Don't Drip and Drive
Do you know if your vehicle is leaking fluids? Find out for free! During the month of April, take advantage of three opportunities to get your vehicle checked for leaks:
- At participating Automotive Service Association of Washington (ASA-WA) mechanic shops through the Puget Sound Starts Here: Don't Drip and Drive campaign – free undercarriage inspections given by participating mechanic shops. Go to www.finditfixit.org* for more information. The inspection takes about 15 minutes and you will need to make an appointment in advance. If a leak is detected, the shop will offer a 10% discount on the repair, up to $50.
- At South Puget Sound Community College Auto Club's Vehicle Safety and Leak Inspection. The inspection takes less than 15 minutes and takes place inside the automotive building. No reservation needed. April 11 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Bldg 16.
- At Home with a large piece of paper or cardboard.
Learn how at www.checkforleaks.info
The Don’t Drip and Drive campaign and partnership with ASA-WA is a pilot project sponsored by Puget Sound Starts Here and organized by more than 80 local stormwater utilities throughout Puget Sound, including Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, and Thurston County. This effort is led by King County, and funded by a grant from the Department of Ecology.
The local jurisdictions do not endorse nor guarantee the work of participating mechanics and/or businesses. Individuals are welcome to work with any mechanic of their choice; however charges may apply if they are not part of the pilot project.
* Website will not be active until mid-March 2013
Proper Car Care Equals Clean Water!
Motor oil and other automobile fluids are polluting Puget Sound and other waterways. Just think of all the drips and stains you see in streets and parking lots. Much of this leaked fluid washes into local storm drains and eventually into local streams, lakes, rivers, and Puget Sound. Even small amounts of spilled or dumped oil can contaminate entire stretches of shoreline, shellfish growing areas, and recreational attractions.
Let’s Get in Gear
Just as the drips and splatters of oil and other automotive fluids are small but add up, so do small actions taken by many citizens. Please start by checking for leaks regularly to make sure you car isn’t leaking. Ask your mechanic the next time you have your oil changed to take a closer look. Or, if you are a do-it-yourself type, simply place a large sheet of clean cardboard under your engine when you come home while your engine is still hot. Check it several hours later, or in the morning for spots and drips. If your car is leaking, please get it fixed. In the meantime, keep using cardboard to catch drips and dispose of in the trash.
Changing your own oil or other automotive fluids? Again, place old cardboard under the work area and be extra careful to avoid spills and splatters. Use kitty litter to soak up any accidental misses, then sweep up and deposit in the garbage. Be sure to collect your used oil in a reusable waterproof container, and then recycle it at the Thurston County Hazohouse http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/solidwaste/hazardous/haz-hazohouse.htm or other local recycling repository.