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Many Doctors believe that people who have low levels of stress in their life live longer. Most of us spend around 4 hours per day in our cars driving to and from work as well as completing errands like grocery shopping, going to the gym, etc. Every driver knows that there is quite a bit of stress that comes with driving around in the city.

Here are some tips on how to lower the stress of driving in the city;

· Plan to allow an extra 15 minutes more than you will need to arrive at your destination. There are many things that can happen to make your trip take longer than planned such as heavier traffic than expected, a car accident, etc. We have a tendency to get stressed when running late. Allowing the extra 15 minutes can help you still be on time without the stress.

· Anticipate signal changes. Start to ease off the gas when you see a traffic signal changing to red in the distance. This will also save you gas.

· Avoid driving on the roadways during peak traffic times. For most cities it is 7-9:30 a.m. and 4-6:30 p.m. Less traffic means less stress.

· Do not drive a large vehicle like a Suburban, Expedition or a full size truck. It is extremely hard to find a parking space large enough or easy enough to park in which can cause you stress.

· Drive defensively and never insist on the right of way. Try this just once and you will see how much less stress you have while driving.

Cover Guy is affiliated with CarCoverOutlet.com sells car covers, truck covers, SUV covers, van covers, mini van covers, station wagon covers and limousine covers at discount prices.

For those of us old enough to remember, cars used to have chrome front and rear bumpers. They also had chrome grills, door handles, emblems and other trim features. Car manufacturers and insurance companies came to the realization a long time ago that it was more expensive to manufacturer and or repair a chrome bumper or grill so they were fazed out in favor of less expensive plastic.

While chrome bumpers are not likely to come back in style car manufacturers have been introducing more chrome back on automobiles in the form of accent trim on the trunk lid, hood ornaments and grills.

I think most drivers would agree that chrome adds to the appearance of your vehicle. Chrome rims have been hugely popular for 30 years now. So how do you take care of your chrome? There are several brands of chrome polish available at your local auto parts store to choose from. Just about anyone of those offered on the shelf should do the trick. You polish the chrome in the same manner as waxing your car. Wash it first, then dry the chrome before applying the polish. Let the polish dry to a haze and remove with a clean soft cloth.

After cleaning your vehicle it is a good idea to put a car cover or truck cover on it to keep the auto clean for as long as possible.

Some people would consider gasoline for their automobile as the essence of life because it is so necessary to the average person’s everyday life. In the past gasoline was so plentiful that we took it for granted. Not anymore. With gasoline prices overall on the rise due to cut backs in production by the oil companies and talk of oil reserves being depleted, people are no longer taking gasoline for granted. Even with Americans cutting down on the amount of driving that they do, most people still have to fill up their tanks 2 – 3 times per week. I would venture to guess that most people have forgotten about the potential dangers of pumping gasoline into their cars.

Gasoline is highly flammable and combustible. The greatest danger we face when pumping gasoline is its potential to explode or ignite. Every time someone pumps gas into their car dangerous fumes escape into the immediate area. Years ago, the government ordered gas stations to add a rubber attachment to the nozzle to help capture these fumes and return them into the gas holding tank below the ground. This does not capture 100% and these attachments will not work unless the nozzle is perfectly placed to the tank opening.

The following is a list of things that you can and should do every time you are pumping gas into your vehicle.

1. Turn your engine off before you start pumping gas. ,

2. Leave your cell phone in the car. Cell phones emit tiny electric sparks which can ignite gas fumes.

3. You should never smoke while at a gas station. This should be fairly obvious as to why not.

4. Insert the gasoline nozzle firmly into the gas tank opening before you begin pumping in order to avoid any gasoline spills.

5. If working properly the pump will shut off automatically once your tank is full. You should remain close by in case the automatic shut off does not work so you can limit the amount of gasoline spilt on the ground should the auto shut off fail.

6. Make sure to replace your gas cap before driving off.

Cover Guy is affiliated with CarCoverOutlet.com which sells car covers, truck covers, SUV covers, van covers, station wagon covers and limousine covers at discount prices.

Most of us have grown up during a time of excess. The fact is that 95% of all Americans live pay check to pay check. One of the reasons is that we spend more on our automobile purchases in this country than any other country in the world. We are conditioned to want only the best that life has to offer. Now is the time to change our way of thinking and change our priorities.

With the increase in gasoline prices eating into our disposable income, some people are going more in debt instead of adjusting their lifestyle. Others are cutting back on other purchases such as eating out less often. One way to combat the higher prices of gasoline is to use less gas by purchasing a more fuel efficient vehicle the next time you need to replace your current car.

Most people get a new car every 4-5 years. They either have a lease that terminates or finish paying for their current car and want something new. You can purchase or lease a fuel efficient vehicle for less than $30,000 today. It does not even have to be a hybrid. There are plenty of cars that get 28-33 miles per gallon that are not hybrids.

This will accomplish two things for you; 1. You will use less gas which will save you money, 2. You will cut your car payment almost in half giving you more spendable income.

Fuel efficient vehicles are more eco friendly as well.

Cover Guy is affiliated with CarCoverOutlet.com which sells discount car covers, truck covers, SUV covers, Van covers, Station Wagon covers and Limousine covers on the internet.

There are a few weekly maintenance items that you can perform on your vehicle that will cost you a little time and money but can save you big down the road. Every weekend or two weeks you should check the engine oil in your vehicle’s engine. Running your auto’s engine with low oil can cause the moving parts to wear out quicker. Check your tire pressure while the tires are cold. Under inflated tires will wear out faster and cause your engine to burn more gas. Check the engine coolant in your radiator reservoir while the engine is cold and add more as needed. Running you engine while low on fuel can cause your engine to overheat which will cause the engine parts to wear out or wharp.

If you have the time it is a good idea to check your master cylinder’s brake fluid level as well as you power steering fluid levels. These are both safety and maintenance issues.

All of the above will take less than 20 minutes of your time but can save you thousands of dollars in maintenance costs down the road.

Cover Guy is affiliated with CarCoverOutlet.com which sells Car Covers, Truck Covers, SUV Covers, Van Covers, Station Wagon Covers and Limousine Covers at discount prices.

Most people have never been taught that there is a right way and a wrong way to wash your car or truck. By washing your vehicle properly you can add years of life to your vehicle’s paint luster. The following are some simple tips to follow when washing your vehicle;

1. Do not wash your auto during the peak heat of the day. Try to wash either in the early morning or late afternoon. If you can find a shady location not under a tree is even better.
2. Do not allow the soap to dry on your vehicle. Wash a section of your vehicle and then rinse rather than washing the entire auto and then rinsing.
3. Use a soft cloth or sponge for washing.
4. Do not use the same cloth or sponge that you use to clean your wheels on the paint. Your wheels will have tiny particles of metal from your brakes that will scratch your paint.
5. The same goes for drying your vehicle. Do not use the same cloth or shammy to dry your paint that you use for your wheels.
6. Once the vehicle has been washed dry it immediately to avoid water spots.

If you want to take keeping the paint on your car or truck to the next level, we recommend purchasing a car cover for your vehicle.

Once your new car is no longer covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, you will need to find a reliable mechanic unless you do not mind paying the exorbitant rates that the car dealership charges for repair work. It can be quite a challenger to find a trust worthy and reliable auto mechanic. As in any service industry there are plenty of mechanics that do not have a conscience or any business ethics. You know the ones. You can in for a brake pad replacement and end up being told that all the parts need replacing, i.e. brake calipers, rotors, etc. You then decide to get a second opinion and the next mechanic says it is only your brakes that need replacing and they can turn the rotors thus avoiding the cost of replacing them. How do you decide which one to go with when your safety is at issue or the safety of your kids whom ride in your car?

We suggest the following when on your quest to find an honest and reliable mechanic; Ask friends and family members for a recommendation, particularly the ones that you know have some vehicle knowledge.

If one of your trusted friends or family member is satisfied with his or her auto mechanic’s work and service, that shop is likely to have built their reputation based on customer satisfaction, delivering competent work at a fair price.

Once you receive a recommendation, check online with the Better Business Bureau to see if the shop has had complaints against them. If you find several complaints against them for shoddy work, or overcharging, we suggest that you should look elsewhere.

When you’ve narrowed down your choices of repair shops go pay them a visit and see how busy they are. If they are not very busy, I would be concerned. Good mechanics usually stay pretty busy. Also, I would check the walls for any types of awards for customer service and repair excellence. If they have several issued by a reputable institution, you are probably in the right place.

Cover Guy affiliated with The Goltz Corporation which owns CarCoverOutlet.com, an internet discount retailer of Budge Car and Truck Covers.

Do you know anyone over the age of 18 who does not have a cell phone? I can remember the day when you had to use a pay phone if you needed to make a call while away from your home or work. I am here to tell you that maybe that wasn’t a bad thing after all. In this world of instant gratification, you can add cell phones to the list of providing that. Aren’t you surprised when you aren’t able to reach someone instantly?

Take a moment to think about that driver whom seems to either be driving too slow, weaving within their lane or makes a lane change only to immediately return to the lane they just left. More times than not, when you catch up to that driver or pass them you will notice that they are on their cell phone. Being on your cell phone while driving is dangerous, it distracts you from the road, which often leads to all kinds of judgment and reaction problems.

There have been studies done which have indicated that drivers using cell phone s exhibited less focus and worse judgment than intoxicated drivers. Additionally, while more states are requiring the use of hand free devices while driving, studies indicate that it is still just as dangerous driving while talking on a hands free device.

In a perfect world, the best thing for everyone whom shares the road is to not use your cell phone while driving. The day may or may not come where cell phone usage while driving will be outlawed, but until then it will have to be a self imposed moratorium.

Cover Guy is an employee of The Goltz Corporation which operates CarCoverOutlet.com, They sell car covers, truck covers, suv covers, van covers, station wagon covers and limo covers online at discounted prices.

This is one of the least expensive and most beneficial maintenance procedures you can do for your auto. In addition to increased fuel efficiency, fuel filters will prevent clogs, prevent wearing and damaging of injectors and help to avoid breakdowns and the costs of same

Fuel and air Filters are easy to change. If you get your hands on a repair manual for your vehicle, it will have step by step instructions on how to replace these filters. If your are able to change your own filters, you will not only save money but it will also save you time as well. I would recommend any brand name filter from your local auto parts store as a replacement for your factory installed filters.

Cover Guy is an employee of CarCoverOutlet.com which sells car covers, truck covers, SUV covers, van covers, station wagon covers and limo covers at discount prices.

As the years go by we learn more information about things are affecting our environment. If you are like me you ask yourself “What can I do to help?” One thing that you and I can do is cut down the amount of CO2 emissions that our cars emit into the atmosphere. Here are some things related to our cars that we can do;

Keep our tire pressure levels at the right amount or higher. Lower than normal tire pressure causes your vehicle’s engine to work harder. When the engine works harder it is less fuel efficient, which leads to higher CO2 emissions intp the atmosphere.

Don’t carry around a lot of junk in your car’s trunk. The lighter your vehicle is the easier it is on your auto’s engine to power your vehicle. This again will lead to less CO2 emissions put into the air by your car or truck

Cut down on the amount of stopping and starting that you do in your travels. Whenever you start and stop you are using more gas which leads to an increase in CO2 emissions.

While driving keep an eye on the traffic flow and the traffic signals in the distance. Whenever you see brake lights off in the distance ahead of your or a traffic signal changing to red, ease off the gas and start to slow down without stopping while waiting for the traffic to begin moving again or the light to turn green. If in bumper to bumper traffic or a freeway or highway allow more distance between you and the car in front of you so you may be able to roll slowly rather than starting and stopping.

Additionally, idling of your car wastes fuel as well as causing your engine to emit more CO2 emissions due to inefficient engine operation. If your car has fuel injection, you should turn your car off if you will be idling for a few minutes. With older cars you will use more fuel by turning your engine off, but with fuel injected engines you will save fuel.

Planning your trips ahead of time is also useful as you can try and think of a less congested route to your destination which will reduce the need for stopping and starting. Also, by doing several errands on a planned trip you will cut down your overall driving of your car, Besides helping the environment you are also saving money by carrying out these simple tips.

Cover Guy is an employee of CarCoverOutlet.com which sells the entire line of Budge Auto Covers at discount prices.