Blog - T3 Atlanta

The Top Symptoms of Automatic Car Transmission Problems

May 8, 2018 by Lianna Palkovick Leave a Comment

Your vehicle’s transmission is easy to forget about when it’s working properly. The gears shift seamlessly up and down throughout the day, providing you with power and control to navigate Atlanta’s freeways without a second thought. Transmissions experience a considerable amount of wear and tear over time. Knowing the top symptoms of automatic car transmission problems will help you know when to visit your mechanic so you don’t wind up stranded on the side of the road.

The Top Symptoms of Automatic Car Transmission Problems

When a transmission starts to go, it’s a problem that will only get worse. There are many potential symptoms that indicate transmission problems. Some of these will overlap with other engine problems. If you notice any changes to the way your vehicle is performing or handling, visit T3 Atlanta for a fast, convenient fix in the metro Atlanta area.

Fluid Leakage

There are a lot of fluids in your car at a given time: transmission fluid, oil, brake fluid, and coolant, to name a few. Transmission fluid often appears dark, slick, and shiny like oil, but unlike oil, it usually has a burnt smell. Leaking transmission fluid generally appears around the front or middle of where your car is parked.

Whether or not the fluids leaking from your car are transmission fluid, oil, or something else, it’s important to have the problem looked at before it becomes significantly worse.

Strange Sounds

Unless you have a performance vehicle or a modified muffler, your car is designed to run quietly. Whining noises, humming from the engine compartment, and clunking noises are all possible signs of transmission problems. If you notice that your engine is noisy when in neutral, that’s another sign that your transmission may be on its way out.

A Burning Smell

A burning smell can be caused by many different potential problems from brakes to belts and more. You should never smell burning in your vehicle, so it’s important to have this problem inspected as soon as possible.

Gear Slippage and Changes in Vehicle Performance

Gear slippage refers to a few different possible symptoms. These directly impact how your car performs. In turn, they can lead to safety issues if your engine performance means you cannot respond promptly to changes in traffic.

Your car seems to have more trouble than usual shifting between gears
Gear shifts causes clunking, grinding, or whining noises
Changes in your vehicle’s responsiveness
A decrease in your vehicle’s overall power

Changes in your vehicle’s performance can also be an indicator of a bad transmission. Your car may shake or grind while driving, while the transmission is noisy or sluggish.

Repair Your Automatic Car Transmission Problems at T3 Atlanta

There are many potential causes of transmission failure. System leaks, broken or leaking lines, and the accumulation of wear and tear can all contribute to a failing transmission. If you think your transmission is going out – or if you just need a routine inspection as part of your preventive maintenance schedule – call T3 Atlanta. We are experts at repairing Toyota, Lexus, Nissan, and Infiniti vehicles. We’ll have your car back to normal in no time so you don’t have to worry about your transmission giving out at an inconvenient time.

What is the Difference Between Fuel Grades?

April 17, 2018 by Lianna Palkovick Leave a Comment

When it’s time to gas up for your week, you’ll no doubt notice several fuel options available at your local gas station. Regular, Super, and Premium gas vary in price, and it’s easy to assume that the price reflects the quality of the gasoline. In fact, that’s not quite the case. If you’ve ever wondered, “What is the difference between fuel grades?”, wonder no longer. We’ve got the answers for you.

What is the Difference Between Fuel Grades?

There are many types of fuel grades, but the ones most commonly seen at U.S. gas pumps are 87, 89, and 93. The numbers refer to what’s known as the ‘octane rating’ – a number that measures how much pressure fuel can withstand before igniting. The lower the rating, the more readily the fuel will combust. The higher rating, the more resistant the fuel is to ignite.

Why is this important? In a word, ‘Knock’. Also sometimes called ‘engine ping’, engine knock refers to fuel that ignites prematurely within the engine. These uncontrolled ignitions can cause rough idling, impact, and decrease overall performance. Vehicle manufacturers design their engines around certain fuel grades to minimize knock and maximize performance.

In addition, many newer vehicles come with a knock sensor that will adjust the ignition timing inside the engine in real time. This sensor protects the engine’s long-term lifespan, but at the cost of higher fuel consumption and less power in the short term.

What Type of Fuel Should I Put in My Car?

It might seem like a great idea to put Premium gas in your car, but the truth is that manufacturers have done a lot of testing and calibration to optimize engines for certain grades of gas. Putting Premium gas into an engine that runs on Regular may actually do more harm than good, and vice versa.

When determining what type of fuel to put in your car, all you need to do is check your owner’s manual. The manual will indicate the best type of fuel for your car so you don’t overpay at the pump.

If your car “Requires” Premium gas, then that means the engine will operate most efficiently with this grade of gas. Filling up with a tank of Regular fuel could actually damage the engine due to the excess knock produced by burning lower octane fuel.

If, however, your vehicle’s manual says that Premium is “Recommended”, that means the vehicle comes equipped with a sensor to allow the engine to automatically adjust to run on lower octane fuel.

Keep Your Engine in Top Condition at T3 Atlanta

The best way to keep your car in top condition year-round is preventive maintenance. This includes items such as regular oil and air filter changes, as well as changing the vehicle’s fluids regularly.

At T3 Atlanta, we can help keep your car on its maintenance schedule so your car can stay in top shape for many years to come. We have two locations in Smyrna and Decatur, both of which are convenient to the metro Atlanta area. Make an appointment for your Lexus, Toyota, Nissan, or Infiniti today!

5 Ways to Improve Fuel Efficiency in Older Cars

April 10, 2018 by Lianna Palkovick Leave a Comment

New cars are packed full of technological advances and finely calibrated equipment that helps increase fuel efficiency, saving you cash at the gas pump. But if you have an older car, especially a classic car, your ride may not have the latest engine technology for maximum fuel economy. Fret not, there are still plenty of DIY ways to improve fuel efficiency in older cars.

5 Ways to Improve Fuel Efficiency in Older Cars

You’ve probably heard the standard mileage-boosting advice of reducing the amount of weight in your car, turning your car off instead of idling in traffic, and keeping the air conditioning off as much as possible. Here are 5 ways to improve fuel efficiency in older cars.

1. Use High-Quality Gasoline

The benefits of high quality gasoline aren’t a myth. Using higher quality gasoline can reduce the amount of knock – or explosions in the combustion chamber that are unregulated – that occurs in your engine.

In addition, higher quality gasoline burns more cleanly and slows the rate of carbon buildup within the engine. Many premium fuels contain additives that further help to prolong the life and efficiency of the fuel system.

If nothing else, adding fuel injection cleaners help keep intake valves free from buildup. Some brands of fuel injection cleaners lubricate the engine’s cylinders to help keep the engine running smoothly.

2. Replace the Gas Cap

The gas cap is something that is easy to forget about until it’s time to fuel up, but this small part helps keep your car running normally by keeping fuel from evaporating too quickly, and by preventing road dirt and dust from contaminating the fuel supply. In fact, a loose or broken gas cap can cause your vehicle to fail an emissions test.

Replacing the gas cap on an older vehicle every couple of years helps you ensure that your gas tank has a tight seal, which in turn makes sure your car isn’t needlessly losing fuel to evaporation.

3. Consider Upgrading Vehicle Parts

While upgrading parts on classic cars is out of the question for some people, certain components can help boost your vehicle’s efficiency.

Air-ride suspensions can improve your car’s fuel efficiency by lowering your vehicle’s profile, which improves air displacement when you’re traveling down the road.
If you’re really serious about maximizing your vehicle’s fuel efficiency and lifespan at the same time, you can always have the engine and transmission rebuilt, effectively modernizing your engine.
You can also purchase tires that reduce the rolling resistance, which means less strain is put on the engine, and in turn, less fuel is burned to maintain cruising speed.

4. Perform Routine Maintenance Regularly

Whether your car is new or old, routine maintenance maximizes the lifespan of your vehicle. Replace your spark plugs, oxygen sensor, and air and fuel filters, all of which contribute to a longer vehicle lifespan. Combined, these components help ensure that your car uses the optimal mixture of air and fuel for proper operation as well as help the engine burn fuel more efficiently.

5. Keep Your Tires in Top Shape

Inflated properly, your tires help your car saves fuel by reducing the amount of power needed to turn a single rotation. That means less drag and strain, which translates to savings at the pump.

Older Car Repairs at T3 Atlanta

While old cars may never be as fuel-efficient as newer vehicles, there’s still a lot you can do to improve the fuel economy in these classics. When you need your older Toyota, Lexus, Nissan, or Infiniti repaired, call T3 Atlanta. We have two convenient locations in the metro Atlanta area and can help your old car run like new again.

What are Vehicle Emissions and Why Are They Important?

April 3, 2018 by Lianna Palkovick Leave a Comment

Vehicle emission testing is a regular part of any Georgia car owner’s year. Every year, we’re required to take our cars in and have them tested for emissions as part of our annual registration. But what are vehicle emissions and why are they important?

What are Vehicle Emissions and Why Are They Important?

Vehicle emissions refer to the colorless, odorless gases produced by your vehicle during normal operation. Emissions are the result of an incomplete combustion of gasoline or diesel and air. Emissions contribute to pollution and smog, which you can often see over the Atlanta skyline, especially during the summer.

Newer cars have on-board computers known as Emissions Control Systems, which are designed to optimize the air-gas consumption ratio. This feature not only improves fuel economy, it reduces the amount of emissions produced by the vehicle, which in turn means less exhaust and a cleaner environment.

The government has established air quality standards that all vehicles must meet. Cities and states have further varying requirements that are regularly checked by way of vehicle emissions inspections. Air pollution can be greatly decreased when all vehicles are operating within these standards.

Why do Cars Fail Emissions Tests?

Despite all the technology that goes into vehicles to keep them running as cleanly and efficiently as possible, cars sometimes fail emissions tests. There are many reasons that this can happen.

Common causes of emissions test failures include:

Malfunctioning oxygen sensor
Malfunctioning EGR valve
Poorly-fitting or broken fuel cap
Leaks in the vehicle’s vacuum system
Misfiring spark plugs
Dirty air filters
An illuminated ‘Check Engine’ light

Emissions inspectors check for several different things during a vehicle emissions test. Generally, they will look at the gas cap, any dashboard warning lights, leaking fluids, and any smoke produced by the vehicle. In addition to these, they will test the engine itself to determine whether the vehicle is operating within regulated standards.

An emissions inspection usually takes less than half an hour. The exact process depends on the year of your car, and new technology is changing the way that testing is done every year.

Cars older than 1996 are lifted onto a specialized ramp to simulate normal driving while a sensor is inserted into the tailpipe. The engine is revved, and within a few minutes, the computer inside the center has enough information to determine whether the car passes or fails the test.

Cars newer than 1996 can often be plugged directly into a computer system, no lifting onto a ramp or engine revving required. The computer system is scanned to detect whether any of the control components within the vehicle are functioning incorrectly, and if these components lead to excessive emissions output. This process takes less than ten minutes.

Have Your Engine Checked at T3 Atlanta Before Your Emissions Test

If your car has recently failed a vehicle emissions test, or if your registration renewal is coming up and you want your car to pass with flying colors, make an appointment with T3 Atlanta. We are Toyota, Lexus, Nissan, and Infiniti specialists in Atlanta. We’ll inspect your vehicle and ensure that your engine is in top condition so your car will pass emissions testing with ease.

Troubleshooting Car Exhaust Problems

March 20, 2018 by Lianna Palkovick Leave a Comment

Your car’s exhaust system is probably something you don’t think about when it’s working properly. In fact, you might barely even notice that it’s there. Your exhaust system helps your engine run smoothly, maintains optimal fuel efficiency, and regulates the emissions produced by the engine. Troubleshooting car exhaust problems is important so that you can know when it’s time to make repairs.

Troubleshooting Car Exhaust Problems

The exhaust system is comprised of connected piping that filters exhaust and emissions produced by the engine away from the vehicle’s cabin. This ensures that passengers aren’t inhaling harmful carbon monoxide. The exhaust also helps optimize your vehicle’s fuel economy and performance.

Considering that this particular system does so much work, there are a few things that could go wrong. Here are the main symptoms of car exhaust problems.

Noise, Noise, Noise

The exhaust system filters emissions that are produced by the engine, but it also helps dampen the noise produced by the engine itself. If your engine is making a considerable amount of noise, or if your muffler doesn’t seem to be dampening noise like it used to, your exhaust system may be suspect.

Noise can also result from a tailpipe that is loose or, worse, dragging on the ground behind the vehicle. It’s important to get a loose muffler and tailpipe repaired as quickly as possible.

Vibrations

Your exhaust system can leak, leading to strange vibrations in your accelerator or brake pedal, your steering wheel, or even your car seat. Left unchecked, leaking exhaust systems can decrease your fuel efficiency, increase the strain on your engine, and cause major damage resulting in expensive repairs.

On top of that, various engine parts can become loose, which usually means that parts are touching that shouldn’t be. This, too, can lead to long-term damage because the friction can gradually wear parts down.

If you notice vibrations in your vehicle that weren’t there when you bought the car, you may want to have your car inspected.

Strange Smells

When working properly, your exhaust system should prevent against a noticeable amount of exhaust smells.

If you notice strange smells such as smoke, burning oil, or Sulphur, it’s important to have your vehicle checked immediately. This could be a sign of a major malfunction.

Rust and External Damage

The exhaust system is constantly exposed to the road, making it vulnerable to external damage from rain, snow, potholes, debris, and salt corrosion. Unless you happen to have a car lift in your garage, it’s not always easy to detect when damage has happened to the bottom of your vehicle.

The surest sign of external damage to the exhaust system is rust. You’ll usually see rust forming on or around the tailpipe, which is usually a sign that there’s more damage beneath the vehicle. A muffler that has rust spots or a considerable amount of rust damage should be replaced before it causes larger problems in the exhaust system.

T3 Atlanta

Many of the signs of exhaust problems overlap with other possible engine issues. If you notice anything out of the ordinary with the way your car acts, feels, or sounds, you may want to consider making an appointment with T3 Atlanta. We are Atlanta-area experts at repairing Lexus, Toyota, Infiniti, and Nissan cars. With two convenient locations in Smyrna and Decatur, we can help you get back on the road promptly.

How do Self-Driving Cars Work?

March 13, 2018 by Lianna Palkovick Leave a Comment

The future may be closer than we think. Self-driving cars are being tested by a number of different manufacturers from Toyota to Google and more. Driverless cars may eventually reduce or replace the need for human input on the road altogether. But how do self-driving cars work?

How do Self-Driving Cars Work?

The technology that goes into self-driving cars have a lot to take into consideration from traffic lights, signs, pedestrians, traffic, and more.

It can be easy to think that autonomous vehicles are controlled by an omnipotent, remote control center somewhere and that there are rules upon rules about how cars should act in every conceivable scenario.

The reality is that each car has an individual control system that relies on a combination of GPS, radar, lasers, and cameras to judge what’s around it. This includes pedestrians, obstacles, obstructions, other cars, and any other scenario that might crop up on the road.

Driverless vehicles largely use lidar, a term short for ‘light detection and ranging’, to “see” what’s around them. Lidar is a system that produces a 3D image of everything surrounding the car in real-time. The vehicle’s onboard control system then interprets these findings in conjunction with cameras, radars, GPS tracking, as well as deliberative architecture to respond to situations as they unfold.

Deliberative architecture is the technology capable of making decisions by combining the 3D map that is constantly generated by lidar and cameras and using that information to navigate among other cars, avoid obstacles and pedestrians, and even find shortcuts around traffic delays.

Driverless cars have what are known as ‘actuators’ to control things like acceleration, braking, and steering. Just like a person reacts when someone swerves into their lane, self-driving cars receive a signal from the onboard computer to either move or apply the brakes based on what’s around it.

At this time, fully roboticized cars do not exist. As the technology continues to develop and improve, driverless cars will continue to have steering wheels, brakes, and a manual override, as well as seatbelts for passengers. These are known as ‘redundant systems’ and allow passengers to regain control of the vehicle in the event of a situation that the car cannot interpret.

Still a Long Way to Go Before Self-Driving Cars are a Regular Feature on the Road

Eventually, the detection systems on driverless cars will be more accurate than human interpretation. Radars and lidar will be able to ‘see’ in conditions such as heavy rain, snow, or fog, or night. With current technology, cars are still limited by distance. Toyota is aiming to test self-driving cars on the road as early as 2020.

There are lots of benefits to consider when it comes to self-driving cars. They have the potential to:

Reduce road deaths
Reduce fuel consumption
Improve the mobility of elderly or disabled people
Free up time for the morning commute

Many advances need to be made before autonomous cars can adapt to all scenarios, and it will likely be a long time before these vehicles become a regular feature on the road.

Now that you know how self-driving cars work, you can share your newfound knowledge about this exciting new technology with friends and family.

Preparing Your Car for Spring

March 6, 2018 by Lianna Palkovick Leave a Comment

Spring is here, and that means it’s time for warmer weather and driving with the windows rolled down. You may have heard of winterizing your car, but did you know that it’s just as important to get your car ready for spring? Preparing your car for spring will not only ensure that you’re ready for summer road trips ahead, it will help keep your car in top condition year-round. Here are our top tips for spring car maintenance.

Top Tips for Spring Car Maintenance

Winter can be very hard on cars between difficult driving conditions and the added demands of cold weather. Preparing your car for spring helps ensure that your vehicle stays in the best shape possible for the warmer weather ahead.

Spring Cleaning… for Cars!

If your car is regularly parked in a garage, then you likely don’t have to worry about this step. But if you park outdoors every night, especially if your driveway or parking space is below trees, then it’s important to clear out any leaves, pine needles, nuts, and other debris that may have accumulated along the seams between your windshield wipers and runoff channels. You may want to pop open your engine compartment too – debris can accumulate inside the engine compartment without you realizing it.

You may also consider cleaning out the inside of your vehicle and replacing your winter emergency kit for a summer kit. That way, you can lighten up the load and save on gas mileage, which in turn means fewer dollars spent at the pump.

Have Your Car Washed

During cold weather and snow, salt is added to the roads to help prevent freezing and ice. While this makes roads safer to drive in the short term, salt can corrode the undercarriage of your vehicle. Corrosion takes time to cause significant damage, but when it does happen, it can lead to expensive repairs. Having regular car washes can help prevent the buildup of salt so you can avoid corrosion down the road.

Car washes also provide your car with a fresh coat of wax, which not only keeps your car looking great, it helps protect the paint as well. Regular applications of wax will ensure better visibility during rainstorms as well, since water will slide right off instead of beading up on your windows.

Replace Your Windshield Wipers

Windshield wipers work extra hard in the winter to remove the extra salts and grime that are a byproduct of inclement weather. It’s generally a good idea to replace your windshield wipers twice a year. If you can coincide them with the start of spring and the end of fall, you’ll be able to keep track of how new they are, easily. The result? A perfectly clean and clear windshield no matter how many spring showers you encounter.

Top Off Your Fluids

Regularly replacing your vehicle’s fluids is an essential part of preventive maintenance. Keeping up with this part of car ownership helps prolong your vehicle’s life. Spring is the perfect time to check your vehicle’s fluids.

Fluids to check include:

Brake fluid
Cooling system fluids
Power steering fluids
Window washing fluids
Oil

Check Your Belts, Hoses, and Lights

Taking regular care of your car will help your vehicle stay in top performance and extend its lifespan. Stop by T3 Atlanta for a routine check of your belts, hoses, and lights. We’ll be able to assess how much life is left in these parts so you can plan for the future and avoid unexpected repairs. Preparing your car for spring is a snap with T3 Atlanta!

What to Do If Your Brakes Stop Working

February 20, 2018 by Lianna Palkovick Leave a Comment

Car brakes may only have one purpose, but it’s an absolutely essential purpose for not just yourself, but everyone on the road. We take for granted that when we press the brake pedal, the car will slow down and come to a stop. But what happens if you press the pedal and nothing happens? This is a terrifying situation, for sure, but knowing what to do if your brakes stop working can help you navigate through this rare problem to safety.

What to Do If Your Brakes Stop Working

Depending on how fast you are driving if your brakes stop working, it can be challenging to react quickly. Brake failure is a rare situation, so hopefully you will never need to use these tips!

What to Do If Your Brakes Stop Working

Don’t panic. The worst thing you can do when your brakes fail is to panic. When you panic, you are far more prone to lose control of your car and the situation, leading to a far worse outcome and possible personal injury. Whether you are stuck in traffic or driving down the highway when your brakes fail, keeping a cool head will ensure the safety of yourself and drivers around you.
Use your emergency brake. Emergency brakes are a separate system from your regular rotors. They will work in the event of brake failure. But, use the emergency brake carefully! Emergency brakes are not designed with anti-lock features, however, so it’s important to use them with care; otherwise, you could lock your brakes and lose control of your vehicle. Apply gradual pressure to help slow the car.
Shift your car into a lower gear if safe to do so. Downshifting uses the engine to help slow the car naturally. Shifting the car into neutral is another way to slow your forward momentum.
Pump the brakes to help build brake fluid pressure. If you can regain enough pressure in the brake line, you can slow your car down and get to a safe place.
Use terrain to your advantage, if possible. This includes steering onto the shoulder of the road, into gravel or sand (such as in the case of a runaway truck ramp), or into grass.
Don’t turn off your car until you’ve come to a stop. By shutting off the car, you will also shut off your power steering, making maneuvering almost impossible. Keep your car running until you have come to a stop to reduce your chances of causing damage to yourself, your car, or to others around you.
Get to a safe place and call for roadside assistance. Once you have moved your car off the roadway, call roadside assistance. You’ll want to set the emergency brake to make sure that your car doesn’t roll away while you are waiting!

Causes of Car Brake Failure

With modern technology, exhaustive testing, and rigorous standards – in addition to failsafes and double circuits – brake failure isn’t something that happens all too often.

Common causes of car brake failure include:

A catastrophic loss of brake fluid is the most likely culprit when it comes to brake failure. In this case, the amount of pressure in the brake line is unable to engage the piston that presses against the brake pads.
Grease or oil on the brakes can cause brake failure because they interfere with the friction necessary for them to function properly.
Problems in the brake line, such as excessive rust or severance, can interrupt the signals between the pedal and the pads, and lead to unresponsive braking.
It’s also possible for something to become lodged underneath the brake while you’re driving. This could be a loose water bottle, canister, or anything that could become wedged between the brake and the floor of the car preventing you from fully depressing the pedal.

Brake Service at T3 Atlanta

If you have noticed your brakes acting less responsive or making strange sounds lately, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are about to fail. Brake failure is a very rare occurrence, thankfully! However, it’s still important to get any changes in your brakes checked out so your car can be in top shape to react to unexpected situations on the road.

Top Tips for Eating Healthy on the Road

February 13, 2018 by Lianna Palkovick Leave a Comment

Eating well can be a challenge for the busy individual. Buying groceries, preparing ingredients, and cooking meals takes time that a lot of people can barely spare. When you’re traveling, eating healthy on the road can be even more difficult. It’s easy to pull off the freeway and stop at a fast food joint so you can make the best time possible to your destination. Here are our top tips for eating healthy on the road – without adding a ton of time to your route!

Top Tips for Eating Healthy on the Road

Eating healthy on the road takes some planning; however, the benefits can be very worthwhile! The costs of fast food and restaurant stops add up quickly, but carefully planning your road trip meals can save you both cash and help you stay healthy. The food you get on the go often contains a lot of salt, sugar, and fat – all of which combine to add extra inches to your waistline.

Stop at Grocery Stores

It may take a little extra time, but a quick stop at a grocery store can help you stick to your typical diet as long as you shop smart! Grocery store stops on the road are especially useful for people with dietary restrictions or specific dietary needs.

Many grocery stores have:

Delis
Cold cuts counters
Salad bars
Bagged salads
Prepared sandwiches or ready meals
Sushi
Hot food bars
Options for people with dietary restrictions
Vegan and vegetarian options

If you’re planning to camp, a stop at the grocery store can score you ingredients for the quintessential campfire meal. If your hotel has a microwave, meanwhile, you can always grab some healthier option frozen foods.

Pack in Advance and Bring a Cooler

If you have room in your car between your passengers and your luggage, you might want to consider bringing a cooler. That way, you can pack food in advance and help defray the costs of eating out.

Cooler-friendly options include:

Deli sandwiches
Cold cuts
Cold rotisserie chicken
Fruit
Sliced vegetables
Salads
Ready-to-eat meals

Bring Snacks

While snacks aren’t a replacement for a meal, they’re a great way to help keep you and your road trip crew fed when there’s a hundred miles between rest stops. Bringing road trip snacks lets you customize exactly what you will be eating so you can keep your sugar intake and salt intake down.

Some ideas for road trip snacks that pack well include:

Nuts and/or trail mix
Dried fruit
Fresh fruit (whole or pre-sliced – bananas, apples, oranges, and grapes are all road trip friendly)
Hummus and pita chips
Sliced vegetables
Jerky
Cheese
Hard-boiled eggs
Bottled smoothies and protein drinks

The snacks you bring can also save you money, since you won’t be pumping quarters into the vending machine.

Eat Smaller Meals More Regularly

Eating throughout the day helps regulate your metabolism, which in turn means your body utilizes the food you eat more efficiently. Combined with healthy options like fruit, vegetables, and nuts, you can stay satisfied and well-fed no matter where the road takes you.

Use Rest Stops

Depending on where your travels take you, you may wind up passing by rest stops. A lot of rest stops have grills or pavilions intended for use just like your community park. If you’re traveling with no hard timeline, you may want to consider taking advantage of this resource. You can not only enjoy a hot meal, you’ll be able to cook it exactly like you want.

Eating healthy on the road may take some extra planning, but as you can see, it’s worth the savings in both wellness and cost.

Should You Eat in Your Car?

February 6, 2018 by Lianna Palkovick Leave a Comment

Should You Eat in Your Car?

As car owners, most of us have eaten in our cars at least once during ownership. Drive-throughs are convenient for road warriors and work commuters alike. Time is money, after all, and there’s not always time to take a leisurely meal when you’re on the go. But should you eat in your car or not? There’s a lot of debate on both sides, so let’s take a look at the pros and cons of this practice.

Eating in Your Car: Pros

Whether you’re a casual driver or a road warrior, there are a lot of pros to eating in your car.

Can be Fun: If you’ve never had a picnic in your car before, why not give it a shot? Sometimes your planned trip to the park can be rained out. Or, perhaps there’s not a park nearby. With the right mentality, a picnic in your car can be a lot of fun. Grab a good friend, pack a bag (or a picnic basket if you have one), and drive to your local park for a quick nosh before enjoying a day in the sun.

Timesaver: It’s 7:40am and you haven’t eaten breakfast yet, but your boss expects you to be at a meeting at 8am. You’ll want to be at your best, so instead of skipping the most important meal of the day, stopping by the drive-through can help you fill up and give you the energy you need to rock your meeting.

Convenient: As nice as it is to have a sit-down meal at a restaurant, nothing beats convenience like eating in your car. Depending on whether you grab something at the grocery store, bring something from home, or stop at your favorite fast food spot, eating on the go is convenient to not have to leave your car to be served a meal.

Eating in Your Car: Cons

While eating in your car has a lot of conveniences, there are some cons to consider as well.

Danger: Driving safely requires your full attention to be on the road. Multitasking on anything – whether it’s driving and being on the phone, driving and talking with your passenger, or driving and eating – reduces how much attention you have to focus on the road.

Health Considerations: As convenient as it is to stop at your usual fast food joint, eating fast food isn’t always the healthiest option. If you have special health considerations or are just trying to watch your waistline, it may be a good idea to keep track of how often you’re eating on the go.

Cleanliness: When your attention is split between driving and eating, it can be easy for stray crumbs to escape even the best-intentioned driver. If you’re a clean freak, this may be a deal breaker for you. After all, crumbs accumulate in the most difficult of places – and that’s not even to mention spills. Unless you have a membership at your local auto wash, you may wind up spending a good chunk of change to keep your car spotless if you eat in your car on the regular.

Splitting the Difference

As you can see, there’s no single answer to the question, ‘Should you eat in your car?’ Ultimately, this choice comes down to preference and your particular situation. Some of us want to keep our favorite cars in pristine condition while others don’t mind a few crumbs here and there. Some of us are on a tight deadline and can’t spare the time to stop for a meal.

Whatever you decide, just remember to keep your eyes on the road and a hand on the wheel. It’s also probably a good idea to avoid foods that are messy or require both hands.

If you drop something, don’t reach down and grab it. While it might cause a mess, leave it or, if you have a passenger, ask them to grab the item if they are able. No matter how you look at it, it’s better to cause a small mess than a large car accident!

The Top Symptoms of Automatic Car Transmission Problems

Fluid Leakage

Strange Sounds

A Burning Smell

Gear Slippage and Changes in Vehicle Performance

Repair Your Automatic Car Transmission Problems at T3 Atlanta

What is the Difference Between Fuel Grades?

What Type of Fuel Should I Put in My Car?

Keep Your Engine in Top Condition at T3 Atlanta

5 Ways to Improve Fuel Efficiency in Older Cars

Older Car Repairs at T3 Atlanta

What are Vehicle Emissions and Why Are They Important?

Why do Cars Fail Emissions Tests?

Have Your Engine Checked at T3 Atlanta Before Your Emissions Test

Troubleshooting Car Exhaust Problems

Noise, Noise, Noise

Vibrations

Strange Smells

Rust and External Damage

T3 Atlanta

How do Self-Driving Cars Work?

Still a Long Way to Go Before Self-Driving Cars are a Regular Feature on the Road

Top Tips for Spring Car Maintenance

Spring Cleaning… for Cars!

Have Your Car Washed

Replace Your Windshield Wipers

Top Off Your Fluids

Check Your Belts, Hoses, and Lights

What to Do If Your Brakes Stop Working

Causes of Car Brake Failure

Brake Service at T3 Atlanta

Top Tips for Eating Healthy on the Road

Stop at Grocery Stores

Pack in Advance and Bring a Cooler

Bring Snacks

Eat Smaller Meals More Regularly

Use Rest Stops

Should You Eat in Your Car?

Eating in Your Car: Pros

Eating in Your Car: Cons

Splitting the Difference

T3 Atlanta

Lexus, Infiniti, Toyota, and Nissan Maintenance

Outstanding and Affordable Car Services in Atlanta

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