Maintenance Tips for Your Vehicle
Buying a new can means starting out with a clean slate. It'ss up to you to do your part to keep it running like new for as long as you own it. New cars are expensive, but if you want to avoid the headaches that come with breakdowns, you need to maintain it properly from day one. It's best to bring your vehicle in for regular maintenance, but when you can't, here are some things you should check.
Under the Hood Maintenance
Your engine is the heart of any vehicle you buy. It is also the most important place for you to keep a close eye on overall maintenance. Your owner's manual has a recommended maintenance schedule inside that you need to follow closely. Not only will this help your engine last longer, but it will keep your warranty valid.
Oil Level: You should check the oil level in you...
7 Questions to Ask Yourself If You're Thinking About Buying Snow Tires
1. "DO I NEED SNOW TIRES?"
- Snow tires can be extremely important if you live in an area that gets snow, ice, sleet or freezing rain and temperatures of 40 degrees or colder. They are also a good idea if you are planning on taking road trips that will take you through snow or over mountains in the colder months.
2. "IF MY TIRES ARE MARKED 'M+S' ON THE SIDEWALL AM I GOOD TO DRIVE ON SNOW?"
- You may see some tires marked with "M+S", this stands for mud and snow. While these are most likely decent tires, they only deliver better traction in wet conditions than non-M+S tires. In cold and/or slick conditions, these tires may not provide you the traction and control you need. If it is true snow tires you are looking for, look for tires with a Mountain Snowflake symbol on the side. This means t...
20 things You Can Do to Save Gas While Driving
1. Drive less
2. Warm up your car for shorter lengths of time
- Idling your car for anything over a minute wastes fuel and omits large amounts of greenhouse gas.
3. Buy gas early or late in the day
- Gas is cooler earlier in the day, and more dense. As temperatures rise, gas density falls and you get less of it when you pump.
4. Slow down and drive steady
- Driving fast increases drag, which increases fuel consumption.
5. Monitor when and how you brake
- Braking excessively wastes gas.
6. Turn off the engine
- Turn off your vehicle you are waiting, excess idling is a major waste of gas.
7. Eliminate wind resistance
- Remove unneeded car racks and carriers.
8. Avoid gas stations near the highway
- Gas stations near the highway are usually the most expensive.
9. Don't wait until your tank is almos...
Hydroplaning 101
Picture this: You are calmly driving down the road, when all of the sudden your car starts to lose control as if it was on ice skates. The only thing is it is just raining, no ice in sight. This was most likely caused by a phenomenon called "Hydroplaning". Hydroplaning occurs when a vehicle's tires encounter more water than they can scatter. Water pressure in the front of the wheel pushes water under the tire, and the tire is then separated from the road surface by a thin film of water and loses traction. The result is loss of steering, braking and power control. Hydroplaning is one of the leading causes of fatalities in bad weather. If you find yourself hydroplaning, there are things you can do to help yourself recover. Take a look below and make sure you're prepared.
1. Do not use your b...
How to Prevent Auto Theft
Even if you have great luck and religiously lock your car doors, you still can fall victim to car theft. Every 45 seconds, a car is stolen somewhere in the U.S, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).
Here are tips to prevent your vehicle from being stolen:
• Keep your vehicle locked at all times, even while driving.
• When parked, never leave your keys in the car. Close all the windows and the sunroof.
• Never leave your car running and unattended.
• Avoid leaving valuables inside your vehicle where passersby can see them.
• Install an anti-theft system in your vehicle if it doesn't have one. Thieves are reluctant to steal vehicles if they know the cars can be recovered quickly.
Tips to Keep Your Car From Overheating
Engines can overheat when they are being worked too hard, and other times they overheat because there is a problem with the cooling system. Summer weather can definitely contribute to the engine overheating so this is a great time to review before anything happens.
Keep reading to learn what to do in the event your engine shows sign of overheating and be prepared before you hit the road for any long trips.
Always have 1 spare gallon of coolant and 1 gallon of distilled water in your trunk.
Keep an eye on your temperature gauge while driving. It takes a little practice but is worth it since many people don't notice until their car is overheating.
If the gauge rises, pull over when possible. If you see the temperature gauge rising or steam coming from under the hood, pull over, shut the vehi...
Checking Your Oil Made Easy
Engines need a thicker oil in the summer months because of the summer heat and its effects on thinning the oil out. When the weather cools down, you can switch back to a lighter, thinner oil, which will help preserve gas mileage in the winter months. Here's how to check your oil though and see if it's time for a change.
Getting You Car Ready For Warmer Weather
Now is the time to get your vehicle ready for those spring and summer road trips, and to check on those things that might have been ignored during the winter months. As drivers and vehicle owners, we do not want to overlook any important maintenance. Therefore, spring is a great time to focus on any vehicle maintenance that might need your attention.
Follow our Simple Spring Maintenance Checklist below:
Wash, Wax & Clean the Inside too
Inspect the tires & Tire Pressure
Change your Wiper Blades
Check under Your Hood
Check Fluid Levels
Check Alignment & Suspension
Consult your maintenance schedule
If vehicle maintenance is not your thing, don't worry, stop by our service department today and our certified technicians are available and ready. OUR SERVICE CONVENIENCE SAVES YOU TIME and MONEY ON ...
Car Tax Cuts
Have you ever wondered what types of tax breaks you are eligible for? Want to learn more? Read on.
On the off chance that you utilize your auto only in your business, you can deduct auto costs, as indicated by the Turbo Tax site. In the event that you utilize your auto for both business and individual purposes, you should separate your costs based on mileage. Auto deductions are for a car, van, and pick-up or board truck utilized for business as indicated by the IRS web site. It is important to be aware that the commute between one's home to work is a personal expense and not deductible.
However, if you drive from your usual work spot to another work related site whether it be a meeting in a different office, the store to buy office supplies or the airport, those are tax deductible miles. ...
Car Accident Avoidance Tips
In light of the new year, we'd like to go over a few accident avoidance practices. Drive safe everyone.
1. Check blind spots.
Side mirrors and review mirrors are not enough. Always do a head check before changing lanes. Also be aware of other vehicle's blind spots as they could not be looking.
2. Judge the driver by the cars condition.
Typically a driver with an expensive car or a well-maintained car hints that they are cautious with their vehicle, which can also mean they are cautious drivers. Those who don't take care of their car might not be as cautious.
3. Know your car's limit.
Understanding what your car can do is an advantage. Don't over do it - pushing it to drive through poor conditions if it can't handle it is dangerous.
4. Keep your car in good shape.
Regular maintenance like o...
Cadillac XT5
Prestige. It's the Cadillac way and the XT5 upholds that standard. If you want a crossover SUV that takes you out of the rough world and into a world of comfort and elegance, you want to experience the XT5. You make your own world - choose to make it elegant with the XT5. Keep reading to learn more.
1. The Engine
The XT5 is powerful. A DOHC 24-valve V-6 engine outputs 310 hp. It's both fuel efficient and powerful so you can tackle a variety of terrains and haul more on your road trips. Active Fuel Management technology helps to limit fuel consumption which improves overall miles per gallon.
2. The Interior
Don't fight over legroom. All passengers can be comfortable with the XT5. Furthermore, collapsible seating meets changing cargo requirements. You'll find plenty of leather-lined comfort ...
A Moment in Automotive History - 1936
On November 16th, 1936, a major United Auto Workers strike began at the Fisher Body plant in Atlanta, GA. It was a strike organized by the UAW with the hope of stopping GM from sending work to non-union plants - as well as to establish a fair minimum wage scale and a grievance system, plus safety requests for assembly-line workers.
The Fisher Body Plant strike was followed by strikes in Kansas City on December 16, Cleveland on December 28 and a sit-down protest in Flint, MI on December 30, 1936. The Flint, MI plant was a pivotal factory strike as it contained one of two body dyes GM used on every vehicle.
The strike lasted for 44 days and it resulted in GM and the UAW signing an agreement in mid-February that gave the UAW just about everything they asked for.