Monday, October 1, 2012

Car Washes can be very scary for young children

I recently watched a video on YouTube under “Funny car wash video kids” as key words. But after watching this, I would say that this is a must-watch video for all parents taking young children to the car wash for the first time.
We are all captivated by all the wonderful expression of children, even the silliest ones! However, what may seem funny to us may not be the case for young children.

This video showed a toddler going through a car wash. Her horrified big brown eyes as she watched the bubbles and brushes were anything but funny.  She did not know what was happening.  She felt she was being attacked.  The mother was trying her best to comfort her from the front seat but the expression on her child's face showed that she was terrified.

I believe parents should give their kids some information about what is going on and what to expect  before they bring their kids to a carwash.  It may sound silly, but after watching other videos of terrified toddlers during a car wash, parents should be forewarned about the effects on young children -- especially if they are not told about what happens.

How To Save Money On Gas By Improving Driving Skills?

Better Driving Tips to Pile Up Sizable Savings over Time



High gas prices are a constant gripe of car owners these days, with many eager to trade in their gas guzzler for a fuel-efficient model. That’s certainly not a bad idea, but even if you keep your gas guzzler, there are some easy ways – both driving techniques and maintenance -- to improve its fuel economy.  By squeezing a few extra kilometers out of every tank of gas that you use, you can pile up sizable savings over time.

Easy on the gas pedal

Don’t floor the gas pedal forcefully whenever you want to accelerate.  Every time you make an abrupt, quick or sudden movement, you’re throwing away money.  Instead, opt for a smoother driving style. Use light, smooth throttle inputs, not deep throttle blips and full-throttle moves.

Easy on the brake

Keep your eyes focused further down the road. If you spot traffic congestion ahead, don’t immediately hit the brake pedal. Instead, take your foot off the accelerator and coast until you need to brake. When you do brake, ease on the pedal and maintain as much forward motion as possible. It takes more fuel — and, therefore, money — to get a car up to speed than to maintain that speed.

Keep your cruising speed low

Wind resistance increases sharply at higher speeds, so keeping your cruising speed below 105 km/hr will make your gas dollars go further. Use cruise control on highways..

Plan Your Day Smartly

Arrange your daily errands so that you make as many stops as possible in one trip. This approach is especially important in rural areas where you may have to travel long distances to reach your destinations. In more congested environments, also consider the time of day so as to avoid stop-and-go traffic. Idling wastes fuel. 

Tune up the engine

A tune-up of your car’s engine can improve its fuel efficiency by 4 percent.  A tune-up that fixes a faulty oxygen sensor can result in an improvement of up to 40 percent. Basic maintenance can also affect fuel efficiency. Even something as ordinary as the grade of oil you use can be a big factor.  It’s always best to use the manufacturer's recommended oil.

Inflate your tires

Be sure to keep your tires properly inflated if you want to get the best fuel efficiency. Tires that are under-inflated have more drag and need more energy in order to move, Check the tire pressures once a month, because leaks and temperature changes will deflate them. An estimated 17 percent of vehicles on the road have under-inflated treads. Properly inflated tires can boost fuel efficiency by as much as 3.3 percent, plus they are safer and will last longer.

 Reduce travel weight

Be sure not to keep heavy items in the trunk of your car when you travel.  By reducing the weight by 45 kilograms, you will gain up to a 2 percent increase in fuel efficiency. Rooftop racks are a bad idea, too.  Even when they are empty, they increase wind resistance, lowering fuel efficiency by 5 percent.

Follow these tips and you will benefit from less fuel consumption no matter what kind of vehicle you drive.

For information about PRUDENT VALUE CARS, visit our web site: www.prudentvaluecars.com