Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Top Summer Maintenance Tips for Road Trip Fun




Summer is almost here and it’s a great time for traveling.  Even though pricing for gas has risen slightly, most consumers can’t ignore the lure of an open road and clear blue skies. The AAA explains that 31.7 million Americans planned to travel during the summer.  Before hitting the open road, there are a few precautions you can take to ensure a safe trip.  Extreme heat and long drives can put some wear on your vehicle.  Follow these tips to have an awesome summer road trip.

1.    Check Your Tires - Use the penny trick to see if you still have enough tread on your tires. Stick a penny in the tread, and if Lincoln's head disappears, you're good [source: CBS News]. Our dealership can also check your tires for proper alignment and balance.
2.    Change Oil and oil filter - To check your oil, let your car run for a few minutes, then park it on a level surface and shut off the engine. Open the hood and locate the oil dipstick.  Check the dipstick for the level of oil and how it looks.
3.    Check Hoses and Belts – these key components keep your engine cool.  Come into the dealership and we can check this out for you in a jiffy.
4.    Change the Air Filter – you should change your air filter every 12,000 miles.  If you drive on a lot of dirt roads, then your air filter might clog faster than normal.  If it’s filthy, change it.
5.    Replace Your Windshield Wipers – Summertime is known for storms.  Make sure your wipers are new, provide great quality and allow you to see the road clearly.
6.    Check Your Brakes – Here are some signs your brakes need to be checked: Your brake pedal becomes very soft and mushy, your brake pedal is very hard and resistant, your brake pedal rests too low or too high, indication or warning lights on the dashboard, loud and constant scraping and grinding sounds coming from the brakes.

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