Driving Tips Mansfield – Car Suggested Maintenance South Arlington –  Car Frame Repairs Fort Worth, Midlothian, Cedar Hill

Wet Driving Tips

  • Check your tires to see that they have the proper amount of tread.
  • Tires that offer maximum grip in wet weather are best; we are happy to make some recommendations.
  • Always drive with two hands.
  • Slow down before turning, and maintain a consistent speed throughout the turn.
  • While turning, don’t make any sudden steering wheel movements.
  • Only brake in a straight line before the turn, and do so gradually. Do not brake during the turn.
  • Significantly increase your following distance from other cars.
  • Turn off cruise control. If you’re driving on the highway and using cruise control, turn it off when it starts to rain. You’ll be more in tune with the conditions around you when it’s off. You may need to reduce your speed quickly, and that’s easier to do when your foot is already controlling vehicle speed and you’re paying careful attention to the road conditions.
  • Drive in the tracks of a car ahead of you. If the car in front of you isn’t making tracks in the water, that means they’re hydroplaning! If you’ve matched their speed, then slow down by letting your foot off the gas and then tap the brakes gently to ensure you have good contact with the roadway.
  • If hydroplaning, do not accelerate or brake suddenly. Keep your foot lightly on the gas and steer the car forward until your tires regain traction.

    RECOMMENDED SPRING SERVICES

    Breathe easier with a new cabin air filter!

    If you change your air filters at home, have you considered your car’s cabin air filter? Most people don’t think about the filter in your car, but it helps protect those with allergies from airborne particles. It also helps keep the interior of your vehicle clean and fresh and it purifies the air in your passenger compartment by filtering pollen, dust and other contaminants.

    How did your wipers work the last time it rained?

    Be clear, be safe. Check your wiper blades today.

    Is your vehicle about to have a stroke?

    Your vehicle’s engine and cooling system are like its heart and arteries! Deposits can build up, restricting the flow of liquids vital to the life of your car. Be sure to follow the manufacturers’ recommendations on how often to flush the cooling system to ensure it works properly.

    Do you say a little prayer before you pass?

    In a passing situation, you want your engine operating at peak performance. Whether you accelerate smoothly or sputter and strain past that truck depends a lot on a clean fuel system. Consider using a fuel system cleaner to ensure your system is working optimally. There are typically recommended intervals in your car’s maintenance manual.

    SUMMER DRIVING TIPS

    Tire Pressure Tips

    Make sure you check your tire pressure regularly (including the spare) — at least once per month and before every long trip — and keep it at the level recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

    The correct cold inflation pressure for your tires is listed on the vehicle label on the doorpost, fuel door, glove box or in the owners’ manual. “Cold inflation pressure” refers to the pressure in a tire that has not been driven for at least three hours. As tires warm during driving, it is normal for pressure to build up. Never reduce air pressure when tires are hot.

    The tire pressure listed on your sidewalls is the maximum pressure and is not intended to serve as notification of the correct pressure.

    Under-inflation creates excessive stress and heat and may lead to tire failure. It is also important to guard against over inflation, which can cause uneven wear, plus handling and stopping problems.

    Vehicles equipped with Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) can help motorists detect loss of inflation pressure. Federal regulations require TPMS to warn drivers when tires are 25% under-inflated. For many vehicles, this warning may be too late to prevent damage caused by under inflation. TPMS units are NOT a replacement for monthly tire pressure checks with a gauge.

    Replace your air filter

    It’s beneficial to replace your air filter twice a year. You can often do this yourself, or the technician were you get your oil changed will often check this for you as well.

    Brake Inspection

    It’s a good idea to have your brakes inspected twice a year just to be sure everything is up to snuff. This includes checking your brake fluid as well.

    Don’t be left stranded!

    Corrosion is very likely to build up during winter weather driving, but hot weather is actually harder on your battery than the cold. Most auto parts stores will perform a battery test free of charge.

    RECOMMENDED FALL SERVICES

    Tire Tread Tips

    Special attention should be paid to the tread on your tires, especially for the gray, rainy days that occur in the fall. Without sufficient tread depth, your vehicle can’t properly grip the road. Under wet weather conditions, insufficient tread depth can cause a vehicle to hydroplane — skim over the surface of the road with little or no traction, which can lead to a crash. So check your tread. All you need is a Lincoln penny.
    Insert Abe’s head into the tread in a couple of spots on each tire. If you can see the entire top of his head, your tread is less than one-sixteenth of an inch deep — below the level where you can count on it in slippery conditions. It should be replaced.
    When the tread is worn down to 2/32 of an inch, tires must be replaced.
    All tires have “wear bars,” which are small, raised bars of rubber in the groove that indicate when tires are worn out. If your tread is worn down to the wear bars, it’s time for a new tire.

    Radiator Flush

    The coolant in your radiator doesn’t last forever. Over time it can break down and start to corrode the inside of your radiator. This can lead to cooling problems and radiator repair. A radiator flush once a year is cheap insurance against radiator repairs.

    Check your headlights

    Sometimes you don’t notice that you have a bulb out. Check your vehicles external lights frequently to see if you need to replace a bulb. Not only is it unsafe to drive without proper lights, but you can get a ticket as well!

    Belts & Hoses

    Have belts and hoses checked to ensure that belts are not worn and fittings are tight.

    WINTER DRIVING TIPS

    Winter Weather Tips

    Ensure that the battery is charged and that contacts are clean.

    Check the tire pressure. Cold weather can reduce tire pressure by 1 psi for every 10-degree drop in temperature.

    Cold weather also makes tire rubber less pliable, which can cause air leaks. Check your tire sidewalls for signs of damage or cracking.

    If you have a spare tire in the trunk, check it for damage and pressure as well.

    Remember that in winter weather, stopping is often the hard part, and it’s the tires that do the stopping. So take proper care of them.

    Headed up north? Perhaps to the Rockies for some winter recreation? Keep essential tools on board. Be sure to leave room in your vehicle for essential winter items, including a spare tire, ice scraper, hammer, deicer, flashlight, small broom, etc. in case of an unexpected need.

    Check your antifreeze

    Your antifreeze (the juice that goes in your radiator) is an essential part of your car’s winter protection. Your car contains a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze. Make sure the level is full and the mixture is close to 50/50. You can buy a tester for around $5. You did remember to perform a radiator flush last spring, didn’t you?

    Check your windshield washer fluid

    You’ll be using lots of washer fluid as you try to keep your windshield crystal clear. *Tip: Don’t fill your washer fluid reservoir with anything except washer fluid, it won’t freeze!

    Inspect your spark plug wires

    Cracked up plug wires affect performance, gas mileage and general reliability. Be sure yours are in top shape.

    AREAS IN DALLAS / FORT WORTH METROPLEX WE SERVICE

    Mansfield

    South Arlington

    Fort Worth

    Midlothian

    Cedar Hill