Spring is here. The good news is that your car made it through another winter. The bad news is that, if you’re like most people, you’ve neglected it the whole time. That’s why the powers that be have orchestrated a National Car Care Month. Sure, it might be a bit kitschy or a way of pushing the product, but it comes at a good time. April is warmer, which makes being outside with your car much more agreeable. It also comes before summer weather presents its own issues—hot roads can be particularly hard on tires. And it is not until May or June that most people begin long road trips to see places, friends, and family.
Most people know that keeping up with your car maintenance can save a lot of money. Something as simple and inexpensive as a regular oil change, if ignored, can cost thousands of dollars in damages. Under-serviced cars also run a greater risk of getting in accidents. In the US alone, poor car maintenance causes thousands of wrecks each year, with over $2 billion in damages. We know all this, but we also have busy lives, and we get so used to the car just working. And so we easily forget that it also needs some of our time.
On the bright side, if you do keep things up to date, your car can likely go for 200,000 miles—that’s more than eight times around the world. Taking the time to look things over is well worth it. So here’s our tribute to National Car Care Month: we’ve created a quick checklist for you, something you can use to examine your own car.
- Check for any indicator lights on your dashboard
- Check to make sure your tires are at the right pressure (if you haven’t done this in a while, they probably have lost some air)
- Top off your Windshield Washer Fluid
- Check the life of your oil (how long has it been since you last had it changed?)
- Check Automatic Transmission Fluid
- Inspect Battery Cables, belts, filters, and exhaust hoses
- Inspect Power Steering Fluid
- Inspect and possibly replace Wiper Blades
- Lubricate Chassis
- Examine and test brakes
- Check the cabin air filter
- Inspect coolant
- Check steering and suspension and wheel alignment
Some of these maintenance issues are simpler than others. We are always ready to advise, counsel, and support you in your car care. If you feel uncertain about the condition of your car, April is a good time to bring it in for a free check-up.
SPECIAL OFFER:
- $30.95 Oil Change
- Free Tire Rotation
- Free Alignment Check
The coupon is valid for up to 5 quarts of 5W30 or 5W20 synthetic blend motor oil and oil filter on most passenger cars and light trucks.
Not valid with any other offer. Expires April 31, 2016.
