While we recommend a defensive driving class to truly learn defensive driving, here are ten easy tips on how to improve your own defensive skills every day:

1. Minimize Distractions: Ironically, the person that is the greatest threat to your own safety on the road is yourself. Cell phones, music, passengers or munching on a burger are examples of distractions in the car. The NHTSA and various scientific studies have all shown that distractions are the number one reason behind car accidents and fatalities on the road. Teen drivers in particular suffer the most from distractions and incidentally, are the most accident prone.

Reality check: We at Seattle Auto are human and understand that you’re going to talk illegally on your cell phone (yes, we’re talking to you Seattle residents), rock out to your iPod or have the occasional taco in the car. It just happens. What you can do, is limit yourself to one distraction and tone it down. So don’t talk on the phone and stuff french fries at the same time, but wait until your call is over to eat. While you’re talking, focus on the road first rather than your phone call – and better yet, make the conversation short and call back later if necessary.

2. High Eyes Driving: Race drivers use a technique called “high eyes” that call for the driver (you) to focus not on the car in front of you, but on the road horizon. Many drivers become fixated on the car in front of them and go into auto-pilot mode, braking when the car in front brakes, accelerating when the car in front accelerates and so on. The problem is that in a panic stop situation, if the driver in front wasn’t paying attention to begin with – guess what – you’re probably going to eat the end of his bumper. Both 520 and I-90 have little to no blind corners, so it’s no excuse to suddenly find yourself slamming on the brakes because you “didn’t see” the traffic jam up ahead.

By keeping your eyes high up, you’ll be looking at the entire traffic pattern up ahead instead. This gives you ample time to react to a sudden emergency up front – even giving you time to decide if you need to perform a quick lane toss or start slowly braking to give the guy behind you a warning.

3. Minimize Lane Changes: It’s rare for a car to be rear ended while traveling the speed limit in it’s own lane. It is common for accidents to happen while a car is changing lanes; perhaps by suddenly cutting off a car, swiping another vehicle in it’s blind spot or two cars merging into the same lane. By choosing a lane and sticking with it for the majority of your trip, you will remove a great deal of the factors that are known to cause accidents on the highway.

4. Spot Fast Lane Changers: The flip side to not being a lane changer, is that you must be highly aware of the drivers who are. These are often the drivers who dangerously dart in and out of traffic, cutting off and swerving around drivers in the process.

Regularly monitor your rear and side view mirrors to be on the lookout for drivers that are approaching rapidly from behind or the lane next to you. These are bad drivers that will often cut in front or around you at the last second, narrowly missing your car. Deal with these drivers by maintaining your speed or even slowing down if you feel they are going to cut in front of you. Don’t become a vigilante and speed up to box them into the adjacent lane; you don’t want an erratic driver who likely has road rage tailing you on the freeway. Simply let them pass and be happy they are away from your car.

5. Spot Blind Lane Changers: Not only are there the jerks driving recklessly, but you have to worry about the absent minded driver that never checks their blind spot before changing into your lane. These guys are actually harder to spot than the jerk drivers, because it’s harder to predict when these types drivers are about to change lanes.

The best way to avoid these drivers is to not drive in their blind spot to begin with. If you ever find yourself in the another car’s blind spot, you should either A) accelerate so that your car is parallel to the other vehicle so they can easily see you or B) slow down so that you are tailing the vehicle and no longer next to it. Option B is the more preferable method depending on your car’s positioning and you should only use option A if you are already close to the front hood of the other car.

It’s hard to keep by this rule in heavy traffic, because you’ll always be next to a car, but you can usually identify a driver that is about to change lanes if the driver looks in their side view mirror, the car has just merged from an on-ramp, the driver is suddenly accelerating or decelerating or if the car is slowly starting to drift toward one lane. With practice, you can become very good at figuring out when another car is about to lane change and avoid being in their blind spot when it happens.

6. Don’t Make Eye Contact: Studies show that many road rage incidents occur when drivers make eye contact with each other and a situation ensues. As a defensive driver, you need to realize that road rage drivers are often looking to instigate trouble, rather than simply reacting to perceived sleights against them. Making eye contact with these types of drivers is playing into their twisted game, so you want to avoid getting into a petty fight with someone driving a 2,000 pound vehicle; regardless of who is right or wrong.

So next time you see that tail gating jerk come next to your car and pace you, just ignore them and don’t give them the pleasure they’re looking for. Simply drive on as usual and they will eventually leave you alone.

7. Look Both Ways at Intersections: Intersections are inherently dangerous places and the scene of many t-bone accidents. Most drivers, upon seeing a green light, amble straight on through without a second thought; and that’s usually when the driver running the red light smashes into their side.

If you are ever the first car at the intersection when the light is turning green, you should be extremely aware of your left, then right side traffic as you make your way through. I’ve almost been hit twice this way and both times slammed on my brakes before the other car barely clipped my front-end. Any police officer will tell you that the amount of drivers who run red lights is astounding – enough to make you think twice and look twice before going through an intersection.

8. Know When and How to Swerve: This is probably the absolutely hardest point to get across, because it honestly takes hours of experience behind the steering wheel to learn. The concept of swerving is applied to emergency situations where you don’t have enough time to avoid an accident (which is why we have rule #1 above).

If for example, a child suddenly runs into the busy street 20 feet in front of your car, it will be physically impossible for your car to stop in that amount of distance while traveling at 40mph. In that specific situation, your only option is to try and swerve and steer clear of the object in front of the car as fast as you can. This same principle applies to a sudden wreck on the highway, fallen tree, deer or any other danger that takes you by surprise.

To properly swerve (also called a “lane toss”), you need to be certain that A) the lane you’re swerving into is empty B) your car can handle the maneuver and C) you correct your swerve immediately afterward so you don’t end up on the side of the road. Item A can be achieved by constantly being aware of your surroundings, but for B and C, you can only understand those by taking your car out to an empty parking lot and practicing for a few hours with cones. That- or you can take a defensive driving class.

9. Get Away From Bad Drivers: You should always do your best to keep a healthy distance between yourself and other bad drivers on the road. Problematic drivers include: drunks, speeders, tail gaters, road ragers, lane changers, extremely slow drivers and any other erratic behavior. Most of the time, this involves switching lanes and slowing down so that a speeder or drunk can pass you safely. You never want erratic drivers behind you because there is always the potential of getting rear ended.

In other scenarios, if you see a erratic driver and need to pass, make sure you do it quickly and safely as possible – trying to keep a lane between you and them if possible. If you cannot keep a distance in front of the car, due to traffic or other reasons, try to stay a distance behind the other car and never drive directly next to it. You should also report erratic driving to the Washington State Highway Patrol or the Seattle Police department (you can call 911 directly) as the police will be on the lookout for erratic or drunk drivers if enough reports come in.

10. Don’t Follow Too Closely: Saving one of the best tips for last, don’t follow too closely behind the car in front of you. Always give at least 2-3 second of buffer room. Experts will tell you 4 seconds, although this author’s personal opinion is that it actually invites other drivers to cut into the lane in front of you. If you drive an SUV however, you must make this at least a 3 second rule because your vehicle is heavy and takes much longer to come to a complete stop than passenger cars.

While this may sound like a tip that applies to simply being a better driver, this tip actually has defensive driving principles for emergency situations as well. The reason is that in the event of a panic stop in the lane up ahead, you will ideally have buffer room to brake and stop. This helps the driver behind you as well because it aids in their reaction time and stopping distance – a big plus if they haven’t been paying attention, are slow to react or drive a vehicle with long braking distance (like a SUV).

We hope you enjoyed these quick tips on defensive driving. If you are interested in getting professional training behind the wheel, we recommend you visit any one of the defensive driving courses throughout the Seattle area.

The insurance company’s local ads have been memorable and effective in capturing the different kinds of people in the Northwest.  While some might be close to instigating a Seattle stereotype, such as Profile #76 – Super Long Coffee Orderer – they are creative and well thought out.

The ads poke fun not only at pecular Seattlelites, but find targets throughout the state. You may see Pemco ads featuring such dubious profiles like the: “Walla Walla Wine Woman”, “Tri Cities Select Sports Hostages”, and “Quiet Everett Aerospace Engineer” to name a few.

As the largest local insurance company that only operates in Washington, Pemco decided to hire an outside research firm to do an in-depth analysis to find what makes us Washingtonians tick. Their results?  Washingtonians enjoy their um, uniqueness.

“People here in Washington are a little different and they’re proud of that,” explains Jon Osterberg, Pemco’s Marketing and Communications Manager. “They value their individuality and celebrate their differences.”

Loaded with that information and the desire to distinguish themselves from bigger national insurance companies, Pemco hired DNA Brand Mechanics of Seattle in 2007 to come up with ”something different”, which coincidentally, turned into their slogan “We’re a Lot Like You, a Little Different.” The company even has a tongue-in cheek acronym for the ad campaign: WALLY.

“We wanted to say something no other insurance company could say,” says Osterberg. “All of us [at Pemco] live here in Washington. We can relate to the customers because we’re the same people. And so when we poke fun of people in the Northwest, we’re really poking fun at ourselves… I am absolutely the ‘Blue Tarp Camper’!”

Chances are, you either know someone who fits one of the many Pemco profiles- or you ARE one of these profiles. How many “Relentless Recyclers” have you come across at the PTA meeting?

Since these Pemco ads are for insurance after all, the humorous profiles naturally include the type of vehicles that us Northwest people drive. The “Bumper Sticker Idealist” drives a 80’s era 2-door Mazda (aka Mazdaratti), while the “East Coast Transplant” rolls down 520 in the BMW.

Well thought out and uncanny in their accuracy, the Pemco WALLY ads have struck a nerve.  

“We hear from people, that they love such and such a character,” claims Osterberg. “They say ‘That’s Me!’”

There are numerous profiles to be seen. Check out the We’re A Lot Like You site for the complete list.

Here are the unofficial top 5 Pemco profiles, courtesy of the Seattleauto.net staff:

1. Accidental Tech Millionaire
Spotted: Getting Testa Rose Detailed at the Country Club.
Vehicle: American SUV
This guy hit the dot com jackpot and doesn’t have to work again. This is number #1 because it sounds like people we know at SeattleAuto.net.

2.4 Way Stop, You Go. No You Go. No You Go Guy.
Spotted: When you least have time for it.
Diet: Anything out of a slow cooker
Vehicle: If you’re behind it, you’ll get a good long look.
Everyone gets the right of way, in this passive-aggressive display of patience and politeness.

3. Marymoor Off Leash Dog Lady
Vehicle: Station wagon with a head out.
Diet: Iams and a double latte.
Could be seen saying to a dog, “You’re so attentive, and best of all you never interupt like some silly selfish self centered man would. That’s a good boy. That’s a good, good, good, good, good, good boy.”

4. First Snowflake Freakout Lady
Vehicle: 4×4SUV, with snow chains, flares,and an extra 200lbs of sand in the back.
Perfectly good AWD’s… abandoned! More bundled up than an Iditarod winner. Visiting Alaskans and Spokanites want to slap her.

5.Pony Tailed Software Geek
Vehicle: Aging Japanese sedan.
Diet: Nacho chips and highly caffeinated soda.
An avid fantasy gamer. Proficient in many languages such as C++, Javascript, and as an added bonus speaks fluent Klingon.

SEATTLE – High winds have forced the cancelation of tonight’s planned closure of the SR 520 Evergreen Point Floating Bridge. A large tugboat and barge were scheduled to go through at 9 p.m., but the high winds raise potential safety concerns. The drawspan opening will be rescheduled at a later date.

Drivers are urged to use extra caution as they cross Lake Washington this afternoon and evening.

To understand why the Department of Transportation closes 520 during high winds, read more on their page: Why We Close 520.

In summary, high winds are forcing 520 to stay open. Bet you don’t hear that everyday!

However, before you pat your back on having braved the snow and ice with your trusty car, there’s one important thing you might want to do: wash your car! Sound strange? Then keep reading.

One of the greatest debates during the winter snow storm was the use of salt on Seattle roads. Mayor Nickels and crew were quite adamant against the use of salt, due to the environmental ramifications of runoff going into the Puget Sound. While this caused a mass slip-and-slide effect for Seattle streets, not using salt saved the lifespan of many a vehicle in the Seattle area.

Salt is an important issue around cars because salt is incredibly corrosive to metal. Exposure to salt will cause rust to unprotected parts and speed up damage on existing rust. The devious part about salt is that it will often attack where you can’t see – the undercarriage of a car – because that’s where all the road salt, snow and water mixture is being kicked up by your tires.

“But wait, Seattle didn’t use salt, why should I worry?” While the City of Seattle didn’t use salt, the Washington State Department of Transportation did (just for the record: we’re not taking any sides, we’re just stating the fact). The WSDOT is in charge of major highways like 520, I-90 and I-405, so if you drove on any of those roads, your car has been exposed to salt over the last three weeks.

The good news is that the WSDOT crews use a brine mixture de-icer that they claim reduces the corrosive effects of their salt by 77%. That is a welcome respite given the beating that your poor vehicle has been through already, but it’s still a good idea to get any of that salt and chemical mixture off your car.

An easy and effective way is to simply get up, go out and get a car wash. We recommend a tunnel wash that includes undercarriage washing, as a regular car wash cannot reach all the tricky spots under your car. The cost of a decent car wash is about $15 while the repair cost for rust can go into the thousands, so it’s a no-brainer when it comes to what you pay now vs what you might pay later.

If you are super cheap, a high pressure garden hose will help remove some of the salt off the body, but you’ll still have the undercarriage to worry about, unless you don’t mind laying under your car and having dirty car water splash all over you while you do so. (Yeah, we didn’t think so)

On the other hand, if you drive a luxury vehicle or are an auto aficionado, you should seriously consider a full service detail that includes an undercarriage wash. A professional detailer will clean not only salt, but sand, dirt and other chemical deposits on and under your precious $40,000 investment.

So Seattlelites, get out to those stations and wash that car!

4WD Overconfidence was addressed in a 2007 Forbes.com article

“When snowstorms hit, people who have all-wheel drive become overconfident,” says Russ Rader, spokesman for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. People drive faster than they otherwise would. Yet all-wheel drive doesn’t help them stop quicker.

“It’s not a safety system,” Rader says. “It’s a system to keep you from getting stuck.” 

Forbes.com list for best cars for snow

1. Subaru Outback

2. Volvo XC90

3. Subaru Tribeca

4.Mercedes Benz M Class

5.Volkswagen Touraeg

See the full Forbes.com list

The committee is the official group that has been brought together by Washington State legislatures back in March earlier this year to study and make recommendations back to lawmakers. Heads of the committee include the major movers and shakers of the transportation circle: Bob Drewel of the Puget Sound Regional Council; Paula Hammond, Washington State Secretary of Transportation; and Dick Ford of the Washington State Transportation Commission.

Any commuter that has to cross 520 during the rush hour knows that traffic routinely turns into a crawl during that time. Adding a toll on top of that commute, on the surface, would seemingly add fuel to the fire for frustrated drivers. Unfortunately, the facts are clear that 520 is a rapidly deteriorating and in danger of being a public safety risk.

Going back in time to the aftermath investigations of the Nisqually earthquake in 2001, safety engineers found cracks in the side of the 520 bridge that posed a serious risk and dilemma. Repairing the bridge would could close to $1 billion, while a estimates for a replacement are upwards of $3 billion. Even with repairs however, the bridge was built in 1963 with inherent flaws such as hollow sectioned towers and support cables that would still be highly vulnerable to failure.

To mitigate against natural disasters, the decision was made to build an entirely new 520 bridge, scheduled to open in 2014. Two new HOV lanes will be added in each direction, while a walking and biking corridor will also be added, much like on I-90. Official estimates for the project range between $3.7 and $3.9 billion, though if history is any indicator, estimates are generally on the low side of actual cost. While $2 billion has already been set aside from sources like the state risk pool, gas tax, sales tax and federal funding, the remaining portion will be funded by tolls.

What remains is the issue of how tolls will be implemented. So far, the committee has evaluated a number of scenarios that include:

• Toll 520 in 2010, when construction begins
• Toll 520 in 2016, after project is completed
• Toll 520 in 2010, then I-90 in 2016
• Toll both 520 and I-90 in 2016, after project is completed
• Toll both 520 and I-90 in 2010

A few other options have been recently added to the table, which include varying toll rates between years and areas, though the scenarios above would seem to have the most support. For drivers thinking to simply head to I-90, the State legislature is planning on enacting tolls there as well to ensure that exact scenario doesn’t happen. Currently, toll options being discussed range as low as $2.00 and as high as $10.00.

Variable tolling, similar to Highway 167’s single-occupancy HOV tolls, is also a major topic. The proposal is that during peak hours, tolls will be set at full price, while decreasing at off-peak hours as traffic subsides. The idea is that commuters will change their commuting cycle to avoid peak hours, due to both traffic and higher toll fees.

Tolling is to be done electronically, through electric transponder cards. Local commuters would pre-pay for toll cards, which would be deducted by the system as drivers pass through. As for motorists without a transponder, the current proposal is to have cameras installed to take license plate photos and have invoices delivered to the owner of the vehicle. Though this technology has been implemented on the Tacoma narrows bridge and in varying locales throughout the US, privacy advocates will surely want their say.

At the open house, items such as what parts of 520 to toll, how tolls funds should be disbursed and toll pricing will likely be the hot topics. With the economic crunch, businesses on both sides of the bridge, as well as commuters, will undoubtedly push for lower tolls, as well as limits on tolls remaining in place. That may be where the common ground ends however, as businesses on the I-90 and I-405 corridor will likely push against keeping tolls on their section of the road, while those on 520 will want make tolls universal, in order to prevent motorists from toll hopping away from their businesses. In addition, supporters of mass transit will want to have their say in how toll funds will be used and how to expand service.

For those who cannot make the open house, the 520 committee is offering an online survey through November 30th. To obtain more information, please go to the comittee’s website at www.build520.org.

Proposition 1: YES

Even though we’re an auto blog, we think that a vote in favor of light rail is not a vote against cars, but a vote to build much needed infrastructure.

In an ideal world, we would have enough money to pay for a new 520 bridge, widen I-5 and I-405, improve HOV implementation and get more buses on the road. Unfortunately, the fact is that we are short on money. Very short. The reason we support Proposition 1, as expensive as it might be, is because it’s the best chance we have of upgrading our infrastructure in the next 10 years.

I (Grant) drive my hybrid the majority of the time, but even my hybrid is still using gas. The fact is that gas is limited, has unstable prices and sends money overseas. While electrics are on their way, GM’s Chevy Volt is still 4 years away and has a price tag of $40,000 per vehicle. Per person, it’s far more cost and energy efficient to pay for an efficient regional light rail transit than equip families with Chevy Volts. Yes, there will be a loss of independence – which we understand quite well - but there’s a time when you just have to bite the bullet.

Nobody loves a 500 hp Viper that can tear across 520 in under 20 seconds as much as we do, but we also love the environment and our city even more. That’s why we’re supporting Prop 1.

Initiative 985: NO

While Tim Eyman might be onto something by extending the hours for the HOV lane, there’s been too many other additions tied into the initiative that make it far more than a vote about carpool lanes and freeing up traffic.

For one, the bill prevents the ability for toll revenues to be used for park and rides, buses and more importantly – light rail. Second, funds for implementing the new changes come from existing revenue streams, which mean other programs will have their budgets dipped into.

So, we agree with some aspects of I-985, such as removing art requirement budgets from transportation projects, opening HOV lanes during non-rush hours and appreciate the idea of not using bridge tolls for non-transportation projects. That said, the bill goes too far in many regards and as such, is more dangerous to implement than not.

Remember, whether you agree with us or not, please go out and vote this November 4th!

Coming this voting season, Eyman is taking on the issue of highway traffic. He is doing so by introducing Measure I-985, a new initiative that will enable single drivers to use HOV and carpool lanes during non-rush hours.  The new measure proposes that car pool lanes will be only restricted to HOV vehicles from 6am-9am and 3pm-6pm on weekdays. Outside of these hours, car pool lanes will be open to all drivers.

According to a quote from Eyman in an interview with the Seattle PI, he says that it doesn’t make sense to sit in traffic, “[m]iddle of the day, bumper to bumper traffic, [with] that empty lane sitting right next to you”. By passing this measure, Eyman believes that it will be a, “quick kick to the shins” for Washington lawmakers, who have been slow to implement suggestions from a 2007 state audit of traffic congestion.

In addition to opening up car pool lanes during non-rush hours, I-985 also requires Seattle, as well as the state, to assign higher priority to traffic accidents as well as synchronizing traffic lights. Eyman’s initiative also slips in a clause that would essentially prevent Washington lawmakers from collecting tolls on the 520 floating point bridge as well as I-90.

In discussions earlier this year, city and state planners had proposed the idea of a toll for 520 and I-90, in efforts to generate funds to pay for the retrofitting or rebuilding of the 520 bridge. Planners envisioned a one-way toll of $3 to $5 for single occupancy vehicles, which has been understandably unpopular with commuters. With a nasty budget shortfall for 2009 and reluctance to raise taxes, the funding for 520 will become an increasing hot topic, especially if Eyman’s new measure gains traction.

Not surprisingly, opposition has already formed to oppose measure I-985. Opponents say that Eyman’s new measure takes funding away from rural Eastern Washington road budgets and pools it into urban centers in Western Washington. Lawmakers have also chimed in about the need to keep toll options on the table.

Personally, living on the Eastside and being a regular commuter on 520 during rush hour, I see a valid point with the car pool point argument — at least as it pertains to 520 (I don’t know the situation with I-5). That said, there is still a good deal of rush hour traffic from 6pm to even 7pm, so it would make sense to extend the exclusion hours on Eyman’s initiative.

That said, it’s hard to support Eyman’s initiative due to the fact that he is disallowing the idea of tolls on 520. Nobody is a fan of tolls, especially at Seattle Auto, but given the upcoming budget shortfall and lower anticipated tax revenues, it’s unreasonable at this point to take the toll option off the table. Olympia will inevitably be cutting programs next year, regardless of who is elected, so thinking that we will have enough coffers to cover the billion dollar rebuilding of 520 is far-fetched.

The only thing that we can be sure of however, if history is any good predictor of the future, is that this isn’t the last we’ll see of Tim Eyman.

Stores are stocking up on candy, your co-workers are talking about costumes and your kids are screaming “Boo!” every chance they get. 

No, we’re not talking Halloween – we’re talking back to Seattle’s wet driving season.Those sunny weekends kayaking on Lake Washington and hiking on Mt. Si have given way to fleece Northface jackets and hiking boots as the sun retreats for the next six months.  

With the rain, comes colder weather, shorter days and a slew of bad driving as Seattle drivers re-learn slick road handling skills. In case you need to sharpen your own own steering-wheel fu, here is a list of good practices to abide by while driving in the rain. 

–

Slow down and maintain a good buffer to the car in front

Less speed equates to less braking distance. In the rain, your vehicle braking distance can increase over 50% in distance vs dry pavement. It’s important to maintain a bigger buffer between your car and the car in front of you. In a panic stop (full on braking), a good buffer zone will give you both enough time to react and hopefully stop. This author knew a friend who was too confident in their new ABS brakes and realized too late (and an insurance claim later) that even modern technology was no match for mother nature.

Turn on your lights so other drivers can see you

Most modern autos come equipped with factory daytime running lights. Research has shown that even in ideal driving conditions, turning on your lights is a significant way to prevent accidents. Drivers changing lanes in front of you are more apt to notice your lights, especially at night or in the rain, where visibility or mirrors are impeded by water. Even if the weather is cloudy or just sprinking and you can see just fine in front and behind of you, a driver up front may have a foggy rear window or side mirrors that literally blind them to your presence. Turn on those lights and you might just avoid that next fender bender.

Don’t over-correct when hydroplaning

Hydroplaning usually occurs when travelling at high speeds, which means that this author has probably far more hydroplaning experience than he should have. This author’s close calls is your gain however, as I can relate that hydroplaning isn’t always the ticking timb bomb it is made out to be. During a hydroplane, depending on the severity, you will lose steering ability temporarily and experience a fishtail effect. Adjust your steering wheel ever so slightly toward the direction of your skid and ease up on the gas. Do not correct you would in a full blown snow skid.

A hydroplane lasts barely a second, which means you will regain traction quickly. Having your tires pointed in the same general direction as before the skid will ensure you keep travelling along. Hydroplaning next to an embankment, barrier, cliff or turn is when things get dangerous, as the room for error is much smaller. This is why it’s important to slow down in the rain, especially at highway on-ramps, off-ramps and bridges where these situations occur and where rain can pool.

Replace those cracked windshield wipers

Nothing is worse than being in a downpour on the freeway with a pair of cruddy windshield wipers. With the low visibility, your reaction time is decreased, which means your ability to stop is also decreased by a quarter.  With the average time to react being 2 seconds, a decrease in even half a second could mean the difference between a close call and new premium.

A set of teflon wipers will cost $26 from any auto store and can be installed in minutes by yourself. Most of the express lube places as well as your mechanic offer this service as well, but generally install the cheapest brand available with a higher mark-up. We’ll cover in a future article how to change your wipers.

Have ABS and Traction Control

This last bit is unfortunately a bit unrealistic, because either you have these installed on your car or you don’t. If you do, you will know that technology is working for you in the event of a panic stop or a skid, as the technology will improve (not prevent) your chances of avoiding an accident. 

If you drive an older model car or have a current model without ABS, you should seriously consider an investment in a car driving clinic for threshhold braking or practice in an empty parking lot sometime. Threshhold braking is a method of braking that maximizes your tires ability to stop, much like ABS. Without threshold braking skills, your tire contact points with the road will overheat and liquify if you jam your brakes, which leads to skidding and sliding. Next time you drive on 520, I-90 or I-5, look at the skid marks on the road and you’ll identify the non-ABS brakes as the skid marks that have wobbly slides. 

Traction control is essentially auto AI that determines when a tire is skidding and when it has traction. TC will kick in when it feels your car is skidding or sliding and independently adjust your wheel rotational speed or alignment to try to correct your path. Most of the time, this means turning your vehicle out (most slides are caused by oversteering). TC is good because it turns on immediately when your brain is immediately turning off and going into panic mode, so it addresses both physics and human psychology at once. 

–

Keep these tips in mind next time you’re on the road and hopefully you’ll avoid any scary surprises of the bad kind this October season!

If you’re like most people, an oil change is as complicated as driving to any one of dozens of express lube shops around Seattle. The benefits of these quick maintenance shops is that there is no need for an appointment and that they’re recognized brands. The drawbacks are that these shops are more expensive than a regular mechanic (this fact surprises most consumers) and that the quality of work is inconsistent. Stories of lube shops that forget to replace oil caps, charge for unnecessary work and even damage cars are unfortunately quite common these days.

With a few cheap tools and a half-hour, you can save both money and potential heartache by learning to change your own oil – so let’s get to it!

Tools You’ll Need:

• Jackstands plus jack or commercial ramps (do not use wood or concrete blocks – they can break)
• 4-6 quart oil pan (if you don’t know what size, it’s probably 4)
• Wrench and socket set
• Oil wrench
• Replacement oil filter (cheap Fram filters from the store work great)
• Replacement oil (Costco sellls 6qt of 5W-30 synthetic for under $20)
• Newspapers and oil rags, just incase
• (Optional)  Liquid funnel, gloves

Step 1:  Jack up the front of your vehicle so that you have enough clearance to work underneath the car. Make sure that your jacks are secure and that you also place them at the proper jack points (refer to your car/owner’s manual). These are often located at the sides of your car, behind the front wheels. Note: If you feel that the jacks are unsturdy or uncomfortable, then take it to the professionals!  The author actually knows someone who was crushed (but luckily came out unscathed) when an improperly posted jack collapsed on one side of a car. 

Step 2: Locate the oil nut or screw, which keeps in the engine oil. The base of the engine is often where you’ll find the nut, but different automakers put it in different locations. Again, refer to your owner’s manual before unbolting just any nut ony our car. 

Step 3:  Place your oil pan a few inches in front of where your oil will come out. Having a few newspapers or oil rags is handy incase the distance is off and you spill a bit. Unscrew / unbolt the nut and motor oil will now pour out. The pressure will eventually decrease and turn into a drip, at which point you can put the nut back on. It’s important you remember to put the nut back in – many a mechanic’s floor has been polished with brand new motor oil this way.

Step 4: Put your oil wrench around your old filter and turn counter-clockwise (it can be disorienting working on your back, so make sure you are twisting from right to left). The oil filter might be tight, so be sure to give a good tug if it’s stuck. Once it’s spinning, spin it off by hand slowly, as the filter is still filled with oil. Once it’s off, slowly dump the oil into the pan. 

Step 5: Take your new oil filter and grease the lip of the filter with a bit of oil, to help create a seal. Tighten it back onto where your old filter just was and make sure it’s snug.

Step 6: Pop your hood, unscrew your oil cap and then fill your engine with new oil. Here’s where the funnel comes handy if you don’t want to drip oil all over your car when you try to put the container into the opening. Trick: Roll up a piece of standard printer paper to make a make-shift funnel.

Step 7: Screw oil cap back on and you’re done!  Before removing your jacks however, I often like to start the car and let it run for a minute just to make sure there’s no leaks or other.

Congratulations, you have now successfully changed your own oil!  Just make sure that you take your old oil to a local auto store (Napa and Schucks both dispose oil, Jiffy Lube charges $3) for proper disposal. Now, enjoy a beer (or since we’re in Seattle, a warm latte or chai tea) and pat yourself on the back!