By Christina Murchison

AAA Carolinas is offering free vehicle checkups during October at AAA Approved Auto Repair (AAR) facilities and AAA AutoMark Car Care Centers.

October is National Car Care Month
To take advantage of a free checkup, make an appointment by calling the AAR facility nearest you. (A list of facilities is on page 28.)

Any vehicle can benefit from a checkup. A well-maintained vehicle gets better gas mileage than one with a dirty air filter, dirty oil filter or underinflated tires. In the era of $2.75 and $3 a gallon gasoline, better gas mileage can save significant money.

Winter Approaching
Also, with winter just around the corner, making sure your car’s battery is properly charged can keep you moving when freezing temperatures roll in. Test your battery for proper functioning because batteries have difficulty recharging in cold weather.  

A clogged air filter can cut gas mileage by as much as 10 percent, costing about 30 cents a gallon. A clean filter protects the engine from damaging impurities. 

Especially with an old oil filter, during cold winter months oil can become gooey, altering the movement of your vehicle’s parts.  To avoid this, replace the oil filter at proper intervals and choose thinner grade oils.

Having properly inflated tires is another way to save on gas mileage. The proper tire pressure will improve your gas mileage by 3.3 percent, saving about 9 cents a gallon. Your tires’ tread depth should exceed 2/16 of an inch, providing traction on wet and icy roads.

Unwanted Breakdowns
Preparing your car for the winter can avoid unwanted breakdowns and accidents. In December, January and February, 15 percent of the service calls AAA Carolinas typically responds to are for jumpstart or battery assistance.

Finally, remember to make sure your car’s gas tank is more than half full to prevent frozen gas line. Keep the recommended amount of antifreeze to keep your car’s cooling system from freezing along with the temperatures this winter. 

In addition to the check up, AAA Carolinas will hand out two brochures, “How to Maintain Tires” and “How to Maintain Belts and Hoses.” To receive these free brochures, call 888-274-4459.