Chet's European and Japanese Auto Care

04/29/2022

What Are the Most Important Car Fluids to Check?

Under every car’s hood, you’ll find a veritable nest of hoses and reservoirs filled with fluids, every one of them engineered to fulfill a specific role. And a part of being a responsible car owner is checking the fluid levels and replenishing them when necessary

Under every car’s hood, you’ll find a veritable nest of hoses and reservoirs filled with fluids, every one of them engineered to fulfill a specific role. And a part of being a responsible car owner is checking the fluid levels and replenishing them when necessary.

04/22/2022

April 22nd is Earth Day, but You Can Celebrate All Year with These "Green" Auto Tips | Car Care News Service

By changing a few habits, you can do their part in helping the environment, say the experts at the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). ASE recommends regular vehicle maintenance and better driving habits as two easy-to-implement strategies.

By changing a few habits, you can do their part in helping the environment, say the experts at the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). ASE recommends regular vehicle maintenance and better driving habits as two easy-to-implement strategies. What’s more, improved automotive ...

04/15/2022

How Do I Know If My Spark Plugs Need Replacing? - Kelley Blue Book

If your gas-powered vehicle’s acceleration has gone from “zoom, zoom” to “putt, putt,” there’s probably a spark plug problem.

Poor fuel economy is another indication the plugs or spark plug wires likely need replacing. Although modern spark plugs last considerably longer than those produced 30 years ago, they don’t last forever and need to be replaced at regular intervals. It’s best to check the owner’s manual.

Find out what spark plugs do, the types you can purchase, and what signs to look for that signal when they need to be replaced.

04/08/2022

Signs that your air filter needs a replacement

The air filter is an important part of the engine because it helps the engine to breathe clean air, and clean air is important because it helps the engine to run efficiently and properly. Usually, air filters are replaced on every service. Still, sometimes if the car is being heavily used under dusty conditions like construction sites or heavy traffic areas, then the air filter can get clogged up much faster. Because of this, you would have to replace the air filter sooner than usual.

The air filter is an integral part of the engine as it helps it to breathe. Today we list down signs that your air filter might not be in proper condition.

04/04/2022

sensibledriver.com

All vehicles suffer from the vagaries of winter weather no matter where you live or travel. And that is especially true for drivers who live in regions hit by February ice storms–midwest, south through Texas and northeast.

03/25/2022

How much petrol does your car's heating and air conditioning use?

Heating and air conditioning in petrol cars have completely different functions. However, everything changes if we're talking about electric cars. We’ll calculate your out-of-pocket expenses.

How much petrol does heating and air conditioning use in a combustion engine? And how much electricity does it use in an electric car?

02/25/2022

How Often to Change an Engine Oil Filter

With the exception of electric vehicles, all other cars (including your hybrid) have an oil filter. Regarding routine maintenance, the engine oil and oil filter are items that need to be replaced more often than anything else on the vehicle. Yes, even your tires. There has always been a debate as to how often this is necessary, and there always will be a debate because, well, it depends.

There has always been a debate as to how often an oil filter change is necessary, and there always will be a debate because, well, it depends. A general rule of thumb is 5,000 miles between oil changes but this will vary based on vehicle age, usage, and manufacturer requirements.

02/11/2022

Dashboard Warning Lights Explained

Your ride is perfectly happy to tell you when something's wrong. But you have to listen. Understanding what warning lights do and don't mean will help you help your vehicle.

02/04/2022

Gas Mileage Tips - Vehicle Maintenance

Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4%, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done.

Find out how you can save fuel by keeping your car in shape!

01/28/2022

Fuel Economy – AAA Exchange

Thousands of vehicles by comparing their Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy ratings with actual owner-reported gas mileage as listed on the EPA’s website. Interestingly, 81.8 percent of drivers reported getting better fuel economy than the EPA estimates, although 16 percent of motorists reported their fuel economy was lower than the EPA ratings.

AAA recently evaluated thousands of vehicles by comparing their Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy ratings with actual owner-reported gas mileage as listed on the EPA’s website. Interestingly, 81.8 percent of drivers reported getting better fuel economy than the EPA estimates, although ...

01/21/2022

7 Tips for Safe and Confident Driving in Construction Zones

Increased fines, stalled traffic, and bumpy driving surfaces make work zones an annoyance for motorists. While U.S. drivers are fortunate to live in a country that maintains its roadways and displays to its citizens their tax dollars at work, it seems that at least one section of our normal route is under construction at all times.

Construction zones are annoying and one of the leading causes of slow traffic. Here is what to expect and how to act when encounter the work zone.

01/14/2022

Potholes and Vehicle Damage – AAA Exchange

What do you get when you mix water, traffic and a cracked section of asphalt? A pothole. What do you get when you mix a pothole and a car? Trouble.

Pothole encounters can wreak havoc on car tires, wheels and suspensions. Most pothole-related repairs cost less than $250, but in some cases the bill can exceed $1,000; the average repair cost is $306. Even worse, hitting a pothole – or taking the wrong measures to avoid one – could cause a crash and personal injuries.

What do you get when you mix water, traffic and a cracked section of asphalt? A pothole. What do you get when you mix a pothole and a car? Trouble.

01/07/2022

Car Maintenance Guide: Everything You Need to Know | Kelley Blue Book

Car maintenance is a crucial part of vehicle ownership. Taking care of your car by performing preventative maintenance helps to ensure you have safe and reliable transportation.

Use this guide to learn about common automotive maintenance issues. It’ll help you protect your investment and keep your car in top-running condition.

Find out about maintaining your vehicle and what service needs to be performed and when. Use our guide to keep your car well-maintained.

12/30/2021

All Drivers Need to Know These 5 Defensive Driving Tips

When you are first learning how to drive, one of the things that you are going to hear over and over again is that you need to drive defensively. This doesn’t mean that you should always be tensed up and just waiting for an accident to happen. What it does mean is that you have to keep an eye on what the other drivers around you are doing, and try to anticipate what they are going to do. If you are able to do this, you will be able to avoid a lot of fender benders, which, of course ...

Keep yourself and other drivers safe by practicing defensive driving. We've compiled 5 must-know defensive driving tips you can work on today.

12/23/2021

Top 10 Cars You Couldn't Get Enough Of in 2021

There were lots of exciting developments in the automotive industry in 2021. We were there to cover it all.

The Ford Bronco hit the scene, the Toyota Tundra finally got a redesign, and EVs arrived in a big way. These are the cars, trucks, and SUVs that our readers clicked on most in the past year.

12/20/2021

Champions of the Road: Edmunds Crowns Its Top Rated Vehicles of 2022

SANTA MONICA, Calif. , Dec. 15, The car shopping experts at Edmunds today announced the winners of the Edmunds Top Rated Awards 2022 . These awards are determined by a combination of proprietary data and insights from Edmunds' extensive new vehicle testing and rating process, and the winners represent the best vehicles available today.

/PRNewswire/ -- The car shopping experts at Edmunds today announced the winners of the Edmunds Top Rated Awards 2022. These awards are determined by a...

12/10/2021

Top 10 Car Care Tips | Kelley Blue Book

We have all heard these stories, cars and trucks lasting 200,000, 300,000, even 500,000 miles.

What’s the secret? Three words: maintenance, maintenance, maintenance.

“Nobody reads the owner’s manual. Pretty much to make it run that far it’s fluids, timing belts, maintenance by the book,” said Jim Moritz, global technical trainer for an international automotive tool and equipment manufacturing company

We have all heard these stories, cars and trucks lasting 200,000, 300,000, even 500,000 miles.What’s the secret? Three words: maintenance, maintenance,...

12/03/2021

9 Important Tips to Survive Driving in Large U.S. Cities

Driving in large metropolitan areas presents a unique set of challenges. For drivers who are not used to the busy streets and slower pace of city driving, the experience can be quite frustrating. Here are several tips that can help make driving on city streets a little easier. (Source: https://driving-tests.org/beginner-drivers/how-to-drive-in-large-cities/)

Driving in metropolitan areas presents challenges for drivers who are not used to city driving. Here are expert tips to help you make driving in a city easier.

11/24/2021

Driving Safely during the Holiday Season

Motor vehicle crash deaths and injuries can be prevented. Always buckle up, drive at safe speeds, and never drive impaired to help everyone stay safe on the road during the holiday season.

Learn safety tips for:


All drivers


Child passengers


Teen drivers


Older adult drivers

Buckle up, drive sober, and stay safe on the road during the holiday season.

11/19/2021

Will Gas Prices Go Down? Here’s How To Save At The Pump

The national average price of gas is $3.39 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. And while that’s only a tiny fraction higher than last week, experts predict prices could skyrocket in the near future.

The misery of paying for gas is going to increase—and there's no sign of them going down in the near future. The national average price of gas is $3.39 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. And while that’s only a tiny fraction higher than last week, experts predic

11/12/2021

As Days Get Shorter, Check Vehicle Lights, Wipers - Be Car Care Aware

Winter is quickly approaching and that means fewer hours of daylight. To be sure you can be seen by others and your visibility is not compromised,

Winter is quickly approaching and that means fewer hours of daylight. To be sure you can be seen by others and your visibility is not compromised, check your vehicle’s lights and wipers, says the non-profit Car Care Council. “The days are getting shorter, so it is a good time to check that your ...

11/05/2021

How to Prep Your Car for a Holiday Road Trip - Consumer Reports

With the holidays right around the corner, now is the time to get the family sleigh ready for travel and gift-delivery duty. By taking care of simple maintenance checks now, you can help ensure stress-free driving all winter long.

Simple Maintenance checks for safe and stress-free Travel. Consumer Reports gives Advice on keeping track of Your Car's Winter Driving Equipment, including Windshield Wiper Blades, Car Battery, Winter Tires, and Snow Tires.

10/29/2021

Smart Road Tips for Halloween Safety

There may be fewer ghosts, witches, and superheroes wandering along the roads this Halloween looking for candy and treats because of COVID-19 concerns, but it’s important that drivers remain vigilant and keep an eye out for costumed children darting into the road, crossing parking lots, or strolling along the streets.

Consumer Reports offers Halloween car safety tips for trick-or-treaters, parents, and drivers.

10/15/2021

Halloween Car Decorations - Decorate a Car For Halloween

Halloween is a fun time to really go all out in the way of decorations. And the decorations don’t have to stop with your home. These creative Halloween car decorations will make Halloween a mobile holiday too!

Halloween car decorations are fun to do & a great way for show off your creative side as you are on the go. Turn your car into a spooky Halloween display

10/08/2021

101 Car Maintenance Tips That Can Make Your Car Last Longer - CarCareHunt

Back in the old days, it was almost a miracle to see a car with 100,000 mileage that is still on the road. Nowadays, it’s not unusual for cars to get past 300,000 miles – sometimes even up to 500,000 miles.

It all comes down to the maintenance. However, you must have a little technical know-how to keep your car in mint condition

You must have a little technical know-how to keep your car in mint condition, here are 101 car maintenance tips that can make your car last longer.

10/01/2021

Best LED Lights for Your Car Interior: Add a Personal Touch to Your Ride

LED lights for your car Interior - luxury feel While we often focus on the practicality and safety of our beloved vehicles, sometimes it's also important for us to make them our own. And when it's an aspect that gives our cars a more fun feel, we have to ask “heck, why not?”

These lighting systems are a fun, easy way to customize your car's interior

09/24/2021

50 fascinating facts about the automotive industry

Few industries have had a more transformative impact on society than the automobile industry.

Since it first challenged the horse for transportation supremacy in the late 19th century, the automobile has been a source of fascination, as well as a springboard for innovation and ambition.

Stacker compiled a list of 50 fascinating facts about the automotive industry using industry resources, government data, news outlets, and car company websites.

09/17/2021

Fall Driving Tips

The kids are back in school, the leaves are starting to change colors and there's a chill in the air - it's official, fall is here! From frosty mornings to shorter days, the changing seasons can bring new driving challenges.

From falling leaves to shorter days, fall brings a new set of driving challenges. Make sure you are ready with these helpful tips.

09/03/2021

Labor Day Driving Tips

Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest weekends on the road, so planning ahead and being well prepared are essential to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip. To make the most of Labor Day, it pays to know a few things in advance to avoid being stuck on the road on your way back home from a great holiday weekend.

Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest weekends on the road, so planning ahead and being well prepared are essential to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip. To make the most of Labor Day, it pays to know a few things in advance to avoid being stuck on the road on your way back home from a great holida...

08/27/2021

Back to School Safety Tips for Drivers - National Safety Council

School days bring congestion: School buses are picking up their passengers, kids on bikes are hurrying to get to school before the bell rings, harried parents are trying to drop their kids off before work. It's never more important for drivers to slow down and pay attention than when kids are present – especially before and after school.

School days bring congestion: School buses are picking up their passengers, kids on bikes are hurrying to get to school before the bell rings, harried parents are trying to drop their kids off before work. It's never more important for drivers to slow down and pay attention than when kids are presen...