Pinoy Auto BlogThe Philippines' Premier Automotive and Car Blog

While prices of goods are going up, job salaries are stagnant. Most businesses are tight and everyone is looking for ways to live economically. One way to save money is to keep your car’s proper maintenance. And where’s the best place to start than the tires that supports the motion of the car? This article will tackle the things that we can do to preserve our tire tread for a longer period of service.

1. Always check your tire pressure.

Friction from driving down the road increases the heat or air pressure in a tire. Make sure that you’re still driving with the suggested tire pressure provided by the car’s manufacturer. By having a regular upkeep, you help cut down on the friction between the car and the road you are driving on, consume less fuel and prevent you from hurting the tires.

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The best car insurance in the Philippines for 2012 is a comprehensive insurance policy. Third party liability insurance is mandatory by law, but that is not enough to eliminate all the risks involved in driving. A comprehensive policy will cover bodily injury, property damage and unnamed passenger personal accident. The car is protected and the people in it are protected.

photo credit: woodleywonderworks

There is also total protector insurance that includes the compulsory third party liability and loss or damage of car and theft as well as protection from acts of nature such as an earthquake, typhoon or flood. Then there is also finance available for loans for people with bad credit. It can also give legal assistance and bail bond, road assistance, towing expenses, a waiver of deductible and depreciation as well as many other options.

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With my next PMS (preventive maintenance service) coming up, I’m beginning to think whether or not having the car “casa” (or dealership service) maintained is the most economical way of owning a car. If you’re driving a five-year old car or older, the quick answer will be no. Casa maintenance won’t be worth it. But for cars under warranty, should you risk it?

Let’s face it. Casa maintenance usually costs higher since they charge for each and every work and you have no choice between repair or replace since casa, and you’d be stuck with genuine parts too.

Here’s an interesting take on choosing between dealer service or other car shops. Summarized are the factors to consider:

• Cost - Casa maintenance will (almost) always be higher both in parts and service charges.
• Warranty Conditions – Warranties are usually voided when you have the car maintained elsewhere. Is it practical to waive  three-year protection to save thousands of pesos?
• Quality of Work – Dealerships usually have trained personnel and the proper equipment to diagnose your car though this isn’t a guarantee that the dealership will do a fine job with the car.
• Speed of Work – Dealerships take their time in keeping your car while in service.

Aside from the warranty, all indications point to having the car maintained elsewhere. However, if you decide to do so while the car is under warranty, weigh the risks of the major parts of the car (the engine and transmission) giving out and the savings you’d get on having your car maintained some place else. Me? I think I’m sticking with the casa until my warranty expires.

Your thoughts?

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Although this is Pinoy Auto Blog, being a good driver encompasses the whole world.

Gaby Dela Merced, just one of the PH best drivers

This infograph shows what a good driver should be (that is, according to the insurance world that is)

A good driver should be:

• Licensed
• Without more than one violation point
• Without more than one dismissal of charges for incidents that would have resulted in one violation point
• Without DUIs during the past seven years

Is there such a driver in the Philippines? Are you one? If you have yet to drive, then it would be best to make this your goal. If you are already driving then maintain your pristine record. If you are missing one or a few of the qualities above, don’t give up being a good driver.

How good is your driving? by Car Insurance Comparison

Image By SpoonerTuner (Spooner Tuner) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

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Apart from heavy volume of traffic on major thoroughfares and road accidents from one place to another, oil price hike is dreaded by many Filipino motorists. It is a nice thing that there are ways to somehow maximize the fuel efficiency of anyone’s car.

Start driving right away. An obvious way to make your car more fuel efficient is to drive right away once the engine starts.

Turn off the car only when needed. If you are stopping for just a short time, there is no need to turn off the car. Remember that more gas is consumed during the startup of the engine even if that only takes a few moments to be through.

Switch the ignition off when stuck in heavy traffic. By this, you can prevent the utilization of unnecessary gas. Instead of letting your ignition work during heavy traffic, switch it off to increase fuel efficiency.

Let us be responsible on minimizing our fuel consumption as much as possible.

[via Sci Techie]

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There is still time for us Filipinos to help the environment by reducing the carbon emission of our cars. Here are some helpful pointers on doing so.

Change the bulbs. Save four times the energy with compact fluorescent lamps (CFL’s). These lamps even last eight times longer.

Inflate the tires regularly. For every liter of fuel, you save 2.5 kilograms of carbon dioxide. Radial tires work the best because they save up to 7% of fuel.

Drive less. Your car is an important asset but do not forget the health benefits of walking and biking. Commute through public transport once in a while. Driving less means saving 3 kilograms of carbon dioxide for every 10 kilometers of not driving.

Move up your A/C thermostat. In essence, just use your A/C when needed at the level that you find most comfortable. Save about 3 kilogram of carbon dioxide per day of driving.

Never hesitate on taking small yet helpful steps on reducing the emission of carbon dioxide. In the end, everyone of us will benefit.

[via Light Green]

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If you think the tires of your car can conquer anything, you better check again. It is important to inspect the condition of the tires of your car. Here are the most common reasons why your tires become worn out.

Curb rubs. Everyone experiences having these, alright?

Damage. The worst thing that can happen is damage, and this necessitates intensive care.

Holes and punctures. Remember that day when your tire flattened because of roofing nail?

Impacts. These are due to the craters and potholes on the road.

Overloading. Too much load in your vehicle cannot be accommodated by the tires.

Wear and tear. Your tires will never be new all of the time.

Being alert whenever you drive is something always consider. Bring your car to the nearest auto repair facility whenever necessary.

[via Search Warp]

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Manual and automatic transmissions share some warning signs that you must be aware of.

First off, notice the pinking-red leaking transmission fluid. If you learn that the fluid is collected on the ground while you are having your parked vehicle moved, then it is ideal to have it inspected. Take note that the leaking fluid means you must attend to the failure or problem.

Just the same, if the fluid becomes dark brown or black, this means the fluid is burning up while the shifting is being done and you need to work on it.

If you encounter having delays when shifting the gear, it is time to go for a car inspection. The gap between the time you shift gear and the time the car acts based on the gear may mean a total transmission failure.

[via Automotive Indepth]

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The thrill of driving a car is there, but being messy on driving dissolves that thrill. Teenagers tend to experience vehicular mishaps such as car accidents and traffic violations more than adults. This is why it is best for teenagers to learn how to slow down on driving.

It is all about taking as much time as needed. The speed of the vehicle must be dependent to the current driving condition. If it is raining, the road is obviously slicker, so driving slowly is very much necessary. Not to mention, it is hard to see things around because of the rain. More reaction time from the teenage drivers will make them safer. Turning on the headlights will do good as well.

Giving pieces of advice to your teenagers who just began driving is essential for safety and discipline.

[via Ford Driving Skills for Life | image credit: Flickr]

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Have you ever experienced having the power windows of your car broken?

The best reasons as to why it happened are:
a) the window regulator that tells how the windows move is the one not functioning, and
b) the motor that powers up the window stopped working.

In order to solve this problem, all you need to do is to buy replacement parts that have already been used.

Not only will you save yourself a good amount of money as compared to purchasing brand new items, you will also bring your discipline with regards to taking care of your car to a higher level.

Car window repair must be attended immediately to prevent costly replacement.

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