Motor vehicles do not run as well in cold weather as in warm weather. Keep these points in mind this fall and winter:

• Accustomization: You’re accustomed to the way your vehicle operates in warm weather. That will change, and you’ll have to get used to another driving style.
• Fuel blends/brands: Leftover fuel blended with additives intended for warm weather does not work as well in cold weather. Also, different manufacturers blend their fuels differently; changing brands might improve performance.
• Oxygenated/reformulated fuels: These fuels do not work as well in colder weather, because they don’t ignite as well in cold cylinders.
• Transmission warm-up time: Automatic transmission control units for some Subaru vehicles do not allow upshifts and/or lock-up to happen until the transmission has reached a certain operating temperature. Powertrain operation will be different.
• Navigation display: Low temperatures might cause navigation display screens to appear darker. They will brighten as the cabin warms up.
• Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS): Cold weather causes tire air pressure to drop. If the TPMS light is on in the morning but goes out after driving a few miles, the low pressure warning is probably due to the colder weather. Adjust your tire pressures for the seasonal change.
• STI – intercooler spray reservoir: The trunk-mounted reservoir should be filled with distilled water – not windshield washer fluid. Water will freeze, potentially causing a knocking sound in the trunk. Drain the reservoir for cold weather.

National Car Care Months occur twice a year – October and April. These events help to remind motorists to maintain their vehicles so they’re in top condition for the safety and comfort of the driver and passengers.

Subaru of America, Inc. endorses National Car Care Month, and Subaru dealers around the country participate with coupons and special offers. Watch for them!

Should you have a suggestion, comment, or correction concerning locations not shown or errors in the navigation mapping system in your Subaru, it will have greater impact if you direct it to the system’s manufacturer – Kenwood Corporation. Contact Kenwood online at http://www.mysubaru.kenwoodusa.com.

During the end-of-the-year holiday season, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will campaign for seatbelt usage. Regular seatbelt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in vehicle crashes.

Consider these statistics:

• In 2005, 77 percent of buckled-up passenger vehicle occupants involved in serious crashes survived.
• When worn correctly, seatbelts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger-car occupants by 45 percent.
• In pickup trucks, SUVs, and minivans, injury is reduced by 60 percent.

However, nearly one in five Americans (19 percent nationally) still fail to regularly wear their seatbelts when driving or riding in a motor vehicle.
So buckle up America – every trip, every time.

Easily overlooked, valve stem caps are of utmost importance! If a cap is missing, dirt and moisture can interfere with the tire’s valve stem seal, which can cause gradual loss of air pressure or interfere with adding air. In vehicles with Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems, enough air loss will turn on the warning light.

These inconveniences can be prevented easily by making sure that all tires have properly installed valve stem caps.