Ten Things You Can Do or We Can Do For You!
- The best thing that you can do to extend the life of your car and potentially save yourself a bundle of money is to have your car serviced on a routine basis. All car manufacturers have a schedule of recommended services for each vehicle they sell. Follow this schedule. Be sure to follow your schedule for fluid flushes.
- Check the level and color of all fluids at every gas refill. If you don't know how to check your fluids or know what color your fluid should be then ask us to teach you. We will be happy to teach you for free. Nothing lasts forever. Your vehicle's oils and fluids do break down and require replacement in order to properly lubricate. These fluids not only provide lubrication, they need to conduct heat; they need to protect from rust and corrosion; they perform hydraulic functions.
- Change your oil and oil filter regularly to protect your engine and improve your gas mileage. Dirty oil or incorrect grades can increase engine friction, thereby reducing fuel efficiency.
- Change the engine air filter to protect the engine by keeping impurities from entering the engine and improving your gas mileage. When your engine's air filter becomes clogged it starves the engine for air. The onboard computers adjust for this by increasing the amount of fuel to maintain consistent firing in the cylinders. This can cause up to 10% in decreased fuel efficiency.
- Monitor your brake pad thickness and do not let them damage the metal parts such as brake rotors and calipers.
- Wash your car regularly so that it will not damage the body or undercarriage of your car. Pollutants in the air, bugs, tar, salt in the air/road, dirt, sludge, and more all damage your car.
- Make sure that you keep your car's wheels aligned because it will increase the life of the tire and increase your safety due to improve handling.
- Keep your tires properly inflated. Having low tire pressure causes more drag between your tires and the road, thereby making your engine work even harder. Improper tire pressure can reduce the lifespan of your tires and gas mileage by up to 30% or more. Check your tire pressure when the tires are cold for accurate readings.
- Rotate your tires at every other oil change (every 6,000 miles). Rotating your tires equalizes tread wear and maximizes the life of your tires.
- Start off slowly after you initially start your vehicle until your vehicle is up to operating temperature. Accelerating slowly saves gas and it reduces the stress on your engine since your oil is cold and thicker when cold.