April is National Car Care Month

April is National Car Care Month, the time of year to focus on taking better care of your second largest investment – your vehicle. Especially now, with gas prices on the rise, regular auto repair and maintenance is even more important for your vehicle.

Drivers can’t control the price of gas at the pumps, but they can control the amount of gas they use by the condition of their tires, air filters and spark plugs which can impact fuel economy. These components can be easily checked on a regular basis. During April, many auto repair shops and parts stores throughout the country celebrate National Car Care Month by offering special discounts on parts, vital work like transmission repair and other services, handing out free Car Care Guides and hosting vehicle check-up events in their community.  I was in Phoenix and found a transmission shop near me. At these events, businesses volunteer their time to check components on vehicles that typically get overlooked, including tires, air filters, lubricants and fluids, belts and hoses, battery cables and lights. These free vehicle check-up events emphasize the importance of preventive maintenance and educate the public about how to take proper care of their vehicles.  Japanese Auto Repair is one place that you can rely on to get your car fixed.

In past years, results of car care events showed that drivers are neglecting their vehicles, with 8 out of 10 vehicles failing at least one component of the vehicle inspection process. Low tire pressure, which decreases gas mileage and tire life, was found on 14% of the cars inspected, while 24% had worn tread and were in need of tire replacement, also a safety concern. Of the vehicles inspected, 24% had dirty air filters, which can also decrease gas mileage and increase emissions, and the “check engine” light was on in 12% of the vehicles. Problems with lubricants and fluids were also found in 27% of the vehicles inspected, which can affect the vehicle’s performance and damage internal parts if not properly maintained.

Each year, car care events routinely identify that consumers are not taking proper care of their vehicles and in many cases, this amounts to spending more money at the pump. If you don’t have the opportunity to visit a car care event in April, at least commit to having the vehicle checked on a regular basis or go to an auto repair shop once in a while to make sure it’s running at optimal performance. Motorists should check with their repair facility to identify the nearest car care event.