VEHICLE CARE TIPS

At Newmans Automotive, we strive to educate our customers about vehicles and proper preventative maintenance. Here’s some of our best advice for keeping your vehicle running smoothly and your maintenance costs low.

Warm up your vehicle

On very cold days – which Canadians know plenty about – it’s recommended that you warm your vehicle up by running it for 1 – 2 minutes (gasoline engines) or 5 – 10 minutes (diesel engines). The cold can be very hard on the internal parts of the engine, leading to excessive wear and permanent damage. Allowing the engine to run even just a few minute will build the necessary heat to let the oil properly circulate around the engine. Some added benefits to this practice are better fuel economy, and better shifting and longevity in an automatic transmission. Of course, remember that warming up your vehicle is only necessary in cold weather, and idling with no purpose contributes to unnecessary carbon emissions.

Take care of your wipers

In the winter months, before you turn off your vehicle, make make sure your wipers have been turned off and are fully at rest. After long periods of parking, carefully lift the arms to free the sticking blades. Don’t forget to unstick your rear window wiper on most vans and SUVs – you want to help prevent damage to the wiper assembly and help the blades last longer. When cleaning the windshield, always take care around the wiper arms as many vehicles have wash jets that are commonly knocked off or damaged. Gently remove any ice and snow from under the arms. Lastly, make sure you’re using a winter-rated washer fluid as the summer fluid (often pink), will freeze.

How often should I change my oil?

Vehicle manufacturers hae varying specifications on how often oil should be changed. Most oil manufacturers recommend to have your oil changed at 5000km and to upgrade your oil filter for better quality. As the oil in the vehicle ages, it starts to break down and loses its ability to properly lubricate, cool, and prevent harmful deposits. This leads to accelerated wear that will compromise fuel economy, performance and oil consumption as well as cause additional emissions. Always have your oil replaced with the manufacturer-recommended viscosity and type as there are many different requirements for each make and model (example: synthetic vs. regular oil). An oil change is one of the most effective and cost-friendly forms of vehicle maintenance.

Are my brakes still OK?

Depending on the type of driving you do, it is recommended that you get a proper inspection of your complete braking system at least every 6 months and serviced once a year. Servicing your brakes may not mean that parts need replacing – it simply allows for disassembly so the mechanic can have a better look and to free up, clean and lubricate the moving parts. When the brake slides start to stick, it causes excessive and uneven wear, noise, dust on your rims, thumping or pulsating, overheating, and increases your stopping distance (this is very dangerous!). Every 2 years, you should have your brake fluid flushed. Fluid has the ability to retain moisture, which causes the fluid to break down and not properly do its job. Your brakes are used for many different tasks – ABS, traction control, and stability control to name a few. Some manufactures even apply the brake slightly in the rain to help keep them dry. Brakes are one of the most important systems on your vehicle, especially when it comes to road safety – so it’s definitely worthwhile to have them regularly checked out. If you hear any squeaking or grinding when you brake, best get them in for a service as soon as you can.