Prolonging Your Engine Life: 7 Easy Suggestions
If you're buying a car at the Lake of the Ozarks, chances are you're counting on that car to last you for several years. At the very minimum, it should last you throughout the duration of your loan. As many car loans are now being offered for seventy-two and even eighty-four month increments, prolonging your vehicle's engine life is becoming even more critical. Following these simple but important suggestions can make a world of difference!
1. Change The Oil Regularly
Oil is the lubricant that keeps all of your engine's parts running smoothly and easily. When your oil levels run low, some of these parts rub together, creating added friction that can be hard on an engine. Most vehicles range from 3,000-5,000 miles, but your owner's manual will tell you exactly how frequently to change your oil.
2. Keep Your Fluid Levels Full
Changing your oil regularly is critical, but it's not the only fluid-related maintenance tip you need to follow. In addition to oil, your engine relies heavily on several other fluids to keep it running smoothly, such as power steering fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and water or coolant. If you get your oil changed at our vehicle service department at the Lake of the Ozarks, we will check these fluid levels for you at the same time.
3. Flush The Radiator
"Flushing the radiator" means draining all of the coolant from the system and replacing it with new fluid. Impurities can build up in the coolant over time, so flushing the system helps remove these impurities to prevent them from causing damage to your engine. As a general rule, you should flush the radiator every year.
4. Change Your Air Filter
You may have heard that you have to change the filter in your home's HVAC system every few months. Did you know that your engine also has an air filter that should be changed every 12,000 miles or so? You can do this at home, or you can always bring your vehicle to our service department so we can take care of it for you.
5. Drive Strategically
Driving too much can be hard on a vehicle's engine, but driving too little can be equally tough. Driving your car for extremely short trips can be hard on the engine (as well as other parts of your vehicle, such as the muffler). Letting your car for sit for a solid week or two at a time can also reduce engine life, however. Your best bet is to shoot the gap by combining errands so you can do a greater amount of driving fewer times per week.
6. Monitor Your Tire Pressure
Keeping your tire pressure at the appropriate levels offers several benefits, including higher fuel efficiency and greater protection from the bumps and uneven sections of the road that your vehicle drives over every day. This added protection will help reduce the damage that uneven roads can do to your car. Don't forget to rotate your tires regularly as well!
7. Drive Conservatively
Conservative drivers take their time accelerating, begin breaking before there is an immediate need to slow down, and take turns at a slow, even speed. Aggressive drivers, on the other hand, accelerate and decelerate quickly and may take turns at increased speeds. These abrupt motions are hard on your vehicle's engines and other components, and may result in more frequent (and more expensive) maintenance and repairs.
Be Careful Out There!
Following these suggestions should greatly prolong your vehicle's engine life. If you have any questions about the process or if you would like assistance with your vehicle service at the Lake of the Ozarks, don't hesitate to give us a call or stop by and see us at the dealership. We would be happy to help you in any way we can!
Hulett Chevrolet Buick GMC
That's The Way We Do It At Hulett!
513 N. Business Route 5
Camdenton, MO 65020
www.ShopHulett.com
Sales: 573.317.4191
Service: 573.317.4195
1. Change The Oil Regularly
Oil is the lubricant that keeps all of your engine's parts running smoothly and easily. When your oil levels run low, some of these parts rub together, creating added friction that can be hard on an engine. Most vehicles range from 3,000-5,000 miles, but your owner's manual will tell you exactly how frequently to change your oil.
2. Keep Your Fluid Levels Full
Changing your oil regularly is critical, but it's not the only fluid-related maintenance tip you need to follow. In addition to oil, your engine relies heavily on several other fluids to keep it running smoothly, such as power steering fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and water or coolant. If you get your oil changed at our vehicle service department at the Lake of the Ozarks, we will check these fluid levels for you at the same time.
3. Flush The Radiator
"Flushing the radiator" means draining all of the coolant from the system and replacing it with new fluid. Impurities can build up in the coolant over time, so flushing the system helps remove these impurities to prevent them from causing damage to your engine. As a general rule, you should flush the radiator every year.
4. Change Your Air Filter
You may have heard that you have to change the filter in your home's HVAC system every few months. Did you know that your engine also has an air filter that should be changed every 12,000 miles or so? You can do this at home, or you can always bring your vehicle to our service department so we can take care of it for you.5. Drive Strategically
Driving too much can be hard on a vehicle's engine, but driving too little can be equally tough. Driving your car for extremely short trips can be hard on the engine (as well as other parts of your vehicle, such as the muffler). Letting your car for sit for a solid week or two at a time can also reduce engine life, however. Your best bet is to shoot the gap by combining errands so you can do a greater amount of driving fewer times per week.
6. Monitor Your Tire Pressure
Keeping your tire pressure at the appropriate levels offers several benefits, including higher fuel efficiency and greater protection from the bumps and uneven sections of the road that your vehicle drives over every day. This added protection will help reduce the damage that uneven roads can do to your car. Don't forget to rotate your tires regularly as well!
7. Drive Conservatively
Conservative drivers take their time accelerating, begin breaking before there is an immediate need to slow down, and take turns at a slow, even speed. Aggressive drivers, on the other hand, accelerate and decelerate quickly and may take turns at increased speeds. These abrupt motions are hard on your vehicle's engines and other components, and may result in more frequent (and more expensive) maintenance and repairs.
Be Careful Out There!
Following these suggestions should greatly prolong your vehicle's engine life. If you have any questions about the process or if you would like assistance with your vehicle service at the Lake of the Ozarks, don't hesitate to give us a call or stop by and see us at the dealership. We would be happy to help you in any way we can!
Hulett Chevrolet Buick GMCThat's The Way We Do It At Hulett!
513 N. Business Route 5
Camdenton, MO 65020
www.ShopHulett.com
Sales: 573.317.4191
Service: 573.317.4195
Comments
Post a Comment