6

CARS

“I forgot where I parked the car.” “The battery’s dead.” “The car’s stuck in the snow.” “I have to go to the bathroom.” “Oops, I locked the keys in the car.” “The windshield is covered with dead bugs.”

For every dumb problem, there’s an ingenious solution. You can locate your car with a water bottle, recharge a dead car battery with red wine, create traction with kitty litter, use a Gatorade bottle for a toilet, and easily break into a locked car with a clothes hanger. All you need is the know-how. And the courage to spray your hood with cooking spray before starting your trip and to wipe it clean with a pair of panty hose afterward.

How to Remove Dead Insects from the Windshield and Hood with Panty Hose

WHAT YOU NEED

• Dishwashing liquid
• Bucket
• Water
• Pair of panty hose

WHAT TO DO

1. Add a few drops of dishwashing liquid to a bucket, and fill it with water.

2. Ball up a pair of clean, used panty hose, and dampen it with the soapy water.

3. Use the nylon garment to gently scrub dead insects from the hood of the car.

HOW IT WORKS

The nylon is a mild abrasive that cleans off the bugs without scratching the finish.

EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK

Bugz n the Hood

• Baby Shampoo. Add a few drops of baby shampoo to a bucket of warm water, dampen a sponge in the solution, and rub the car to remove insects easily and effortlessly.
• Baking Soda. To clean dead insects from the hood and windshield of a car or truck, sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge, wipe down the hood or windshield, and then wipe it clean with a dry cloth. The baking soda is a mild abrasive that removes insects without harming the finish of the car.
• Dryer Sheet. To clean lovebugs from the hood and windshield of a car or truck, wet the vehicle and then rub the dead insects with a wet dryer sheet. The antistatic elements in the mildly abrasive sheet make cleaning off the lovebugs effortless.
• Soda. To clean insects off a car windshield, pour a can or bottle of carbonated soda over the windshield and squeegee clean.

How to Clean Cloudy Headlights with Toothpaste

WHAT YOU NEED

• Toothpaste, regular white (not gel)
• Sponge (or rag)
• Water
• Clean, soft cloth (or paper towels)

WHAT TO DO

1. Place a small amount of toothpaste on a sponge.

2. Rub the toothpaste onto the headlights in small circular motions for a few minutes.

3. Rinse clean with water and a clean, soft cloth.

HOW IT WORKS

Ultraviolet radiation from the sun degrades polycarbonate plastic, creating an oxidized haze—similar to plaque on your teeth—on the transparent headlight covers, turning them increasingly opaque. Airborne flecks also scratch and chip the plastic headlight covers. Toothpaste is a mild abrasive that cleans the plastic without scratching it. The cleansing lasts roughly three months, depending on how much you drive.

SEEING THE LIGHT

• Use only regular toothpaste to clean headlights. Tartar-control or whitening toothpastes can damage the plastic.
• To make your clean headlights shine, apply some car wax to the plastic cover, let dry, and buff with a clean cloth.
• For a more durable fix, mask the area around the headlights with blue painter’s tape or electrical tape. Use wet 400-grit sandpaper to remove the factory coating and outer layer of haze, and wet 1200-grit and 1500-grit sandpaper to smooth any scratches. Apply a fine polishing compound, followed by a UV sealant.
• Dirty headlights can significantly dim the brightness of the light and diminish your visibility, increasing your risk of accidents.

How to Improvise an Air Bag with a Beach Ball

WHAT YOU NEED

• Inflatable beach ball, 20-inch diameter

WHAT TO DO

1. If the vehicle is not equipped with a working air bag for the passenger seats, inflate the beach ball and hold it in your lap, grasping it on either side.

2. If you anticipate an accident, quickly raise the ball in front of your face.

HOW IT WORKS

The driver’s air bag is roughly the size of a large, fully inflated beach ball. The passenger’s air bag can be much larger to make up for the space filled by the steering wheel. If the vehicle you’re riding in doesn’t have a functioning air bag, holding a beach ball in front of your face can offer some protection from injury during a crash by cushioning you during impact and protecting your body from hitting any objects inside the car.

FLOATING ON AIR

• A real air bag is connected to a crash sensor, which will deploy the bag if the car gets into a head-on and near-head-on crash at 8 to 14 miles per hour or greater.
• The crash sensor triggers an igniter to produce a gas, typically nitrogen or argon, to fill the air bag and deploy it in approximately 0.05 seconds. The air bag deflates almost immediately.
• The crash sensor may malfunction and deploy the air bag at the wrong time, too late, or not at all—resulting in a serious injury or death.
• A deploying air bag can cause abrasions or burns (from its speed), an asthma attack (from the chemicals released), or a severe eye injury (from its impact).
• If the driver or passenger is sitting too close to the air bag, the force of a deploying air bag can cause death.

How to Fashion a Portable Toilet from a Gatorade Bottle

WHAT YOU NEED

• Clean, empty Gatorade bottle with cap
• Toilet paper (or tissue)
• Duct tape
• Hand sanitizer (or baby wipes)

WHAT TO DO

1. If you’re the driver, pull over to a secluded spot on the side of the road. If you’re a passenger and the driver doesn’t wish to pull over, cover your torso with a blanket or towel for privacy.

2. If you’re male, unzip your fly. If you’re female, either pull down your pants or lift up your skirt and lower your underwear.

3. Carefully urinate into the bottle. If you’re female, position the mouth of the bottle as close as possible to your urethra, creating a tight seal against the mouth of the bottle. Keep toilet paper in hand to blot up any accidental seepage.

4. Cap the bottle securely.

5. Adhere a strip of duct tape to the bottle so no one will mistake it for a beverage.

6. Store the bottle upright to avoid spills or leaks.

7. Wash your hands with hand sanitizer, baby wipes, or soap and water.

8. When you reach a restroom, pour the urine into a urinal or toilet, and discard the bottle in a garbage can. Or rinse the bottle with soap and water for reuse solely as a portable urinal.

HOW IT WORKS

The wide mouth of the bottle provides ample room to urinate into it without creating a mess. The screw-top lid secures the liquid safely inside, averting spills or leaks.

HITTING THE BOTTLE

• Several companies manufacture and sell portable urinal bottles designed for both men and women, equipped with an adapter to accommodate the female anatomy. The bottle can be used for camping or travel.
• The military uses plastic urine containers as tent toilets.
• In Richard Wagamese’s novel Ragged Company, Digger remembers, “No one said nothin’ when I couldn’t walk to the bathroom an’ had to piss in an empty bottle at night.”

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

How to Save at the Pump

• Shop Around for the Lowest Gas Prices. To find the nearest and most inexpensive gas station, preview prices online at GasBuddy.com or GasPriceWatch.com. Or use the apps GasBuddy or GasBook.
• Fill ’er Up Before the Gas Level Drops Below a Quarter of a Tank. Driving around with too little gas in the tank can cause the fuel pump to burn out, necessitating a costly repair.
• Secure the Gas Cap Closed. After filling the tank with gas, twist the gas cap until it clicks three times. With older vehicles, make certain the gas cap is tightly in place. A poorly fitting or missing gas cap can lessen a vehicles mileage up to 10 percent.
• Get a Credit Card That Cuts Gasoline Costs. Several credit cards, including cards issued by gas station chains, offer up to 5 percent cash back on gasoline purchases. Discover the options online at www.cardhub.com or www.cardratings.com.

How to Create Emergency Traction with Kitty Litter

WHAT YOU NEED

• Clean, empty coffee cans
• Kitty litter
• Duct tape

WHAT TO DO

1. Fill clean, empty coffee cans with unused kitty litter and cap them securely with the lids.

2. Adhere a strip of duct tape over each lid to secure it in place.

3. Store the cans of kitty litter in your trunk.

4. If your tires get stuck in snow or ice, clear any snow away from the tailpipe. Otherwise, a blocked tailpipe will send deadly carbon monoxide gas inside the car.

5. Dig away as much excess snow and ice from in front of the tires as possible.

6. Turn the steering wheel to straighten the front wheels (provided no objects obstruct the path of the car).

7. Grab the prepared cans of kitty litter from the trunk, peel off the duct tape, remove the lids, and pour the kitty litter under the wheels of the car.

8. Gently press the gas pedal.

HOW IT WORKS

The kitty litter poured under the tires creates emergency traction for an automobile stuck in snow or on ice.

GAINING TRACTION

• Another way to create traction for a car or truck stuck in snow or on ice: carefully pour a little bleach directly from the jug over the affected tire, wait 1 minute, and then try to move the car. The bleach chemically reacts with the rubber tire, making it stickier, increasing the traction.
• You can also free a car from the snow by placing tree branches or the carpet mats (from inside the car) under the tires.

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

How to Save on Car Rental Insurance

• The law requires you to have liability insurance when you rent a car. However, if your personal auto insurance policy includes liability insurance, you do not need to take out a policy for liability insurance with the car rental company.
• All the other insurance policies are optional.
• Many credit card companies, including Visa and MasterCard, automatically insure the rental car if you use the credit card to pay for the rental—which means you don’t have to buy insurance on the rental car from the rental company. Check with your credit card provider to see if you’re covered, and for how much. Credit cards generally offer secondary rental insurance, meaning they only pay for certain damages not covered by your regular automobile insurance.
• Comprehensive and collision insurance, offered by rental car companies, covers the rental car if you are responsible for the damage. Your personal auto insurance policy is unlikely to cover this.
• The collision damage waiver also guarantees that the car rental company will pay for certain damages you cause to the car. This waiver also covers any money that a car rental company stands to lose during the “loss of use” period—when the car is in the shop and cannot be rented out. Most auto insurance policies will not cover this cost.

How to Defrost a Frozen Door Lock with a Drinking Straw

WHAT YOU NEED

• Plastic drinking straw

WHAT TO DO

1. Insert one end of the drinking straw into the key slot.

2. Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth into the free end of the straw.

3. Repeat step 2 several times.

4. Remove the straw from the key slot, and try opening the door with the key.

HOW IT WORKS

The hot air you exhale through the straw should easily thaw the lock.

BREAKING THE ICE

Here are a few more ways to defrost a frozen car door lock:

• Blow Dryer. If the lock on the car door freezes, before calling a locksmith, use a blow dryer set on hot (with an extension cord), and aim the nozzle at the keyhole to gently thaw the frozen lock.
• Butane Lighter. If your car key does not have a plastic top, hold the key with an oven mitt or tongs, and heat the end with a butane lighter. Carefully insert the hot key into the lock to melt the ice inside the tumbler.
• Cooking Spray. To prevent car doors from freezing shut in the winter, spray the rubber gaskets with a thin coating of cooking spray. The vegetable oil seals out water without harming the gaskets.
• Petroleum Jelly. To prevent a car lock from freezing, dip your key into petroleum jelly, insert it into the lock, and turn the lock back and forth several times. The petroleum jelly, coating the inner parts of the lock, displaces water that would freeze into ice.

How to Repair a Scratch or Ding with Nail Polish

WHAT YOU NEED

• Soapy water
• Soft, clean rag
• Bottle of nail polish, appropriately colored
• Bottle of clear nail polish

WHAT TO DO

1. Using soapy water and a soft, clean rag, wipe any dirt or grime from the ding and surrounding area. (Otherwise, the nail polish will seal in grime.)

2. Make sure the color of the nail polish matches the color of the car.

3. Apply one coat of the nail polish to the ding and let it dry completely.

4. If necessary, apply a second coat of nail polish and let it dry fully.

5. Apply a topcoat of clear nail polish and let it dry.

HOW IT WORKS

The colored nail polish fills the indentation with the proper color, and the topcoat of clear nail polish provides added protection and a fine finish. The nail polish also prevents the metal from rusting and the ding from enlarging.

CAR CARE

“Left untreated, exposed, raw metal on the body of your car can rust in just a matter of weeks,” Matt Cutaia, vice president and former body shop manager at Gates Automotive Center in Rochester, New York, told Fox News in 2012. Clear nail polish applied to the ding “may not look the most appealing,” said Cutaia, “but you’ll have the peace of mind in knowing that rust won’t develop quite as quickly.”

How to Hot-Wire the Ignition with a Screwdriver

WHAT YOU NEED

• Flat-head screwdriver
• Hammer
• Phillips-head screwdriver
• Car manual
• Rubber gloves
• Wire cutters
• Electrical tape

WHAT TO DO

1. Insert the flat-head screwdriver into the ignition, and hit the screwdriver with a hammer until you can turn it like a key. Doing so destroys the ignition cylinder. Turn the screwdriver to start the car.

2. If the car fails to start, remove the screwdriver from the ignition.

3. Using the Phillips-head screwdriver, remove the screws from the top and bottom panels holding the steering column.

4. Pry the panels apart (using the flat-head screwdriver, if necessary) to expose the ignition cylinder.

5. Identify the battery and starter wires, located beneath the steering column. The two red wires usually control the power to the car’s electrical systems. The one or two brown wires typically connect to the starter. Consult the car manual to verify the color coding of your car’s wiring.

6. Wearing rubber gloves, use the wire cutters to carefully cut the power wires from the cylinder.

7. Strip the ends of the power wires, twist them together, and wrap them with electrical tape. If the car has only one starter wire, do not wrap the power wires with electrical tape just yet.

8. Still wearing rubber gloves, use the wire cutters to carefully cut the starter wires from the cylinder.

9. Strip the ends of the starter wires, being careful not to let them touch and give you an electrical shock. If the car has only one starter wire, strip the end of it.

10. Touch the ends of the starter wires together until the car starts and then pull the wires apart. If the car has only one starter wire, touch it to the connected power wires to start the car.

11. Wrap the two exposed starter wires (or single wire) with electrical tape to prevent them from touching each other while driving.

12. If the steering wheel remains locked in place, insert the flat-head screwdriver between the top of the steering column and the steering wheel to pry open the lock bolt.

13. To turn the engine off, remove the electrical tape holding the power wires together and separate the wires. Wrap the two exposed ends with electrical tape to prevent them from accidentally making contact.

HOW IT WORKS

Twisting the power wires together completes the circuit for the car’s electrical system, and holding the starter wires together momentarily circumvents the job of the ignition cylinder—starting the engine.

START ME UP

• Be aware that hot-wiring a car puts you in danger of electrocution and is likely to damage your vehicle.
• Hot-wiring anyone’s car but your own, without express permission from the owner, is grand theft auto and is usually charged as a felony.
• Newer cars are nearly impossible to hot-wire without professional know-how due to their complex key systems and wheel locks.

How to Break into a Locked Car with a Clothes Hanger

WHAT YOU NEED

• Wire clothes hanger

WHAT TO DO

1. If you get locked out of your own car, unwind and straighten the wire hanger and make a V-shaped hook at the end, roughly 2 inches in length.

2. Slide the hook into the left side of the passenger door between the rubber molding at the bottom of the window and the glass itself.

3. Once you slide the hook into the frame of the car door, rotate the hanger 90 degrees so the open end of the hook faces toward the inside of the car.

4. Gently move the hook up and down and side to side, using the hanger to feel for the arm mechanism inside the frame of the car door that controls the lock.

5. When you locate the arm mechanism, lightly tug upward on the hanger.

HOW IT WORKS

The V-shaped hook on the end of the hanger catches the arm mechanism, and when pulled upward, raises the lock.

DON’T LEAVE ME HANGING

Other clever uses for a wire clothes hanger:

• Fish for Dropped Objects. Bend a hook on the end of a straightened hanger, and use it to fish a key chain dropped into a sewer grating, a toy kicked under the furniture, or a sock that fell behind the washing machine.
• Fix a Drawstring. Make a loop in the end of a straightened hanger, knot one end of a drawstring to the loop, and use the wire to feed the string and loop through the waistband of a swimsuit or jogging suit.
• Roast Marshmallows or Hot Dogs. Skewer some marshmallows or hot dogs on the end of a straightened wire hanger and roast them over a campfire or in a fireplace.
• Snake Wire. Make a small loop at one end of a straightened hanger, attach the end of the wire to the loop, drill a series of small holes in the wall, and use the outstretched hanger to snake the wire behind the drywall.
• Unclog a Drain or Vacuum Cleaner Hose. Use a straightened wire hanger to dislodge hair and other clogs from a drain or vacuum cleaner hose.

How to Find Your Car in a Parking Lot with a Water Bottle

WHAT YOU NEED

• Wireless key fob (the remote control for your car keys)
• Water bottle filled with water

WHAT TO DO

1. If you cannot remember where you parked your car in a parking lot, hold up your wireless key fob and press the button to activate the car horn.

2. If the horn does not sound, hold the wireless key fob against the side of your head, and press the button to activate the car horn.

3. If the horn still does not sound, hold up a bottle of water, hold the wireless key fob against the side of the water bottle, and press the button to activate the horn in your car.

HOW IT WORKS

A wireless key fob sends out electromagnetic waves at roughly 315 megahertz in North America (with a wavelength of approximately 3 feet) and 434 megahertz in Europe to remotely control the locks, lights, horns, and trunk of an automobile. A wireless key fob has a range of electromagnetic waves extending approximately 188 feet. Holding the fob against your head or a bottle of water when pressing it can extend the range of electromagnetic waves to approximately 440 feet. When the electromagnetic waves pass through the water (in the bottle or our brains), the electric field pulls the positively charged hydrogen ions in one direction and the negatively charged oxygen ions in the opposite direction. The oscillating electric field causes the electrons to radiate energy at the same frequency as the electromagnetic waves from the key, combining to increase the range of the key fob.

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

How to Get a Great Price on a Rental Car

• Shop Around Online. Use websites like Hotwire, Kayak, or Priceline to compare quotes from different car rental companies, whose prices can vary widely.
• Join a Club. Members of AAA, AARP, and warehouse club stores (like Costco and Sam’s Club) get special rates on rental cars.
• Avoid Renting at the Airport. Renting from an airport location generally includes additional fees and taxes that significantly jack up the price. Taking public transportation to an offsite rental car location can save more than 50 percent off the price.
• Do Not Book at the Counter. You’ll save money and get the size car you want by making a reservation.
• Reserve a Smaller Car. Book an economy-size car in advance. If the model you book is unavailable when you show up, the company will upgrade you to a more expensive car for free.
• Rent by the Week or Longer. The longer the rental period, the less expensive the daily cost.
• Aim for the Weekend. The least expensive rates tend to be the weekend rates.
• Skip the Optional Extras. Renting a navigation system or a baby seat from the car rental company adds up quickly. Instead, use an old-fashioned map, Google Maps, MapQuest, or your smart phone. Buying a baby seat can be more economical than renting one.
• Buy Your Own Gas. Car rental companies offer you the option of bringing the car back with the gas tank full or buying a full tank of gas in advance at a discounted rate. If you bring the car back with the gas tank half full, you’ll still pay for an entire tank of gas. If you do opt to buy your own fuel, save your receipt from the gas station in case the rental company requires proof that you filled up the tank within several miles of the return location.
• Return the Car on Time. If you return the car more than an hour late, you’ll usually be charged for an extra day.
• Return the Car at the Agreed-Upon Location. Returning the car at a different location can result in a large drop-off fee.

How to Grease a Car Axle with Vegetable Oil

WHAT YOU NEED

• Screwdriver or wrench (depending on the differential drain plug)
• Drain pan or plastic storage container
• Funnel
• 2 quarts of vegetable oil

WHAT TO DO

1. In an emergency situation, if you need to replace the differential fluid, use a screwdriver or wrench to remove the differential fill plug, located roughly halfway up the differential in the middle of the rear axle.

2. Place a drain pan or plastic storage container under the differential.

3. Use a screwdriver or wrench to remove the differential drain plug, located on the bottom of the differential.

4. Allow the oil to drain.

5. Replace the drain plug and tighten it securely.

6. Using a funnel, pour 2 quarts of vegetable oil in the fill hole, or until the oil nears the top of the hole.

7. Replace the fill plug and tighten it snugly.

HOW IT WORKS

Vegetable oil doubles as an effective substitute for differential fluid. As soon as you can, replace the vegetable oil with differential fluid that contains additives to help keep the seals, gears, and bearings operating properly.

SPINNING YOUR WHEELS

• The differential, a gearbox located between the drive wheels of the vehicle, works with the transmission to deliver power from the engine to the axle that turns your wheels.
• The differential gears are lubricated with an oil that carries heat away from them, preserving the life and performance of the gears.
• If high operating temperatures cause the differential fluid to deteriorate or if leaks develop, the gears start grinding together, leading to expensive damage.
• In the 1998 movie Saving Private Ryan, Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) proposes that his men disable German tanks by making a sticky bomb by filling a standard-issue GI sock with explosive powder, rigging up a fuse, and coating the whole thing with axle grease, creating a bomb that sticks to the tracks of an enemy tank.

EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK

How to Improvise a Funnel

• Aluminum Foil. If you need a funnel in a pinch, double over a piece of aluminum foil and roll it into the shape of a cone.
• Paper Cup. Punch a hole in the bottom of a paper cup near the edge to devise an impromptu funnel.
• Soda Bottle. To devise a funnel, cut the bottom off a clean, empty plastic soda bottle, turn the upper half upside down, and remove the cap.
• Ziplock Bag. Using a pair of scissors, snip off one of the bottom corners from a ziplock freezer bag.

HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR CAR

• Change the Oil Regularly. As the oil ages, the viscosity increases. The engine works harder to circulate the thicker oil, significantly reducing the vehicle’s fuel economy. Adhering to scheduled oil changes, keeping the oil at the proper level, and using lower-weight oil helps your engine run smoothly and burn less fuel.
• Rotate the Tires. Friction causes the front tires to wear quicker than the rear tires. Rotating the tires equalizes tread wear and prolongs the life of the tires. Most manufacturers recommend rotating the tires approximately every 5,000 to 10,000 miles. See your owner’s manual to determine precisely how often and in what pattern to rotate your tires. You can rotate the tires yourself with a torque wrench and a small hydraulic jack (or ideally, a floor jack), or you can bring the car to a mechanic. To make sure the mechanic rotates your tires, use an indelible white marker to draw an inconspicuous white mark on your rear tires. Before you pay the bill, make sure the white mark is on your front tires.
• Keep the Tires Balanced. An out-of-balance tire can shorten the life of your tires, bearings, shock absorbers, and other suspension components. If you feel strange vibrations when driving, have your tires checked to make sure they are properly balanced.
• Do Not Ignore Weird Noises. Strange noises could indicate the start of a serious problem, which, if ignored, could become costly to fix. Bring the car to a mechanic to assess the problem immediately, and be sure to describe the sound—clumping, knocking, thumping, pinging, screeching, scraping, squealing, rumbling, thudding, ticking, jolting, or whining—and the circumstances that create it as accurately as possible.
• Do Preventative Maintenance Yourself. To save money and avoid costly repairs, top off the oil and antifreeze, change worn windshield wiper blades, and replace the air filter yourself, and check the belts and hoses for wear.
• Check the Tire Pressure Monthly. Keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent, according to the US Department of Energy. Underinflated tires put more stress on the engine and can lower gas mileage by 0.3 percent for every 1 psi (pound per square inch) drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer. Tires lose pressure daily, typically 1 to 2 pounds of air per month. Keep a tire gauge in your glove compartment and check the tire pressure once a month.

How to Prevent Insects from Sticking to the Hood with Cooking Spray

WHAT YOU NEED

• Aerosol cooking spray
• Garden hose (ideally with a high-pressure nozzle)
• Dishwashing liquid
• Bucket
• Water
• Soft sponge

WHAT TO DO

1. Before you set out on your journey, spray the hood and grill of the vehicle with a light coat of cooking spray.

2. After the car trip, simply hose off the hood and grill to wash off any insects.

3. To remove the cooking spray from the hood and grill, simply add a few drops of dishwashing liquid to a bucket filled with water, saturate a sponge in the mixture, and wash the hood and grill.

4. Rinse the car with water from a hose.

HOW IT WORKS

The cooking oil prevents dead insects from permanently adhering to the finish and makes washing them off much simpler. The soapy water made with dishwashing liquid dissolves the vegetable oil.

BUG OFF

• To prevent dead insects from adhering to your windshield, treat the outside of the glass with Rain-X.
• To avoid getting insect carcasses stuck all over your windshield, hood, and grill, drive in the early morning or at night. Winged insects—particularly lovebugs—are most active after mid-morning in bright sunlight when temperatures rise to around 80° Fahrenheit and at dusk.
• Resist the temptation to wash the insects from the windshield with the windshield wipers or the windscreen washer. The attempt will sully the windshield with smears and streaks.
• Wash dead insects from the car exterior as soon as possible. Otherwise, the remains can permanently damage the paint.

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

How to Save Money on Fuel

• Drive the Speed Limit. When you drive above 38 miles per hour in most cars, you decrease your mileage. For every 5 miles per hour you drive above 55 miles per hour, you lose up to 10 percent of your fuel economy. The slower you go, the less gas you burn. Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional 28 cents per gallon for gas, according to the US Department of Energy.
• Minimize the Number of Trips You Make. Instead of making several short round-trip journeys (to the bank, to the mall, to the post office), combine all your errands into one big trip, drive to your farthest destination first (to get the engine running efficiently), and work your way back home. Use a map to plan an efficient itinerary, or download the free smart phone app Maps + Compass.
• Avoid Getting Stuck in Traffic. The more time you spend stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, the more fuel you waste. To monitor traffic, download a traffic app like Aha, Waze, TrafficTweet, or Google Maps Navigation, which give real-time traffic conditions on major roads and highways.
• Take a Less Grueling Route. Instead of taking the long and winding scenic route over hill and dale, choose a route with smooth, level roads and less traffic lights or stop signs. A longer route with less arduous road conditions necessitates less gas.
• Lay Off the Pedals. By accelerating slowly and evenly and going easy on the brakes (coasting whenever possible), you can cut your fuel consumption by 35 percent, according to the Environmental Protection Agency and a road test conducted by Edmunds.com. When approaching a red light or a stop sign, lift your foot off the gas pedal as soon as possible, allowing the car to coast. When you encounter traffic congestion, instead of accelerating from 0 to 20 and then braking back to 0, maintain a steady speed and let the car in front of you move ahead; you’ll catch up when the traffic inevitably slows back down.
• Lighten Your Load. The more your car weighs, the harder the engine works, consuming more gasoline. Remove the ice chests, beach chairs, and bowling balls from your trunk and backseat. An extra 100 pounds reduces a typical car’s fuel economy by 1 to 2 percent. If you’re driving a van without any passengers aboard, store the two backseats in your garage to remove excess weight. Remove any add-ons, like flags, bicycle carriers, and luggage racks, which undermine the vehicle’s aerodynamics, increasing your gasoline consumption.
• Never Leave the Car Running. Letting your car idle for 15 minutes while you wait in front of the school for your kids or while you run into the store to buy something can burn a quarter of a gallon of gasoline, especially if the air-conditioner is running. Turn off the engine, and if you’re waiting in the car, simply roll down the windows.
• Drive a Stick Shift . Cars and trucks with stick shift typically get two to five more miles to the gallon than those same vehicles with automatic transmissions, according to Consumer Reports. A stick-shift car generally costs $800 to $1,200 less and demands fewer and less expensive brake and transmission repairs. To give your stick-shift vehicle more mileage, shift slowly and stay in low gears.
• Use Cruise Control. When driving on the highway, you’ll get better mileage using cruise control than your right foot. In a test conducted by Edmunds.com, a Land Rover LR3 got almost 14 percent better mileage and a Ford Mustang got 4.5 percent better mileage using cruise control set at 70 miles per hour rather than cruising at driver-controlled speeds between 65 and 75 miles per hour. Using cruise control prevents fluctuations in speed and “speed creep”—the tendency of a driver to gradually accelerate over time.
• Play the Water Game. Place a cup filled with water in the cup holder and drive without spilling it. You’ll avoid making abrupt starts and stops, and you’ll drive at lower speeds, increasing your city mileage by 5 percent, according to the US Department of Energy.
• Roll Down the Windows—Unless You’re Driving on the Highway. Running the air-conditioning increases fuel consumption by roughly 10 percent, and while driving with the windows open increases drag and raises fuel consumption, it’s the less costly of the two evils—when you’re driving in the city. When you’re driving on the highway, the opposite is true. Running the air conditioner at highway speeds has less effect on fuel economy than rolling down the windows, according to Edmunds.com.
• Park in the Sun. Parking your vehicle in the sun on a cold day keeps your car warmer, enabling the engine to warm up rapidly, running more efficiently and using less gas.

How to Improvise an Ice Scraper with a Spatula

WHAT YOU NEED

• Plastic spatula
• Broom

WHAT TO DO

1. Remove any snow or ice obstructing the vehicle’s tailpipe. Otherwise, running the engine can fill the inside of the vehicle with poisonous carbon monoxide gas.

2. Start the vehicle and turn on the defroster to slowly warm the glass windshield.

3. Let the car warm up for at least 5 minutes.

4. When the ice frozen to the windshield starts melting, use the plastic spatula to gently scrape off the ice.

5. Use the broom to sweep the ice scrapings from the windshield and hood.

HOW IT WORKS

The defroster helps melt the ice, loosening it from the glass, and the spatula doubles as an effective ice scraper.

WALKING ON THIN ICE

If your windshield gets covered with ice, mix 10 ounces of isopropyl alcohol and 5 ounces of cool water in a 16-ounce trigger-spray bottle. Spray this homemade deicing solution on the iced windows, and the ice will peel right off.

EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK

Breaking the Ice

If you don’t have an ice scraper, here are several items you can use to do the job.

• Credit Card. Use an expired credit card or any sturdy laminated card to scrape the ice and snow away. Avoid using a valid credit card that might get damaged by the scraping.
• Dustpan. A plastic dustpan does the scraping job without scratching the windshield.
• Plastic Lid. The edge of a lid from a coffee can works just like a scraper.
• Paint Scraper. Grab a plastic paint scraper from your workshop to scrape the ice off your windshield.

How to Escape from the Trunk of a Car with a Car Jack

WHAT YOU NEED

• Car jack

WHAT TO DO

1. If the trunk is not equipped with a working release switch, search the walls of the trunk or under the false bottom of the trunk for the jack.

2. Position the jack on the floor of the trunk under the center section of the lid near the latch.

3. If using a scissor jack, insert the rod or wrench over the knob, and then crank. If using a hydraulic jack, place the handle into the appropriate slot and pump up and down with slow, even strokes.

4. Crank or pump the jack until the trunk lid pops open.

HOW IT WORKS

The force of the jack forces the trunk lid to pop open.

OTHER WAYS OUT OF THE TRUNK

• Trunk Release Switch. American cars manufactured after 2002 contain a trunk release switch (usually with a glow-in-the-dark handle) inside the trunk. Locate the button, cord, handle, or toggle switch and engage it to pop open the trunk.
• Backseat. If the car you’re trapped inside has a backseat that folds down to gain access to the trunk, kick the back of the seat to push it open.
• Trunk Release Cable. If the car is equipped with a trunk release lever by the driver’s seat, the cable from that switch runs along the driver’s side of the car and the side of the trunk, and sometimes on the floor of the trunk. Feel for the cable, and pull up the false bottom of the trunk if necessary. If you locate the cable, pull it toward the front of the car to release the trunk.
• Brake Lights. If necessary, pull or pry off the panel covering access to the brake lights. Pull out the wires to the brake lights, and push or kick the lights out of the vehicle. Stick your hand through the hole to signal other motorists. If you fail to push out the lights, disconnecting the wires increases the chances that the police will pull over the driver for a faulty taillight.

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

Taxis: The Meter Is Running

Here are some tips on how to travel safely in a taxi.

• Do Your Homework. Ask a hotel clerk, restaurant manager, or store clerk for the typical price range of a taxi ride to your destination, and the proper tip.
• Set the Price Up Front. When you get into the taxi, either make sure the driver is using the meter or agree upon the flat fare before you start the journey. Most dispatchers can give you a ballpark price when you book a taxi.
• Know How to Get There. Familiarize yourself with the general direction, the best route, and the travel time to your destination. If the taxi driver heads the wrong way, give the driver proper directions, insist that he stop the meter until he gets on the right road, or—if you’re in a safe neighborhood—get out of the cab. If appropriate, toss some money into the front seat to prevent any hard feelings.
• Play It Smart. If the taxi driver asks you if you’ve been to the city before, say yes. Otherwise, a dishonest driver may take a longer route to jack up the metered fare.
• Telephone for a Taxi Instead of Hailing One. Calling a dispatcher helps minimize the chances of getting an unscrupulous independent taxi driver.
• Record the Numbers. Before getting into a taxi, memorize the company’s name and the taxi number (usually painted on the outside of the cab).
• Never Get into a Taxi if a Stranger Is in the Passenger Seat. For starters, you shouldn’t be paying for a stranger’s ride, and the driver and the stranger may be in cahoots to rob passengers.
• Do Not Sit in the Front Passenger Seat. Sitting in the backseat keeps you at a safe distance from the driver.
• Make Sure the Driver’s Taxi License Is Prominently Displayed. Otherwise, do not get into the taxi.
• Locate the Inside Door Handle and Make Sure It Works. Know how to get out of the vehicle.
• Do Not Take a Taxi Alone if You’re Drunk. Yes, you should take a taxi rather than drive, but take a taxi with a friend. Otherwise, you will be vulnerable to attack from the driver or any other assailant.
• Keep Expensive Items Hidden on Your Person or on the Floor Between Your Feet. Flashing a smart phone, camera, jewelry, purse, daypack, or a wallet makes you a target for potential thieves.
• Keep the Windows Closed. This prevents a thief from reaching into an open window or opening a locked door at a traffic light or stop sign.
• Familiarize Yourself with the Local Currency. If you’re in a foreign country, pay with the correct denomination bills and make sure the driver gives you change in the proper currency.

How to Fog-Proof Your Windshield with Shaving Cream and a Maxi Pad

WHAT YOU NEED

• Can of shaving cream
• Maxi pad

WHAT TO DO

1. Fill your palm with a handful of shaving cream.

2. Rub a thin coating of the shaving cream on the inside of the windshield.

3. Using the maxi pad, wipe the shaving cream off the glass.

HOW IT WORKS

The thin coating of emollients the shaving cream leaves on the inside of the windshield prevent the glass from fogging.

EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK

Close Shave

You can also use shaving cream in the following ways:

• Baseball Glove Softener. To break in a new baseball glove, rub the center of the glove with shaving cream, place a baseball in the glove, fold the mitt around it, and secure it with rubber bands. Tuck the glove under a mattress overnight.
• Carpet Spot Remover. Squirt a dab of shaving cream on the stain, scrub, and wash with water.
• Hand Cleaner. Rubbing shaving cream between your hands will dissolve grease, grime, and latex paint without water. Keep a can of it at the workbench.
• Ski Goggle Defogger. Spray with shaving cream, then wipe clean.
• Squeaky Hinge Lubricant. Spray the joint with shaving cream.
• Upholstery Cleaner. Apply shaving cream sparingly to the stain and rub gently with a damp cloth.

How to Recharge a Dead Car Battery with Red Wine

WHAT YOU NEED

• Safety goggles
• Rubber gloves
• Screwdriver
• Funnel
• Red wine

WHAT TO DO

1. To revive a dead car battery, wear safety goggles and rubber gloves, and carefully pry the cell cover off the battery with a screwdriver (without getting battery acid on yourself).

2. Using a funnel, pour a little red wine into each of the battery cells.

3. Reseal the cell cover.

4. Let the car sit for no more than one hour, and start the engine.

5. Drive directly to a service station to replace the battery.

HOW IT WORKS

If the battery levels get too low, the cells drain, and the vehicle will not start. Red wine is an acidic liquid that allows the electrons to flow freely between the positive and negative terminals of the battery, providing sufficient energy to start the engine.

WINE

• In an episode of MacGyver (“Jack of Lies,” season 2, episode 6), MacGyver unscrews the caps on a dead car battery, pours wine into the battery, replaces the caps, and starts the engine.
• In 2010, Japanese scientists working with superconductors discovered that hot commercial alcoholic beverages, including red wine, white wine, beer, sake, and whiskey, induced superconductivity in FeTe_0.8S_0.2. The scientists achieved the largest shielding volume fraction using red wine.
• If you need to disconnect your car’s negative battery cable to work on the engine, you must prevent the live end of the battery cable connector from touching the car frame or other metal. To do this, cut a slit in a tennis ball and carefully insert the negative battery connector into the rubber ball. Since the rubber tennis ball does not conduct electricity, you can safely place the encapsulated battery connector aside.

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

How to Lower Your Car Insurance

• Keep Your Driving Record Clean. The best way to lower your automobile insurance is to keep a safe driving record. Drivers with a clean record can save up to 45 percent with Allstate, up to 26 percent with Geico, and up to 10 percent with State Farm.
• Buy a Safe, Reliable Car. A vehicle renowned for its expensive repairs, popularity with thieves, or questionable safety record tends to be expensive to insure. Before buying a new car, check the vehicle’s risk level at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s website, www.iihs.org.
• Insure Your Car, House, and Life Through the Same Company. To lower the cost of your car insurance, purchasing your car insurance from the same company that provides your homeowner’s policy and/or life insurance policy can save 10 to 15 percent.
• Take Higher Deductibles. Increasing your deductible (the amount of money you must pay before your insurance policy kicks in) can significantly lower the cost of your collision and comprehensive coverage. Raising your deductible from $200 to $1,000 can lower the cost of insurance by at least 40 percent. Do the math to determine if the reduced premium saves you more than the cost of the deductible.
• Drop Unnecessary Coverage. If you own an older car with a low market value, calculate whether any claim you make will exceed the cost of the insurance and your deductible. If it doesn’t, consider discontinuing collision and/or comprehensive coverage. You can determine your car’s current value at Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com) or Edmunds.com.
• Participate in a Driver Safety Program. Many insurance companies give a 5 to 10 percent discount for taking part in the AARP Driver Safety Program (aarpdriversafety.org) or teenSMART, the teen crash reduction program.
• Pay Your Bill Up Front or with Automatic Payments. Many insurance companies give discounts for paying your annual premium in full or paying by automatic withdrawal.
• Avoid Buying Duplicate Medical Coverage. If you already have extensive health, life, and disability insurance, consider reducing the medical coverage in your car insurance policy to the minimum personal injury protection required by your state. Medical coverage in your auto insurance policy also pays for injuries incurred to passengers in your car, so carefully consider whether to limit that coverage based on how frequently you transport others.
• Question the Need for Roadside Assistance. Before you purchase an insurance policy that includes roadside assistance, check to see whether your credit card already provides free roadside assistance. A roadside assistance plan purchased elsewhere (perhaps through AAA) may be less expensive than through your insurance carrier, especially if a tow or jump-start raises your insurance premium or tarnishes your eligibility for coverage.
• Pay Less for Driving Less. If you work at home, carpool frequently, or ride public transportation to work, call your insurance company to ask if you quality for a low-mileage discount based on the number of miles you drive annually.
• Upgrade the Safety Equipment. Most insurance companies give discounts if your car is equipped with passive restraints (air bags and motorized seatbelts), antilock brakes, or an antitheft device.
• Ask for Discounts for Teenage Drivers. Insuring teenagers on the parents’ policy costs less than buying a separate policy, and teenagers who pass an approved drivers education course can qualify for discount rates. A single full-time student under 25 with a minimum 3.0 GPA can save up to 15 percent with Geico, up to 20 percent with Allstate, and up to 35 percent with State Farm. A college student who attends school more than 100 miles from home and does not bring a car may quality for an additional discount.
• Shop Around. Call several insurance companies to compare rates and get the lowest premiums.

How to Heat Up a Frozen TV Dinner on a Car Manifold

WHAT YOU NEED

• Aluminum foil
• TV dinner
• Pliers (or wire cutters)
• Wire coat hanger
• Tongs, an oven mitt, or potholders

WHAT TO DO

1. Drive for a few minutes to warm up your engine, then pull over, park, and turn off the engine.

2. Open the hood and locate hot metal spots on the engine. Generally, the best spot on the engine for cooking food is on or near the exhaust manifold on top of the injector housing.

3. Crumple up a sheet of aluminum foil into a ball roughly 6 inches in diameter. Place the ball on the spot you wish to use as a grill and close the hood. Reopen the hood and compare the crumpled ball to your TV dinner tray to make sure you’ll have sufficient height to cook your TV dinner tray.

4. Wrap the aluminum tray of the TV dinner in a sheet of aluminum foil.

5. Place the wrapped TV dinner on the engine, away from any moving parts.

6. Using a pair of pliers, trim a piece of wire hanger so you can use wire to secure the TV dinner in place without placing any strain on the hoses.

7. Place a crumpled-up ball of aluminum foil on top of the package to hold it in place when you close the hood.

8. Turn the ignition and drive the car or truck for roughly 30 minutes.

9. Park the car and turn off the engine.

10. Use tongs, an oven mitt, or potholders to carefully remove the food from the hot engine.

11. Carefully unwrap the aluminum foil and serve.

HOW IT WORKS

The heat produced by the car engine manifold while driving defrosts and heats the TV dinner. The engine can also heat any foil-wrapped foods.

NOW YOU’RE COOKING

• Cooking times for cooking on your car manifold are generally longer than in a conventional oven.
• Locomotive engineers used to heat their food on the steam engine manifolds, and truck drivers frequently cook using their diesel engine manifold.
• In 2013, local blues folk musician Charlie Parr told Minneapolis City Pages that he uses a can of lentil beans and a bag of frozen veggies to cook on his manifold. “I use some curry powder, garlic, cayenne pepper, and mix it all up. Wrap it in foil, two layers but no more than four, like it’s a bowl with all the opening parts up. Before you close it add a bit of water, maybe a ¼ cup—not much. Jam it onto the exhaust manifold, making sure it’s making good contact and not in the way of any moving parts or in danger of falling off. Use a little wire if necessary. Then start the motor and double check that nothing’s being impeded by your dinner. Drive away. If it’s hot outside, go about 20–25 miles and check it and give it a stir. Another 25–50 miles would do it for me.”
• The classic cookbook Manifold Destiny: The One! The Only! Guide to Cooking on Your Car Engine! by Chris Maynard and Bill Scheller, explains how to prepare tasty dishes on your vehicle’s engine. The book includes recipes for Hyundai Halibut, Prius Pork, Thruway Chicken Thighs, and Ford F-150 Hot Texas Wieners.

How to Park a Car in a Garage with a Tennis Ball

WHAT YOU NEED

• Chalk
• Ladder
• Safety goggles
• Drill with ⅛-inch bit
• 2 eye screws
• String
• Tennis ball
• Scissors

WHAT TO DO

1. Park the car in the garage in the proper location.

2. Look at the windshield and identify the location of the rearview mirror mount.

3. On the garage floor in front of the car, make a chalk mark perpendicular to the rearview mirror mount.

4. On the garage floor on the side of the car, make a chalk mark perpendicular to the rearview mirror mount.

5. Remove the car from the garage.

6. Using the two chalk marks on the floor as a guide, make a chalk X on the floor directly under the spot where the rearview mirror mount was.

7. Using a ladder and wearing safety goggles, climb up to the ceiling and drill a small starter hole into the ceiling or rafter directly above the chalk X on the floor.

8. Carefully twist one eye screw into the hole.

9. Thread one end of the string through the eye screw, allowing the opposite end of the string to touch the floor, and tie several knots to secure the string to the eye screw.

10. Put the ladder away, and park the car inside the garage in its proper location, allowing the string to fall loosely on the windshield.

11. Wearing safety goggles, carefully drill a small hole in the tennis ball.

12. Insert an eye screw into the hole and twist it into place.

13. Standing on a step stool if necessary, thread the free end of the string through the eye screw on the tennis ball, and adjust the height of the ball so it touches the windshield when hanging straight.

14. Tie several knots to secure the string to the eye screw on the ball.

15. Using a pair of scissors, carefully trim the excess string.

HOW IT WORKS

To park the car in your garage without hitting the far garage wall accidentally, drive forward until the tennis ball touches the windshield.