April is Car Care Month: Why you need to show your car some love!

 April is National Car Care Month, and it's not by accident.  Here in the PNW, we generally have mild winters, and the last few years have been exceptionally mild.  A lot of rain, a few super cold days, with a sprinkling of snow.  But with that said, we have a lot of different geographic zones here in Washington as well, Depending on where you live,  you are within a few short hours of the  colder counties of the North, in the Mountains, on the coast or in the arid East Side. 

 So whether you are an adventure seeker, or a homebody, your vehicle is going to need a little TLC, and now is the time to take care of it, before we hit the busy, car trip, on the road to adventure, or just get out of the  house day trip, season of less rain, more sun!

It is Oil Change Time!

(Notice:  Each vehicle manufacturer has their own standards for service, this article is intended for general information, and most time/miles examples are a representative average, please see your Owner's Manual for your vehicle recommendations, or contact your service advisor for specific advice regarding your make and model.)

Because of the Pandemic, many have found them selves home more, driving less,   But, if you have been home more or less for the last year, and have put less than 5,000 miles on your car you don't need to change your oil...FALSE!  

The oil in your vehicle needs to be changed regularly regardless of miles driven.  There are mile measurements and time measurements.  The oil in your vehicle is its life blood, and it breaks down over time, and becomes less effective, and this causes unnecessary wear and tear on your engine. Regularly scheduled oil changes help you to maintain a healthy engine.  As you drive your vehicle and the motor oil does its job of lubricating and cooling the engine, it will naturally pick up impurities.  Which is exactly what it is supposed to do.  But that means that the oil becomes less effective as time passes and oil "ages".  If your oil is too old, it can't do it's job properly, and it will start to affect the engine's performance, and can shorten its life.  Now, if your vehicle has been sitting on the sidelines, while you binge watch Netflix, and help the kids with Zoom school, the oil is just sitting their, slowly breaking down naturally. So it is time.  

The average recommended oil change rate is 5000 miles, or every 6 months (as previously noted, this varies by vehicle), so if you haven't had an oil change in  awhile, it is definitely time.  

6000 miles later vs new

The other side of time is miles, and there are different kinds of miles.  If you are commuting from, let's say Federal Way to Seattle metro every day, spending a couple of hours a day in stop n go traffic, but only going 40-50 miles a day, this is considered extreme driving, and you should be closer to 3000 ish miles or every 90 days, especially with the warmer weather coming.  So, if it has been awhile, stop on by, it is time.

Time to Check the Battery

Another item that is important to check after the winter, and before you hit the road of Summer adventures, is your battery.  The winter can be a little tough on your battery, and it could even be on its way to the promised land, and you probably wouldn't even know it.  The battery is one of those components, that people just don't think about, well....until the car doesn't start.  So, you definitely need to add it to the list of things to check on.  Low temperatures force your battery to work harder by slowing down its chemical reactions, and now we are facing down the heat of summer travel, which will gladly evaporate critical battery fluids and speed up corrosion.  The roll of the dice, is it takes one hot day to leave your battery DOA.  We are going to assume that you would prefer to not be stranded at a rest stop an hour from services, or on your way out the door to an important meeting.  So avoid this inconvenience, by getting your car battery tested and if necessary, replaced.  

Cabin Air Filter

If your vehicle comes equipped with a cabin air filter, this is the perfect time to get it checked.  When you see how ugly the filter can get, you will A) be grateful you have one and B) want it to be as fresh as possible when you see just how much junk it is filtering out.  

Wiper Blades

Change them.  That simple.  How many times did you warm up the car, and use the wiper blades to help clear the ice or even snow?  As a general rule, by the time winter wraps up, most folks find their wipers looking a little worse for wear. Do you find they are more likely smearing the water over your windshield vs wiping the water briskly away.  Have you washed your windows, and your blades, and still finding it a little difficult to see?  If you are at this point, you are way beyond the need.  Changing them at the end of the winter season is a great time to do this, as you get into the summer travel season.  Kind of like changing the battery in your smoke detector each fall and winter, make this the time you do it every year, and you will always have good visual, which, we can all agree, is very important. 

TIRES!!

Yes, bold print and exclamation points are needed here.  It is time to take a good look at your tires.  Because of fluctuations during the winter, your tires, may not be at their optimum PSI (pounds per square inch).  Now that the temps have stabilized a bit, take a pressure reading in the morning, check your manual (also, there should be a tag on the inside of your door with tire pressure settings) if low, top it up the first chance you get.  Your tire may not be low enough to trigger your TPMS, but it may be lower than optimum for health and performance.  In general, tires lose or gain 1 PSI for every 10 degrees Farenheit change in temperature, and both underinflated and over-inflated tires can cause problems on the road.  In addition to more subtle issues of gas mileage, performance, and reducing the life of the tires.  

It is also time to check the tread depth.  Without enough tread depth your tires can't grip the road, which is what they are designed to do.  This could result in poor performance, especially in wet weather, compromising your vehicles handling, and your ability to come to a quick stop.  

How do you check your tread depth?  Well, there are number of ways, the best is with a  tread depth gauge, you can find these at any auto parts store.  Tires can wear unevenly, so check in several spots.  Many tires have wear indicators built into the tread, and are an indicator 2/32 of an inch.  Basically, if you are tread is even close to this indicator, it is time for new tires, period.  There is of course, one of the easiest tests, the coin test.  The quarter test is simply placing the quarter, top of George's head down.  If you can see the top of George's head, you are 4/32 of an inch, and you need to replace your tires VERY soon.  You have reached the point of minimizing your ability to stop, and are at a higher risk for hydroplaning.

You can also use a penny.  If you can see the top of Lincoln's head (facing down) your tires are completely worn out, and have reached state of very dangerous, your are now below 2/32nds, your ability to stop on wet pavement is to a point of dangerous (see visual below) and hydroplaning is imminent.  You need new tires.

Time to Wash It!

Last, and certainly not least, it is time for a car wash.  Give that ride a bath, and let it shake off the winter grunge, the deicer and sand can wreak havoc on its delicates, and it is time to get that off.  

If you are looking to give the kids something to do, or you enjoy it yourself, a little Dawn in warm water a soft cloth or sponge, and a hose is all you need.  Don't be afraid to rinse off that undercarriage, and wipe a layer away.  Your vehicle will thank you for it.

One Stop, and We Got You Covered!

The good news is you can get all of this handled at one stop at any of our locations.  When you stop in for an oil change, let your Service Advisor know what your basic driving habits are.  Let them know, if you just drive in town, short trips to the store, or play dates/school/sports, or if you are a road warrior.  Let them know if you are planning on a long road trip, your SA can guide you on what you need to do to extend the life of your vehicle, and to help make sure your vehicle is healthy.  

When you come in for that oil change, our team is going to do a quick inspection of your tires, let you know where you are at on tread depth, and wear and tear.  They are going to check all of your fluid levels, and do a battery check.  While they are at it, they are going to do to a quick visual inspection of your breaks and filters as well, and with possibly some exclusions*, we are going to wash it too.  Regular maintenance is your best bet for keeping you on the road.  

Be sure to like our various social media pages for discounts and coupons.  

You Can Count On Us!!

*exclusions:  all locations offer free car washes with service, or anytime for customers who purchased with us, however, certain conditions arise and we are unable to accommodate:  car wash failure or maintenance, at or below freezing temperatures, certain carriers, and rack systems can be damaged by the car wash.