ft 1 if 1 mb t i if h 1 i 1 m if is hi 1 i 1 i hi if ml mr w w ip if i- hi 11 if f m i ft i h 1 hi h isis p16 economist suntribune thursday august 21 1997 f it i jo j i i j j j wheels -jus- j w en over time an early warning sign of engine wear is and lasting less than 10 years in the 1970s excessive oil consumption which is usually so it is worth it to properly maintain your accompanied by blueblack exhaust smoke vehicle and engine a common reason for this condition is check your engine oil regularly if oil is w vah typi- overfull or sn like gasoline it may be s ma open a close as often as diluted with gasoline thereby having lost of its lubricating qualities you have to pump the accelerator to be exhaust system should be every time car is on hoist seals wear or hard- en oil burning i i iins many of the i conditions which mawofim an engine to bum oil prematurely are iclue to vehicle neglect situation can be avoided by keeping engine y tuned misfiring spark plugs can aggravate a situa tion such as this h because they permit b raw unburned gasoline to wash into the crank example can wear out prematurely if you oil do not change the oil and filtre regularly another factor in oil burning is a mal- worn nngs lead to excessive oil consump- functioning positive crank case ventilation ton valve which is intended to route oil vapours i here s only one satisfactory cure for through the combustion chamber rather worn piston rings major engine work than permitting them to escape into the which normally is accompanied by replace- you hit a bump and your muf fler starts drag ging on the road sparks flying every where preventative maintenance can save you money as you roar down the highway hoping you dont encounter any police cars you cant believe that you didnt act sooner what could have cost you only a few dollars to have a new bracket installed is now going to cost you a lot more the loss of a muf- the rattling and banging of an exhaust pipe against the underneath of your car or the road is the first sign that a brack et has broken that is a clear warning that you need to act quickly and replace the nec essary part your muffler may still be perfectly good it is most likely the bracket which costs only a few dollars needs replacing any mufflers that you see on the side of the road are perfectly fler andor the pipes good but they fell off that go with it is usu ally due to a broken support bracket or hanger that secures the exhaust system to the frame of your car these flexible brackets are vulnera ble to damage caused by the elements fly ing stones or other road debris and engine vibrations because a bracket or two needed replacing the exhaust sys tem should be inspected whenever the car is oh a hoist for regular preventa tive maintenance in between times you can check it your self by reaching down and shaking the tail pipe when it is cool check for repairs if it is loose or hits the cars undercar riage or body then you know you might have a problem when in doubt have your mechanic technician check it for you carbon monoxide can be lethal and be careful another warning noise the familiar rubble or roar of a blown muffler or the faintpfftpfftpfft in its early stage can be deadly if not tend ed to immediately these sounds may be caused by a small hole in the exhaust system colourless and odourless exhaust fumes composed of carbon monoxide gases can seep into your car and they can be lethal the sooner you replace the defective exhaust parts the bet ter and healthier youll be atlaidlaw markham dodge chrysler jeep 47 1 1 500 freight license and taxes extra 1security deposit required oac 30 month lease optional buyback 20000 kmsjyear m c c o w a n l a 1 d l a w 5 1 n s ft r m a r k h a m hwy7 b