Lifestyle | Tips to Ensure Your Vehicle is Ready by Ford

Summer in the Philippines is here!!! Plus, pandemic restrictions have gotten down in many places in the country. Alert 1 is so far the lowest restriction in the country that allows many to be almost at pre-pandemic levels. Tourism is already gearing towards normalcy but not forgetting the the use of a face mask, of course.

Now that we are already living a new normal, many are also expected to go travel around. With this being in mind, Ford has shared some tips to ensure your vehicle is ready for a long drive. Here's the story:

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Gearing Up For That Much-Awaited Long Drive? Ford Shares Important Tips to Ensure that Your Vehicle is Ready

MANILA, Philippines– As more areas in the country downgrade to Alert Level 1 due to declining COVID-19 cases, mobility is also seen to normalize as more people return to the office and spend time to drive out for leisure.

However, with months of restrictive travel, it is possible that your vehicle has been parked for a longer period of time, exposing it to a greater risk of damage if unchecked or unmaintained.

So before you head back on the road, it is imperative to take some time to check your vehicle before you spend long hours behind the wheel again.

Thankfully, on-road vehicle inconveniences and long-term damage are completely avoidable if you take the right measures to take care of your daily driver. So before you head out and get stuck in traffic once again, make sure to follow important tips from Ford Philippines to ensure that your vehicle is ready:

1. Prepare your car

Before you hit the road, there are some basic checks you can perform to help get your vehicle ready for regular use. Make sure you check the oil, coolant and windscreen wiper fluid levels and, while you’re at it, give your windscreen wipers a quick check to make sure they’re working, and check your windscreen for any cracks or chips.

 

One area often neglected are tires, so check the pressures and remember to also check your spare.

2. Get your vehicle checked

With the lockdown restrictions, many haven’t gotten the chance to take their vehicle for its scheduled check-up and maintenance. A general best ownership practice that car manufacturers highly recommend is that you take your vehicle for regular check-ups to ensure that it delivers the desired performance.

For Ford vehicle owners, it is encouraged that you follow your Periodic Maintenance Service (PMS) schedule specified by Ford. During these checks, Ford quality-standard lubricant, fluids, and service parts are used by Ford technicians.

Every time you leave your vehicle at the Ford dealership for scheduled service, you will also receive a Vehicle Report Card (VRC), which provides a comprehensive health check summary of your vehicle’s key wear and tear parts and system.

3. Leave vehicle service to the experts

Being thrifty has its advantages, but never for your vehicle. Getting service from non-authorized service centers may provide a quick fix at a lower cost, though it increases the chances of long-term damage and vehicle malfunctions, which could make you spend more in the long run.

Instead, only have your vehicle serviced by authorized dealers and professionals who possess the right qualifications for the job. Ford technicians are the only people who best understand your Ford and how to service it, while following all standard inspection procedures. During every service visit to the Ford authorized dealer, you can expect quality of service and use of genuine Ford parts.

4. Assess the condition of wear and tear parts during every service

It is important to always look after your vehicle’s wear and tear parts, as these naturally need to be regularly replaced unlike other components like the engine. You can maximize your service visits by getting wear and tear parts checked and replaced, if needed.

 

Ford owners can benefit from Ford’s all-in battery package and cabin air filter offerings. The all-in battery package is available to customers with a Ford Focus, Ford Fiesta, Ford EcoSport, Ford Ranger or Ford Everest, and already includes parts and labor costs at a promotional price that starts at P6,300. All parts of eligible Ford vehicles covered by the promotion automatically come with a 24-month warranty.

 

Meanwhile, owners of Ford Ranger and Everest models between 2015-2021 can avail of the Motorcraft micronAir proTect Cabin Filter, a premium cabin filter that offers superior filtering functionality at a competitive price point. The micronAir filter is effective against nearly 100% of allergens of 2 microns size or larger, and against small micro-organisms such as bacteria and fungal spores. It is also capable of filtering against threats inside the vehicle with 99.9% effectiveness at inactivating viruses such as Swine Flu (H1N1) and HCov-229E that come into contact with the special active layer.

“Taking the time to care for your vehicle goes a long way in ensuring a worry-free ownership experience, especially with the return of mobility in the new normal. Our service offerings are designed to keep our customers safe as they go back on the road,” shares Patrick Manigbas, director, Ford Customer Service Division. “One of our advocacies at Ford is road safety, so we encourage our customers to visit a Ford dealership to have their vehicles checked to ensure their optimal performance.”

To know more about Ford’s aftersales offerings, visit your Ford dealership or the Ford Philippines website.

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These are such great tips to maintain the condition of our vehicles. A well-maintained vehicle will really go some miles! Indeed, it will be a summer getaway for everyone with a prepared vehicle. Thanks Ford!

Thank you for visiting my avenue, www.ten7avenue.com.

Event | Road Safety in the New Normal with Ford

Many of us were really affected with the current pandemic and it brought to less use of some vehicles that we own or rent. It is essential that even this time, we still need to make sure that we do some maintenance check on our vehicles. Plus, if you are working, essentially, using your car, you need to put in mind the safety aspect of cleaning and disinfecting your vehicle.

Great to have heard again from Ford Driving Skills for Life: Safe Driving in the New Normal as it is very timely in the situation. As we, in the Philippines, already easing some restrictions, we still need to do some standard health precautions. That being said, it is good to have listened to this session and it is very informative, here's the story:

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Ford Philippines Brings Driving Skills for Life in Visayas and Mindanao, Puts Emphasis on ‘Safe Driving in the New Normal’
 
PHILIPPINES, 5 November 2021 – Ford Philippines is bringing its Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) program in Visayas and Mindanao this month as part of its commitment to create better and safer drivers on the road.
With the theme “Safe Driving in the New Normal”, this year’s DSFL will cover timely topics including pandemic car care and maintenance tips, car sanitation and disinfection, and driving techniques during the rainy weather. These are in addition to the existing DSFL training module which covers basic vehicle dynamics and handling, driving in various conditions, anti-distracted driving, and fuel-efficient driving.
 
This year’s DSFL sessions will be conducted virtually in order to foster a safe and physically-distant learning environment. The DSFL is back this year after its postponement in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are excited to bring the DSFL back this year as we reinforce our long-standing advocacy on road safety. Now, the DSFL is made more accessible on the digital platform as we aim to reach more drivers with our safe driving training program,” shares EJ Francisco, AVP for Communications, Ford Philippines. “This year, we are making the DSFL a more relevant training program for our participants by sharing the necessary driving habits and skills as they navigate the roads in the ‘new normal’.”

JP Tuason of Tuason Racing School

Long-time partner and training facilitator Tuason Racing School will conduct the virtual DSFL program for Ford Philippines and will aim to provide an interactive training session with more instructional videos, games, and contests. Radio personalities Sam YG and Riki Flores-Reyes are this year’s Ford road safety ambassadors and will help expand the visibility of the program in the digital space.
 
The DSFL has successfully trained over 26,000 drivers since it launched in the country. Over the years, the program has made itself relevant with the changing road conditions, policies, and government regulations. In 2019, over 3,300 public and private drivers participated in the DSFL.

Tuason on Comparison of Fluids

 
The training program has been a consistent recipient of awards in the country. It brought home a Gold award under the Road Safety category in the 4th Driven to Serve Awards by the Society of Philippine Motoring Journalists (SPMJ) in 2020.
 
Driving Skills for Life was established in the United States in 2003 by Ford Motor Company Fund, the U.S. Governors Highway Safety Association, and a panel of safety experts, to teach newly licensed drivers the necessary skills for safe driving beyond what is learned in standard driver education programs. 

Lecture on Driving with Motorbikes and Bicycles Around

If you want to join on November 19, 2021 (for Mindanao participants) via Zoom, you can register at this link until November 17, 2021: http://dsflph.com/publicsession-mindanao, 150 slots only, first come, first served basis.

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Road safety is indeed a must for all. Whether, vehicles of 2-wheel or 4-wheel, pedestrians and others should have knowledge of road safety. As in my vlog, www.youtube.com/c/JoyoftheWorld, I do feature road trips around the city and I hope to impart some road safety as well.

Thank you for visiting my avenue, www.ten7avenue.com.

Event | Balik Baterya Program by Ford, Motolite and PBSP

Ford-Motolite-PBSP MOU Signing

Car batteries are among those I think a bit hard to dispose or it has to be sold to right companies for proper disposal or recycling. Just like for example, you own car battery and has lost power, it cannot be disposed as easy to a trash bin. Sometimes, if you know how it works, you can still use those batteries, recharge it and be an alternative source of power during brownout. So, it's a good news that Ford, together with, Motolite and PBSP form a partnership for a sustainable way to dispose used car batteries.

Here's the story of the event...

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Ford Philippines, Motolite, PBSP partner for Balik Baterya Program
The partnership aims to promote environmental sustainability by recycling used batteries

MANILA, Philippines – There is no safe level of lead exposure. Lead is toxic and harmful not only to the environment but to the health as well. However, lead is still used for products such as batteries. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, around 86% of the total global consumption of lead is for the production of lead-acid batteries.

Photo of Used Batteries

 
With a large number of batteries being produced each year, proper disposal and recycling of batteries is also a concern. To help address this problem, Ford Philippines together with Ford dealers nationwide, Motolite, and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) forged a collaboration to recycle used lead-acid batteries (ULABs) through the Balik Baterya Program.

“Through the Balik Baterya Program, we are able to bring to life Ford’s global commitment on environmental sustainability in the Philippines, and work with our Ford dealers and like-minded partners such as Motolite and PBSP to reinforce this advocacy. At the same time, the program provides an opportunity for our dealer partners to create and even expand their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs to support more beneficiaries,” said Ford Philippines President and Managing Director Michael Allen Breen.
 
One of Ford’s dealerships, the Laus Group, has taken a step forward in being the pioneer dealer group to implement the Balik Baterya Program early this year. “Being in the business of automotive dealerships, we knew that the PBSP’s Balik Baterya Program was a great way for us to create a positive impact, as we push to incorporate sustainability in the way we do business. It is our hope that through this program, we are able to affect change in our communities by pioneering sustainable business practices, geared towards promoting progressive development not just in the countryside but nationwide that is now shared by all,” said Laus Group Dealer Principal Lisset Laus-Velasco.
 
15 YEARS OF GIVING OLD BATTERIES NEW LIFE
 
Launched in 2006, the Balik Baterya Program is Motolite’s flagship CSR initiative advocating for the proper disposal and legitimate recycling of ULABs to protect the environment from hazardous wastes. The collected used batteries are reprocessed and recycled for commercial use. The proceeds from the used batteries are then used to fund development projects for communities in need such as provision of new classrooms, school desks, books, and supplemental feeding for children.
 
“Around 5,825 tons of ULABs is what the Balik Baterya Program partnership with PBSP has been able to recycle. More so, these wastes transformed to the greater goal of advancing communities through funding social development programs,” said Corporate Citizenship and CSR Manager Khairon-Niza Magundacan.
 
To date, the program has generated around P147 million pesos which supported and implemented around 169 projects nationwide. These projects benefitted at least 115 public schools and communities.

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This is indeed a good news and will really help the environment. I hope you like this story as well!

Thank you for visiting my avenue, www.ten7avenue.com.

Lifestyle | Cars On Park Mode: Tips from Ford

Ford Ranger Garage

The world is currently experiencing a pandemic and that has brought a lot of cars to be parked in each garage. Even the cars are being parker, there are things that should be done to maintain the car's optimal performance even for a month of stay at the parking space. Don't worry, the tips to be given is applicable to all mobile cars.

So, here are the tips that Ford has shared for us to follow:

1.    Choose a parking spot

Picking a spot where to park your vehicle is very important to its overall well-being. Do not park it on grass or soil, because moisture can make its way up and rust certain parts of your vehicle. Make sure to choose a covered area, or an area out of direct sunlight, and has a solid floor. 

2.    Give your vehicle a wash

Spend time to wash your vehicle in your garage or parking area once in a while to ensure you are able to remove dirt particles or even bird droppings. These will be harder to remove after a couple of days if left uncleaned.

3.    Clean and place a dehumidifier inside the cabin

Give your interior thorough vacuum and throw away food particles or remnants. Having a clean car will avoid insects and animals from entering your vehicle and potentially causing damage to it. Placing an off the shelf dehumidifier inside your vehicle can help combat unwanted moisture, especially in more humid climates. 

4.    Fill up the fuel tank

Make sure to fill the fuel all the way to the brim. This avoids a gap in your fuel tank where oxygen can oxidize. Oxidization is a chemical reaction between the fuel and oxygen which results in gum forming in your fuel tank, which can cause damage to your vehicle if not properly cleaned before using.

5.    Overinflate the tires

The tire pressure can slowly drop over a period of time, even when the car is not in use. Ensure that you overinflate your tires and the spare tire before parking your vehicle. This can also avoid flat spots forming on your tires.

6.    Leave the parking brake down

If you leave your parking brake engaged, it could possibly become stuck or seized after being parked over time. Unless you are parked on a slope, simply shift your vehicle into Park for automatic transmissions, or engage the first gear for manual transmissions.  Keep in mind about shifting back the transmission to Park or engage the gear back to neutral for manual transmission when starting the car.

7.    Lift your wiper blades

This very simple advice can save you money and time after the strict travel restrictions. Lift the wipers and place a ball of cloth underneath it so the blades are not touching the windshield. Heat can damage the wiper blades over time and take away its wiping credibility.

8.    Start your car once a week

Take at least 10 minutes every week to start your vehicle. Let the engine idle so the oil and other fluids can circulate through the engine. This will also enable to recharge your battery if you do not have a trickle charger. This will keep your battery healthy and ensure an efficient start every time.

Hopefully, you got the tips and will be able to execute for your cars, your assets.

Thank you for visiting my avenue, www.ten7avenue.com.