Ask the Automotive Maintenance Expert

May 2012 Article

Time for your spring tune up

Now that snow, salt and shovelling are hopefully over, there’s a good chance you’re starting to think about hitting the road. But before packing your bags and jumping behind the wheel for an extended drive on the highway, it’s important to put your family’s safety first. How? Take your vehicle to your recommended licensed mechanic for a springtime tune up.

While some spring tune ups consist of simply changing sparkplugs, checking filters, scanning codes and refilling fluids, others include fuel injector flushing and other more comprehensive services. Before agreeing to pay for a tune up, be sure you ask exactly what the repair whop will include. Ensuring your vehicle is in good working order can make the difference between a hassle-free road trip or morning commute and stalling out at the side of the road  waiting for assistance. The risks and dangers are real. Still, even seemingly properly maintained cars can experience mechanical problems or even breakdowns from time to time, so it pays to stay alert and be prepared.

Here are some other tips to stay safe this spring and summer:

1. Stay connected. Always carry a full-charged cell phone for emergencies and make sure you have a car charger.

2. Keep well stocked first aid and vehicle emergency kits appropriate for all-season driving in your car.

3. Always wear seatbelts and ensure children’s car seats are installed properly.

4. Avoid fatigue and stay focused. If you need to pull over somewhere safe and sleeo, do it.

5. Check all you vehicle’s lights, air pressure and fluid levels before long trips.

Safety alone is reason enough to keep a vehicle in good shape, but as an added bonus, a well-maintained one will get better gas mileage too. So this spring, tune up and hit the road!

 

 

April 2012 Article

Spring Car Care Tips

After a long winter, it’s important to get your car back in tip-top shape. Here are some tips to help you out.

 

•               A good hand wash of your vehicle is very important in the spring.

•               Spray the salt and dirt out of your wheel wells (a favorite hiding spot for rust).

•               Check the windshield for stone chips or cracks. It often isn’t necessary to replace the entire windshield, just repair the chips.

•               This is also a good time to replace worn out wiper blades

Most Importantly, Check Under the Hood

•               Change the engine oil & filter if needed (every three months).

•               Get a tune-up if necessary (check vehicle owner’s manual for frequency).

•               Inspect cooling system hoses for leaks and drive belts for cracks.

•               Have your antifreeze tested. It prevents your coolant from boiling in the summer.

 

 

February 2012 Article

All About Antifreeze

Living in an area that routinely sees below-freezing temperatures during the winter, you’ve got to make sure your vehicle is properly protected with antifreeze. Antifreeze is the same stuff in the radiator that helps prevent it from overheating in the summer. But when the temperature drops, it lowers the freezing point of the water it’s mixed with to ensure it will flow through the engine when it’s started. Frozen water in the engine can cause serious damage.

Our technicians can perform a quick and simple inspection of your car’s antifreeze and tell you whether the fluid level is sufficient, along with the approximate coldest temperature at which it will provide protection. ACDelco offers antifreeze so ask us about it.

And if your vehicle is older, be sure to check the owner’s manual to see when the coolant should be replaced. Stay warm this winter – and make sure your car is protected from the cold.