car care Archives - The Car Doctor Auto Repair

Getting the Most Out of Your Car When Times are Tight

Trying to save money wherever you can? The good news is that there are many great ways to easily cut back on spending funds on your car care when times are tight.

Here are some of our top suggestions for getting the most out of your car when you are trying to spend less.

1. Drive Carefully

The first thing you should do is check your driving and make sure you are being as careful as possible. While you should do this anyway, it’s a great way to save you some money. Here are some ways that watching your driving can save you money:

Lowering Your Car Insurance

Having a clean driving record, meaning one that is free of speeding tickets, accidents, etc. can actually dramatically reduce the amount you pay your auto insurer every month.

If you are an incredibly safe driver, you can actually be rewarded by your auto insurer as well.

Saving Gas

While it may not seem like driving carefully and adhering to the speed limit could save you a lot, but it’s a great way to cut back on spending.

Aggressive driving that includes slamming on your car brakes, speeding, and rapid acceleration can actually lower the gas mileage of your car by up to 30% on the highway and between 10% to 40% in stop and go traffic.

By adhering to the speed limit and braking/accelerating gently, you can save up to 10% per gallon in your fuel costs. Your car brakes will also thank you, as there will be decreased wear the less aggressive you are with them.

2. Stop Idling Your Car

Another great way to save some money is by avoiding idling your car. If you are in a situation where you are stuck parked in your car and waiting for someone/something, just turn the engine off until you are ready to move again.

Idling can use up to a 1/7 to 1/5 of your fuel tank per hour. However, restarting your vehicle only takes about 10 seconds worth of fuel.

3. Avoid Car A/C and Heating

Depending on where you live, this step may be easier for some over others.

Running your air conditioning can actually reduce your vehicle’s fuel economy by over 25%. If you can, either set the temperature a little higher or even turn it off altogether.

For situations where it is plausible, consider driving with your windows open before turning on your A/C to let out hot air first, and only using A/C at high speeds.

4. Check Tire Pressure Regularly

Last but not least, make sure you are checking your tire pressure regularly. Also, and just as important, make sure the tires on your car are set to their optimum air pressure.

Not sure what the pressure in your tires should be? It should be listed both in the driver’s door frame and your owner’s manual.

Ideally, you should check on your tire pressure once a month. Doing this can help prevent emergencies and spending more money on new tires. By preparing and checking up on this aspect of your car regularly, you’ll find that your wheels will wear down less and need to be replaced less frequently.

Getting Additional Help from Your Local Auto Repair Shop

While there’s a lot you can handle on your own when it comes to getting the most out of your car care when times are tight, don’t be afraid to contact a local, trusted auto repair shop for additional help if needed. Whether you have questions about a certain issue or you have preventative services that need to be completed, a professional is the best option.

For those of you in Old Hickory, Tennessee, contact The Car Doctor today for your car maintenance needs!

Show Some Car Love this Valentine’s Day!

Show your car love by taking care of it inside and out. — Show your car some love – and treat it right!

Love your car today and every day!

Valentine’s Day is upon us; and while you may be focused on showing your significant other your appreciation, it’s important not to forget to show your car some love this holiday too!

Believe it or not, there are a lot of really nice ways you can take care of your car this February, and they don’t have to be overly expensive car service options.

Ways You Can Show Your Car Love This Valentine’s Day

Here are some of the best ways you can show your car love this Valentine’s Day.

Wash, Dry, and Wax the Exterior

If you haven’t done it in a while, it is vitally important to take care of the outside of the car. It’s a preventative measure to keeping yourself safe while driving – a dirty car could impair your sight or the efficiency of the vehicle.

Washing the Car

First things first, you will want to wash the car. Doing this will reduce the chance of rust and also remove any harmful debris from the vehicle.

Start by parking your car in a shady area, and fill a bucket with a few capfuls of concentrated car cleaning solution and water, wet down the car with a hose, then dip either a washing mitt or sponge into the solution and start cleaning from the roof of the car. By starting at the top of the car, you are ensuring that grime and dirty water are not being splashed onto clean areas.

Save the wheels and tires for last. Simply wet your wheels with the hose and then spray them with a wheel and tire cleaner. After letting the solution sit for a few minutes, wash it away with your sponge and soap and then rinse.

Drying the Car

Once your car is fully washed, dry it with either a clean, soft towel or, ideally, microfiber towels.

Apply Protectants

When your vehicle has completely dried, it’s also a good idea to apply protectants to it. Simply spray or pour a small amount of vinyl and rubber protectant onto a clean cloth and rub it onto any plastic, rubber, or vinyl parts of the car’s exterior.

Make sure to wire the protectant on with a circular motion and then wait for it to absorb. Once it has absorbed, wipe it down a final time with a new rag.

Wax the Car

Lastly, you will want to wax the car.

Before applying the wax, it’s recommended that you either pour a small amount onto the pad (for liquid wax) or dip the applicator pad into the wax container (if it’s a cream or paste). Also, it’s a good idea to dampen the applicator and to shake up liquid wax beforehand as well.

Apply the wax to one panel of the car at a time. Start off by framing the section with wax to give you better control and avoid getting wax in unwanted areas. Once the section has been framed, simply fill in the rest of the area with the wax by using a circular motion.

As the wax dries, it will form a haze. Simply use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe that away.

The interior of your car should also be cleaned – here’s what you will need:

Cleaning Your Car’s Interior

Microfiber cloths
A vacuum cleaner
All-purpose auto cleaner
Window cleaner
Vinyl cleaner
Carpet cleaner
Leather cleaner (if you have leather seats)

Vacuum the Car’s Interior

First, you will want to vacuum the upholstery, carpet, and floor mats of the car. Continue by vacuuming out the pockets in the door, cup holders, and any other hard to reach places.

Clean Hard Vinyl Areas

Then you will want to wipe down all of the hard vinyl in your car with a clean microfiber cloth that has been moistened with an all-purpose cleaning solution. These include the door handles, dashboard, instrument panel, glove box, parts of the doors, your shift, and steering wheel.

Follow up by wiping down all hard vinyl areas. Use another clean microfiber cloth, again dampened in an all-purpose cleaning solution. These areas include the dashboard, instrument panel, compartments, door handles, vinyl on doors, seat belt connections, glove box, side compartments, in doors, shift and steering wheel. Also, consider spraying and scrubbing out the cup holders as well.

Clean Your Windows and Mirrors

Next, you will want to clean your windows and mirrors. Not only does it look better, but it also keeps you safe while driving as well.

To clean the windows, use a clean microfiber cloth, spray the window with an auto window cleaner, and then wipe it away.

Clean Your Upholstery

Depending on the material of your upholstery, you will want to clean it appropriately. For leather, you want to use a specific lotion-based leather cleaner. For vinyl, you can use either leather or vinyl cleaner.

If you have cloth seats, these can be spot-cleaned with water and a bleach alternative. Dampen a microfiber cloth with the solution and blot the spots that need to be cleaned. To rinse it off, just lightly spray the spots with clean water and then suction them dry with an attachment on your vacuum cleaner.

Car Care Maintenance

Oil Changes

Another really important step in taking care of your car this Valentine’s Day is by getting your oil changed. It’s preventative care for a lot of potential issues, and there are quite a few benefits to getting it done:

It cools engine components
Improves your gas mileage
Removes dirt particles and sludge from the engine
Promotes engine longevity

Tire Rotation

Last but certainly not least, it’s important to get your tires rotated. It’s another preventative measure to ensure that your car is working efficiently and has a longer life. It’s also important to note that many tire mileage warranties will require rotation to keep your warranty valid.

This particular service should be scheduled based on the recommendations from your owner’s manual. Doing this will preserve traction and balanced handling, and will assist in even tread wear.

Our Final Thoughts on Taking Care of Your Car This Valentine’s Day

Taking these steps with your car these Valentine’s Day will have it looking better, performing better, and will keep you much safer.

So show some car love this Valentine’s Day and every day in Madison, Donelson, Old Hickory, Tennessee and the surrouning areas, and contact The Car Doctor!

Factory Recommended Services

New vehicles come with factory recommended services that ensure your car’s warranty. The recommended services covered vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but they are all “written promises by the manufacturer or a third-party to repair or replace defects with the vehicle it sells to you”.

In many cases, warranties don’t actually cover everything the owner assumes. It’s important to review your warranty to be certain on exactly what is covered, and in what circumstances, that way you will know what to expect ahead of time. Regardless of your specific warranty, it can come in handy because it will offset the cost of care for your vehicle.

Types of Factory Warranties

Factory, or manufacturer, warranties are backed by the manufacturer of your automotive vehicle. The manufacturer deal with the cost of parts and services for the repairs covered in their warranty.

Standard warranties are typically based on set time or distance, whichever comes first. They tend to cover mechanical defects and items related to the safety of the vehicle.

Service warranties typically apply to new vehicles, though some pre-owned programs may include similar coverage. Some younger used vehicles may also have remaining coverage. This covers things from brake pads to oil changes.

Extended warranties are often sold as up-sells on new vehicles and may be transferable; they extend the warranty coverage beyond the original term. The extension could be anywhere from 3-5 years.

Your Responsibilities

Just as with any other contract, you will have some responsibilities in regard to maintaining the validity of your warranty. As always, the requirements will vary from warranty to warranty, but some common examples include requiring maintenance to be performed by certified mechanics and you to keep proof of this. There are often also clauses around the circumstances under which a warranty may be transferred to a new owner.

If you will be adding in any special features or parts, we recommend checking your warranty in order to confirm whether or not it may void your warranty. It’s also important to take note of when buying a used vehicle from an individual.

Manufacturer Recommended Service

There’s a lot of conflicting information as to whether or not you should follow your manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedules. If you have any doubts, be sure to swing by and see us so we can outline how to get the most out of your vehicle, while staying safe and allowing it to last.

General Guidelines

To keep things simple, the Care Car Council has created a Service Interval Schedule to track your maintenance, which you can find here.

We also advise reviewing your Owner’s Manual in its entirety in order to understand exactly what your vehicle needs. This is where the manufacturer will detail any vehicle-specific maintenance requirements that differ from the standard.

No matter the make or model of your vehicle, you should be frequently checking the following:

Dashboard Indicator Lights
Lights
Tire Pressure and condition
Fluids
Engine Oil Level

Other parts should be checked at regular intervals from 3,000 miles/3 months to 12 months/12 miles to see if they need maintenance. The Care Care Guide lists all of these, but again, your Owner’s Manual will refer to the exact maintenance your model needs.

Our Recommendations and Service

At The Car Doctor, we recommend also recommend service checkups at every 30,000 miles in order to ensure that everything is running smoothly and assess your vehicle’s needs. Our checks typically include the following:

Oil Change
Inspect and replace filters (air, cabin, fuel, etc)
Replace fluids (cooling system, brakes, steering, etc.)
Tire rotation and balance, check and adjust tire pressure
Visual inspection of parts & systems: tires, wheels, brakes, lights, belts, hoses, drive train, fuel system, etc.
At higher mileage, spark plugs, timing belts, etc. may need replacement
Vehicle road test

Service Lights

Many newer vehicles have service lights that indicate services required at certain mileage intervals. Some vehicles also have a maintenance light that indicates when service is required. This is based on information from a sensor in your engine. For specific details on your vehicle, please refer to your Owner’s Manual.

Factory recommended services and vehicle warranties can be confusing but they don’t have to be timely or expensive! Call The Car Doctor Auto Repair today to book your check-up or service or to simply ask us what’s best for your vehicle. We are the auto repair shop people have come to rely on and trust in Old Hickory, Hermitage, and Nashville, TN.