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Summer’s On Its Way — Is Your Car Ready?

Yes, it was a tough winter, like we usually get in Mississauga, ON. But it’s behind us now, and a Canadian summer can be a lot of fun!

Chances are you’re probably planning some road trips already. Is your car up to the task? Here’s a quick checklist of things to go over before you load up the kids and the luggage and hit the road:

    • Tires: Check inflation of all four tires; underinflated tires mean more friction, more rolling resistance, worse fuel economy and premature tire wear. How long has it been since you’ve had a tire rotation done? They should be rotated at 5,000 mile intervals for proper wear.
    • Wheel Alignment: Driving a car that constantly pulls to one side or another is more than annoying and tiring. A poorly-aligned car means that one wheel is skewed out of line and is constantly trying to steer the vehicle in another direction. As the wheel is dragged along by the vehicle, its tire will wear unevenly due to tread being scrubbed away. Why shell out more money for premature tire wear and compromised fuel economy?
    • Oil Change: You probably know by now that regular oil changes are a great way to get the most miles out of your engine, by reducing buildups of carbon and sludge inside the engine. You probably also know that a 5,000 mile oil change interval is recommended for conventional oil, and a 10-12,000 mile interval for synthetic oil. How long has it been since your oil’s been changed?
    • Air Conditioning: Nobody likes riding in a stuffy car, but even late model cars can lose five to 15 percent of their refrigerant over a year’s time. It’s a good idea to have the A/C system recharged and checked for leaks before summer sets in.
    • Cooling System Service: Your coolant is a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and distilled water, and it does more than prevent freezeups in the winter. The antifreeze also raises the coolant’s boiling point to prevent against boilovers, and conains anti-corrosion agents to prevent the buildup of scale in the system. Coolant has a life expectancy, though, and should be flushed and refilled at regular intervals. It’s a simple matter to check the condition of the coolant and do a flush/refill if needed.

Everyone’s looking forward to summer and the fun summer vacation road trips that go along with it. Make sure you hit the road with peace of mind this year — make an appointment with us at The Tire Terminal in Missisauga, ON and make sure everything’s in good shape before you head out!