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 On
the
road
When it comes to protecting the
Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, most people
don't think about their cars and trucks. But the
fact is that what goes up, must come down. That
means air pollution from Maryland's nearly 4
million registered vehicles and those in
neighboring states often ends up in our rivers,
streams and, ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay. It is
estimated that nearly one-third of the nitrogen in
the Bay comes from the air.
Fortunately, minimizing the negative impact that
automobiles have on Maryland's water quality is
easy, inexpensive and good for your vehicle. The
next time you turn on your air conditioner, sit in
line at a drive-through window or are tempted to
postpone changing your oil, think about the impact
your decisions will have on your automobile as well
as on the quality of the water you drink, fish in,
boat on, swim in or live near.
Auto maintenance
matters
Proper automobile maintenance is good for your
checkbook and the environment. It extends the life
of your car, improves its performance, prevents
some costly repairs, and eliminates or minimizes
leaks and emissions that are harmful to the
environment. To maintain your vehicle in tip-top
condition:
- Read the owner's manual. Maintaining your
vehicle begins with reading and following the
advice in your owner's manual, which contains
tips on subjects such as oil-change intervals
and driving techniques that will help reduce
pollution.
- Get regular tuneups. Dirty carburetors or
fuel injectors, clogged air filters, worn points
or plugs and an ignored ignition system not only
waste gas, but they also lower engine
performance and increase emissions. Any complete
tuneup should include a thorough examination and
repair of the engine's sensors and computer, and
the exhaust emissions and evaporative control
emissions systems.
- Keep your air conditioning system leak-free.
Leaks allow the refrigerant Freon found in most
vehicles to enter the atmosphere, where it can
damage the earth's protective ozone layer. Have
your air conditioning system checked annually
for leaks, and run the air conditioning every
once in a while during the cold months to keep
the system's seals soft and pliable.
- Look for liquid leaks. Fluids such as
gasoline, oil and antifreeze that leak from
automobiles can harm human and animal health and
the environment, especially water supplies. So
check regularly for leaks and get them fixed
before a loved pet samples poisonous antifreeze
or rain showers wash oil into storm drains and
the Bay.
- Change oil properly. If you change your own
oil, be sure that you drain the used oil into a
suitable container. An ordinary plastic milk jug
or other gallon container with a tight-fitting
cap will do, and a funnel will make it easier to
pour the oil into the container. Take the used
oil to a collection facility -- located at
many neighborhood service and inspection
stations -- for reprocessing.
- Take care of your tires. Check tire pressure
every two weeks when tires are cool. The
manufacturer's recommended maximum pressure is
printed on the side of each tire in pounds per
square inch (psi). Maintain tire alignment and
rotate your tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles.
These simple steps save you money by improving
your vehicle's gas mileage and extending the
life of your tires, while also reducing air
pollution and preventing tires from being added
to Maryland's waste stream.
- Have your vehicle's emissions inspected.
Federal law requires regular emissions
inspection of all registered vehicles. The new
treadmill test is the most advanced method of
testing available. Unlike the tailpipe test, it
measures nitrogen oxides -- an air
pollutant that can end up in the Bay. For more
information on Maryland's Vehicle Emissions
Inspection Program (VEIP) call
1-800-638-VEIP.
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