May A Good Month to Talk Car Care

HOUSTON, May 1 -- April's National Car Care month has come and gone, proper vehicle care understandably took a back seat to news of world affairs. Although April is behind us, a recent survey showed that proper car maintenance will continue to be a timely message for consumers to hear.

According to a recent survey from the Travel Industry Association of America, 33 percent of people who traveled last year say they are changing their leisure travel plans this year due to the weakened economy. It is likely these changes will mean more Americans will travel by car this summer to save money while looking for ways to save on vehicle wear and tear. When combined with a thorough inspection, an oil change by a trained professional can be one of the most efficient and effective ways to prepare your vehicle for summer travel.

"Now that your car has made it through the colder weather, spring is the right time to think about servicing your car for the summer driving season," said Anne Tawney, senior vice president of marketing, Jiffy Lube International. "At the same time, our team of professionals can take a look under the hood to make sure your car is ready for vacation season."

The Car Care Council also reports that nine out of 10 vehicles need some kind of maintenance. According to their data collected over previous National Car Care Months, the most common problems are low or dirty engine oil, improper tire pressure, inadequate cooling protection, worn belts, dirty oil filters, and low or contaminated brake fluid.

Jiffy Lube(R) technicians can identify many of the most common vehicle maintenance issues while providing a regular oil change. The Jiffy Lube Signature Service(R) oil change includes an inspection of engine systems, vital fluids, belts, hoses, tires and wiper blades.

"As consumers look for ways to protect their vehicle investment, an oil change by a trained professional is a relative bargain," said Tawney. "The month of May is a great month to think about service and preparing for summer travel."

For more information about car care and vehicle maintenance, visit www.jiffylube.com.

Jiffy Lube(R), located on 2,200 of the busiest street corners in North America, is synonymous with convenient car care. The company pioneered the fast oil change industry in 1979 and today serves 30 million customers each year. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Jiffy Lube International is a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Shell Oil Company . The current advertising and marketing campaign for Jiffy Lube(R), "The Well-Oiled Machinesm," exemplifies its commitment to excellence. Jiffy Lube(R) has been the top-ranked company in the Automotive category in Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 for the last six years. To learn more about Jiffy Lube(R) and vehicle care, visit www.jiffylube.com.