Have you ever heard phrase, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure? It's true in so many different aspects of our lives. From taking care of oneself to taking care of things around the house.

But what about your vehicle? For most people. A vehicle will be the second largest investment folks will make. Doesn't it make sense to take the proper care of it?

Most of the vital systems in your vehicle are cooled, lubricated, and protected by some type of fluid. These fluids can wear out. And when they do, the delicate, expensive parts they protect fail. These systems include your engine, transmission and drive axles, to name a few.

Everyone knows that oil needs changing but most don't really know how often. The matter is confused further by different manufacturer's giving different service intervals. Some car makers say to change it every 5000 miles while most professional technicians still agree with the 3000 mile interval. So, what to do?

Every vehicle is different. Driving habits are different and climates are different. All of these factors affect when to change your oil. Dirty and dusty climates, stop-and-go or short trip driving increase the need for the oil change at 3000 miles. The oil gets dirty more quickly under these conditions and can't properly protect your engine. Longer trips, or highway driving keeps the oil hot enough to burn off some of the contaminants and can therefore go a bit longer.

The same holds true for most of your other fluids. 

Only you know which interval is best for you based on individual driving habits but whichever interval it is, the important thing is to do the preventive maintenance on time.

The next question is where to have the services done. We recommend using a shop with certified mechanics, people with the experience to know what to do and to be able to identify problems BEFORE they arise. Ask yourself this, when looking for a surgeon, do you look for the cheapest price? No, you find out their qualifications. The same should hold true for your mechanic. From shop to shop, most independents will have charges that are within a few dollars of each other. Find out who is the best and stick with that shop. You won't find this quality of service at a local mega-oil mart.

Ask for references from potential shops. Ask for their qualifications. A family owned, independent repair center has a vested interest in your happiness and your vehicle's reliability. Find one that you're comfortable with and continue to use them. Trust is never built up if you're continuously shopping around for that $12.95 oil change. When you do develop that level of trust, when a repair is recommended you'll know that it's truly needed and you will have the confidence that it is being done right.

We here at Springboro Automotive are committed to earning your faith and trust through the services we provide for you. We will work with you in establishing a personal car care maintenance program that is based on your individual needs and requirements. Call us today!

Until next month.

                              Bob

        Car Care Articles

Copyright 2009 - 2010 Bob Grove and Springboro Automotive

Gerard Malou

Minimize the surprises and have peace of mind.

Before you travel, take the time to have your

tires checked at Springboro Automotive and

don’t forget the spare!

Adults are just as likely as teenagers to text while driving, according to a report released Friday by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project.

The report, titled "Adults and Cell Phone Distractions," found nearly half -- or 47 percent -- of adult texters say they have sent or received text messages from mobile phones while driving. In comparison, 34 percent of teens who text say they have done so while driving, according to a report released by Pew in September.

Of all adults, including those who don't text, 27 percent said that they had sent text messages from behind the wheel, according to Friday's report. About the same amount of all driving-age teens -- 26 percent -- said they had done so. Read "Adults and Cell Phone Distractions" (PDF)

The new information might come as a surprise to adults, especially parents who are concerned about their kids texting while driving, the group says.

"Adults may be the ones sounding the alarm on the dangers of distracted driving, but they don't always set the best example themselves," Mary Madden, a senior research specialist at Pew, said in a statement.

There has been growing concern regarding the dangers of texting and talking on the phone while driving. Seven states and the District of Columbia now ban all cell phone use while driving, the Pew report says.

In 2008, about 6,000 American drivers died in car accidents that involved distracted driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The youngest generation of adults -- those 18 to 34 -- are more likely than any other age group to report texting while driving, the Pew survey says.

"While 59 percent of texting Millennials say they have sent or read text messages at the wheel, 50 percent of text-using Gen Xers [ages 34 to 45] and 29 percent of texting Baby Boomers [ages 46-64] report the same," the study says.

Adults aren't off the hook when it comes to talking while driving, either. Adults were "substantially more likely than teens to have talked on their cell phones while driving," the Pew report found, with three-quarters of cell-phone-owning adults saying they have had conversations on the phone while driving.

Meanwhile, about half -- or 52 percent -- of cell-owning teens reported the same in 2009. The Pew report counts driving teens as those ages 16 and 17.

"It is just as hard for adults as it for teenagers to resist chatting with friends and sending off that quick text even in the midst of heavy traffic," Lee Rainie, director of Pew's Internet & American Life Project, said in a statement.

Madden, the senior researcher at Pew, said the teens surveyed were not embarrassed to say they had texted while driving. "We found that in our focus groups they were comfortable discussing it either way," she told CNN.

"We are very comfortable with these numbers," she added.

Friday's data come from a nationwide phone survey of 2,252 American adults, ages 18 and older, conducted between April 29 and May 30.

By Eva Vasquez, Special to CNN