Taking a Vacation? Perform these Four Checks on your Car before you go

Going on vacation?

Whether you are planning to drive, fly, or take a train or boat, your travel will still involve your car in some capacity. That is why you should make sure that you check your vehicle for these four things before you leave.

Check Your Fluids

This includes checking the condition and level of your oil, Anti-freeze, Transmission fluid, Brake fluid, Power Steering fluid, and Washer Fluid.

Checking the level of your fluids is simple.

Most vehicles have dipsticks or clearly marked reservoirs. See your owner’s manual for locations of each reservoir. It should have pretty pictures to help you identify each one.

Checking the condition of your fluids is also simple, but it’s important to know what you are looking for.

For example, Motor Oil is translucent. Dark black or Tan Colored Motor Oil is ready for a change.

Brake Fluid and some Power Steering Fluids are translucent, too. They should never be dark in color. Transmission Fluid is a light red. If your Transmission Fluid is Burgundy or Black, it’s time to change it.

Check your Engine Hoses & Belts

While you are under your hood, check your Belts and Hoses. Grasp your Hoses fully, they should be firm with NO weak feeling areas. Your Belts should NOT be Glossy, Cracking, or have any Frayed Areas. Bad belts and hoses will stop your vacation and lead to very costly repairs, so make sure that they contain none of the above issues!

Check Your Lights, Horn, and Wipers!

Next on our checklist is making sure your Headlights, Car Horn, and Windshield Wipers work.

Checking your Headlights is easy. If you turn them on, step out of the car, and they are lit… they work! If they aren’t on, it’s time to get a new bulb.

Unfortunately, Replacing Headlights is not always simple with today’s cars and trucks, so you may have to take it to repair shop like Pugh’s Service -Automotive- to help you out.

To make sure your horn is working, give the center of the steering wheel a good push. Did you hear a loud beep? If so, it works. If not, call and schedule a Free Inspection at Pugh’s Service -Automotive- so we can help you figure out what is causing the issue.

Finally, don’t forget your Windshield Wipers. These are often forgotten until we need them, which is when a Summer Storm hits, and they don’t clear the way like they should. If you can’t remember the last time you replaced your Wiper Blades, then it is probably time got yourself some new ones.

Check your Tires!

Remember those summer storms we just discussed? If the sky lets loose, you will want to make sure your Tires are able to handle the weather, so you don’t Hydroplane all over the road.

In order to make sure your Tires can handle the rain mother nature throws at you, check your Tire’s Air Pressure. All of today’s cars and trucks have yellow and black Tire Inflation Specification Stickers on the Driver’s Door jam.

Next, find a penny. In case you have forgotten what one looks like in this age of plastic payment, here is a picture! This is how you will check to make sure that you have plenty of Tire Tread left.

Place the penny as shown. The top of Abe’s head should be the minimum amount of Tire Tread. If your tread is lower, then it is time for a new set of Tires. Driving with low Tire Tread will cause your car to hydroplane and cause accidents. If there is something that you want to avoid on your vacation, it is a car accident.

You’re Ready to Roll!

With these tips you should be able to have an enjoyable and safe vacation trip.

There is a lot here, so if you need a professional set of eyes to help you out, remember that there is no shame bringing your car to a Professional Mechanic.

At Pugh’s Service -Automotive- we will inspect your vehicle at no charge. This means peace of mind at no cost. Sounds like a no brainer!

Hopefully this blog helps with the enjoyment of your summer and vacation. See you when you get back!

Why do my Tires Wear Unevenly?

Just had your Tires Replaced and it seems like they are already worn out?

If you have this concern, you are not alone. If you feel as though this question applies to you then take a look as some of the tips that may shed some light on your problem.

         Brand of Tire:  Make sure that the Tires Installed on your vehicle match what you use it for. Also ask yourself if the Tires Installed match your Driving Style and the Driving Conditions it is exposed to.

Secondly, remember that Tire Brand does matter. If you ask your shop about Tire Brands that they stock, and it turns out that they only deal in one brand then it is time that you to go to a more versatile shop.

Some Tire Brands are softer than others which helps with Road Grip but have a shorter lifespan. The Mile Rating on a tire can be a big factor in determine what Tires should be installed on your vehicle.

At Pugh’s Service Automotive we install a variety of tires, depending on our customer’s needs. Whether it be Goodyear, Michelin, or Cooper Tires, we can get them.

         Where is the Wear?: If your tires seem to wear out too fast, then you should check the tire for Unusual Wear Patterns.

If your Tire Wear Pattern can be seen mostly on the sides, then that could indicate a few conditions.

One of the more popular conditions for Side Wear is not Rotating your Tires enough. Tires should be Rotated and Balanced every 6k to 8k miles.

Your vehicle’s Alignment, or lack of proper alignment, is another cause for Tire Wear seen on the Side Tread of you Tires. That, or a Steering Linkage could be faulty.

Thankfully, Pugh’s Service Automotive performs Free 30-Point Inspections, which can catch issues like this.

You also want to make sure that your tires are properly inflated. If they are Under Inflated, then it is likely you will see Side Wear as well. Newer vehicles have TPMS systems that will cause a warning light to come on if the Tire Inflation isn’t within the proper specifications.

On the other hand, if your tires show a lot of Center Wear, then it is very likely that your tires are Over Inflated. The specifications for proper level of Inflation of your Tires is normally located on the inside of the Driver’s Door Jam.

The final type of Wear Pattern is Cupping or Scalloping. This type of Wear Pattern shows up as “cups” or dips around different areas of the Tire Tread. This type of Wear Pattern is caused by several factors. One is your tires not being Properly Balanced. Another likely cause is bad suspension parts, such as shocks or struts.

          Does Your Tire Bulge: If you inspect your tire and find that there is a Bulge in the Tire Tread or Side Wall then you need to take your car to a shop immediately. A Tire Bulge is a sign of a Defective Tire and should be replaced as soon as possible.

Driving with a Tire Bulge could cause a blowout, which will put you and anyone driving around you in danger.

Armed with this information, we at Pugh’s Service Automotive hope that you are better able to save your money by making sure your tires last longer.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please call us at 302-734-4231 or visit our site www.pughsservice.com.