Browsing Tag

car maintenance

Behind the Wheel

Car Care Schedule

December 1, 2016
It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life in your car that takes you everywhere… but stay observant of how many miles you’re driving and keep a schedule of your car’s maintenance to ensure peak performance for your vehicle! Just like you buy certain gifts for certain anniversaries, you should get maintenance done for certain mile counts. Use this checklist as a guide to help remind you when to take care of your car!

Every 5,000 Miles

– Check/refill fluids for:
  •  Coolant
  •  Brake fluid
  •  Power steering fluid
  •  Washer fluid
– Change Oil – Check lug bolts

Every 8,000 – 10,000 Miles

– Perform the same 5,000 maintenance tasks – Check tire tread
  • Use the easy penny test
– Inspect brakes – Check spark plugs/wires – Check/clean battery – Replace windshield wipers
  • Or every 6 – 12 months, whichever comes first
– If you haven’t yet, you should rotate your tires about every 5,000 – 8,000 miles

Every 12,000 – 15,000 Miles

– Perform all previous maintenance tasks – Schedule maintenance/inspections for:
  • ABS sensor
  • Fuel pressure regulator
  • Timing belt
– Replace these parts:
  • Spark plugs
  • Fuel filters
  • Brake pads
– Flush radiator
This checklist stands as a good measure for how often you should generally perform certain maintenance for your car, but stick to your manufacturer’s maintenance schedule and use your best judgement. If you can’t remember the last time you had something checked, then it’s probably time to schedule a check for it. Follow this checklist to help you stay on top of your car’s maintenance, check your tire inflation monthly, and make repairs (as needed) promptly!
Money Matters, Under the Hood

Synthetic Oil vs. Regular Oil

January 29, 2016

Getting an oil change is generally a pretty common and uneventful experience. However, it can be costly depending on the type of oil your car should have. You will likely hear your mechanic talk about synthetic oil, but before you give the go-ahead on this pricey job, make sure you know what the difference is.

Synthetic oil is, at the base, a cleaner oil. It’s refined, distilled, and purified to get rid of any debris and impurities that regular oil possesses. This means that the oil circulates through your engine and comes out cleaner. If your engine is running cleaner, that usually means it’s going to run longer. Synthetic oil also performs better at more extreme temperatures. It is able to flow smoothly through the cold and the heat, while regular oil can break down and expose your engine to damage. However, it may not be worth the money. The biggest difference you will see with synthetic oil versus regular oil is how often you need to change it. It is recommended that you change your oil about every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, but with conventional oil it’s about 7,500. It all really comes down to how long you want your vehicle to run on a single oil change.
Behind the Wheel

How To Keep Your Car Running Forever

August 28, 2014
Okay, so maybe no one can keep their car running forever, but there are a lot of things you can do to greatly extend the life of your car. These tips and tricks will save you a ton of money in the long run, and you’ll be able to avoid the trouble of buying and selling a car for several years more than you otherwise might. Read on for some ideas on how to treat your car with TLC. It will pay off! 1. Easy on the Pedals One of the first things to know about your car is that it needs gentle care — that means no rapid accelerating, braking or revving the engine! These things put much more stress on the engine. So take it slow when you are speeding up, slowing down or trying to warm up the car. If it’s extremely hot or cold outside, let your car take a few minutes of idle running to get ready for the trip. Screen Shot 2014-08-18 at 10.11.13 AM 2. Spare the Air This one seems obvious, but one of the best ways to prolong the life of your car is by not driving it! So whenever you can avoid using your car, take the opportunity. Start a car pool, ride your bike, walk to close destinations, or get a ride with a friend. Especially short trips in your car can be rough on your engine, bad for gas mileage and bad for the environment. So you’ve got a whole host of reasons to minimize your trips in the car! 3. Go In For Regular Maintenance  Oil, fuel filter and air filter changes are an important part of car maintenance. The more you skip these things or get behind on visits to the auto shop, the more your car will suffer. You may not want to shell out the cash at the time, but you’ll really be saving money in the long run! Check your car manual to see how often your car needs to be checked out. 4. Keep It Clean While it may seem like an image thing, keeping your car washed and clean can have a long-term impact on the quality of your car. Dirt and other chemicals can wear down your paint job and cause chipping and other damage. So make sure to wash your car on a regular basis, particularly in the winter time, when salt builds up from snow melt on the roads! Screen Shot 2014-08-18 at 10.11.51 AM 5. Solve Car Problems Quickly Take your car into the mechanic at the first sign of trouble. Like your own health, a car’s state can get worse if you don’t have it checked out immediately. So when the engine light goes on, you hear a mysterious rattling or your car just isn’t running like it used to, get it the attention it needs! If you’re nervous about trips to the mechanic, ask around until you find a trusted person to do the job! 6. Keep It Light While it’s certainly nice to be prepared, you don’t want to keep too much extra stuff loaded up in your car. The added weight can really take a toll on your car, and it also uses up gas more quickly. So make sure to unload random boxes, clothes and unnecessary items from your car. It’ll probably make you feel more organized too!  

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