5 Things You Didn’t Know about Your Vehicle

You probably spend almost as much time in your car as you do at work or at home. Your car is a very important part of your life—it gets you where you need to go, when you need to get there. For many, their vehicle is a friend as much as it is a means of transportation. For others, especially those having problems, it’s an enemy. Regardless, for as much time as you spend in your car, there are a number of fun things you may not have realized about your old reliable.

What Side Has the Gas Cap?

Have you ever pulled into a gas station and couldn’t remember which side your gas cap was on? You pull up to the pump, and then have to get back in and turn around or re-adjust to reach the opening.

You never have to do this again. Your fuel gauge has an arrow on it pointing either right or left. This arrow indicates what side of the car has the gas tank! When you can’t remember, glance at the gauge.

Car Keys Cost Money

If you are driving a car that was manufactured in the past ten or fifteen years, forget running to the hardware store to have an extra key made. Your car probably has an anti-theft system that the key deactivates with the use of a computer chip embedded inside. These keys, as a result, can only be gotten from a dealer, and can cost anywhere from $50 to $100. Sometimes there are third-party models available that are cheaper, but be very careful to make sure these will work with your car.

A Little Goes a Long Waygas_into_shotglass

Newer model cars require a miniscule amount of gas to start. In fact, a shot glass holds just about an ounce of fluid; your car requires half that to fire up. Running, of course, takes more, but to get the engine to crank, a little gas goes a long way.

Computer Literacy

No, we’re not talking about you being computer literate. We mean your car. That’s right; modern cars are run by computers. This has been fairly common since the 1990s, but as the years go by, computers in car engines have gotten ever more sophisticated and can handle tasks like oxygen sensors, fuel intake, and more. While these computers make it easier for technicians to diagnose problems, if your computer isn’t working properly, it can cause your Check Engine light to come on or even affect the way the car runs.

Keep the Tank Full!

This may seem like an obvious statement, but you may not realize that running your car on empty doesn’t just risk the car stopping. Running low on gas can actually cause damage to your fuel injection system and fuel lines. Keeping your tank full prevents dirt and contaminants from gumming up your fuel injection system and save you a lot of money on repairs.

 

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