Around this time of year, my friend Brian conducts what he calls his "Spring Trunk Clearance".
I remember being excited when he told me about it, because I assumed it had to do with a fun shopping trip. But he was actually talking about the one time per year that he cleans out his trunk.
"I found a bottle of wine in there last year," he told me, "so it was totally worth it."
When spring comes around, cleaning out your trunk is a good start - but taking your car in for a tune-up may be the best way to welcome spring. Booking an appointment for a tune-up may seem like a hassle and an expense, but keeping your car tuned up will save you money on fuel and repairs in the long run.
How often should I get a tune-up?
That depends on your vehicle. Your owner's manual should tell you how often your vehicle requires maintenance and what specific parts need to be checked or replaced. If you have an older vehicle, you may want to do more frequent checks.
What's involved in a tune-up?
Again, it depends on your vehicle, but a typical tune-up will involve the inspection, cleaning and/or replacement of:
Air filters
Fuel filters
Spark plugs and wires
Distributor cap and distribution ignition rotor (if your car has them - some newer models have distributorless ignition)
PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) valve and gaskets
Sensors and belts
Lubricants and coolants
Ignition timing
Tire alignment and tire pressure
Car battery
Windshield wipers
It's a pretty extensive list! If you're comfortable under the hood of your car, you can perform some of these maintenance items yourself - but even the most experienced DIY'ers know when it's time to let a professional check out their vehicle.
What are the benefits of a tune-up?
As we've discussed in previous PumpTalk posts, each of the systems above, from fuel injectors to air filters can impact your fuel efficiency and carbon emissions. Regular tune-ups can help you save on fuel - and having a professional perform a thorough cleaning and diagnostic of your vehicle can help avoid costly future repairs by catching potential problems early.
When was the last time you took your car in for maintenance? Is it time for a little springtime tune-up?
Last weekend, I went on a picnic for the first time in what seems like a million years. And as you can imagine, the process for heading out on a simple picnic has changed from the last time I went. I’m used to swinging by my local sandwich shop, picking up a few items, and driving wherever the mood took me. Often down to Peace Arch Provincial Park – which is currently closed. And normally I’d text a bunch of friends – maybe 2 would show up, maybe 20. Not this time. Need to keep that social bubble small.
But even in light of restrictions, I still had a great time – it just takes a little planning. If you’re headed out on a road trip this summer - whether a day trip for a picnic, an overnight stay at a campground, or a longer holiday – there are ways to travel safely. And a lot of great resources out there to help!
Plan Your Destination
Since each territory and province has a different re-opening schedule and regulations, you’ll want to check the specifics of your destination. Every province and territory has published their COVID-19 restrictions on their websites, including guidelines for using public spaces like provincial parks.
Be aware that if you’re headed up to the cottage or cabin, smaller communities where these are typically located have more limited health care and other resources. Don’t put a strain on these communities – bring the essentials that you need with you. And if you do go out, respect physical distancing protocols and mask regulations. And don’t go out if you’re sick or exhibiting symptoms.
When you’re road-tripping, you’ll want to make sure that you keep your car clean and organized. If you’re like me, you may not have been using it a lot lately, but now that I head out for day trips, I’m a lot more aware of all the surfaces I touch in the car.
Using disinfectant wipes, regularly wipe down "high touch" surfaces on a regular basis. This includes places like: the steering wheel, volume knob, temperature controls, seat belts, door handles, gear shift, etc. Be careful about using wipes with bleach - they can damage the interior of your vehicle. Always test on a small area first. And it is better to spray a cleaning solution on a rag and use it rather than directly on the surface itself.
Don't forget to give your key fob a wipe as well.
Air out your vehicle. If you can, occasionally give the AC a rest, open your vehicle’s windows and let the fresh air in.
Car seats can harbour crumbs and germs - make sure you're cleaning your children's car seats regularly. You can vacuum out the crumbs, but check your manufacturer's guidelines on what to use to wipe down the seat, belts, etc.
Keeping your car organized can also help keep it clean. A few tips:
Designate a specific receptacle for trash. If there's one container, you'll be more likely to empty it on a regular basis than if trash is just scattered everywhere. Plus you can give that trash receptacle a regular clean.
Put a small caddy together with a box of tissues, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer and an extra mask. This will save you time instead of having to dig through your purse or bag as well as keeping additional touched surfaces to a minimum.
And don’t forget to wash your hands after you’ve unloaded your car.
It’s so nice to be able to get out and about and enjoy the beauty of Canada. Please stay safe and healthy and continue to be kind to one another as we navigate this next phase of the new normal.
2003. A particularly frosty day in Toronto. My car: running on fumes. My gloves: forgotten (beside my lunch) on the kitchen table. I had no choice. I had to pull in to my local Petro-Canada and fill up or I wouldn’t make it to work. As I filled my tank, I tried to avoid frostbite by alternating pumping hands and keeping the free one in my pocket. Oh, how I missed the locking clip on the gas nozzle.
Fast forward 16 years. The clips are back! In 2002 Canadian Fuels member companies removed the clips for safety reasons. But since the introduction of Gasoline Flow Rate Regulations (currently set at 38 litres/minute) and Onboard Fuelling Vapour Recovery technology in vehicles, those safety risks have been greatly reduced.
So, for guest convenience (and keeping hands warm!), Petro-Canada is re-introducing the locking clicks on gasoline nozzles across the country, except in Quebec where they are not legal. Stasy Presutto, Manager of Environment, Health & Safety for Petro-Canada, who is leading the implementation of the locking clips, is keen on the implementation:
“The locking clips deliver an overall positive guest experience and greatly reduce the probability of gasoline spills. In the absence of locking clips, we have seen guests insert objects (e.g. gas cap, coffee cup) into the nozzle thereby causing gasoline spills.”
Now, while the clips are very convenient, you can’t just “set it and forget it”. Site Staff will still be monitoring the dispensing of fuel and you can do your part. Stay within 7.5 metres (25 feet) of your vehicle while using the locking clip. This means you can wash your windshield or even get back in your car to stay warm. But please don’t enter the store until you have finished pumping your gas. Otherwise the attendant will, for safety reasons, halt the pump until you return.
If you have any questions about the safe use of gas nozzle locking clips (or any other safety concerns), don’t hesitate to ask the station attendant.
I can’t believe it’s December already - the time of year where I break out in hives, trying to find the perfect gift for everyone. I have a couple of car enthusiasts on my list and, while casting around for some cool gifts for them, I decided to put together a list of my personal top ten gift ideas for people who like to spend a lot of time behind the wheel.
Car gear is always a good choice – these first four gift ideas fall into that category:
1. Spar.saa Inverted Umbrella OK, maybe this is just because I live in Vancouver where it is always raining, but I think this is a great idea – the inverted umbrella. It lets you get in your car and fold up the umbrella with a minimum of getting wet. I would absolutely appreciate this as a gift! Check out this video.
3. Car Aromatherapy Diffuser Road rage affects all of us. So can a stinky dog. If your gift recipient’s car (or mood) needs a little freshening, go one step better than a pine tree deodorizer and get them a car aromatherapy diffuser. Some diffusers plug into the cigarette lighter and others just snap onto your vent. Choose a scent they like – something calming, energizing, spicy or floral. Or, if they want to go old school, there’s always the trusty pine scent. Refreshingly retro!
4. Car Emergency Kit A few years ago, I gave my immediate family members an earthquake safety kit. It was just a starter one, but it helped them all get on the path to preparing a bigger one for their households. Emergency kits aren’t as sexy as a LEGO Bugatti, but they are useful and potentially life saving.
If you’re not comfortable buying something for your car-lover’s beloved ride, you can always choose a gift that will help them show off their love for their car instead. Like:
5. Automotive-Themed Jewelry Help your gearhead accessorize their look with automotive-themed jewelry! A crankshaft necklace, piston and rod earrings or a pair of wheel rim cufflinks may be just the blingy ticket this holiday season. I'm particularly partial to items made from "fordite" - a simulated gemstone made from built up layers of enamel paint from the paint bays at old car factories in Detroit.
Sometimes your favourite car enthusiast can’t take their summer-only car out for a spin. That’s when you need to get them something they can enjoy at home.
6. Car Video Games Occasionally it can be fun to race through Prague from the comfort of your own living room. For the virtual car lover who has an Xbox, check out Forza Motorsport 7. It features over 700 cars – something to keep your gift recipient busy during the winter months. If a Playstation is the platform of choice, try Gran Turismo Sport on for size. It features 18 in-game locations and 54 different layouts – from racing circuits to dirt tracks.
Station Image by Tomáš Souček from 'It's a Gas' copyright gestalten 2018
But what if your car enthusiast has everything? What kind of gift do you get them then?
8. Unique Driving Experience Instead of giving a thing, give an experience. There are so many great options for unique driving experiences. Most performance car brands, like Jaguar or Porsche, offer training or track outings – perfect for someone who is loyal to a particular make or model. If your car lover likes to “play the field” as it were, there are several companies that will arrange tours along scenic routes and let drivers change between multiple exotic supercars. Finally, if the car doesn’t matter as much as the environment, perhaps ice circuit training on a frozen skid pond would make the perfect gift.
These are all great, right? But what if it is Christmas Eve and you are on the way to your in-laws and you forgot to get Cousin Joe a present? We’ve got you covered with two perfect last minute gifts. Spoiler alert – you can get both of these last minute gifts at our stations.
9. A Wash & Go Card I actually received one of these last year in the office Secret Santa exchange. I was surprised at how excited I was to get it (even more than the box of Quality Street). I don’t actually wash my car all that often. I find it a bit of a hassle to go in to the station, buy a ticket, get back in my car and then type a code at the entrance! But with the Petro-Canada Wash & Go Card – you just tap it at the entrance and get sudsy. Plus, when I reload online, I get a bonus wash (2 bonus washes if I reload before January 7, 2019). Nice!
10. A Petro-Canada Gift Card First of all, who doesn’t love getting a gift card? I ask for an iTunes gift card every year for my birthday. Every year. It’s the perfect gift. So, for the car lover on your list, a Petro-Canada Gift Card is a great option! They can get a fuel-up or some snacks or a lottery ticket – so many options!
And there we have it! 10 great gift ideas for the car lover on your list! Did we miss one of your great gift ideas? If so, share it in the comments!
Like many of you, I've slowly been adding bits and pieces of my life (and attendant documentation) to my smart phone. Sometimes that is facilitated by apps where I can store important docs or data. And sometimes I just take a picture of something like my passport or my driver's license and put it in a special photo album, so that I have a copy close at hand in case of an emergency.
One of the information sets I've been actively collecting on my phone has to do with my car. I have a photo of my license plate, plus images of my beloved Saturn from several angles; in case of accident or theft, it's good to have the "before" pics. And, of course, I have my insurance broker’s number in my contacts. But all of these car-related pieces of info are stored in different places on my phone and sometimes I can’t remember where I cleverly stashed them.
Fortunately, RBC has just released a new free platform (app and website) called DRIVE, which lets me collect all this car-related info in one handy place. With the DRIVE app, I can:
Store all of my car-related documents in one place, including insurance and warranty info
Receive recall notifications for my vehicle and schedule follow-up appointments
Book services at partner dealerships
And my two favourite features in DRIVE (yes, I'm a bit biased): I can store my Petro-Points card on the platform as well as locate a nearby Petro-Canada gas station.
