Here a few tips and points to driving your vehicle this upcoming Spring/Summer.
Every change of the seasons there are important items and systems to check on your vehicle to make sure it continues to run properly. With Spring and then Summer just around the corner here are some easy and important items to check on your vehicle on your vehicle:
The most important system to check is the Coolant system. Most vehicles these days come with a closed coolant system. These will contain a coolant reservoir under the hood of the vehicle. This reservoir will have markings on it for maximum and minimum levels of coolant the car should have. Make sure that you are checking at the proper time marked on the reservior, meaning if it calls for the vehicle to be hot or cold. This means whether the vehicle is up to running temperature or has not been running. DO NOT open any part of this system when the vehicle is hot, as the pressure built up can cause steam and hot coolant to come out. DO NOT trust your vehicle to tell you when the coolant is low. Most vehicles come with a sensor to say coolant low, but sensors can fail, and this is an easy thing to check.
Check your tire pressure. Increased temperatures in the Summer months means that the air inside the tires will expand increasing the tire pressure. Inside the driver’s door is a sticker that will tell you the proper tire pressures that your tires should read. Make sure that the tires have the proper amount of pressure as this can affect your control of the vehicle, the amount of traction the tires have, and your gas mileage.
Check the last time you got an oil change. Oil changes on most used vehicles should be done every 3 months or 3,000 miles whichever comes first. Checking the oil in vehicles in generally very simple. It involves taking out the dipstick marked oil under the hood while the vehicle is not running and cool. The dipstick will have markings on it for what the level the The oil level should fall inside the markings, if it is too low or too full consider getting a oil change. DO NOT drive the vehicle low on oil, this can cause motor damage. Make sure the vehicle has oil before heading to your nearest mechanic for an oil change.
When was the last time the air filter in the vehicle was changed? It is recommended to be changed every 12,000 miles. Dirty air filters can decrease gas mileage by as much as 10%. They are inexpensive to replace and can make a difference in how your vehicle runs.
If your air conditioning is not working properly it could be a simple fix. Auto parts store now sell small bottles of freon that can be used to charge the air conditioning system. Check with the store to make sure the fluid is compatible with your vehicle before using. If this does not fix the problem have a mechanic check the air conditioning system.
I hope this was helpful for you, if you have any questions feel free to ask a manager at either of our City Select Auto Sales locations:
Troy Casey – Camden location – 856-962-7770
Anthony Salkauski – Burlington location – 609-877-0005
