Ford Service Tips: When Your Car Needs a Routine Oil Change

If you made any new year's resolutions this year, you know that they're made to impact your life in a positive way. At Orchid Isle Auto Center, we want to reminder you of some car maintenance tips that you can make your new year's resolutions and that your vehicle will thank you for. Regularly servicing your vehicle is the best way to keep it performing at the highest level and avoiding larger problems. That's why we encourage you to make these tips your new year's resolution and visit our service center for all your auto maintenance and repair needs this year. Change Your Oil and Filter Having your motor oil and filter changed within the recommended mileage or time intervals that're outlined in your owner's manual is the best and easiest way to keep your vehicle performing in like-new condition for longer. The motor oil is the lifeblood of your vehicle, as its what's responsible for keeping your engine clean, lubricated, and cool, allowing the many moving parts to perform as the engine was engineered to for as long as you want to drive it. When you don't change your motor oil and filter within the recommended mileage or time intervals, the oil can get dirty, which causes it to move slower and create wear on the moving parts in your engine. Overtime, this will lead to expensive engine problems. That's why we encourage you to advise your vehicle's owner's manual and the maintenance schedule that's outlined in it. We offer quick, convenient, and professional oil changes on all vehicles, using your choice of conventional or synthetic motor oil to keep your engine clean, cool, and lubricated on all your travels this year. Get Your Brakes Repaired Your vehicle's braking system features many different components, including pads, calipers, drums, brake lines, and more. When one part of your braking system is compromised, the other parts are soon to follow. That's why it's important to bring your vehicle in for a brake repair at the first sign that something's wrong. The brake pads are commonly the first component of the braking system to get worn out, as the pads are the first point of contact between your wheels and your braking system. The most obvious sign that your brake pads are worn out is if you hear a squeaking or squealing noise when you apply the brakes. That means that the pad is gone and metal is now rubbing on metal. We can change your brake pads for you quickly and conveniently, allowing you to drive with confidence knowing that your braking system is functioning properly. Check and Change Your Tires You want your tires to last as long as possible, and the best way to prolong their lifespan is by ensuring that they're properly filled and have the right amount of tread on them. If you have low air pressure in your tires, it will cause uneven wear on your tires. If you drive on them like this for too long, it will damage your tires, causing you to need to purchase new ones. That's why you should always drive with the right amount of air pressure in your tires. If you notice that your front tires tread is looking lower than the rear tires, it might be time for a tire rotation. By switching the position of the front and rear tires, you'll promote equal tire wear and enjoy better traction, handling, acceleration, stopping, and fuel economy. Schedule a Service Appointment at Orchid Isle Auto Center Today If you need servicing or repairs on your vehicle this year, we encourage you to schedule a service appointment online or come see us in our service center at Orchid Isle Auto Center today.

Today's cars are made much differently than those earlier models. Back then, Rear-wheel drive was the only way that manufacturers built drivetrains, but it's completely changed now. RWD is actually used more for power, so vehicles that have a need for turbo speed such as American muscle cars will tend to have RWD. Front-wheel drive developed out of a need for fuel-efficient commuter vehicles, which is why most sedans and compact cars have FWD. In some cases, they may have AWD, which is better for power and dealing with icy road conditions. Newer models are coming out with transitioning drivetrains under xDrive, which is a way to combine fuel efficiency with power by changing the drivetrain setup on the fly. No matter what kind of vehicle you're looking for, you can find a ton of inventory available at Orchid Isle Auto Center. They have the best service department and a variety of vehicles perfect for whatever you're looking for. Visit Our Service Center Today!

If you're stopping by Orchid Isle Auto Center for a new battery in the fall or early winter, you may want to pay special attention to a new battery's cold cranking amps rating. This rating illustrates how many amps a new battery can cope with in extremely cold temperatures. Why is this important? When Jack Frost comes calling in the dead of winter, it means that your car is in for some extra heavy-duty work. As the temperature drops so does a battery's overall capacity, and at the same time, the amps required for a starter motor to get enough juice to turn over the motor increases. A battery with higher CCAs means that you may be less likely to find yourself with a dead battery in the middle of winter. Avoid being stranded this winter in Hilo. Our service experts would happy to recommend a high CCA battery or simply ensure that your current battery ready for the cold.