Grand Prix Performance - Costa Mesa, CA

Before driving a car, do a simple safety check. Turn on the lights and walk around the vehicle to ensure that all lights are in working order. Also check your blinkers for proper operation. Look for any fluid leaks or things hanging from the vehicle. Check that the tires are properly inflated.

Expect the other drivers to make mistakes and think what you would do if a mistake does happen. For example, do not assume that a vehicle coming to a stop sign is going to stop. Be ready to react if it does not stop. Never cause an accident on purpose, even if a pedestrian or another vehicle fails to give you the right-of-way.

Michelin is currently working on their fifth generation of green tires and they have proved an improvement of at least 2 percent in improved fuel economy and reduced CO2 emissions with each successive generation. This has been, in their own way a silent revolution, reducing global fuel consumption by more than 3 billion gallons and avoiding 30 million metric tons in CO2 emissions since 1992.

The lesson learned from the past decade and more critically the last 15 months is that together, we as an industry must commit to a new, more sustainable road mobility focused on new realities:

 * Must increase fuel efficiency and thereby reduce CO2 emissions.  The transportation industry is no exception and will not escape this necessity.
*We must improve road safety. This past November, the United Nations hosted the first global ministerial conference on road safety in Moscow. Michel Rollier, the CEO of the Michelin Group, was the only tire executive to participate. Michelin fully supports the roadmap that resulted from this global conference, which aims to curb the number of road fatalities (1.3 million today) and serious injuries (50 million today) by 2020. We know the crucial role that tires play in this fight, particularly in reducing stopping distances and improving vehicle handling.

 

Today we're going to go over a few MUST KNOW "How To's" for every savvy gal on the road.  As a matter of fact, this guide is good for anyone who has a set of wheels...

1.  How to Check the Oil

The first thing you need to know is where to find the oil. The cap on the oil tank may be a little tricky, it is more pull than twist, but you can get it off. It is also important to know which type of oil your car takes, and how to add some oil if you needed to do that on your own.

 

Also find out where the air filter is, if it is accessible. It is cheaper to change your own air filter before a serviced oil change than it is to purchase an air filter

 

2.  How to Check the Transmission Fluid

One important car maintenance task that women should definitely know how to do is to check their transmission fluid. Unless there is a problem, or your car is older, you may not actually have to ever add your own transmission fluid. It is still important to know where it is under the hood, and how to add transmission fluid. Also know which type of transmission fluid to use.

 

3. How to Check the Brake Fluid

Brake fluid is another one of those things we never think about. Have someone show you where it is and how to check it.

 

4. How to Change a Tire

Do you know how to change a tire? While you may never actually have to change your own tire, especially if you have Triple A or don't travel too far off the beaten path, it is still nice to know how to change a tire. Also find out the correct tire pressure for your tires, and how to check the pressure, and add air when needed.

Come by the shop and we'd be happy to show you how to do all of the above...
Knowing how to do basic tasks and car maintenance can make women feel more empowered, and secure when driving.

 

Getting your car serviced regularly is one of the most important things you can do to minimize emissions and maximize fuel efficiency.

Regular service can spot lots of problems that reduce gas mileage and increase pollution, such as a broken thermostat, low transmission fluid, sticky brake calipers--or even something as simple as a dirty air filter.

If you can't remember when the last time was you had your car serviced, take it in. In extreme situations, you might increase your mileage by up to 10 percent. So what? Well, if you drove 20,000 miles a year, you would save $145--enough to cover the cost of the service and then some!

We were happy to get a visit from the folks at Whipnotic, a weekly television program covering SoCal car culture.  It aired on NBC this past weekend, but here is the video in case you missed it!

We are delighted that Greer of Greer's OC  and Daily Pilot fame picked Grand Prix for her Daily Dose of OC.  Thanks Greer and thanks to all of the people who have made it possible for us to do business in this wonderful community for nearly four decades.  Here's to at least four more!

Follow the link to the article...http://www.greersoc.com/daily-dose/571/

As you may have heard, there is a lot of controversy over Obama's statement regarding conserving energy as it relates to tire pressure.

So we asked the question, "Does maintaining proper tire pressure mean better gas mileage?"  Well, according to Time Magazine the answer is yes!  "...efficiency experts say that keeping tires inflated can improve gas mileage 3%, and regular maintenance can add another 4%." 

So, that being said, we here at Grand Prix Performance recommend that in order to maximize fuel and vehicle efficiency, our customers follow a regular tire and vehicle maintenance schedule.  It's easy!  We promise!  And you make it happen by doing simple things like:
 
Rotating your tires regularly (which we do free for our customers)
Checking your tire pressure frequently (we can help you with that, just remember to do it when the tires are cold)
Getting oil changes when needed
And overall just staying on top of your vehicle's maintenance needs (when the check engine light comes on, it's time to check the engine)

By following these easy-to-do suggestions, you can ensure that your vehicle is running in the most efficient way.  We want our customers to get the best value for their hard-earned dollars.  If you maintain your tires properly, your tires will wear more evenly and therefore last longer.  What that translates to is more bang for your buck!  You are also helping to generate less waste (even though we recycle tires), and you are using less energy as you are using less gas when your tires are in good shape.  So, you can essentially save yourself some money and help the environment while you're at it!  Now, that's an easy way to be green, isn't it?