Car Care Tips for the Dog Days of Summer

Periodic checks of your vehicle's systems can help can keep you comfortable and safe all summer long

Summer can be tough on cars, especially during high temperatures when heat can destroy batteries and stress the cooling system and tires. As a precaution, these vehicle components should be checked periodically during summer to help avoid breakdowns and car problems, according to the Car Care Council.

Excessive heat and overcharging shorten the life of a battery. Heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, which then damages the internal structure of the battery. A malfunctioning component in the charging system, usually the voltage regulator, allows too high a charging rate, which will eventually destroy a battery.

To get the most life out of a battery, the council recommends having the electrical system checked to make sure it is charging at the correct rate. If your car's battery is the type that needs to be topped off, check it often, especially in hot weather and add distilled water if necessary. Keep the top of the battery clean. Dirt can become a conductor, which drains battery power. If corrosion accumulates on battery terminals, it becomes an insulator and inhibits the current flow.

The cooling system also works harder during hot temperatures to prevent overheating of the engine. To keep the cooling system working effectively, the coolant and distilled water mixture for a vehicle's radiator should be 50:50. As a reminder, never open a hot radiator cap when checking the coolant level in the reservoir.

As a rule of thumb, the coolant should be changed annually on most vehicles. This will keep the cooling system fresh and clean inside, which helps prevent corrosion and assures that the coolant has the proper boiling point and protection. A pressure test, thermostat test, a cooling fan test and a visual inspection for leaks and corrosion should also be done annually. Hoses and drive belts should be checked for cracks, bulges or frayed edges.

The radiator should be kept clean by periodically using a garden hose and a soft brush to carefully remove bugs, dirt and debris.

Tires also need special care in warmer weather as high temperatures put added stress on them. To maximize tire life and safety, check the tire condition and inflation pressure monthly, and have the tires rotated every 6,000 miles. Summer heat will cause the pressure within a tire to rise, therefore, it's important to check the pressure when tires are cold. The owner's manual includes the recommended air pressure for your vehicle's tires.

"It takes very little time and money to make sure your car runs properly during summer, and although breakdowns happen, they can definitely be minimized by taking a few extra preventive maintenance steps," said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council.

The council reminds motorists that the vehicle's exterior also can be damaged by sunlight, UV radiation, acid rain, salt, dirt and air pollution. To protect the paint and finish, vehicles should be washed weekly and waxed every six months.

The Car Care Council is the source of information for the "Be Car Care Aware" consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For a copy of the council's Car Care Guide or for more information, visithttp://www.carcare.org/.

Source: Car Care Council

Chevrolet Debuts as a Top Global Green Brand | Don Mallon Chevrolet

Chevrolet makes its debut on Interbrand's 2014 Best Global Green Brands report, ranking No. 32. The report, produced by the world's leading brand consultancy, Interbrand, measures market perception and actual environmental performance of a company and its products.

“What was most compelling about Chevrolet's data was the very small gap between public perception and environmental performance,” said Jez Frampton, Interbrand's global CEO. “The company is not only actively demonstrating its environmental commitment; it’s communicating those efforts in an authentic way that resonates with customers.”

Interbrand cited Chevrolet’s vehicles and how they are made, as well as governance, as standout items in its environmental performance. According to the report, Chevrolet sets leadership for sustainability at the highest levels of the company and makes public commitments to reduce its carbon footprint.

Since launching the Cruze less than four years ago, Chevrolet's share of small, compact and mini car segments has tripled. Nearly half of Spark, Sonic and Cruze buyers were new to Chevrolet.

“People want to buy fuel-efficient cars from companies that share their social and environmental values,” said Alan Batey, General Motors senior vice president, Global Chevrolet. “Chevrolet is engineering innovative technologies into all of our vehicles to improve fuel economy, and our customer-driven sustainability philosophy is driving many new customers to our dealerships.”

Some of Chevrolet’s fuel-efficient vehicles include:

• The Chevrolet Spark EV, an electric car sold in California and Oregon, features best-in-segment torque rivaling many sports cars. Priced at $19,995 with full federal incentives, it is one of the most efficient and affordable electric vehicles available.
• The Chevrolet Volt, the best-selling U.S. plug-in electric vehicle in 2012 and 2013, reduced the nation’s gas consumption by 25 million gallons since its launch. Typically driving more than 970 miles between fill-ups, owners save $1,450 in annual fuel costs with no change in daily driving habits.
• The Chevrolet Cruze, the brand's best-selling passenger car around the world, features an Eco model that achieves an EPA-estimated 42 mpg hwy. Its diesel model achieves the best highway fuel economy of any non-hybrid vehicle with an EPA-estimated 46 mpg highway and segment-leading 151 horsepower.

Chevrolet’s most aggressive product transformation in its history resulted in record global sales in 2013, with nearly 5 million units. Beyond reducing the environmental impact of its manufacturing facilities throughincreased renewable energy or landfill-free initiatives, the brand is impacting communities across the U.S. with its voluntary carbon-reduction initiative. Chevrolet has supported many projects such as enablingcolleges to reinvest in clean-energy technologies to helping truckers avoid idling their engines at rest stops.

Interbrand conducts consumer research to capture public perception of a brand’s sustainable or green practices and compares that to publicly available sustainability performance data provided by Deloitte. The top green brands are selected from Interbrand’s 100 Best Global Brands report, in which Chevrolet ranks No. 89.

Source: http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/chevrolet/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2014/Jun/0624-global-green.html

Four Chevrolets Earn 2014 AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Award | Don Mallon Chevrolet

Four Chevrolet vehicles earned top honors in the 2014 AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards, which measure customer satisfaction in 50 categories.

The four awards are the most won by any single manufacturer this year.

Award-winning Chevrolets and their segments are:

• Impala – Large Car
• Sonic – Economy car
• Corvette – Sports car
• Camaro – Sporty car

The wins move Chevrolet up five spaces in relative ranking among other manufacturers compared to last year.

“Today’s Chevrolet car lineup is the best in the brand’s history with the design, performance, technology and safety that consumers want and expect,” said Brian Sweeney, U.S. vice president, Chevrolet.  “Everything we do at Chevrolet is focused on offering the best possible experience for the consumer. These four AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards prove we are delivering on that promise.”

The Vehicle Satisfaction Awards – in their eighth year, are based on AutoPacific’s measurement of customer satisfaction with their new car or light truck. It reflects the opinions of more than 92,000 vehicle owners nationwide.

AutoPacific measures owner satisfaction related to a vehicle's operation, comfort, safety and overall purchase/lease experience.

AutoPacific is an automotive market research and consulting firm that annually publishes a variety of studies on the industry.

Source:  http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/chevrolet/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2014/Jun/0624-chevy-autopacific.html