From 5 Star Shine:
With winter in the distance, now’s the time to tackle the
simple maintenance and detailing tasks that can keep your
vehicle in tip-top condition.
Timely maintenance does more than keep your vehicle
running smoothly. It can help increase your car’s trade-in
value, improve it’s gas mileage and save you time from
costly repairs down the road.
- Belts. With your engine off, check your car’s belts for
cracks, missing pieces and worn edges. Also, make sure
your belts are tightened properly. If they are too tight, they
will stretch and break. If they are too loose, they won’t
work efficiently. We recommend having your belts checked
every 6 months.
- Hoses. When your car is cold, feel your car’s hoses for
bulges, soft spots, cracks or brittleness. With the engine
running, look for (but do not touch) bulges or leaks. If you
see any, have the hose(s) replaced. Note: If you work on
your own car, avoid replacing air conditioning hoses
yourself unless you’re experienced. Pressurized gases
can result in serious injury.
- Coolant. Check the level of coolant in your coolant over-
flow tank. Maintaining a 50/50 mix of antifreeze will keep
your engine cool in hot weather and prevent damage when
temperatures fall well below zero.
- Oil. Depending on your driving conditions, change your
oil and filter as recommended in your Owner’s Manual. Also,
be sure and use the manufacturer’s recommended oil grade.
- Power Steering Fluid. To check, pull out the power
steering dipstick, wipe it clean and insert it again. Pull it
out again and check the level. If it is below the HOT level,
add the recommended steering fluid up to the upper level
mark.
- Brake Fluid. Check the fluid level on the outside of the tank
using the lines on the reservoir as your guide. If the level is
below MIN, add brake fluid from a sealed container to bring
it up to MAX. You’ll notice a significant drop in fluid levels
when there’s a leak. Note: Brake fluid absorbs moisture from
the air. Any absorbed moisture can cause a dangerous loss
of braking performance. If you have to keep refilling your
brake fluid tank regularly, odds are you have a leak. Contact
your repair shop immediately.
- Air Filter. Again, depending on your driving conditions,
routinely check your air filter for accumulated dust and
debris. Dirty air filters can result in loss of power and poor
fuel mileage.
- Battery. Check your battery terminals regularly. Remove
any corrosion with an old toothbrush and a mixture of baking
soda and water.
- Tires. Check your tire pressure (with tires cold) at least
once a month. Keep tires inflated to your manufacturer’s
recommended pressure. Under-inflated tires can also affect
your vehicle’s gas mileage.
- Wiper Blades. Finally, cracked, split or worn wiper blades
can cause skipping or poor contact with your windshield
causing poor visibility. Tip: Our 303 Wiper Treatment can
save you on the cost of replacing your old wiper blades.
We hope these tips will help you prepare your vehicle for
the upcoming winter months ahead.
Want to maintain your vehicle’s showroom look and shine
with as little time and effort as possible? If so, you really
need to check out some of the awesome car care products in
the 5 Star Shine Catalog.
5 Star Shine products are fun, easy-to-use and will have your
vehicle looking better than the day you bought it.
You can check out the 5 Star Shine Catalog by visiting the
link below.
Have a Great Day!
The 5 Star Shine Team