"Cash for Clunkers" Deal is Peanuts Compared to Good Ol' Vehicle Maintenance

BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Routine vehicle maintenance for an entire year costs a consumer less than a single monthly new car payment and would be significantly more successful in reducing gasoline use and pollution than the "Cash for Clunkers" program, according to the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). Vehicle maintenance would save consumers $30 billion in gasoline a year vs. spending $3 billion in taxpayer dollars to buy new cars.

While the "Cash for Clunkers" program is estimated to save 72 million gallons of gasoline each year, simple vehicle maintenance would save more than 12 billion gallons of gasoline a year (equivalent to all of the gasoline used in Illinois, Michigan and Connecticut in one year). Additionally, vehicle maintenance does not require a dime of taxpayer money and doesn't require destroying perfectly good used vehicles that could be sold or donated to people who cannot afford a new car, reports AAIA.

"Understandably the 'Cash for Clunkers' program is wildly popular among new car dealers, car makers and those consumers who have the ability to buy a new vehicle. However, the majority of Americans cannot afford a new car payment today, but they probably can afford to trade up to a newer used vehicle or make their current vehicle more fuel-efficient," said Kathleen Schmatz, AAIA president and CEO.

"Doesn't it make more sense to give a tax credit or other incentive to the majority of Americans to improve the fuel efficiency, safety and dependability of their current vehicle, rather than taking their tax dollars to help a small minority of consumers and pump up new car dealer profits?" said Schmatz.

AAIA opposes the "Cash for Clunkers" program for the following reasons:

-- The program destroys many vehicles that are not even close to being defined as "clunkers" with years of remaining life and use.

-- Destroyed vehicles are removed from the market forever, depriving consumers who seek to purchase a used vehicle or charities in need of donated vehicles.

-- It hurts the aftermarket companies that manufacture, distribute, sell and install vehicle parts on used vehicles, and those who rebuild/remanufacture vehicle parts.

-- Resources and energy use is multiplied when a vehicle is destroyed and a new one is built to replace it.

-- The majority of vehicles being traded in are domestic, and the majority of new vehicles being sold are foreign.

-- The program entices consumers to purchase a new car that they might not be able to afford and certainly to go further in debt, reminiscent to the sub-prime home mortgage debacle.

-- The program is regressive since only those at higher income levels who can afford to purchase a new car will qualify for the $4,500 voucher, while destroying used cars that could be purchased by lower income families, most in need of assistance in obtaining transportation.

Consumers interested in learning exactly how vehicle maintenance will save money should visit the Car Care Council Web site at www.carcare.org.

About AAIA

AAIA is a Bethesda, Md.-based association whose more than 23,000 member and affiliates manufacture, distribute and sell motor vehicle parts, accessories, service, tool, equipment, materials and supplies. Through its membership, AAIA represents more than 100,000 repair shops, parts stores and distribution outlets.

Source: Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association

Ever wonder what happens to your "Clunker" after it enters the "Cash For Clunkers" (CARS) program? Looks like it gets destroyed. Seems a huge waste to me but thats just my humble opinion.

Even a clunker has some value in the used parts arena, specifically the engine and drive-train and thats what gets destroyed. Some people may not be able to afford "new car payments" even with the credit for the clunker.  Anyway, heres a press release that describes the bitter end to your old family friend.

Bar's Leaks Introduces a Clunker Killer: New DiFM Rendering Chemical Sodium Silicate Disables Cash for Clunkers Program Trade-Ins

HOLLY, Mich., Aug. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Car dealers must destroy the engines of every vehicle they take in through the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) Program, formerly known as "Cash for Clunkers." They can do so by using new Bar's Leaks DiFM Rendering Chemical Sodium Silicate or Bar's Leaks Head Gasket Repair.

Unlike Head Gasket Repair and other sodium silicate (liquid glass) products that are sold to fix vehicles, Bar's Leaks DiFM Rendering Chemical Sodium Silicate was developed specifically to meet the requirements outlined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for CARS/Cash for Clunkers.

"We have worked directly with Department of Transportation officials and have invested considerable research to develop an engine disabling product that meets CARS specifications," explains Clay Parks, vice president of development for Bar's Products, manufacturer of Bar's Leaks. "We are the only manufacturer offering such a product in large, cost-effective sizes for dealers."

The Engine Disablement Procedures for the CARS Program call for dealers to drain all engine oil from the trade-in vehicle, re-install the oil drain plug, add two quarts of the sodium silicate solution, replace the oil fill cap and run the engine at 2000 rpm until the engine stops.

"The agency has tested this method at its Vehicle Research and Test Center and found it safe, quick, and effective," notes the NHTSA Final Rule for CARS.

Bar's Leaks DiFM Rendering Chemical Sodium Silicate is available in three sizes: one-gallon bottles (p/n RC128) good for two renderings, five-gallon pails (p/n RC640) used for 10 renderings and 55-gallon drums (p/n RC7040) for 110 renderings.

Bar's Leaks Head Gasket Repair (p/n 1100) is sold in 20 oz. bottles through automotive repair outlets nationwide. Four bottles of Head Gasket Repair must be used to disable an engine per CARS standards. All Bar's Leaks products are made in the U.S.A.

For more information about Bar's Leaks DiFM Rendering Chemical Sodium Silicate, visit the Bar's Leaks Professional DiFM Web site at www.barsleaksdifm.com or call the technician hotline at (800) 345-6572. You can also follow Bar's Products on Twitter at http://twitter.com/barsproducts.

Bar's Products offers a full line of vehicle chemicals, including Bar's Leaks, the world's most trusted stop-leak brand since 1947, and Rislone , America's best-selling engine treatment brand for more than 80 years.

Source: Bar's Leaks