In late 1943 in the European Theater, Colonel Hugh V. Rowan, the theater chemical officer, had recommended 24 chemical mortar battalions (two battalions per corps and two per army) be assigned to the theater. While you may only find yourself checking your oil once every two weeks or more, it’s not a bad idea to check your tires weekly. You need to add at least two quarts of oil. Add 1 cup of salt on top of that, run the cold water, and turn on the disposal. Place an upside-down penny into the tread of the tire, with the top of Lincoln’s head going first. Keeping an eye on your power steering fluid levels is an excellent way of staying on top of things. Fluid levels vary between vehicles, but the liquid itself is healthy when it appears shades of red or mahogany. Should the levels look low, more troubleshooting is in order.

Big, 18-wheeler, tractor trailer rigs with one or more trailers attached are transporting large amounts of chemicals across the US and most other countries every hour of every day. Why are coolant system flushes an essential addition to regular maintenance? The coolant system of your car might seem like the radiator because that’s what steams when something goes wrong, but it’s much more complicated. More modern cars have more technology behind their turn signal indicator lights, but they still work on this basic principle. Both turn indicator lights flash when signaling. The turn signal stalk doesn’t make a clicking noise. With the Dolphin Escape, the advanced scanning software baked in means this cleaner will neatly make its way around the whole pool. To get the best fluid reading, make sure the transmission is warmed up, and you’ve gone through all of the gears. When is the best time to check your transmission fluid? If you’re using a penny to check your tread depth, what part of Lincoln’s head indicates that you need new tires?

The penny trick works on almost all tires and is an incredibly easy way to gauge how quickly you need new rubber. If the rubber covers some of his head, you’re all set for your next road trip. Thankfully, specialized software like AVG TuneUp, with its patented Sleep Mode, detects the programs slowing down your PC and suspends them until you actually need them. Wipe down the metal fasteners and molded clasps with a damp microfiber cloth. A visual inspection is never a bad idea when it comes down to this easy to do car maintenance chore! The turn signal is one of the most simplistic systems of your car and an excellent representation of how electricity works. The steady clicking of the signal turns rapid. When the circuit isn’t complete, due to a corroded light terminal or burnt out bulb, the current meets a different resistance level and blinks at a rapid rate. It was a test devised to parse out how much religious dogma scientists believe in. And, although I don’t mind so much that my sink smells like salad dressing, I’d like it a whole lot better if it didn’t. Automatic transmissions are a little bit of magic and a whole lot of moving parts.

Proper tire inflation is one of the easiest to overlook, but most important parts of any maintenance regimen. Consult with your favorite tire professional to find out what your optimum tire pressure should be. On front-wheel drive vehicles, a star pattern is preferred to even out the wear on the drive wheels. How you rotate your tires depends solely on the type of car you have, and there is no cut and dry correct universal rotation pattern. The more of Lincoln’s head you see, the quicker you’re going to need fresh tires for your car. If the corrosion has gotten so severe that your car will no longer start, a wire brush can be used to agitate the corrosion off of the battery terminals. What is a sign of battery corrosion? Word of warning, battery corrosion is extremely toxic and should not come into contact with the skin. Batteries are perhaps the nastiest thing under the hood, and corrosion is imminent. The best way to prevent corrosion is to treat the terminals with dialectic grease or even petroleum jelly. Typically changing the engine air filter every 30,000 or so miles is perfect, with some brands even pushing that figure to 45,000. The truth of the matter is that depending on your driving situations, that number can be drastically less.