How to Drive in Heavy Rain | Extreme Weather Driving Tips

Tips for driving in the rain, brought to you by Ford Service.

This video is part of the Extreme Weather Driving Tips series brought to you by Ford Service, your trusted source for vehicle service and maintenance—featuring defensive driving tips, what to do if you encounter flooded roads, and what to do if your car starts hydroplaning.

Drive with confidence—no matter what Mother Nature throws at you.

Top 5 Safe Driving Tips

The roads can be dangerous! And, of course, we all want each other to get home safely. Here are CARFAX's Top 5 Safe Driving Tips!

Should You Buy or Lease a New Car? | Consumer Reports

There are pros and cons to buying and leasing a new car. Consumer Reports' money expert reveals how to find the best option for you.

5 Benefits Of Changing Your Car's Air Filters

If you have a car, it's recommended that you change the air filter regularly. Here are some of the benefits of doing so:

You increase your car's performance

Dirty car filters reduce the amount of air that flows into the car's engine. When the amount of air in the engine is limited, the car doesn't spend the amount that it's supposed to and as a result, its performance goes down. Studies have consistently shown that cars with clean filters are by far more effective than those with dirty filters.

You protect your car from damage

Filters prevent foreign particles from getting access to the inside of the car's engine. Even when a small particle gets into the engine it can cause a lot of damage to the moving parts. The damage gets worse as more particles get into the engine. A clean car filter traps all the air debris ensuring that none gets into the engine. This protects your car from damage. Since the car and the engine aren't damaged, they last for a long time.

You increase the efficiency of the car

Studies by experts show that clean car filters increase the car's efficiency by up to 14%. The reason for this is because there is plenty of clean air in the engine thus the car doesn't strain burning fuel. Due to the efficiency, you spend less money than when the car is running on a dirty air filter.

You reduce car emissions

Dirty filters reduce air flow to the engine thus affecting emission control systems. Faulty emission control systems result to an incorrect air-fuel mixture. When the fuel mixture is too much, it can result in engine deposits resulting to a lot of emissions. In addition to the high emissions, it's also common for the car to consume more fuel than it should.

Changing the car filter

As you have seen, there are plenty of benefits that come with replacing your car filter. The cool thing with air filter replacement is that you can do it on your own. When replacing the filters, ensure that you replace them with identical ones designed for the exact match and model of car. Car filters come in different shapes, designs, and sizes; therefore, you should first remove the one in the car and buy a similar one that resembles it. For ideal results, ensure that you buy from a reputable store.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Idd_Aziz/2148367

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Preparing Your Car for Storage — Cars.com

From washing and waxing to detailing the interior, people baby their vehicles in all sorts of ways. But it's equally important to take care of your car before you put it into storage, especially with winter on the horizon. Kelsey Mays has a few tips to make sure your car is ready to go when the snow falls in this week’s segment of Driving Smart.

How and When to Use Your Car's Four-Wheel-Drive System — Cars.com

Do you know how to use your vehicle’s four-wheel-drive system? If you don’t, you could damage it to the tune of hundreds of dollars in repairs or put your safety at risk. From 4-Low to 4-High, we make sense of it all in the video above.

Best Practices for Proper Headlight Maintenance

Your vehicle's headlights are a vital safety component being that they are one of your first lines of defense while navigating the road at night. Without proper visibility, drivers have trouble seeing where they are going, putting them at risk of collision. It is critically important to regularly inspect your lights for any needed adjustments or repairs, and to follow the best practices for vehicular headlight safety.

Continue reading to learn what you should be doing to make sure your headlights stay in great condition, and where to get the expert automotive advice you can trust.

Choose Quality Headlights

You can opt for basic headlights, but keep in mind that there is a whole market of higher-quality parts to choose from. Higher-grade headlights come with options such as whiter lights, enhanced visibility, extended depth perception, reduced glare, improved contrast, and more. Depending on your individual needs, you may be safer with a higher quality headlight set.

Don't Let Them Burn Out

Replace your headlights before they have a chance to burn out completely. Check them regularly, at night, for differences in brightness and color. If you notice a decrease in vibrancy, or simply cannot remember when the last time your headlights were replaced, get them replaced immediately.

Always Buy in Pairs

Even if only one headlight is burnt out or dim, it is important to always replace them both at the same time. This is more cost-effective and safer. A new bulb paired with an older bulb can produce uneven lighting on the road. This is not only dangerous for a driver and their passengers, but for other drivers on the road as well.

Install Headlights On Your Own

You don't necessarily need to spend extra money on professional headlight replacement services if you are a handy person. There are several online tutorials that will show you how to replace headlight bulbs with ease. However, if you are not a project-type or handyman-type person, it is not recommended to install headlights on your own.

Talk to a Mechanic

Even if you are a handy person, or know a thing or two about auto repair, it is best to talk to your trusted mechanic about proper automotive maintenance and care. They will guide you in the right direction, and recommend a maintenance schedule that you can do on your own.

Additional types of car maintenance that you should always keep up with include fluid changes, tire rotations, battery replacements, filter replacements, coolant flushes, engine tune-ups, body waxing, windshield wiper replacements, and more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Sarahbeth_Kluzinski/1326228

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9910652

4 Tips to Drive Like a Pro | Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports' driving expert takes to the CR test track to show you how to be a safer driver.

Hydroplaning | Consumer Reports

Hyrdroplaning is one of the scariest experiences a driver will face. Consumer Reports experts reveal how to regain control of your wheels.

IIHS Updates Used Vehicle List for Teens - IIHS News

IIHS updates used vehicle list for teens, shows why small cars should be avoided

ARLINGTON, Va. — When it’s time for a new driver’s first set of wheels, many young people and their parents opt for something cute and inexpensive — in other words, small. In terms of safety, that’s a mistake.

IIHS recently conducted a pair of front-to-front crash tests demonstrating what happens to small cars and minicars — even new ones with stellar safety ratings — when they collide with larger used vehicles from the same manufacturer. The results show the importance of size and weight when it comes to occupant protection.

The tests reinforce a message IIHS has been sending since it began publishing an annual list of recommended used vehicles for teens in 2014: An older, larger used vehicle is often a safer choice than a newer small vehicle that costs the same. This year’s list of recommended vehicles for teens includes 53 Best Choices, which start under $20,000, and 62 Good Choices, which start under $10,000. All the models on both lists are midsize cars or larger.

Full text of release at http://go.iihs.org/news-vehiclesforteens