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Preparing Your Vehicle For Towing
Preparing your vehicle for towing. The long hauls that come with summer and family road trips with the camper, trailer or boat. Get your car products ready so your car will be ready for your summer driving and towing.
(ARA) – Warm sunny days mean vacations or weekend getaways, and many families take to the road with a camper in tow. Whether you are towing a camper, trailer or boat – regardless of the size – it means you will want to take steps to make sure the vehicle you are using for towing is ready for the haul.
If you are purchasing a new vehicle specifically for towing, consider adding the optional “Towing” or “Camping” packages that are offered. These options are installed by the automaker and will be covered under the factory warranty. If your towing will be primarily on pavement, it is recommended to buy a two-wheel drive model instead of a four-wheel drive that is heavier and has a lower towing capability than a two-wheel drive vehicle.
Springs And Shocks
Heavy-duty springs are considered an aftermarket improvement, but are worth the investment if you do a lot of towing. Find a reputable spring and suspension shop to have the heavy-duty springs installed for rear or front suspensions.
It’s also a good idea to outfit your vehicle with the best shock absorbers available for towing. Good shocks will keep your vehicle stable and reduce sway should you encounter potholes or rough pavement.
Upgrade Your Lubricants
Towing can cause increased stress on your vehicle and force the engine to run hotter as a result. Anything you can do to keep those temperatures down will extend the life of your tow vehicle. One simple and inexpensive way to prepare your tow vehicle is to change and upgrade your fluids and lubricants.
Spring Car Care Tips For Drivers
Spring car care tips for drivers looking to get the most from their vehicles. Spring and Summer are always popular times to drive more, whether it’s on a road trip or an evening drive to the shore.
Motor Oil Is A Must
Cold temperatures can wreak havoc on an engine if it is not cared for properly, as cold startups are among the most severe conditions that engines undergo. Drivers need to protect their vehicles with a quality motor oil to endure the varying temperatures as most of the country changes from cooler to warmer temperatures. The changing of seasons serves as an excellent reminder of the importance of using high quality motor oils in your engine.
As the weather changes, conditions on the road also change. Historically, more drivers take to the highway as the temperatures increase, resulting in increased traffic congestion and heavy stop-and-go traffic conditions. Under these extreme conditions, drivers need a motor oil that will protect their engines from heat and wear.
Make A Date To Inflate
As the weather gets warmer and temperatures increase, tire pressure changes. Tires should be checked monthly to make sure that they are inflated to manufacturers’ recommendations, which can typically be found on the vehicle door placard or in the glove box. Be sure to avoid over-inflating the tires, as this can lead to premature or irregular tire wear.
Clean Your Fuel System
Many drivers use a fuel system cleaner in the winter to combat the cold weather conditions and to ease the stress on their engines during cold startups. Continuing the use of that fuel system cleaner after the colder months is also a good idea, as gunk and deposits collect in the fuel system. It is essential that motorists take the proper steps to make sure their cars are fully prepared for the spring drive, and use quality automotive products to help the vehicle run the way it was intended. For instance, motor oils that do not meet required specs can cause costly engine repairs and ultimately could void the vehicle’s warranty. Additionally, a vehicle using low-quality oils may be more likely to break down which is not only inconvenient, but it also potentially threatens your ability to get to the places you need to be – like your job.
Get Your Car In Shape For Summer
As the weather heats up, travelers and vacationers will surely take to the open road to enjoy some fun in the sun. But before packing up the car for that long road trip, beach outing, or a possible overnight drive to the nearest nature preserve, owners should tune up their vehicles, especially after the wear and tear of winter.
Start by washing your vehicle to remove dirt buildup from the winter. This gives drivers the opportunity to inspect the paint for nicks and scrapes. Wash dirt and grime from your wheel wells to avoid rusting. Clean the windshield and check for cracks. This is also a good time to inspect brake lights, turn signals and high beams. (There’s nothing fun about driving at night with one headlight.) Don’t forget to give your vehicle a good waxing, which will give it some sheen and help protect the paint.
Getting on the Highway
* Use good driving habits. Accelerating quickly and stopping abruptly can prematurely wear out your vehicle’s engine, transmission, tires and brakes.
* To improve your fuel economy, try to maintain a constant speed in order to reduce strain on your vehicle. Use the cruise control setting when it is safe.
* Check Batteries. Batteries can fail at any time of the year. Although drivers tend to think they fail more often in the winter, they can also fail in the summer. A professional technician can maintain routine battery care, like scraping away corrosion and tightening connections.
* Caught in traffic with a rising temperature gauge? To eliminate some engine heat and help prevent your vehicle from overheating, put the vehicle in neutral and give it a little gas.
Just like you invest the time to stay in shape, in your haste to get on the road, don’t forget to take the time to make certain your vehicle is up to the task of safely hauling your family to your vacation destination.
Car Care Advice
Get car care advice from a woman and find the automotive advice you need to know to improve your vehicle’s longevity.
There are a number of car care considerations that can protect the performance and longevity of your vehicle, beginning with motor oil – your vehicle’s life blood. You can save time and aggravation by choosing your motor oil wisely. Using the wrong type and grade – or a low-quality oil that does not meet industry standards – in your vehicle may impact fuel economy and engine performance.
Following this simple checklist of tips can also help keep your vehicle running longer, safer and more cost-effectively:
Pump High-quality Gasoline
Not all gasolines are the same, and no matter what grade of fuel a vehicle requires, it’s important to use a high-quality gasoline. Industry research confirms that a clean engine can result in better fuel efficiency, reduced emissions and overall optimal engine performance. Fortunately, keeping the engine clean of performance-robbing “gunk” helps it perform better. It’s as easy as choosing the right gasoline. For example, Shell’s Nitrogen-Enriched Gasolines contain a patented cleaning system that not only cleans, but protects critical engine parts against gunk to help improve engine performance as you drive.
Don’t Lose Your Grip
Tires are a car’s only connection to the road, so making sure they are in good shape and properly inflated is essential for automotive safety, optimum driving performance and potential cost savings, including better fuel mileage. Tires should be inflated to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations printed on the vehicle door placard or in the owner’s manual. Properly inflated tires can improve gas mileage by around 3.3 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Let The Car Breathe Free
Check that the air filter isn’t clogged. According to the Department of Transportation, replacing a clogged air filter on cars with fuel-injected, computer-controlled gasoline engines can improve acceleration time by 6 to 11 percent. This kind of engine is prevalent on most gasoline cars manufactured from the early 1980s onward. Tests suggest that replacing a clogged air filter on an older car with a carbureted engine may help to maximize fuel economy 2 to 6 percent under normal replacement conditions, or up to 14 percent if the filter is so clogged that it significantly affects drivability.
You Can’t Avoid What You Don’t See
Ninety percent of all driving decisions are made based upon visual input. Make sure you have a clear view of the other vehicles on the road and potentially hazardous obstacles. Inspect your wiper blades and replace them with a quality brand blade, like Rain-X, if they are cracked, torn, cut or streaking, so you can see clearly.
Regular Tune-ups Pay Off Over The Long Term
Before taking a long trip, visit a trusted professional and make sure your car is properly tuned. Depending on the kind of repair and how well it is performed, regular vehicle maintenance can improve gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, according to the Department of Energy.
Purchasing a New Vehicle
Are you in the market for a new car or truck? There are several options for obtaining a good auto loan with an extremely good interest rate.
Before you go shopping for a new car you want to grab a copy of your credit report to make sure that you are in good standing. If you see any errors in the report contact the creditor and credit report company by phone and advise them of the mistakes. It is always a good idea to follow up in writing, keeping a copy for yourself.
Once you are armed with your report you are now ready to go shopping. You will be in a position to ask for a good rate and the dealership can’t argue with your new proof. By just having a good credit report you can easily obtain a $15,000 car loan with a low interest rate, maybe even zero percent, versus a customer with a bad credit score that will only be offered upwards of 10% or more.
Before shopping in person, go shopping over the internet; see what the options are for applying online for a loan. Sometimes it is certainly faster to apply online instead of at the dealership. This can save you several hours. You may be able to secure a loan at a much cheaper rate than the dealership would be prepared to give you. Shopping online can prove to be a good hassle free experience and can be done on your own schedule.
If you have qualified for a loan the sales rep at the dealership will view you as a cash buying customer which puts you into a good negotiating position. You can hold the upper hand.
Look at your options for buying new versus a used vehicle. Other than just price, consider the warranty options. Many times new vehicles have lower interest rates, so your monthly payment may not be that much different and could prove just to be as affordable. Consider repairs and maintenance when purchasing used, it may be worth getting the new car! A new set of tires can cost you upward of $500, so if the car you are looking at has tires that need to be replaced, think about putting that money into your new payment.
Rushing into any purchase is never recommended. Take the time to do your due diligence and research and your shopping experience will be a positive one.