At Freeman Grapevine, we know that owning and caring for a new or used car can be expensive! There is absolutely no doubt about that. In fact, buying a car is the 2nd largest investment you could ever make behind purchasing a home or business, of course. There is no other way around the costs involved in owning a new or used car in Dallas or Fort Worth and taking care of a new or used car can get pricey. So, the question is, “Is there maintenance or gimmick you can probably live without?”

(1) Gas Additives – The manufacturer of your vehicle will specify what kind of fuel your car needs. Whether it be regular unleaded or diesel it more than likely already has the additives that you car needs in it. Also if your new or used car requires regular unleaded and you put premium or mid grade fuel in your car, you’re not getting better gas for your car, you’re just wasting money.

(2) Oil Additives – Once again the manufacturer will specify exactly which type of oil you need in your new or used car. Putting in additives to an oil they specified for you to use could severely damage your new or used car. Don’t add anything unless the oil you put in was not the oil they told you to use and it’s missing something. Do you really know what’s in that bottle your about to pour into your car? It could be harmless but it could seriously damage your engine if it has solvents in it that can dilute the oil and ruin its ability to protect your engine. What if you accidentally not knowingly over fill it?

(3) Those High Speed Tires – In most states the highest legal speed limit is 70 but most of our highways are 60 or sometimes 65. In the US and in Ohio there is definitely nowhere you can cruise at 100 and not get at least a ticket or possibly even jail. A lot of cars come with tires that are made for safe travel at a continuous speed of let’s say 60. Unless you are driving on the Autobahn, or are a NASCAR driver, you’re just wasting money.

(4) Extended Warranties – Just make sure you do some research, add everything up, and weigh your options. Sometimes the cost of the warranty may out weigh the cost of some repairs later on. If it makes you feel more comfortable by having an extended warranty then by all means go for it, they really can come in handy when an unexpected repair is needed. Just make sure you read the warranty very closely and you understand everything.

If you have anything else you think should be added to this list, just drop me a line. Let’s not forget though that you car is a machine that need to be well maintained. The products I listed above are intended to improve the performance of your vehicle, however, in many cases, most drivers just don’t understand what they need and don’t need for their cars. Think you might need something special for your car, Freeman Grapevine can help.

In the past few years of maintaining this blog for Freeman Grapevine, I’m pretty certain I’ve written about deciphering the numbers found on your tire walls, and now I want to touch on another important feature about tires. Tire pressure!

The bottom line is, that regularly checking tire pressure is key to having a safe and well maintained vehicle.  How do you know what amount of pressure your tires should have?  Every vehicle that has been manufactured in the last twenty years or so has a placard located generally inside the driver’s side door jam that indicates the proper cold tire pressure.  The vehicle’s user manual also usually indicates the correct cold tire pressure amount.

Often, individuals fill their tires to the pressure shown on the PSI level of the actual sidewall of the tire itself.  This number is usually the maximum pressure allowable for the tire and not what the manufacturer of the vehicle recommends.  Tire manufactures print this maximum PSI tire pressure on the sidewall of the tire to show the maximum pressure the tire can hold, but because tires are installed on a wide variety of vehicles, and every vehicle has a different recommended tire pressure, you should go off of your vehicle’s specifications and not the tire’s maximum capacity.  It can get a little confusing, so you’re more than welcome to swing by and chat with one of our service guys to find out what exactly your tire pressure should be.

It is important to go off of the tire’s cold psi pressure.  A tire “warms” up once being driven, and once a tire warms up, the pressure will increase, but the recommended levels are based off of a cold pressure reading.  If your tire pressure is 5 psi below the recommended level at a cold level reading, but then reads at the recommended level after driving to the gas station to fill up the tire because the tire has warmed up, you should still add an additional 5 psi as the pressure will be at the correct amount once the tires cool down again.

Another plus to regularly checking tire pressure is that it helps improve gas mileage.  And now that gas prices seems to be on the rise, this is a great way to get the most bang for your gasoline dollar.

There are many maintenance techniques to keep your vehicle performing at its best, and don’t forget to frequently check your tire pressure as this is one of the most important and easiest maintenance activities you can do.  If you  have any questions just post below or see us here at Freeman Grapevine and one of our guys will show you how to check tire pressure.

Although it doesn’t happen often, it can and Freeman Grapevine has seen it: Cars involved in accidents because of brake failures. How do you know that your brakes a failing? If you’ve gone a while between tune ups you are going to want to have your brakes checked ASAP. One leading indicator that your brakes are failing is the feel of the brake pedal. If your car pulls left or right when braking, or if the front end shakes, then these are definite signs of excessive brake wear. If the brake pedal in your car begins to feel spongy, it could be a sign that air has entered the brake system, or fluid is low. Do not ignore these warning signs!

A spongy brake pedal, together with a decrease in brake fluid, may also indicate brake wear, so when you check the brake fluid reservoir, make sure it’s topped off. If not, then brake fluid is most probably remaining at the wheel to fill the space caused by wear. Many vehicles purchased from car auctions experience this kind of problems because of being stocked for a long time in car garage or showrooms. Simply replacing the brake fluid and letting it flow throughout the wheel by pumping the brake pedal a few times before your run the used automobile helps in ensuring safety for you and your passengers.

Many new cars have ABS (Automatic Braking System) which initiates a rapid- fire pumping sequence to the brakes, keeping the car straight during sudden or hard braking. If the ABS light illuminates on your instrument panel, then it’s likely that the wheel sensors have detected excessive build-up of metal particles from the brake system. Most cars are designed to shut down the ABS when excessive particle build-up occurs, but a shutdown ABS does not prevent you from stopping, it just means that the ABS feature isn’t working.

Wheels should be pulled and brakes checked once a year by an experienced brake specialist. At Freeman Grapevine, we have experts who can fit your new car with high quality, high performance braking components. Whether it’s used car or not.

Also keep in mind, brake fluid absorbs moisture in the system and becomes acidic after about two years. Check your owner’s manual or call us to see what kind of brakes your car has and how they are adjusted. .

Remember, how and where you drive will greatly influence when your brakes must be replaced. If you have any questions about your brakes, come and Freeman Grapevine.

If I’ve said it once, I’ve Said it 1,000 times. Oil keeps your car running at peak performance. Dirty oil can cause problems down the road, so developing a routine schedule will help prolong the life of your car immensely. Freeman Grapeveine want’s you to know that changing your new Buick or GMC’s oil is one of those things that you need to be sure to get done regularly to help maintain the operations of your car’s engine. The motor oil keeps your engine lubricated, and all the major components working smoothly. Over time, constant heat and pressure in your engine will start to turn your motor oil into a dirty sludge, which is why you need to change your oil every 3,000 miles or three months. Of course, a lot of drivers will go past this mark, or simply forget about changing their oil. 5,000….7,000 miles roll by and the next thing you know you are stuck with an engine that won’t crank.

If you have a new GMC or Buick, then you should get in the habit of getting regular and on time oil changes. Oil technology has changed a lot over the last few decades and there are more choices than ever to choose what goes into your car. From synthetic to conventional, high mileage to high performance, you can now choose a motor oil that will keep your car running longer and smoother. So what oil should you choose to put in your car? Your owner’s manual will have the listing for the correct viscosity for your car, so this is the place to start. A lot of people don’t know what the numbers mean for their oil. It has to do with the viscosity at certain temperatures. For instance, 5W-20 means that the thickness rating is 5 in cold weather, 20 in warm weather, and the “W” means it is specified to work in wintry conditions.

Now that you know what rating of oil to use, it is up to you to decide what to put in your engine. If you are a high volume driver, then you should probably look into oils that are made to go longer between oil changes. If your car has over 75,000 miles, then you should look at high mileage oils that help keep your engine clean. When it comes to synthetic versus conventional, it is entirely up to you. Synthetic oil will not damage your car, even if you are replacing conventional oil.

Remember to start getting into a routine an bring your car, truck or SUV by Freeman Grapevine for it’s oil change, and don’t be afraid to talk to whoever is performing the change about the best oil for you. Changing your oil on a regular basis will prolong engine wear and curb any other potential oil/lubrication problems that can arise from poorly maintained engine.

It seem that debunking myths has become one of my favorite things to do lately. If you’ve kept up with Dallas GMC Dealer, Freeman Grapevine, you know that I’ve touched on gasoline myths and electric car myths recently. In continuing with this little series I’ve started, I want to share my favorite cars myths of all –maintenance myths. I think these are my favorite because they are the most common. They’re also the most important because you may think you are doing what’s best for your car when in reality, you might be compromising your safety and your wallet. That being said, let’s not waste anytime.

Maintenance Myths

Myth: Engine oil should be changed every 3,000 miles.
Reality: Despite what oil companies and quick-lube shops often claim, it’s usually not necessary. Stick to the service intervals in your car’s owner’s manual. Under normal driving conditions, most vehicles are designed to go 7,500 miles or more between oil changes. Changing oil more often doesn’t hurt the engine, but it can cost you a lot of extra money. Automakers often recommend 3,000-mile intervals for severe driving conditions, such as constant stop-and-go driving, frequent trailer-towing, mountainous terrain, or dusty conditions.

Myth: Inflate tires to the pressure shown on the tire’s sidewall.
Reality: The pounds-per-square-inch figure on the side of the tire is the maximum pressure that the tire can safely hold, not the automaker’s recommended pressure, which provides the best balance of braking, handling, gas mileage, and ride comfort. That figure is usually found on a doorjamb sticker, in the glove box, or on the fuel-filler door. Perform a monthly pressure check when tires are cold or after the car has been parked for a few hours.

Myth: If the brake fluid is low, topping it off will fix the problem.
Reality: As brake pads wear, the level in the brake-fluid reservoir drops a bit. That helps you monitor brake wear. If the fluid level drops to or below the Low mark on the reservoir, then either your brakes are worn out or fluid is leaking. Either way, get the brake system serviced immediately. You should also get a routine brake inspection when you rotate the tires, about every 6,000 to 7,000 miles.

Myth: Flush the coolant with every oil change.
Reality: Radiator coolant doesn’t need to be replaced very often. Most owner’s manuals recommend changing the coolant every five years or 60,000 miles. Of course, if the level in the coolant reservoir is chronically low, check for a leak and get service as soon as possible.

Myth: After a jump-start, your car will soon recharge the battery.
Reality: It could take hours of driving to restore a battery’s full charge, especially in the winter. That’s because power accessories, such as heated seats, draw so much electricity that in some cars the alternator has little left over to recharge a run-down battery. A “load test” at a service station can determine whether the battery can still hold a charge. If so, some hours on a battery charger might be needed to revive the battery to its full potential.

Myth: Let your engine warm up for several minutes before driving.
Reality: That might have been good advice for yesteryear’s cars but is less so today. Modern engines warm up more quickly when they’re driven. And the sooner they warm up, the sooner they reach maximum efficiency and deliver the best fuel economy and performance. But don’t rev the engine high over the first few miles while it’s warming up.

Myth: Dish washing and laundry detergents make a good car wash.
Reality: Detergent can strip off a car’s wax finish. Instead, use a car-wash liquid, which is formulated to clean without removing wax.

Source: Consumer Reports

Heard of at least one of these before? I knew it. I’m sure some of you may be in shock right now realizing that all of you’ve known about DIY car maintenance has been wrong, but don’t fret Freeman Grapevine has you totally covered. You should never hesitate to give us a call with any car maintenance questions or any questions about cars in general. After all, we want to ensure your car lives the longest and healthiest life that it can.