A good set of headlights is one of the most important safety features of a vehicle. According to a 2022 study in the Journal of Safety Research, vehicles with headlights that received a “Good” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) were in 19% fewer single-car crashes and 23% fewer pedestrian crashes at […]
Category: Car Care
Car Paint Touch-Up: How to Fix Minor Chips and Scratches
Your paint getting nicked is an inevitable part of owning a vehicle. From rocks and branches kicked up on the road to hail, wild animals, bouncing basketballs, and collisions, many hazards can damage your car’s finish. Regardless of how they happened, though, it’s important to address these blemishes at your earliest convenience. Even minor cosmetic […]
Keep Cool With Our Guide to Radiators
Some like it hot, but your vehicle is a notable exception. Excessive heat is the enemy of any mechanical system, including the engine found in your car, truck, or SUV. Overheating can lead to everything from minor failures and performance issues to a full-on breakdown. Ideally, your engine should maintain a steady temperature that’s somewhere […]
What Not to Do When Cleaning Your Car
Washing a car can feel pretty simple, but if you want to keep your vehicle in top condition, there are more pitfalls than you might think. Even models that are built to be tough as nails can be sensitive to the wrong cleaning products and techniques, and you don’t want to find out which ones […]
Find Shifting Success With These Manual Transmission Maintenance Tips
While many drivers enjoy the convenience of an automatic transmission, some will tell you that there’s no substitute for a manual transmission. From fuel savings and lower repair costs to the sense of control and pure thrills they can provide, there are certainly a number of advantages that come with rowing your own gears. Maintenance […]
A Look at the Various Ways You Can Rain-Proof Your Windshield
When I first moved from Pennsylvania to the Sunshine State, I decided it would be a good idea to put some Rain-X glass water repellent on my windshield. After all, it was a two-day journey, and I was bound to run into some bad weather along the way, especially once I got to Florida. It […]
How to Best Maintain Your Four-Wheel Drivetrain
A four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle can be a valuable addition to any garage, allowing a driver to tackle some of the most challenging road conditions, put in some serious work, or unwind at their local off-road trails with confidence. That said, 4WD vehicles require a little more TLC than their two-wheel-drive cousins. It’s a small […]
Simplifying Your Maintenance With Oil Life Monitors
Ask any driver when they should change their oil and they’ll almost reflexively answer with the standard 3,000 miles. This bit of automotive wisdom has been passed down through the ages, but it’s not as relevant as it once was. While 3,000 miles was once the benchmark for oil changes, advances in engine, oil, and […]
The Importance of Following Your Ford F-150 Lightning’s Maintenance Schedule
With the steady electrification of the modern auto market, many of today’s cars, trucks and SUVs are more efficient — and environmentally friendly — than ever. While this efficiency has been the driving factor in the growth of the EV segment, it’s far from the only advantage of an all-electric powertrain. While the instant acceleration […]
Don’t Stress About Mess: Tips for Keeping Your Car Tidy
Let’s face it: life on the go means eating and drinking in your car, not to mention toting all kinds of possibly sloppy items around. These are common occurrences in today’s fast-paced world. Whether you’re commuting to work, running errands, or setting off on a road trip adventure, grabbing a quick meal or a snack […]
Why and How to Replace Your Cabin Air Filter
You’ve gotten your oil changed, battery checked, tires rotated, fluids topped off… but is anything missing? When you’re completing routine maintenance on your vehicle, it’s important to make sure you check your car’s air filter to ensure it’s still doing its critical job. Many drivers don’t realize what a big role it plays until they […]
Tackling Dust, Dirt, and Grime: The Best Interior Car Cleaning Products
What does the interior of your car look like? Car owners typically fall on two ends of the spectrum. Some make it a priority to keep the interior of their cars clean, regularly cleaning the cabin as part of their auto service routine. Others take a more laid-back approach, letting the accouterments of everyday life […]
Avoid Drain Pain With These Car Battery Tips
Every year, one common automotive issue will lead more than two million drivers to place a call to roadside assistance. While lockouts, flat tires and empty gas tanks rank among the top culprits, it’s actually battery-related problems that have services like AAA pulling overtime. Keeping your car’s battery charged is usually a pretty easy task […]
Basic Maintenance to Consider to Make Your Used Ford Truck Run Like New
Maintaining your truck is on every trucker’s mind. You spent your hard-earned money on a good F-150, a Maverick, a Ranger, or a Super Duty from a used Ford truck dealer, and you want to keep that used Ford running for as long as you can. There are some very basic tasks you can carry […]
What’s a Head Gasket?
For such a small part, the head gasket plays a significant role in how your engine performs. When a head gasket is working as it should, so will your engine; if it goes bad, a failed head gasket can lead to major repairs—especially if it’s not addressed right away. Knowing what a head gasket is […]
Put Winter Weather on Ice With These Snow Removal Tips
The winter season can bring all sorts of challenges for drivers. From slick streets and road salt to rough starts and towering snow banks that obscure your vision, winter driving is no picnic behind the wheel. Some of these issues can start to rear their head before you even leave your driveway, especially when it […]
Car Care 101: Scheduled Service Beyond the Basics
We all know that the best way to get the most from your vehicle is to take proper care of it, and proper care means knowing your vehicle’s maintenance schedule and sticking to it. That being said, what you tend to see people talk about the most is basic things like getting an oil change […]
Know Your Engine Oils: 10 Brands to Look For
Whether heading to your local auto parts store or shopping online, it can be difficult to know which engine oil to choose for your next oil change. Even if you understand the difference between the many different grades of oil and have a preference when it comes to conventional versus semi-synthetic versus full synthetic, there […]
Understanding Your Honda’s Maintenance Needs
For your Honda to last a long time and function at its best, regular auto maintenance is necessary. In addition to ensuring your safety while driving, maintaining your Honda provides a number of advantages. Above all, regular maintenance helps avert possible problems before they develop into serious and expensive repairs. Following the recommended maintenance for […]
How to Keep Your Cool When Your Engine Gets Too Hot
There you are, minding your own business, when suddenly you smell something like burning sugar coming from your vehicle, and what appears to be smoke starts to pour up along the sides of your hood. Safe to say, your day just got a whole lot worse—but it’s not the end of the world. An overheating […]
What Can You Fix on Your Own, and When Do You Need a Pro?
Few things are quite as satisfying as working on your own vehicle, either making repairs or simply keeping up with maintenance to ensure it runs as well as possible. There are plenty of relatively simple tasks and repairs that just about anyone can do at home with minimal investment in tools or supplies, but there […]