Too busy to change the oil? You might want to think twice next time you let those 3,000 miles pass you by.That’s because replacing an engine, which relies on oil for lubrication, costs about $2,000 to $5,000 to repair or replace, depending on the vehicle, and that doesn’t include the cost of labor.Costs like this go to show that car owners would be wise to stay on track with even the smallest upkeeps, like replacing worn wiper blades or monitoring power-steering fluid levels. Forget the former and you’re looking at poor visibility in a downpour. The latter? You may get caught in traffic unable to turn the steering wheel.Checklist: Car Maintenance You Don’t Want To Skip Those are some of the headaches that contribute to shortened vehicle life, compromised safety, decreased gas mileage and an array of pricey repairs. Even worse, an unchecked failing part that needs replacement could be the cause of an accident. Worn breaks may not allow you to stop suddenly, causing your car to collide into another vehicle. Though maintenance checks require little time, issues like these are common. The Car Council, an organization promoting the benefits of regular maintenance, inspected vehicles of motorists who attended car care events last April, during National Car Care month. It found that eight out of 10 vehicles had at least one component that failed the vehicle inspection process.The council estimates that more than $60 billion in vehicle maintenance and repair is not performed every year, evidence that there is considerably more that consumers should be doing to protect their automotive investments.Chief Checks Topping the list: Oil, fuel filter, spark plug and coolant fluid changes. All are necessary to keep an engine running. Auto technicians say about 2 million engines are replaced, rebuilt or repaired each year. You also want to avoid neglecting tires, and make sure to inspect your battery and your timing belt so you are not suddenly and unexpectedly unable to drive. What’s more, being diligent about these checks will likely save you at the pump. “Taking the preventive maintenance steps will help insure the reliability and safety of your car, and they’ll also help improve gas mileage,” says Jennifer Ortiz, a Car Council spokeswoman. Cars are designed and built to run for more than 100,000 miles, remain in service an average of 16 years and serve four to five different owners, according to the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence, an organization that certifies auto technicians. It also claims that regular service and maintenance can extend the life of a vehicle by 50%.Not sure where to start? Consult [url”>www.carcare.org, where you’ll find a general schedule for vehicle maintenance and information specific to your car. Your vehicle, for example, may have extras that are not included in a generic schedule. Vehicles with turbo-charged engines or hybrid systems may have additional maintenance requirements.A car can live a long life with a little care and love, but it will surely die a costly death without it. News source: Forbes.com

The mail brings you an official looking postcard warning you that your vehicle warranty is about to expire. Also this is your FINAL warning. Everyone receives one of these on occasion. The first clue should be if this is so important why is it on post card? You have 2 choices on what to do with this mail, file it in the round file or save it for fireplace kindling. Missouri has loopholes in their insurance laws, which they are working on repairing, that allow this type of misleading advertising to occur. These warranties are very expensive and do not cover many types of repairs, exclusions that deny coverage are also misleading, and they have a high deductible.There are numerous extended warranty companies that are reputable, but they are also very expensive and I do not consider them worth the expense. I never buy an extended warranty and I have never been sorry sure I have had a few things fail but the expense to repair them was far less then I would have spent on the warranties over the years

Auto dealers will gather in San Francisco this weekend, surviving 2008 will be the main topic. The discussion will be about a shaky economy, dropping stock market and the credit crunch, 2008 could be the worst sales year in more than a decade.Chrysler may thin its dealership ranks by as much as a third and the other two U.S.-based automakers are making similar plans.Fewer dealers may mean a better deal for the consumer but many dealers who are not profitable will not be able to compete. If they are money making dealership they are able to make the sale and loose the margin but a business that is in trouble may not be able to offer discounts. Again this year we may see zero percent loans through their finance groups. 2008 is not going to be an easy year for dealers who sell cars and trucks made by the big three, they all saw sales declines last year and are in the process of making corporate changesThe used car business should be fairly strong, but to keep the pipeline full of used vehicles there has to be strong new vehicle sales.Chrysler LLC said that it might align Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge under one roof. And General Motors Corp. also is planning to combine Pontiac, Buick and GMC dealerships into one channel. Ford Motor Co. also has to many dealers competing for too few customers, but as of yet they have made no moves to consolidate.GM is going to start selling their Certified Used Vehicles on Ebay at no cost. That will put more pressure on sales to keep up with the demand. But used prices have dropped recently even for the smaller higher gas mileage vehicles and this will affect trade in values.

For decades mechanics have been telling us to change our oil every 3,000 miles. Interestingly, no automotive manufacturer agrees with this maintenance schedule — not in the last 20 years any way. So why are we being told to change our oil every 3,000 miles if it’s unnecessary?First, let’s look at the auto industry’s argument. It makes 5 primary points.1) Oil breaks down after 3000 miles2) Oil changes are great preventative maintenance3) 3,000 miles is an easy number for the car repair customer to remember4) The 3,000 mile interval is traditionally viewed as best by mechanics5) It’s necessary due to the elements, driving patterns, and weather conditions.It’s important to note that those telling us to change our oil every 3,000 miles (the automotive industry) are the same folks who will profit most. This is not to say that oil changes aren’t important — they are. They’re just not as frequently needed as we’re made to believe.Here are the 5 truths about the 3,000 mile oil change1) Quality motor oil recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer does not break down after 3,000 miles2) Yes, changing your oil is great preventative maintenance, but it needs to be done in accordance with manufacturer service intervals3) The easy-to-remember 3,000-mile interval actually creates more confusion as to the real maintenance needs of your vehicle. Thus, it is easier to follow factory guidelines, more economical, and more appropriate.4) The traditional view that 3,000 miles is best for your car is old school, wasteful, and fails to appreciate today’s mechanical and oil technologies5) Unless you’re in a constant high-speed police change in the dead of winter — your oil will be just fineHow often do you really need to change your oil? While it depends on the year, make, and model of your vehicle, it’s clear that for today’s vehicles it’s not every 3,000 miles. 20 years ago this was true of many vehicles. However, this is virtually obsolete as most vehicle have 5,000, 7500, 10,000, and even 15,000 mile oil service intervals.So just what is motivating the auto industry to push 3,000 mile oil changes? Let’s look at it in real life. If you change your oil every 3,000 miles, and like most, you average 15,000 miles per year, then you’ll be in the repair shop 5 times in only 12 months. Do you really need to perform maintenance on your car 5 times per year? Seems excessive doesn’t it?The average oil change price is $30.00. $30.00 X 5 = $150.00. If you changed your oil every 5,000 miles, you’d only need 3 oil changes per year = $90. That’s a $60 savings.For the most part oil changes are cheap, as it’s a very competitive market. They’re also not very profitable for repair shops (see the article “Why an Oil Change is Never Just an Oil Change @ RepairTrust.com). However, the more times your vehicle is in the shop, the more chances saidshop has the opportunity to sell you something else — an alignment, tires, wiper blades, brakes, shocks, fuel cleaning services, transmission services…etc — these are money-makers. This is not to say that these services aren’t needed, but they should be performed according to manufacturer guidelines only.A detailed manufacturer’s maintenance schedule (this is separate from your manual) is the best and most accurate guide. You may stumble across one in all the unnecessary paperwork you find in your glove box, but ask your repair shop or dealer for a detailed print out of your entire maintenance schedule. If the service center can’t produce one quickly — you’re in the wrong place for your car’s needs.Finally, have a little fun: the next time your local mechanic tells you to change your oil every 3,000 miles, ask him what the manufacturer recommends. It’s fun to watch him stumble through the answer or tell you, straight-faced, the wrong answer. News source: ISNARE

Love or hate your auto repair center? What level of customer service you are looking for at an auto repair center? . The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence reports that women are not only becoming more influential in deciding what car to buy, they are also taking over the traditionally male-dominated responsibility of maintenance and repair. With this increased buying power of women comes an increasing need for automotive service employees to understand women’s likes and dislikes, as well as their buying habits.Big and influential ASE reports that more than 65 percent of customers who take their vehicle to a repair shop for service and repair are women. This increasing presence and buying power of women in the automotive industry is the result of a rise in the overall percentage of female drivers. Research that shows nearly half of new car purchases are made by women, and 53 percent of used-car sales can be attributed to women. Ford Motor Marketing reports women have 95 percent veto power regarding automotive purchases.Customer service/politeness countWomen believe repair shop operators and technicians treat them differently because they are women, and the difference is seldom positive Women want to be informed customers, understand the repair in layman’s terms and receive quality repairs and customer service … not really any different from the expectations that men have for automotive repairs. Clean waiting rooms, timely delivery, and repair orders that are easy to understand. Service with a smile and a “can do” attitude make women customers feel welcome. Women like to know that someone is available to answer their questions with “yes,” “no” or “I’ll find out” women customers like an efficient, expedient process at the front counter (unless they have questions about the repair; if this is the case, be ready to provide a lot of details).After the repair, make sure women are part of any customer follow-up program. Overall, women answer surveys because they see it as a way to provide feedback to companies.Ultimately, all customers want value. Value is difficult to assess, however, fair prices, respectful service, convenience, quality repairs and a pleasant atmosphere are good starters for creating value in any customer’s mind.

DETROIT – The new version of the Cadillac CTS-V is designed to go after the world’s fastest and most elite sport sedans.With a 550-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine and magnetic-controlled shock absorbers, the new 2009 CTS-V ought to be able to keep up.”The CTS-V represents the full extension of our design, technology and performance capabilities,” said Cadillac General Manager Jim Taylor.In addition to the performance upgrades, the CTS-V, to be unveiled Monday at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, also will have Recaro performance driving seats.General Motors Corp. (nyse: GM – news – people ) says the new car will compete with such elite vehicles as the BMW M5 and the Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG and E63 AMG.Taylor said the car enthusiast is a critical market for Cadillac as it tries to attract new buyers to the CTS, which was redesigned for 2008.”The audience for this car is a dream buyer,” said Clay Dean, Cadillac’s design director.Pricing and fuel economy were not announced for the car, which should make its way to dealerships sometime this fall.The 2007 CTS-V, the last year such a model was made, cost $52,170, and Cadillac spokesman David Caldwell said the new version would be a little more than that.The new version will accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds, Caldwell said.Crew Chief note: Maybe the V8 is not dead could I have been wrong?? News source: Forbes

Frankly, auto maintenance has always scared me. All I’ve ever “fixed” are wiper blades, headlights and taillights. The extent of my under-the-hood knowledge is how to check and top off oil, antifreeze and windshield washer fluid. I’ve never changed my own oil because I didn’t want to deal with the waste material. That’s why I recently found myself using an Entertainment Book coupon to get a lube, oil and filter service for $15.88. When I paid, the counter guy said my battery was on its way out. A replacement would retail for about $119.99, but he could get me one for $89.99.I know less about cars than about doing my own taxes. Still, that seemed a little high. Maybe I could do better on my own — but that would mean installing it myself. Batteries not instructedFolks who do all their own auto maintenance are probably snickering. What’s the big deal? It’s not like replacing the transmission. But some of us didn’t grow up watching dads fix cars. My father could build, plumb and wire a house, but he never did auto work. All I knew about batteries is that they have the potential to explode, and that battery acid can ruin your day.An MSN article noted that they don’t make ’em like they used to; in newer cars, batteries might need replacing after four years. My 2001 Chevy Cavalier still had the original battery, so I guess there was a reason it was faltering.The Sunday ads revealed a $54.99 model at Schuck’s Auto Supply, just two blocks away. Before leaving, I did an Internet search on battery replacement. It didn’t seem that hard. A little grimy, maybe.That $54.99 battery wasn’t the right kind, but a suitable model cost just $10 more. (Incidentally, both costs included disposal of the old battery.) The friendly folks at Schuck’s offered to lend the tool I’d need. Before this, I’d never used a socket wrench. (It was cool. I want one!)Getting the battery out of the vehicle was tricky. It was heavier than I’d imagined, and got hung up somehow. As I struggled and cussed, a young man stopped to help. He lifted it out in one smooth motion. Show-off.Success, and savingsI lugged the equally heavy replacement out on my own, nestled it into place, and reconnected the battery and terminal clamps. Reluctantly I said goodbye to my new friend the socket wrench, and prepared for the acid test, so to speak: Would the car start?The car fired right up. And boy, were my hands dirty. Back home, I found that liquid dish detergent really can substitute for that Orange Goop hand cleaner. (Thanks to the Smart Spending message board reader who posted that tip.)If an auto know-nothing like me can do this, I bet you can, too. So when your battery starts to fail, consider replacing it yourself. First, of course, you’ll want to read the instructions on the site I mentioned above, or in a car care book, to make sure you’re doing it safely. I think it’s well worth it. About 30 minutes of work saved me $25. It might take you even less time. Plus, you’ll get to use a socket wrench. News source: Money Central

General Motors Corp. has abandoned plans to build a V-8 engine for luxury vehicles at a plant near Buffalo, blaming new federal mileage requirements and high Fuel prices cutting into consumer demand.The decision announced Thursday will affect 130 to 150 laid-off workers who would have been brought back to work on the dual overhead cam engine, GM Powertrain spokeswoman Sharon Basel said.Plans to retool the plant to build a new V-8 Duramax clean diesel engine for GM’s light duty pickup trucks are still on track, Basel said.Employees were told about the decision Thursday morning.”There are a couple of factors that have come into play over the course of the past year,” Basel said, citing the popularity of more fuel-efficient and high-feature V-6 engines with performance similar to the larger motors.”We’re seeing the demand for V-8 engines rapidly declining,” Basel said, “and then you combine that with the forces like rising fuel prices and the new CAFE legislation and that has caused us to go back and reevaluate our product portfolio.”Congress last month approved the first increase in automobile fuel economy in 32 years, boosting mileage by 40 percent to 35 miles per gallon.The automakers fought an increase in the federal fuel standard, known as CAFE, maintaining it would limit the range of vehicles consumers will have available in showrooms and threaten auto industry jobs.GM announced plans in January 2007 to begin producing the now-shelved V-8 engine in Tonawanda in 2009. Six months later, the plant, which employs 1,850 hourly and salaried workers, landed the Duramax clean diesel engine after an aggressive lobbying campaign by elected and union officials.Both announcements came after the Erie County Industrial Development Agency – hoping to improve Tonawanda’s chances of winning future engine lines – approved nearly $8 million in tax breaks for the plant in December 2006.”We were very concerned a year ago when we got the first engine, we needed to get some more work inside the plant,” Kevin Donovan, assistant Region 9 director of the United Auto Workers, told WIVB television on Thursday. “We went and talked to General Motors (nyse: GM – news – people ) and put some good competitive packages together that safeguarded the rest of the jobs that were inside the plant, along with all the other engines that were there.”In awarding the Duramax diesel engine, the automaker said it will invest $100 million in the 3.1 million-square-foot plant to produce the 4.5-liter, high-output diesel engine for the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra pickup and Hummer H2. Production is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2009.The Tonawanda plant ranked as the eighth most productive engine plant in North America in a May 2007 report by Troy, Mich.-based Harbour Consulting.Daniel Gundersen, upstate chairman of the Empire State Development Corp., held out hope Thursday the plant will attract a new product line to replace the lost V-8.”The GM plant here in Tonawanda remains one of the most efficient and productive plants in the U.S. with a skilled work force and modern equipment,” he said. News source: Forbes

Some leather car seats wear like iron, others seem more like paper mache over foam. Regardless, most will show their age over time. Proper maintenance of your leather interior will make it last a long time. Leather needs to be kept moisturized or it will dry and crack. Unfortunately, the guy who had the car before you didn’t know this, and your leather interior is showing some serious wear. Thankfully, there is hope. A simple leather replenishing and repair can make them look close to new again.We believe in giving restoration a chance in all cases except when there is no integrity of the leather to build upon. Luckily, there are some great products on the market today that enables you to restore your old leather fairly easily. When restoring or maintaining our car’s leather, we have had good luck with Gliptone Liquid Leather Scuff Master, a specialty product line available through distributors on the web. Other products that we have heard work quite well are Lexol Leather Care and Leather World. What ever product you decide to use, contact the distributor regarding the color matching of your leather. If you are restoring to the original color, send a small swatch of leather (under the seat there is always a spare piece) to the supplier for color matching. Alternatively, your vehicles manufacturer’s color code or color name can help your supplier give you a pretty good match. News source: Classiccars

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Walk into a new AutoNation dealership here and you’ll find more than just a pot of coffee on a hot plate, rigid chairs and some stale doughnuts.Customers at the gleaming new $40 million Lexus of Palm Beach can browse for cars or wait for an oil change while noshing on biscotti at an Italian-themed cafe, surfing the Web at a computer station with free Internet access, taking a load off in a massage chair and ogling a 500-gallon aquarium.Open for about two months, Lexus of Palm Beach is biggest in the family of dealerships owned by AutoNation Inc., the nation’s largest auto retailer. The Fort Lauderdale-based company is betting that customers looking for an upscale car like a Lexus will be drawn to luxuries usually found in expensive hotels or restaurants, such as marble floors, flat panel TVs in waiting areas, and valet parking.It’s also a clear attempt to lure customers amid a sales environment made difficult by the troubled housing market and tighter credit conditions.”The goal is to create a destination for luxury buyers,” AutoNation President and Chief Operating Officer Mike Maroone said at a “grand opening” Tuesday. “There’s a lot of stress in the economy. Fortunately, a number of the luxury buyers, I won’t say are immune from that, but are not as impacted the way our entry-level buyers would be.”The 180,000 square-foot facility – built on the site of a former mall that’s just down the street from an older Lexus dealership – holds 700 vehicles, including 25 in the showroom. The repair shop has 67 service bays and is air conditioned, and the technicians’ lounge has a flat screen TV – perks than benefit the workers behind the scenes.”That makes a big difference in the ability to draw talent,” said Cliff Brush, the dealership’s general manager.Sales have increased due to the new facility, Brush said. In November, the new store sold 335 vehicles, up from the 199 vehicles sold at the older dealership in November 2006, Brush said.Lexus, Toyota Motor Corp.’s luxury division, rewards dealers that make such large investments to help them offset some costs. By the end of 2008, about $1 billion will have been spent in remodeling or building luxury Lexus dealerships over a three-year period in the U.S., said Mark Templin, group vice president and general manager for Lexus.While the dealership is unique for South Florida, it’s not alone nationally in offering perks. Herb Chambers Lexus in the Boston area has wireless Internet and a children’s playroom, while Fletcher Jones Mercedes Benz in Newport Beach, Calif., provides an airport shuttle and free car wash, even for customers who aren’t having a vehicle serviced.AutoNation is building seven different luxury dealerships, though none are as large as the West Palm Beach location, Maroone said.Edward Yruma, a JP Morgan analyst, said many auto manufacturers have been seeking facility upgrades. He said AutoNation has not incurred much risk with such an expensive dealership, partly because the luxury car segment has not been as significantly affected as others, and also because the West Palm Beach area is wealthier than most.”The premier brands are looking for premier facilities,” Yruma said. “All of the auto retailers have showpiece stores where they have sunk a lot of capital into them.”Chris Denove, a vice president for J.D. Power and Associates, called the move a gamble because it’s not guaranteed that AutoNation will get enough business to justify the added expense of the amenities, possibly forcing it to pass some costs to customers.He noted that some people will drive longer distances to check out the dealership, while others may not care about the added amenities, preferring to get their loaner and leave rather than sit in a massage chair while their car is being fixed.”It’s easy to sit back and think that Lexus buyers will pay,” Denove said. “We find every day in our research that luxury buyers are the most aggressive, price-sensitive buyers on the market.”Also, while the amenities add to the experience, any car buyer can attest that the experience can be ruined if they don’t like their salesperson, regardless of the brand or retailer.”Based on our research, although the facility can impact customer satisfaction, the interpersonal dealings between the customer and the staff trump everything,” Denove said.Maroone agreed, saying the goal of salespeople is to make customers feel at home.”It’s all interconnected,” Maroone said. “Certainly it’s based on personal relationships. The facility facilitates that kind of attitude and culture.”Despite some risk, Denove said AutoNation has a good chance to make the dealership work.”AutoNation has a good track record and Lexus is a great brand to do it with because it has very loyal customers,” Denove said. “If I were a betting man, I would gamble that it would pay off at the end, but it’s a close call.” News source: AP. Google