Performance Driving and Safety Tips

Seating Position

Seating position is extremely important to safe, performance-oriented driving. Many drivers sit too far away from the steering wheel, making it difficult to properly maneuver the car in an emergency situation.

With your seatbelt firmly fastened, you should be able to reach the top center of the steering wheel with both hands without stretching your arms or shoulder blades. There should be a slight bend in your elbow. Although this might feel uncomfortable at first, it soon feels natural, and gives you more control of your vehicle.

Drive Smoothly

Abrupt braking, accelerating and steering inputs can upset the balance of your vehicle, negatively affecting safety and performance. Instead, focus on smooth yet firm throttle and brake application, as well as more gradual yet precise steering inputs.

Be Aware

An aware driver is always watching the behavior of others and is watching more than just the car directly ahead of them; they're looking several cars ahead, which helps them anticipate any unexpected situations. Aware drivers are defensive drivers. They always scan the road around and ahead of them thinking how to safely handle an emergency situation should one happen.

Be Visible

Make sure other drivers can see where you are by avoiding their 'blind spot' – the area alongside a vehicle which a driver can't easily see with side mirrors.

Be Predictable

Every move you make on the open road should be clearly predictable so other drivers know what you're doing before you do it. Although you might think you're in control, unpredictable maneuvers can potentially startle other drivers, causing them to make an evasive maneuver which can potentially cause an accident.

Braking

Always brake in a straight line with smooth, yet firm finesse. Because braking can shift weight of a vehicle from back to front, braking while steering can cause your vehicle to lose traction in the rear, resulting in a potential spinout.

Cornering

When entering a corner, complete all braking and shifting before turning in. Braking or shifting while in a corner can potentially disrupt the car's handling characteristics. By braking and shifting before entering the corner, and applying the accelerator gently as you exit, it allows you to complete the corner with better control and more momentum.

Understand Vehicle Dynamics

Everyone knows that braking slows a car down, but braking also shifts a vehicle's weight to the front, potentially improving steering input, but with reduced rear traction. Conversely, accelerating moves weight to the back, increasing rear traction, but at a cost to steering input. These dynamics are important to understand and keep in mind when driving, because certain inputs may create unintended responses from your vehicle.

Adapt to the Weather

One of the biggest reasons drivers have accidents is because they fail to properly adapt their driving to changing weather conditions. Reduced visibility and traction, increased braking distances and less precise handling characteristics all occur when variables such as fog, rain and snow are present.

• Reduce speed and double your distance in foggy, wet or slippery conditions
• Never use cruise control in conditions where standing water may be present
• If at any time your windshield wipers are running, your headlights should be on

Be Alert at Night

Driving at night presents visibility challenges which require increased driver alertness.

• Never overdrive your headlights. If you cannot stop within the distance that you can see ahead of you, slow down.
• To avoid temporary light blindness, adjust your rearview mirror to night mode, dim or completely turn off all interior lights and never stare at the high beams of oncoming cars.

Engine

Modern, advanced engines using port fuel injection, direct injection and hybrid technologies require more than just a traditional tune-up. Replacing spark plugs, timing belts, hoses and filters at intervals recommended in your owner's manual will help ensure your vehicle will operate at peak performance. A technologically advanced engine also requires a technologically advanced mechanic, so choose one with the right tools and technology to properly care for your vehicle.

Every owner's manual comes with multiple recommended service interval schedules depending on where and how much you drive your vehicle. Follow these recommended intervals to help ensure the reliability and life of your vehicle.

Oil Changes

Everyone knows the popular old adage "change your oil regularly." It's popular for good reason, especially if you make more frequent, shorter trips with stop-and-go driving. Engine pistons move up and down thousands of times per second generating enormous amounts of heat, and if oil is not changed at recommended intervals, its ability to dissipate heat is reduced, potentially causing costly damage to bearings, seals and rings.

Fresh motor oil like Havoline® with Deposit Shield^™ cools, seals and lubricates your engine to help prevent contaminants and prolong engine life, keeping your car at peak performance. Different engines have different oil viscosity requirements, so consult your owner's manual.

The Right Fuel

Lower quality fuels can leave behind harmful deposits which can cause engine knock, power loss, reduced fuel economy and increased emissions. Higher quality fuels like Texaco with Techron and fuel system cleaners like Techron Concentrate Plus protect against these harmful deposits, helping to clean up deposits left behind by lower quality gasolines and helping to restore lost engine performance while minimizing emissions.

Equally important to choosing a high quality fuel is choosing the right grade of high quality fuel. Always consult your owner's manual for the grade of fuel recommended to optimize your engine's performance. Never use octane lower than what is recommended by the owner's manual.

Brakes

Both disc and drum brakes slow your car by creating friction, which causes brake pads and shoes to wear. Being able to stop safely and quickly is one of the most important safety aspects of your car, so properly maintaining your braking system is a top priority.

If your vehicle is having brake problems, it will tell you; just use your senses. If you notice a flashing brake warning light, hear squealing or grinding noises, feel the steering wheel shake, observe a soft brake pedal or require stopping distances longer than normal, have a qualified technician look at your car immediately.

Tires

Tires help your vehicle maximize handling, braking, stability as well as fuel economy, so it's extremely important to make sure your tires are properly maintained. Inspect the sidewall of the tire for recommended pressure, and measure with a gauge when tires are cold. Remember that the pressure listed on the tire is the maximum, and recommended pressures are usually lower.

Too much air exaggerates handling and stiffens ride quality, while too little air slows handling, reduces fuel economy and prematurely wears tires. To maximize the life of your tires, rotate them according to manufacturer recommendations. For more details on proper tire pressure and rotation intervals, consult your owner's manual.

Transmission

Manual and automatic transmissions are not only different in the way they shift, but they're also different in the fluids they use. Manual transmissions require gear oil while automatics require specifically-designed fluids which operate under hydraulic pressure.

Although they operate differently, both transmissions share something in common – they need to have their oil and fluid changed regularly. By following the service schedule in your owner's manual and using high quality products like Chevron Automatic Transmission Fluid, you'll help ensure the maximum service life of your car's transmission.

Cooling

Coolant, or antifreeze, keeps your engine from overheating in the summertime as well as prevents your cooling system from freezing in the wintertime. It absorbs heat from the engine and helps prevent corrosion from clogging up the cooling system. Check its level periodically and have it changed as recommended by your owner's manual.

Always add coolant by using the plastic overflow reservoir. It has maximum and minimum marker levels, and should only be at the maximum level when the engine is hot. Never add coolant by removing the radiator cap, especially when the engine is hot. Pressurized coolant at near scalding temperatures will shoot out, potentially causing serious burns.

Air Filtration

Your car relies on clean air in order to run at optimal performance, and so do you. The best way to ensure both you and your engine get clean air is by replacing both the engine and cabin air filters at recommended intervals. If you live in an especially dusty area or frequently drive on dirt roads, the filters should be changed more frequently than the manufacturer's recommendation.

Particles which get past a dirty or old air filter and into the combustion chamber can cause premature engine wear as well as reduce fuel economy and decrease engine performance. Particles which get past your cabin air filter can release contaminants into your heating, venting and air conditioning systems.