Park Auto Group

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Kids and Bicycle Safety




Bicycle riding is fun, healthy, and a great way to be independent.


But it is important to remember that a bicycle is not a toy; it’s a vehicle!

Be cool – follow some basic safety tips when you ride.



Safe Riding Tips

Before using your bicycle, make sure it is ready to ride. You should always

inspect your bike to make sure all parts are secure and working properly.

Remember to:



Wear a Properly Fitted Bicycle Helmet. Protect your brain, save your life. For more information see the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration publication

“Easy Steps to Properly Fit a Bicycle Helmet.”





Adjust Your Bicycle to Fit. Stand over your bicycle. There should be 1 to 2 inches between you and the top tube (bar) if using a road bike and 3 to 4 inches if a mountain bicycle. The seat should be level front to back. The seat height should be adjusted to allow a slight bend at the knee when the leg is fully extended. The handlebar height should be at the same level with the seat.





Check Your Equipment. Before riding, inflate tires properly and check that your brakes work.





See and Be Seen. Whether daytime, dawn, dusk, foul weather, or at night, you need to be seen by others. Wearing white has not been shown to make you more visible. Rather, always wear neon, fluorescent, or other bright colors when riding day or night. Also wear something that reflects light, such as reflective tape or markings, or flashing lights. Remember, just because you can see a driver doesn’t mean the driver can see you.





Control Your Bicycle. Always ride with at least one hand on the handlebars. Carry books and other items in a bicycle carrier or backpack.





Watch for and Avoid Road Hazards. Be on the lookout for hazards such as potholes, broken glass, gravel, puddles, leaves, and dogs. All these hazards can cause a crash. If you are riding with friends and you are in the lead, yell out and point to the hazard to alert the riders behind you.





Avoid Riding at Night. It is far more dangerous to ride at night than during the day because you are harder for others to see. If you have to ride at night, wear something that makes you more easily seen by others. Make sure you have reflectors on the front and rear of your bicycle (white lights on the front and red rear reflectors are required by law in many States), in addition to reflectors on your tires, so others can see you.

Many bicycle-related crashes resulting in injury or death are associated with the bicyclist’s behavior, including such things as not wearing a bicycle helmet, riding into a street without stopping, turning left or swerving into traffic that is coming from behind, running a stop sign, and riding the wrong way in traffic. To maximize your safety, always wear a helmet AND follow the rules of the road.



Rules of the Road – Bicycling on the Road



Bicycles in many States are considered vehicles, and cyclists have the same rights and the same responsibilities to follow the rules of the road as motorists. When riding, always:



Go With the Traffic Flow. Ride on the right in the same direction as other vehicles. Go with the flow – not against it.





Obey All Traffic Laws. A bicycle is a vehicle and you’re a driver. When you ride in the street, obey all traffic signs, signals, and lane markings.





Yield to Traffic When Appropriate. Almost always, drivers on a smaller road must yield (wait) for traffic on a major or larger road. If there is no stop sign or traffic signal and you are coming from a smaller roadway (out of a driveway, from a sidewalk, a bike path, etc.), you must slow down and look to see if the way is clear before proceeding. This also means yielding to pedestrians who have already entered a crosswalk.





Be Predictable. Ride in a straight line, not in and out of cars. Signal your moves to others.





Stay Alert at All Times. Use your eyes AND ears. Watch out for potholes, cracks, wet leaves, storm grates, railroad tracks, or anything that could make you lose control of your bike. You need your ears to hear traffic and avoid dangerous situations; don’t wear a headset when you ride.





Look Before Turning. When turning left or right, always look behind you for a break in traffic, then signal before making the turn. Watch for left- or right-turning traffic.





Watch for Parked Cars. Ride far enough out from the curb to avoid the unexpected from parked cars (like doors opening, or cars pulling out).

Sidewalk versus Street Riding



The safest place for bicycle riding is on the street, where bicycles are expected to follow the same rules of the road as motorists and ride in the same direction.



Children less than 10 years old, however, are not mature enough to make the decisions necessary to safely ride in the street.





Children less than 10 years old are better off riding on the sidewalk.





For anyone riding on a sidewalk:





Check the law in your State or jurisdiction to make sure sidewalk riding is allowed.





Watch for vehicles coming out of or turning into driveways.





Stop at corners of sidewalks and streets to look for cars and to make sure the drivers see you before crossing.





Enter a street at a corner and not between parked cars. Alert pedestrians that you are near by saying, “Excuse me,” or, “Passing on your left,” or use a bell or horn.

For more information on bicycle safety, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Web site at: www.nhtsa.dot.gov

Monday, June 6, 2011

And then there's an ACURA Oil Change




All things considered, getting your oil changed at an Acura dealership makes a lot of sense. OK, go ahead and ask the tough questions: "Aren't all oil changes the same?" & "Don't Acura dealers charge too much money & take too much time?" Consider these facts:

  • Acura Dealers Use ACURA PRECISION CRAFTED OIL FILTERS
    • Superior materials and advanced technology combine to make the ultimate oil filter for your Acura. For example, take apart an Acura oil filter and you'll find 60% more paper, based on surface area, than the leading competitive oil filters. This variable density filter paper is responsible for trapping contaminants and keeping your oil clean. Clean Oil = Happy Engine!
    • P-RING SEAL DESIGN A round seal, not flat, provides solid contact between the filter and engine. This is what keeps your oil inside the filter and prevents it from leaking all over your garage!
    • ANTI-DRAINBACK VALVE This prevents dirty oil from draining out of the filter and back into your engine after the engine is shut-off. Acura uses Silicone material for optimum performance.
    • Unlike many other oil filters, Acura Genuine Oil Filters are designed specifically for Acura vehicles, to provide maximum protection and improved engine life.

  • Acura Dealers Replace the CRUSH WASHER. What is a Crush Washer and why is it SO important to your Acura?
    • The crush washer is a gasket that fits between your oil pan and the drain plug. It is only supposed to be used one time, and should be discarded during each oil change and replaced with a new one.
    • When a new washer is installed and the drain plug is tightened, this washer "crushes" to form a very tight seal, this prevents motor oil leaks without overstressing the oil pan threads.
    • Oil changers who are not aware of its importance may think it's OK to re-use this washer. Since it has already been crushed, it will not collapse any further. As a result, the installer may over-tighten the drain plug to get a tight fit. This can eventually lead to stripped threads in the oil pan--a VERY expensive repair.
    Acura uses an aluminum crush washer. Some oil changers might mistakenly use a plastic one, which is not as effective
  • An Acura-Trained Technician makes a big difference! Why?
    • --Acura dealers know your vehicle inside and out, and can provide competent, efficient service.
    • --Acura technicians check the engine block to make sure the O-ring from the old filter is not stuck to it. If it is, the technician scrapes it off thoroughly and wipes the surface clean. If a new oil filter is installed over the old O-ring, the filter could come loose over time. When installing a new Acura Oil Filter, Acura technicians torque it to the proper specifications. To keep the new O-ring from shearing when torquing the filter, they apply a lubricant, such as engine oil, to it. Before returning your Acura, many Acura technicians spray a cleaner onto the oil pan near the drain plug to remove any excess oil so you don't have oil on your driveway or garage. They also know to clean the crevices in the undercarriage where oil can pool while draining, only to drip later on.
    • --Most Acura dealers complete a thorough Multi-Point Inspection with every service. Click on the image (right) to see everything they inspect!
Why Use ACURA OIL?
    • Acura recommends using Genuine Acura Oil for your vehicle. It meets the Starburst performance requirements (This symbol indicates that the oil meets the latest performance requirements set by the automotive and oil industries. Oil bearing the Starburst will provide superior performance in the areas of deposit and sludge protection, wear protection, and oil life), and is also subjected to a series of Acura-specific tests to guarantee optimum performance and compatibility with your Acura vehicle. It has just the right amounts of detergent and lubricants prescribed by our engineers. To learn more, click on the picture above.
  • Most Acura dealers check your tires, batteries and fluid levels.
    • Batteries never die when it's convenient! Your Acura dealer can do a complimentary battery test with a special diagnostic tool that detects when a battery is approaching the end of its life, so you can avoid ever getting in a no-start situation. With this simple test you'll know whether your battery is good, bad or better off replaced. Acura batteries carry a 100 month limited warranty & 3 years free replacement.

     
    • Re-Tire at Acura! High performance vehicles are equipped with high performance tires. Most Acura Dealers will check your tires and keep you informed about when you need new ones. Maintain your Acura's Precision Crafted Performance with the name, reputation and quality of original equipment factory spec tires. Acura dealers know exactly which tires your Acura needs--if the wrong tires are installed, noise and vibration could result.

    Visit Park Acura online at www.parkacura.com