A Little Knowledge Takes Drivers A Long Way (NAPSA)—According to a recent survey, in an economic recession an estimated 84 percent of American drivers are morelikely to care for their current vehicle. Maintenance requires drivers take an active role in understanding their cars. In fact, today’s drivers want to maintain their cars, but the volume of resources available can be overwhelming. To get the most out of your automobile, the experts at Autolite recommendtwo simple steps: 1. Get to know your owner’s manual for recommendations on maintenance intervals based on your driving conditions, and 2. Use high-quality premium replacement parts whose technology provides the greatest return for a relatively small investment. The survey, commissioned by Autolite, found that few drivers fully understand the strain that everyday driving can put on car. Take for example, your spark plugs. Most drivers (89 percent) know that spark plugs fire when starting the car, but only two out of three believe spark plugsfire when the car is idling and only half know that spark plugsfire while braking. One way drivers can get more life from their cars is by using premium spark plugs, such as the Double Platinum plug from Autolite. Originally designed for use by automobile manufacturers asoriginal equipment (OE) parts for the complex distributorless ignition systems in 80 percent of today’s engines, the plug is a longer-life Many drivers are choosing to maintain their current cars, rather than buying new ones. product that meets OE standards for heat range and gap setting. The plug’s platinum-to-platinum technology has been shown to deliver fewer misfires, and maintain optimal performance andtop fuel efficiency overthelife of the plug. In addition to understanding their owner’s manual and choosing premium parts, Autolite experts also recommend drivers create a checklist for their mechanic if they choose not to maintain their own vehicles. Top items to check during routine maintenance include oil, oil filter, spark plugs, ignition wires, air fil- ter, PCV valve, tire tread, coolant and all the belts. Whenever possible, drivers should request their mechanic use premium replacement parts and follow up with their mechanics to create a record of all the work done. To learn more about automotive maintenance or Double Platinum spark plugs, visit the Web site at www.Autolite.com.
