hope for the best. Also make sure to get documentation of this repair. That way, if the dealer can’t fix it again, you’ve got paperwork to show you have a legitimate claim.

What is Tire Inflation?

Tire inflation is the measurement used to refer to tire pressure, and it is usually given in pounds per square inch (or PSI) in the USA and Canada. You may find the recommended PSI for your vehicle tires in:

• Your vehicle’s owner manual
• Stickers that are located on the inside of your vehicle’s glove compartment
• Printed on a sticker on the inside of the driver’s door
• Printed on a sticker on the inside of the door for your gas cap

You should make a point of regularly checking the tire pressure to ensure that your tires are neither under-inflated or over-inflated for the following reasons:

1. Safety

Safety is always your primary concern, and checking tire pressure is about safety as much as it is about anything else. Having the correct tire pressure ensures that you are able to control your car at all times, especially when driving at high speeds. Properly inflated tires will also have the best grip, which is important when braking and slowing down.

2. Performance and Service Life

The correct tire pressure increases the performance and service life of your tires. Improperly inflated tires wear out faster, and they can even wear unevenly which will can cause wheel vibrations, excessive tire noise, and poor ride

3 . Fuel Economy

One of the best ways to improve your vehicle’s fuel economy is to make sure your tires are inflated properly. If a tire is over- or under-inflated, it has more rolling resistance, which can reduce your vehicle’s gas mileage 3-5%. On a pickup truck that averages 15 mpg, for example, a 3% decrease in fuel economy amounts to an extra $10 spent on gas for every 150 miles traveled.

In other words, checking your tire pressure can save you gas money.

4. Prevent Vehicle Rollovers

Over-inflation and under-inflation lead to heat build-up in the tires. This increase in temperature is likely to cause unnecessary tire squirm and sidewall flexing, both of which increase the likelihood of your vehicle rolling at highway speeds. Tread separation – where the tire tread separates from the main tube of the tire – is usually caused by over-heated tires. In the early 2000′s, many Ford Explorers rolled over because of under-inflated tires.

How To Check Your Tire Pressure

1. Invest in a decent tire pressure gauge for each of your vehicles. Keep them in the glove box.

2. At least once a month, check your tire pressure.

3. When you check your tire pressure, be sure to do it when the tire temperature is consistent. This is because changes in tire temperature change the air pressure reading. NOTE: To get consistent readings, measure your tire pressure at the same time each day. If you measure your tire pressure before you go to work, then measure it again after your commute is over, you’ll get two different readings.