Ontario's Drive Clean introduced emissions testing for heavy-duty diesel vehicles as one measure to reduce airborne particulate matter (PM) - one of the major components of smog and a health and environmental hazard.

PM can be divided into two types: PM10 (particles less than 10 microns in diameter) and PM2.5 (particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter). Both types of PM affect our health and environment, but the smaller particles, PM2.5, pose the greatest danger because they can be inhaled deeply into the respiratory system.

Ontario's Drive Clean program is concerned with helping us make smart choices about the way we maintain and drive our vehicles. Driving clean can save you up to 10 per cent in annual fuel consumption and prolong the life of your vehicle.

A regular winter/spring checkup is an important starting point for your vehicles maintenance. A qualified technician should check the condition of your vehicle including all fluid levels.

Using a block heater to pre-warm the engine reduces engine wear and cuts fuel consumption. In a cold engine, the oil is thick and resists flow, which means the engine has to work harder to overcome internal friction. Thick oil also takes longer to circulate. A block heater can help address this problem by pre-warming the engine's oil and coolant, which in turn warms the engine block and lubricants. As a result, the engine will start easier and reach its peak operating temperature faster.