Driving Tips: Save Money, Stay Safe

Gas may be cheap now but here are a few more ways to help control your vehicle expenses and keep you safe:

On long drives use the cruise control to save gas. The gradual acceleration and deceleration improves your fuel efficiency. To improve the fuel economy of your vehicle, avoid jack rabbit starts and begin slowing down sooner before you get to that red light. The gradual change in speed has a noticeable effect on fuel economy and your wallet.  

Warming up your car in the morning isn't always necessary. Driving your car under normal conditions will naturally bring the car to optimum operating temperature. Cold winter mornings are another thing to consider; warm up the car so you have enough heat to keep the windows clear for safe driving.

Tires aren't just round black things on your car; the tires are what stops, starts and steers your car to keep you out of trouble. New tires start with at least 10/32 of an inch of tread and any time the tread is worn below 5/32 of an inch or (4MM), traction is compromised, especially on wet or snowy roads. When the tread is at 2/32 of an inch or (1.5MM), the tire is legally worn out and needs to be replaced.

Tires make a big difference with how your vehicle handles and rides. When replacing tires make sure to use tires with the same specifications or better than the originals. This information can be found on the driver’s door pillar.

For extending the life of your tires keep in mind that each tire wears differently because of its position on the car. To ensure even wear you should rotate your tires approximately every 10 thousand kilometers. Improperly inflated tires can have a dramatic effect on fuel economy. Test air pressure once a month before you start driving for the day, which will allow you to get an accurate reading and adjust to the specification on the driver’s door pillar.

Proper vehicle maintenance is defined as servicing fluids or components before they cause irreversible wear. For example, flushing the transmission before the oil and chemicals in it break down will save you a lot of money over the life of the vehicle, by not having the expense of the transmission repair, which can easily be thousands of dollars.

Does it seem as if you’re not getting as much heat or air conditioning in your car as you used to? It could be that your cabin air filter is plugging up causing the poor airflow. Each manufacturer has a maintenance schedule for replacing the cabin air filter. Replacing the filter may be all it takes to keep you cool in summer and warm in winter.

Preventative maintenance: The manufacturer’s maintenance schedule is filled with inspections. It is through these inspections that upcoming maintenance items are identified and corrective action can be taken saving you time and money, instead of not inspecting and hoping your car doesn't break down.

Crestview Auto Service is a proud partner of Trusted Saskatoon.

"We'll Help Keep Your Car Young A Long Time"

Visit us online at www.crestviewautoservice.ca or call at (306) 244-6522. 

#DrivingTips #Tires #Maintenance #Safety

Winter and Tire Differences

Often at this time of year we are asked “why isn’t an all season tire or even a four-season tire [with the snowflake symbol on the tire] good enough for winter?” The difference is in the type of rubber and the design of the tread. The most common comment we hear from someone after having winter tires is “why did I wait so long to get them?”

All season tires are really only 3 season tires at best. The tread is designed for long life; because of this the tire does not have the lugs needed for good snow traction. Also the rubber used in the tread becomes hard and less flexible as the temperature starts dropping below 7 degrees Celsius, making the tire slip on ice and snow.  

Four season tires are a compromise and winter traction is sacrificed to get longer life out of the tire. They are really all season tires with a slightly more flexible rubber compound and a tread pattern that works ok in snow. Unfortunately, the tread compound is designed for long life making it only a bit better than all season tires on ice.

Winter stud-less tires are the best for most winter driving; they will have a very flexible tread that grabs the road for the best traction through the winter. Some winter tires have provisions for studs. These tires generally have a blockier tread pattern that is great in snow but the tire does not flex as much as a stud-less winter tire; these tires rely more on the studs for the added ice traction.  

At Crestview Auto Service, we can help you find the winter tire that is right for you. We recommend booking in late September/early October. Remember to book ahead of time. Appointments can be made online at www.crestviewautoservice.caor by phone (306) 244-6522. We look forward to helping you be prepared for winter driving. 

#winter #tires #tread #cold #snow #ice

(*Note: The picture with the two cars depicts braking distance at a speed of 50 km/hr).

Be prepared for winter...

September is here and that means winter isn't too far away. Over the next several weeks we will be posting about winter maintenance and what you should know; things to have in your vehicle in case of emergency; and information on winter tires. You can get ahead of the rush by scheduling your appointment in advance. Our website offers you the convenience to book online (www.crestviewautoservice.ca) or phone one of our service advisors at (306) 244-6522.
"We'll Keep Your Car Young A Long Time"

#tires #beprepared #maintenance #dontwait4winter

Convenient Appointments

DID YOU KNOW?

Crestview Auto Service provides the convenient option to BOOK an appointment ONLINE! Go to the website at http://www.crestviewautoservice.ca/ - click on "appointments book on-line" and fill out the short form... It's that easy!

We are a proud Trusted Saskatoon partner and the only NAPA AutoPro in Saskatoon.

#CrestviewAutoService #TrustedSaskatoon #BookOnline #Appointments #AutoRepair #Maintenance

Maintenance: Part 2 of 2

How often is it that we get to choose when we buy our next vehicle? Or, are we being forced to buy one because of expensive repairs that are needed due to unintentional neglect? People that have well maintained vehicles get to choose when they get a different vehicle and can change vehicles just to have something different, not because they have to. These people enjoy shopping for a new or newer used vehicle, without the pressure of feeling “I have to buy a vehicle today because mine is broken”.

By definition, vehicle maintenance is flushing and changing fluids along with servicing components before they have a chance to negatively affect the life of the component they are protecting or they cause wear to other components on the vehicle. In other words: change or flush the oil, antifreeze, brake fluid etc. before it is worn out and causes component wear or failure; replacing struts and shocks before suspension components fatigue and fail due to excessive movement; and replace the accessory drive belt before it breaks and causes engine overheating and damage. Keep in mind that repeatedly stretching the maintenance intervals will have a compounding effect, as components wear they begin to wear faster and faster causing you to spend more on repairs than you would on maintenance. This “stretching the maintenance” includes using the “normal” schedule if you should be using the “severe” schedule.

Your owner’s manual has “normal” and “severe” maintenance schedules, but how do you know which one to use? When you read the “fine print” in the owner’s manual it will very likely lead you to the conclusion you are in the “severe service” category. This is almost never talked about when we go to buy a vehicle because it adds to the cost of ownership. As a general rule, stop and go driving such as city driving, short distances that do not fully warm up the engine and transmission etc. to burn off contaminants in the oils, trailer towing, hot or cold weather (think winter and middle of summer) all point to severe service driving.

At Crestview Auto Service our goal is for you to have a safe reliable vehicle; to save you time and money for as long as you own it. Proper maintenance does cost money but it costs a lot less than neglecting the maintenance and having to pay for preventable repairs. Maintenance can be planned for weeks or months in advance, unlike a break down, which usually tends to ruin the day. We look forward to helping you with your vehicle maintenance.

Book online at www.crestviewautoservice.ca or call us at (306) 244-6522.

At Crestview Auto Service “We’ll Keep Your Car Young a Long Time”

Preholiday Inspection: Know Before You Go

Each year motorists are left stranded after they have headed out on holidays. There are many reasons for this but the main reason is the vehicle is not prepared for the trip. A car that feels like it runs and drives well around town suddenly has issues 3 or 4 hours from home at the start of a 2-week vacation. All the heat and stress created from the trip makes the “weak links” show up at inopportune times. Now you need to find a repair shop, hoping they can get you in and out quickly so the holiday won’t be ruined. You can virtually eliminate this from happening with a preholiday inspection scheduled for at least a week before you leave. Keep in mind this is much more than a basic oil and filter change, as the inspection will identify what condition the vehicle is in and if it’s ready for the trip. The following is from Car Care Canada after a recent vehicle inspection campaign.
Did you know?
Results from Car Care Canada's vehicle inspection events found 85% of vehicles needed some form of maintenance work. Some of the most common problems were:
• 20% of vehicles had low or dirty engine oil
• 18% had low tire pressures
• 16% had inadequate cooling protection
• 13% had dirty air filters
• 10% had loose or corroded battery terminals
To help you get ready for summer holidays you can call in or book online for your appointments.
Give us a call at 306-244-6522 or book online at http://crestviewautoservice.ca/ and click appointments tab.

#CrestviewAutoService #TrustedSaskatoon #holiday #inspection #maintenance #AutoRepair

Book An Appointment Online

DID YOU KNOW?

Crestview Auto Service provides the convenient option to BOOK an appointment ONLINE! Go to the website at http://www.crestviewautoservice.ca/ - click on "appointments book on-line" and fill out the short form... It's that easy!

We are a proud TrustedSaskatoon partner and the only NAPA AutoPro in Saskatoon.

#CrestviewAutoService #TrustedSaskatoon #BookOnline #Appointments #AutoRepair #Maintenance