Not Winterizing Your Vehicle Can Leave You Cold

Though this warm weather is holding on for dear life, we do know winter is on the way. Here are some suggestions on how to prepare your vehicle for cold weather.

October is Fall Car Care Month so let’s go over some of the things you should have checked over before the cold weather arrives. Many times a properly maintained vehicle won’t need too many expensive repairs all at the same time.

Air filters block contaminants from getting inside the cylinders in your engine. But there is also a cabin filter on many newer vehicles that cleans the air that comes into the passenger compartment. Replacing a dirty cabin air filter will keep the interior air fresh and help the defroster work more efficiently.

A battery that is starting the vehicle okay now might fail when the temperature drops. Hot summer weather and the additional electronic systems on newer vehicles can put a large strain on the battery and charging system, so make sure it’s all thoroughly inspected.

Many people wait to hear a noise coming from their brakes before getting them inspected, but that can be a costly mistake. Waiting too long can add to the number of brake parts that become damaged, raising the cost of the repair.

In many cases you will not need to have your drive belt and hoses replaced, but having them inspected can give you some peace of mind. The fluids also need to be checked and replaced if necessary to keep things flowing like they should.

Making sure the heating and defrosting systems are working properly will not only keep you comfortable, but allow you to clear the windshield during the cold winter months. Having good wiper blades will keep the windshield clear so you can see everything that’s in front of you on the road.

The suspension is one of the most neglected systems on a vehicle and if a suspension part breaks it will usually leave you stranded. Make sure that you specifically ask your mechanic to check it all out this fall.

Having all of your lights working is always very important, but especially now, when we have less and less sunlight every day. You definitely want to see and be seen during the dark winter months.

Tires can require replacement for a number of reasons, from normal wear and tear to damage from a pothole. The entire weight and control of your vehicle comes down to your four tires, so do not hesitate replacing them when they are worn out.

Having a thorough fall inspection done can help you and your vehicle make it through the winter months without any trouble on the road.

Not Winterizing Your Vehicle Can Leave You Cold

Make a pre-trip vehicle check before you head out

Summer is right around the corner. This means sunshine, deck parties, and — best of all — vacation.

A lot of folks will pack their cars to the brim and head to the lake, or to the forest for some camping, or even plan a long road trip to see the wonders of the world. The last thing you want is unexpected car trouble leaving you stranded at the side of the road or stuck in car rental place, ruining your plans.

A pre-trip vehicle check should be on your list of things to do before leaving the house. Along with making sure all the lights are off and underwear is packed, also make sure your car is ready to get you to your destination.

Kevin Roth, owner of Kevin’s Auto Repair Service in Forty Fort, Pa., said most repair shops will do a routine checkup for free to make sure there is nothing out of the ordinary with your car. “We will look over everything to make sure it is OK, but if you keep on top of your basic maintenance, you should be fine.”

According to Roth, some of the basic things to check are: 

Filters and fluids: This includes engine oil, and power steering, brake and transmission fluid. Also, don’t forget about windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant. “Newer cars have caps and air filters,” Roth said. “If you turn on your air conditioning and it has a musty smell, those would need to be changed.”

Air conditioning: No one will have fun on a road trip if the car is a sauna. “If the vents are blowing out hot air, then obviously something is wrong,” Roth said.

Windshield wipers: According to Roth, keep an eye on the condition of the rubber on your wipers. If it is ripped or you hear or see scratching when the wipers are on, it is time to get new ones.

Brakes: If you hear any grinding or squeaking, take your care to a shop right away. Brakes are an essential part of your trip.

Battery: A battery check will be included in a basic maintenance check, according to Roth.

Tires: “Make sure they are in good condition,” Roth said. “Inflate them to the recommended pressure and make sure there is plenty of tread and no bulges.”

And, pack your emergency kit: “You want to make sure there is air in your spare tire,” Roth said. “Also make sure you have all the necessary tools to change a flat tire, as well as the safety triangles or road flares if you are on the side of the road.”

An emergency kit should also include jumper cables, gloves, some snacks, water and extra windshield wiper fluids and motor oil. Items not related to the car include a map/GPS, phone charger, insurance and registration information, flashlight and a first aid kit.

Page 2 of 2 – Lastly, enjoy the open road: Put down the phone, open your windows and cruise into relaxation.

Make a pre-trip vehicle check before you head out

Service-friendly and reliable Filters from MANN-FILTER for the commercial vehicle sector

21.08.2014

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Filters of MANN-FILTER for commercial vehicles

Ludwigsburg, 21th August 2014 – Current emission standards as well as changes in combustion and injection processes place high demands on commercial vehicles and therefore also on filtration technology. As an international filtration specialist, MANN-FILTER is a reliable partner to the commercial vehicle sector with its comprehensive product range in original equipment quality. In addition to air, oil, fuel and cabin filters, the company also supplies drying agent boxes, oil centrifuges and transmission oil filters to its customers. “We have taken these increased demands on board and are consequently designing our products to be even more efficient and reliable,” says Matthias Weller, technical expert at MANN-FILTER, describing trends in filtration technology at this year’s Automechanika.

MANN-FILTER once again features in the “Truck Competence” visitor’s guide at this year’s Automechanika. You can see this competence in the various developments for commercial vehicle applications on display at Stand A51 in Hall 3.

Reliable filtration for even the tiniest impurities
On construction sites, forest tracks and mining sites, commercial vehicles are driven in extremely dusty environments every day. Polluted air can result in damage to the vehicle engine. These and many other challenges are met by air filters from MANN-FILTER , which feature nano-fibre technology to prevent the harmful effects caused by even the tiniest impurities. The carrier material of the nano-fibre media consists of cellulose coated with extremely thin layers of ultra-fine polymer fibres. The surface on which dust particles can be deposited is much larger as a result. Even the tiniest particles from the intake air, which are up to 500 times finer than a human hair, are almost completely filtered out.

Glue string technology – simple and efficient
Manufacturers of commercial vehicles face many challenges, including their energy, CO2 and material footprint. Filtration experts achieve savings in these areas for example by using glue string technology in air filters. With this technology, the metal, plastic or paper casing of the filter element is replaced by a special string made from polyester fibre. This conserves resources, saves energy in production and makes the metal-free air filters fully incinerable. The special string is wound around the air filter bellows in a discontinuous pattern and stabilises the distances between the filter pleats evenly across the entire filter height. This has a positive effect, significantly reducing flow resistance and therefore reducing pressure loss. This in turn optimises filtration performance and contributes to fuel savings.

Service-friendly oil filters for fast, simple disassembly
The product range offers filters in tested original equipment quality as well as service-friendly solutions for the trade and workshops. The MANN-FILTER “HU 1291 z” for commercial vehicles for example features a bayonet fitting. During opening, this bayonet connection ensures that the entire filter element can be released and lifted out of the socket in the housing without the effort usually required.

“The oil filter from MANN-FILTER works according to the open-and-remove principle,” explains Jörg Schömmel, Product Manager Oil Filters at MANN-FILTER. “For workshops, this means simple, clean and time-saving disassembly compared with other standard products.” Another advantage is the fact that the oil filter element is made from a mixture of cellulose and polyester fibre, making it extremely durable. MANN+HUMMEL already holds patents for the element in several countries.

Protection for driver and vehicle
Product development at MANN+HUMMEL is not only focused on the vehicle, but also on the vehicle user. More and more filters from MANN-FILTER feature a waterproof, flame-retardant impregnation. These treated filters reduce the risk of fire from the air filter in the engine compartment, even after 100,000 kilometres. This means increased protection not only for the vehicle and the load, but also for the driver and other road users.

Over 90 per cent market coverage in Europe
With market coverage of over 90 per cent in Europe, MANN-FILTER has filters for almost every truck and bus model in its product portfolio. Customers benefit from constant innovation, driven by 1,000 employees working in research and development worldwide.

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Press image:   Ready to face the big challenge: The product range from
               MANN-FILTER for commercial vehicles
               Mechanic with filters from MANN-FILTER

Press contact: Henriette Wemme
               Tel.: +49 (0) 7141 98-2583
               E-mail: henriette.wemme@mann-hummel.com

               Kersten Solacroup
               Tel.: +49 (0) 7141 98-2260
               E-mail: kersten.solacroup@mann-hummel.com

About MANN+HUMMEL
The MANN+HUMMEL Group is a leading global expert for filtration solutions and development partner and original equipment supplier to the international automotive and mechanical engineering industries. Employing 15,231 people at around 60 locations worldwide, the company achieved turnover of about 2.68 billion euros in 2013. The group’s product portfolio includes air filter systems, intake manifold systems, liquid filter systems, cabin filters and plastic sound components (known as ‘symposers’), as well as filter elements for vehicle servicing and repair. For general engineering, process engineering and industrial manufacturing sectors the company’s product range includes industrial filters, a series of products to reduce carbon emission levels in diesel engines, membrane filters for water filtration and filter systems.

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Service-friendly and reliable Filters from MANN-FILTER for the commercial vehicle sector

Don't Forget the Air Filter | Vehicle Md

It’s a Saturday morning after a long week of work. Dutifully you climb into your car (coffee mug in hand, of course) and drive down to your local oil change shop. Your four-wheeled friend is due for an oil change.

Carefully, you drive into the bay. As you sip your coffee from the comfort of your vehicle, you watch the technician point out the very dirty engine air filter he has uncovered in your car. As he taps it on the ground, dust flies everywhere. “Maybe it’s time to get that replaced,” you think.

Certain jobs come with being a vehicle owner. Detailing, keeping registration and inspection stickers up-to-date, and getting your car’s oil changed are important. Equally as important but often forgotten, is changing your vehicle’s engine air filter.

The engine air filter removes unwanted particles and contaminants from the air before they reache the engine. It traps dust, dirt, insects and other grime floating through the air as you drive down the road.

“The engine air filter in your car is responsible for filtering the air your car breathes,” said Ragan Holt, quick lube industry advisor. “It works like an air filter in your home that cleans the air you breathe.”

Engines take in a lot of air as they operate and that air has contaminants in it that can be harmful if they are not removed.

“For every gallon of fuel burned an engine takes in about 9,000 gallons of air, which contains abrasive dust that may end up in the oil and cause damage,” said Ron Morrow, general manager of Grease Monkey in Longmont, Colorado. “A clean air filter removes abrasive dust from the air before it enters the engine. These contaminants cause excessive wear to moving parts. By allowing the correct mixture of air and fuel, a clean air filter will provide maximum gas mileage and better performance.”

When dust and debris show up in an engine, they begin to wear on the metal surfaces of the engine. Having dirty air going through your vehicle’s mechanical system can cause the engine to wear out at a faster rate and not work efficiently.

“Restricted airflow can cause the car to work harder. It can reduce horsepower and fuel mileage, too,” Holt said. “Generally a new air filter will pay for itself just in the fuel that it saves over time.”

Typically, engine air filters should be changed every 7,500 miles, unless otherwise noted by the vehicle manufacturer. This number does vary a little depending on your driving habits and the driving conditions of the places you frequent most.

“How often you should change your air filter depends on the car, driver, weather and location,” said David Esslinger, manager at Esslinger Kwik Kar in Mt. Pleasant, Texas.

Think about what you use your vehicle for and where you use it at.

“A farmer driving his pick-up truck on dirt roads may have to replace his engine air filter every 3,000 miles, whereas a city driver may be able to go much longer,” Holt said.

The dust you saw puff into the air when the technician examined your air filter is a sign that it is holding all the dirt it can and needs to be changed. If a filter fails the “light test,” that could also be a sign.

“Hold the filter up, and if you can’t see light through it, it’s time to change it,” Esslinger said.

Air filters have evolved as engines have become more complex. They are usually made of a synthetic paper and are folded into pleats. This design increases the surface area of the filter. As a result, the filter lasts longer and is more effective than just a single sheet of paper would be.

“Each car requires a different amount of air, and each air filter is built with a specific vehicle or group of vehicles in mind,” Holt said.

While the duties of car ownership may sometimes seem like a hassle, the time and money you put into keeping your car in tip-top shape will be well worth it. Preventative maintenance is key to keeping your car running longer and avoiding major repairs in the future. Start looking at preventive maintenance as a good chance to grab a cup of coffee and read the paper while the professionals take care of your vehicle.

Don"t Forget the Air Filter | Vehicle Md