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Show Cm Page 4 Cn, THE DAILY HERALD, Provo, Uuh, Wedneiy, April 22. 1998 Spinningv Spyder '. for cleaner By ANN M. JOB The Associalol Press Ask anybody if he or she is concerned about the environment. Answer: Yes. Of course. But ask if he or she is willing to pay considerably more for a cleaner next car, and it's no longer so simple. "People say, 'no," Jason- Vines of Chrysler Corp. said. When it comes time to reaching into their wallets, even younger people who are to be more environthought conscious aren't eager mentally to part with extra bucks for their new vehicles, according to automaker surveys, Vines said. Honda Motor Co. Ltd., which recently announced it had developed what it called "the world's cleanest gasoline engine," says it wouldn't sell a car here with the new engine for two or three years, in part because to do so would add about $1,000 to the price of a car. Honda also needs time to test the engine further and work out how to produce it on an assembly line. The - 2.3-lite- r, four-cylind- er engine, called ZLEV for Zero Level Emission Vehicle, virtually eliminated hydrocarbon emis- sions during testing, the automaker says. The engine also reduced carbon monoxide, organic gases and nitrogen oxide emissions below the Ultra Low Emission Vehicle standards set to take effect in California in 2000, Honda says. "This is a remarkable breakthrough," John Dunlap, chairman of the California Air Resources Board, said in a Honda press release. "A gasoline engine with nearly zero emissions would have been unthinkable just 10 years ago." Nobuhiko Kawamoto, Honda's president and chief executive officer, said, "A car equipped with this engine could drive through a high smog area, and the emissions coming out of the tailpipe would actually be lower than in the surrounding area." Still, Honda has some concerns about pricing after estimating the new engine would add $1,000 to a car's price tag. Ben Knight, vice president of Honda Research and smog-producin- g I ecffniaaiis say oil, filler most ziegieeted f ' yir.v cars in Torrance, Development Calif., said such a price boost wouldn't be welcome in today's competitive car market where the vast majority of shoppers are concerned ' about rebates not and other discounts emission controls. g-edge When car buyers shop, environmental concerns are "not in the top 10" reasons why they select and purchase a vehicle, he said, adding they're "not even on the radar screen." Yet, other thing3 being equal, consumers asked if they would buy the cleaner car over a similar model would express a strong preference for the cleaner vehicle, Knight said. The "other things being equal" part i's a big issue for car buyers who often don't see why car companies won't absorb the cost of new environmental technology and keep prices the same as on today's gasoline models. And Chrysler is sensitive to that, trying to make sure its emission control efforts are cost effective. Chrysler will be ready to meet California's ULEV in 2000 "without adding a lot of cost," said spokesman Tony Cervone. "It has to be to be solution " he a viable said. "People aren't ready to pay for those kinds of things. They have to be more transparent." In Chrysler's view, environmental technology needs to be so transparent that vehicle performance remains on a par with what drivers already are familiar with. Car buyers simply don't tend to want to give up appreciable performance to help save the environment especially on today's roads, which are busy with large, heavy sport utility vehicles. And increasingly, car companies are trying to figure out how to package the right mix of practical, environmentally smart and performance features. . For example, Honda chose an electric motor for its EV Plus electric car "that has better efficiency through the low end" of engine speed, through 1,750 rpm, when people are accelerating in city traffic, because that's what people expect, said Robert Bienenfeld, manager of Honda's alternative fuel vehicles ASE-certifi- cuttin- cost-effecti- long-ter- m (NU) Changing the "oil and filter is the most frequent-ly neglected service by vehicle owners, according to a survey of automotive technicians conducted by the for Institute National Automotive Service Excellence. The ASE survey asked technicians to list the auto maintenance that their customers most frequently neglect. From this survey, ASE compiled a Top Ten List of Vehicle Neglect. While changing the oil and oil filter was the most frequent; ly neglected service at 21.7 percent, neglecting the cooling system, belts and hoses was a close second, listed by 19 per- cent of technicians. Transmission neglect (I2'f percent) and neglecting period- -' ic maintenance schedules (10.3 percent) also rated high amohg-thtechnicians. "What this survey show? is that the least expensive and least routine maintenance is being over'i looked by most of today's said Ronald Weinec, ASE president.MVehicle neglect can be costly." Technicians also listed other auto maintenance items that are frequently neglected: tub&ve ups, 8.7 percent; tires, 8.5 peP cent; suspension and steering, ,j 8.2 percent; brakes, 7.7 percent timing belts, 2.4 percent; and bodypaint work, one percenj: t ' . : Si . if The A&seciatcd Auto writer Ann Job takes Rundeis from Chrysler. the Plymouth Pronto Spyder concept car out for a spin, accompanied Press by Jon e Understand your engine oil to avoid problems Why do I need to check my oil level between drains? It is imperative that you maintain a correct oil level. Ldw oil levels can result in increased engine wear and eventual engine failure due to lubrication starvation. Oil reduces friction, acts as a seal, helps cool, and yet. protects against corrosion How often should I and wear, as well as helps elimchange my oil? There is no inate many undesirable contacorrect answer. minates that can accumulate in single According to experts at Kendall an engine. Kendall engineers suggest Motor Oil, driving habits, the weather and the age and condi- checking your oil every time tion of the car all are considerayou fill up your gas tank, partions when establishing a safe, ticularly if your car is more than five years old or is leaking optimum drain interval. As a rule of thumb, the oil oil. Maintaining proper fluid should be changed every three levels will prolong the life of months or every 3,000 miles. your engine. What do the letters and Many owner's manuals will 5W-315W-4allow drain intervals in excess numbers 10W-3and mean in the of 5,000 miles under ideal conditions, but very few passenger oil name? This coding found cars actually are operated under conditions which the car manufacturer would consider ideal. Regular oil changes with a quality oil are inexpensive insurance for longer.engine life. d and diesel engines require more frequent oil changes because of the high d temperatures that the bearings endure. Check your owner's manual to determine how often an oil change is necessary. Everyone can't be a master mechanic, but being an informed consumer can help you make smarter decisions that will prolong your engine's life. Here are some answers to the questions you have been meaning to ask your mechanic, but haven't gotten around to ed on the front of a motor oil bottle refers to the product's viscosity, or flow ratethickness of oil. The 5W or 10W indicates the oil will flow to lubricate critical engine parts at low temperature, allowing the engine to start quickly in cold weather. The second number, 30,40 or 5, indicates the oil's ability to keep heavily loaded engine parts separated by an oil film at high temperatures. The higher the number, the thicker the oil. time-consumi- ng ," . SEHVIKB MOST AU 8f CENTRAL UTAH WITM FREE MBSILE SiHVICS h 1 j: 0 0, coram 0 it u Ail 'PetWc'lont I ir 1 1 1 PES M 41 4.11 mm mm suss 5 a ma "0rt ant Turbo-charge- ,i, in, I, - turbo-charge- si NEW CLUTCH COMPANY fi MUGUL. i - ii The next time you're looking to get your car serviced, the only place you should turn to is Big A Service Pro. After all, we use only 1 1 j J 1 ; Lubrication, 01! Change, Oil FiKer Change.' j Mif-- l fn Q j .....iJ'cSJ (0s M s. 1 certification programs, we're better able to answer any of your car questions. 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