Ask a Technician: Are highway miles better for my car than city miles?

When it comes to wear and tear on your vehicle, not all miles are the same. City driving, due to its stop and go nature, leads to more wear and tear on the engine, transmission, and other critical parts. Learn more about highway versus city miles and their effect on your vehicle from our skilled service team at Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville.

Gas mileage. Many drivers become aware of a difference in city miles and highway miles when they go to purchase a car and notice the miles per gallon rating. A vehicle can generally be expected to get significantly more miles to the gallon driving on a highway than driving in the city. This difference in miles per gallon provides clues as to why highway miles are better for your car than city miles—and it has nothing to do with magic gasoline being sold at freeway entrances.

Efficient and inefficient miles. A car gets better gas mileage on the highway because highway miles are more efficient than city miles. How Stuff Works says that the “sweet spot” for maximum fuel efficiency “is in the range of 40-60 mph” for most cars, and you're much more likely to be close to this zone while driving on the highway. City driving also requires more stopping, which means more going, which means a car's engine spends a lot less time at efficient speeds and a lot more time revving up after a stop sign or stoplight. It is also much more likely your vehicle is able to "cruise" on the highway without having to slow down or brake.

Stopping and going. The stopping and going doesn't just increase wear and tear on the engine. Other crucial parts of an automobile are worn faster through stop-and-go city traffic. An obvious component is the brakes. There's a reason drivers take the highway if a highway route is available, even if it means traveling a few extra miles. It's because you don't have to stop every few seconds or slow down because some individual decided to go 19 miles below the speed limit (if your heart rate just accelerated at the mention of following someone going 19 miles below the speed limit, take a deep breath.).

The transmission. It costs a lot of money to replace a transmission. On the highway, you're going at a steady speed, oil pressure is higher, internal engine parts are better protected, and engine temperature is stable. In addition, your gears aren’t shifting up and down constantly as they would with stop-and-go driving. Transmissions only wear when they shift. Therefore, highway driving causes less wear and tear on your transmission.

 
Buying a pre-owned vehicle. Because there really is no way to truly know how many of an automobile's miles were highway and how many were city, your astute knowledge of highway miles can only be applied to maintenance on a vehicle you've been driving. If you're worried about the wear and tear on a vehicle you want to purchase, you'll want to buy a pre-owned vehicle that's been certified by a reputable dealer. Our dealer mechanics give all vehicles a thorough inspection, so you can be sure you're getting a car that will give you what you need—be it on the highway or in the city.

Little Known Components: Air Suspension

Whether you're looking to have the coolest car on the block, the ability to alter your ride level on the fly, or better load carrying capabilities, it’s time to look into getting an air suspension system.

An air suspension system replaces conventional springs with air springs. These air springs are basically bags inflated to a specific pressure or height with an outside compressor via a valve on the bag. An air suspension system offers five key benefits as outlined in Hot Rod. Read on to learn more from our team at Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville.

Adjustability. Anyone who's ever had the pleasure of spending weeks adjusting and fine tuning springs and shocks in order to get the "perfect" ride would have gladly traded a platinum wrench (which may have ended up thrown through a garage window out of frustration) for an air suspension system. Because an air suspension system provides a lot more room for error when it comes to height, load, and rate, you can get the system fine-tuned in much less time, even on the fly.

Handling. In additional to being super cool, an air suspension system provides superior handling. They're progressive, which means the more they compress, the stiffer they get. Combined with the aforementioned enhanced adjustability, you've got yourself enormous performance potential.

Customization. Everyone has his or her own idea of what a perfect ride feels like. With an air suspension system, the way your car handles can be accommodated with little or no component changes. A wide range of riding styles can be achieved by a simple adjustment of air pressure and shock valving.

Height. If those who switched from conventional suspension systems to air suspension systems were honest, quite a few would admit they got an air suspension system because they wanted to look cool. The cool continuum runs the spectrum between low riders or mini-trucks to the more common driver who simply wants to lower his or her ride for a unique look. Most air suspension kits put the vehicle several inches below standard vehicle heights and usually can be adjusted up for normal driving, filling it up with gas, or rolling it onto a truck bed.

Load carrying. Although air suspension systems are more commonly associated with young men trying to impress young ladies on a Saturday night with their sweet new ride, air suspension systems were originally designed for commercial use. More specifically, they were designed to help 18-wheelers carry more of a load while providing more comfort for the driver.

If this heretofore little known vehicle component intrigues you, check with our dealership service department to learn more about your options.

How Proper Maintenance Helps Resale Value

The day you bring home your new car is well-worth celebrating. The day you trade it in for a new vehicle can be just as exciting, especially if you have maintained your vehicle well over the years. Learn why proper maintenance is so important, both during ownership and when trading in, from our team at Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville.

Cost vs. Benefit. There are two primary reasons individuals don't get proper maintenance on their vehicles: time and money. Those who don't have enough time to keep their vehicle maintained will definitely not have enough time to get it repaired down the road. Those who are worried about the cost of maintaining a vehicle need to examine two things: the cost of getting a vehicle repaired due to a lack of maintenance, and the increase in resale value as a result of proper maintenance.

Documentation. So you followed your maintenance log that came with your vehicle, right? Great! You also documented each and every oil change, tune up, tire rotation, windshield wiper switch, and whatever else you could think of documenting, correct? Having this information on hand makes your vehicle much more attractive to buyers. If you tell a prospective buyer that you've meticulously maintained your vehicle, he or she will be more likely to believe you if it's properly documented in a log book, especially when accompanied by receipts.

Recommended maintenance and what to record. If you haven't kept a log, gather your receipts. If you don't have receipts, go through credit card statements. Make sure your records are accurate. Here are some of the things you should document: 

• Fluid changes
• Tire rotation
• Paint or body shop receipts
• Engine repair paperwork
• Car detailing receipts
• Inspection reports
• Smog certificates

Other recommended maintenance. Obviously, nobody wants to buy a car that doesn't run well, but in your haste to document and maintain mechanical aspects of the vehicle, don't neglect to maintain the exterior and interior. Unsightly blemishes on the exterior or a torn, ripped, or dirty interior can distract from your well-organized documentation as well.

Pre-sale preparation. In addition to routine cleaning of the car's exterior and interior, there are a few things you're going to want to pay special attention to when preparing a car for resale. Clean the windshields inside and out. Use a high-quality product to return the luster to vinyl surfaces and components on the inside. Vacuum the upholstery and carpets. Wipe down surfaces. If you've been doing this all along, you'll have no problems when it comes to preparing the vehicle. Keep the exterior free of debris and give it a good detailing when preparing it for sale.

 
There are more factors than routine maintenance when it comes to maintaining a car's value. Take note, however, that an unmaintained vehicle will fetch less money, regardless of its make or model.

Driving Tips You Can Learn From Bus Drivers

Bus drivers take their lives into their hands every day on city streets and interstate highways. Despite challenging traffic conditions and the responsibility of a large vehicle and numerous passengers, bus drivers find ways to stay safe while keeping up with demanding routes and schedules. These unsung heroes of the road universally command respect, but they also offer important lessons to ordinary drivers who share busy roads with buses every day. Our team at Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville has the details.

Distracted Driving

Modern technology has caused an addiction for many bus drivers as they struggle to communicate while safely driving a bus. An Italian bus driver was caught on video simultaneously using two cell phones while steering his bus with his elbows. This talent showed the world that cell phone use behind the wheel might not present the extreme danger most people expect. Seriously, bus drivers can provide some good examples of how not to drive. Although many states have laws in place restricting the use of electronic devices while driving, many states do not. All drivers should avoid risking their lives and the lives of passengers by reserving cell phone use to emergencies while driving.

Road Rage

A New York City school bus driver named Juan DelValle side-swiped a car on a crowded city street and was subsequently attacked by the offended driver. DelValle was within days of his long-awaited retirement and died from severe injuries to his brain. This one example shows how a minor traffic incident can quickly escalate into a life-changing event for unprepared drivers. Drivers should exercise extreme caution every time they have an incident with another driver. After an accident, drivers who feel threatened can call police and wait in their cars until help arrives.

Rest

Bus drivers illustrate why no one should sit behind the wheel of a vehicle when fatigued. Investigators determined that a tour bus crash in New York that killed 15 passengers was caused by a sleepy driver. The bus driver, Ophadell Williams, was charged with criminally negligent homicide. His life might never return to its previous state. Drivers who spend time getting the sleep they need might arrive late at their destination, but they also arrive with a clear conscience, an alert mind, and living passengers.

Defensive Driving

A Transit bus in Los Osos, California rolled down an embankment after colliding with a car on a dark and wet stretch of road. Bus drivers know they cannot count on the driving skills of other motorists for safety, so they drive defensively. In the Los Osos case, the bus driver managed to stay alive after the Mercedes crossed the center line. Although the driver of the automobile died in the wreck, all the bus passengers lived. Every driver should periodically take time to review defensive-driving tactics or to attend a defensive driving class to improve their ability to respond to unexpected circumstances on the highway.

Ask a Technician: How do I know if I need new wiper blades?

In severe weather conditions, whether or not your vehicle is safe could depend on how functional the rubber windshield wiper blades are on your vehicle. Read on to learn if it is time for you to purchase a new set of wiper blades from our team at Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville. 

When do you need new windshield wiper blades?

Worn-out wiper blades usually remind you they're wearing out by the sound that they make. If during operation you hear an annoying "squeak" every time they "swish," it's time for new wiper blades. A rubber windshield wiper that's cracked can't keep your windshield clear during wet weather conditions and this increases your risk of having an accident. Additionally, if the rubber wears off and any part of the metal wiper hits the glass, your windshield could be damaged.

How often should rubber blades be replaced?

Inspection of your vehicle's rubber wiper blades should be a part of every regular maintenance inspection. You don't want to have to pull your vehicle over during a downpour or snowstorm just because you can't see out the windows. A better strategy is to regularly check their condition and either have them replaced during a service appointment at your dealership, or change them yourself. Just be sure to check your vehicle's operating manual for the right replacement size.

Should you replace windshield wiper blades yourself?

If you are car savvy and accustomed to doing small DIY projects on your car, changing the wiper blades isn't a difficult task if you purchase the correct replacement. After reading the directions on the package, clean the glass windshield to remove any debris and to make the surface smooth. Replacement wiper products sometimes recommend applying glass treatment to the windshield. This step improves the effectiveness of the new blades.

What is the evolution of wiper blades?

For decades, car designs have changed radically while the standard design for wiper blades hasn't. The first real evolution to come along beyond a single wiper blade was the two-blade design with wings during the 1980's. Eventually, other designs incorporated even more wiping edges within one rubber strip. However, problems arose on multiple edged wipers because their design allowed too much space for ice and snow to clog the wiper action and they stopped working when drivers needed them most.

What about new contoured windshield blade designs?

Enter the contoured, frameless wiper blade. This innovative design has a benefit standard rubber blades don't have-even pressure over the entire blade surface. When wiper blades wear evenly there's no more premature failure of the blades due to worn edges. This design also prevents ice build-up between the rubber wiper blade and the metal frame. You don't have to worry about them freezing if you find yourself driving in below freezing temperatures. Contoured, frameless windshield wipers are now standard on many new car models.

You don't want to ignore this small, inexpensive item that can make a big difference when you must drive your car during bad weather conditions.