Summer Vehicle Prep Michigan

No matter what season it is, changing your vehicle's engine oil is critical to its health and performance. During the hotter months, however, having clean oil running through your engine is even more important. This is because older engine oil is susceptible to high temperatures, which cause it to thicken. This compromises the oil's protective properties and can harm the engine if not addressed properly. Moreover, dirty engine oil can lead to more fuel consumption, as the engine isn't being properly lubricated, forcing it to work harder. Under normal driving conditions, the expert service technicians here at Dick Scott Motor Mall recommend changing your vehicle's oil every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. However, if you're towing a boat or camper or taking your vehicle off-roading, or putting it under other strenuous conditions, it's best practice to stay on the lower end of that mileage range. Different makes, models, and engines have different recommendations for oil change intervals, so you should consult your owner's manual or contact the service center here at Dick Scott Motor Mall for advice on how to maintain your specific vehicle. 

Your car's battery may be a small part of a complex machine, but its importance cannot be understated. In fact, without your battery, your car won't even start. Therefore, it is important to ensure your battery is in good working condition all year round. Our knowledgeable service personnel recommend testing your vehicle's power output twice a year to ensure it continues to turn over your engine reliably. A battery's power output is measured in cold cranking amps (CCA), and each vehicle has an exact CCA requirement to ensure the engine turns over smoothly. This depends primarily on the engine's size. When a battery tests below this threshold, it can lead to slower or even failed engine starts. If you notice that your vehicle takes slightly longer than normal to turn over, you should bring it to the experts here in the Dick Scott Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram service center to have its CCA tested. Even if you're not experiencing any slow turnover times, you should still inspect your battery's terminals for any corrosion, which can lead to resistance within the circuit, disrupting the electrical current.  

Air conditioning is a summertime essential, especially in your vehicle. There's nothing worse than getting in your car after spending time in the heat to find out your car isn't blowing out cold air. As the temperatures begin to rise here in Michigan, it is a good time to test your car's air conditioning system. The easiest way to do this is to start your engine and let it run for a few minutes with the air set to its coldest setting and the fans at their highest setting. If you get consistent cold air, you're ready for a summer of cool, comfortable drives. However, if you notice the air isn't as cold as it once was or intermittently switches between cold and warm air, bring it into our service center to have your car's cooling system examined. In most cases, warm air means the cooling system is in need of a refrigerant recharge, which we're happy to provide in our service center. However, if the warm air persists, one of our experts will investigate the issue further and make the necessary repairs to get your A/C functioning properly again. 

There are a few other important maintenance items to pay attention to as the weather heats up. First, you should take care of your tires. They should be checked to ensure they have adequate tread remaining. Additionally, our experts recommend getting your tires rotated with each oil change. By routinely rotating your tires, you can ensure that they wear evenly and also extend their lifespan. This is because the front wheels take a majority of your vehicle's weight due to the location of the engine and transmission, your car's heaviest components. The more pressure on the tires, the faster they wear down. By rotating your tires, the wheels will take turns taking the majority of the vehicle's weight, wearing the tread evenly, and slowing the tread wear. Another important thing to remember in the summer is to have your vehicle's fluids checked. When you bring your vehicle to us, an expert will inspect your car's coolant, power steering fluid, brake fluid, and washer fluid. Plus, if your vehicle is over 30,000 miles and hasn't had its gearbox fluids changed, they will be inspected as well. If any of these fluids show signs of their age, our experts will recommend the necessary course of action. 

Summer is a great time to take on new adventures, but having a malfunctioning vehicle can put a damper on those plans. That's why we recommend bringing your vehicle to the service center here at Dick Scott Motor Mall for preventative maintenance. When you bring your vehicle to the service center here at Dick Scott Motor Mall, you ensure that it is getting top-notch care from certified experts. To help get your vehicle ready for all your summertime adventures, use the contact form below this page to schedule an appointment with our service center. We look forward to serving you!