It’s cold outside! Really cold! But, there is a good reason to stand guard at the fuel pump the next time you have to fill your car at the gas station. It’s called static-related fire.
We have all had experiences with static electricity. For example, when a dryer sheet sticks to our favorite blanket out of the warm dryer and makes those tiny sparks as we try to separate them. The same principle occurs when we are entering or exiting our driver seats. We tend to slide across the seat and generate static. When we return to the pump, a single spark generated by the static electricity can trigger a disaster and ignite the gasoline vapors near the fuel dispenser, causing a flash fire.
Reduce static problems at the pump by staying outside your car as you fuel up, especially during cold, dry weather. Always discharge your “static” before fueling, too, by touching something metal with your bare hand before touching the pump.
Showing posts with label car insured for winter driving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label car insured for winter driving. Show all posts
Monday, January 3, 2011
No Pressure Driving
Nothing is worse than a car break down when it’s jaw-chattering cold outside. Just thinking about it makes me shiver! Taking steps now to prepare your car for the winter can save your car (and your teeth).
One big step in preparing your car for the cold is to have your tire pressure checked. Since tire pressure drops when temperatures cool down, your tires could be dangerously low on air and could jeopardize your car’s handling, which could lead to more road accidents. In fact, tire pressure is so important to your safety, that as of 2008, tire pressure monitors are required on all new vehicles. (Older cars don’t have them, so you’ll need to check the pressure manually.)
A word of caution, though: over-inflating your tires won’t do you any good either. Not having your tires at their recommended pressure will negatively affect not only your tire’s wear, but more importantly your vehicle performance and your ability to drive safely.
One big step in preparing your car for the cold is to have your tire pressure checked. Since tire pressure drops when temperatures cool down, your tires could be dangerously low on air and could jeopardize your car’s handling, which could lead to more road accidents. In fact, tire pressure is so important to your safety, that as of 2008, tire pressure monitors are required on all new vehicles. (Older cars don’t have them, so you’ll need to check the pressure manually.)
A word of caution, though: over-inflating your tires won’t do you any good either. Not having your tires at their recommended pressure will negatively affect not only your tire’s wear, but more importantly your vehicle performance and your ability to drive safely.
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