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Hello Isabel: Don't Forget to Stormproof Your Car: Five Quick Tips

Don't Let Hurricane Isabel Leave Your Car All Washed Up

HOUSTON, Sept. 16 -- Residents along the Eastern seaboard should prepare their cars, as well as their homes, for Hurricane Isabel. The experts at Jiffy Lube(R) recommend these five tips to make sure your car can weather the storm:

  1. Good visibility is an absolute necessity when driving in heavy rains.
    Check your windshield wipers by running a finger along the blades.
    Replace them if they feel pitted or rough to the touch.  Also, apply a
    windshield treatment such as Rain-X( to repel water faster.
  2. Check the headlights by flashing both low beam and high beams to see if
    any of the bulbs have burned out.  Replace them as necessary.
  3. To decrease the risk of hydroplaning, be sure your tires have the
    correct pressure and sufficient tread.  The recommended tire pressure
    is listed on a sticker inside the driver's-side door or in the owner's
    manual.  To check the tread, place a penny into the tread with
    Lincoln's head pointing down.  If the top of his head is visible, the
    tread is too worn.
  4. Prepare an emergency kit to keep in the trunk.  Make sure it includes
    jumper cables; a tire inflator and sealer, such as Fix-A-Flat(R); a
    flashlight; gloves; a bottle of water in case of overheating; and a
    roll of electrical tape for cracked or broken hoses.
  5. Fill the car's tank with gas.

Jiffy Lube, with 2,200 service centers in North America, serves approximately 30 million customers each year. Jiffy Lube pioneered the fast oil change industry in 1979 by establishing the first drive-through service bay, providing customers with faster professional service for their vehicles. Headquartered in Houston, Jiffy Lube International is a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Shell Oil Company. Visit www.jiffylube.com to learn more about Jiffy Lube and vehicle care.