Newsletter - November 2006

Five Common and Costly Mistakes

Not changing oil often enough. Driving short distances and changing oil less often than 3000 miles causes oil to break down and form sludge. This sludge blocks oil passages and sometimes causes the engine to starve for oil.

Not changing automatic transmission fluid. The automatic transmission fluid acts as a hydraulic fluid and lubricant. As it breaks down, it loses its ability to perform these functions.

Not having brakes inspected at least once a year. Some vehicles have squealers to warn you when the brakes are getting low, but many don’t. If the brake pads wear totally out they will grind up the brake discs.

Not changing belts when they are due. Timing belt replacement schedules vary from 60,000 miles to 100,000 miles. The timing belt keeps the valves and pistons in time (piston down, valve open and piston up, valve closed). In most engines, if a belt or a tensioner pulley breaks, the valves hit the pistons and bend. Cars used to use v-belts or what some people called “fan belts”. These were 3 or 4 belts that drove the water pump, power steering pump, alternator and air conditioner compressor. Now it’s almost always one “serpentine” belt that winds around all these things. If it breaks the car is not drivable.

Not changing antifreeze. Antifreeze should be changed every two to four years (30-60,000 miles) depending on the type of antifreeze your vehicle uses. Not changing antifreeze causes premature wear to the radiator and water pump because it loses its lubricating ability and becomes more acidic.

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Protect Our Children

I was startled by an interview recently by a woman from an organization called Kids and Cars www.kidsandcars.org who reported staggering children’s accident statistics. Over 50 children in the U.S. are being backed over by vehicles every week. Forty eight of those result in emergency room visits, two of those end in death. The Centers for Disease Control estimates the predominant age of victims were kids aged 12-23 months. More than 60 percent of backing up incidents involved a larger size vehicle such as a truck, van or SUV. Parents or close relatives were behind the wheel in over 70 percent of the incidents.

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that between 2001-2003 almost 7,500 children were treated in emergency rooms for injuries caused by backover accidents. But if the injured went to a private doctor or the hospital record did not reflect the cause of the accident, those incidents were not counted. Kids and Cars have the only national database of deaths from backovers, but they only know about accidents that get media attention or that they are told about.

WHO’S KEEPING TRACK OF THIS TYPE OF STATISTIC?

No federal or state agency is collecting information related to deaths and injuries that occur as non-traffic, non-crash incidents on private property.

THE PROBLEM INCREASING THE RISK

SUV’s, pickups, and minivans have larger blind spots than passenger cars. A blind spot is the area behind a vehicle that a person can’t see from the driver’s seat. Find out how wide and deep the blind spot of your vehicle is by placing an object 28” tall behind your car and backing up until you can’t see the object. Measure the distance from your back bumper to the object and use that as a rule of thumb as your vehicle’s blind spot.

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW

Before you move your vehicle walk around and behind it before moving. Know where your kids are before boarding. If they are outside playing make them move away and into full view. Teach children not to play in driveways or in, around, or behind a vehicle. Know the size of your blind spot, consider installing cross view mirrors, audible collision detectors, a rear view camera or some type of back up detection device. Hold onto children’s hand when leaving the vehicle and make them exit on the curb side or side away from moving traffic when possible. Never leave children alone in a car (even for a minute). Keep vehicles locked at all times and never leave keys in the ignition unattended or within the reach of children. Take extra precautions during busy times, including the upcoming holidays, schedule changes, and emergencies.