Useful Maintenance For Your Vehicle Before Hitting The Road This Season

Prices at the pump are at a record high. But according to a recent survey, it’s not stopping travelers from taking their summer road trips. Remember to keep Useful Maintenance For Your Vehicle Before Hitting The Road This Season.

Whether you have a gasoline-powered car or an electric vehicle (EV). Proper maintenance before hitting the road allows for better performance and safety. And can also mean savings when it comes to fuel efficiency. Below are some tips from Eric Kenar, technical training manager for General Motors and former GM world-class technician. 

Useful Maintenance For Your Vehicle Before Hitting The Road This Season

For Gas Engines:

Proper maintenance and knowing the signs that you need to visit a dealership can save you time and money.  

Check your tire pressure.

Properly inflated tires improve gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent, are safer and last longer. While a vehicle’s tire pressure monitoring system detects an under-inflated tire, it’s also best to check tires with a good gauge once a month and make sure they filled with the recommended pressure shown on the decal inside the driver’s door or in your car care manual.  Also make sure to check tires for abnormal wear, and make sure you have a spare tire. 

Replace Your Air Filter.  

Think of your engine air filter as a vacuum – the suction strength is affected by obstructions in the bag. Similarly, if your engine air filter is clogged up with dust and debris, your engine will have to work harder to draw air to mix with fuel. Replacing your engine air filter can instantly bring improved fuel economy – it’s recommended that filters are changed once a year unless you drive often in dirty or dusty areas. 

Perform regular maintenance.  

A properly tuned engine can improve fuel economy about 4 percent, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Fixing a serious issue – such as faulty oxygen sensor – can boost mileage up to 40 percent.  Whether you are a DIY-er or rely on your dealership, follow the recommended maintenance schedule for your vehicle, and don’t ignore a service-engine-soon light.

Spark plugs:

You can find the recommended mileage for spark plugs in your owners’ manual. However, one of the surest signs that spark plugs need to be replaced is a rough-running engine. 

Front-end alignment: 

Potholes are inevitable and can lead to misalignment in your wheel system, which reduces mileage, causes premature tire wear, and forces your engine to work harder. If you notice your car pulling to one side or vibrates when driving, it may be time for an alignment.

Use Genuine Parts: 

No matter what make and model of vehicle you have, using authentic OE parts is important for safety, performance, and avoiding costly replacements. For those seeking vehicle service, you can schedule an appointment with your local Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac Certified Service experts. No matter how you service your vehicle, always ask for GM Genuine Parts or ACDelco OE parts – designed, engineered, tested and backed by General Motors.

For Electric Vehicles:

With automakers adding more EV models, like GM which plans to launch 30 new EVs globally by 2025, and EV sales at a record high, as of Nov. 2021, it’s estimated that there are 10 million + EVs on the road. While there is less maintenance overall and no fuel stops, there are still some important ways to plan for road trips for efficiency, performance, and safety.  

• Tire pressure, alignments and cabin air filters are extremely important! EVs don’t require oil changes. This is typically when drivers have their tires and cabin air filters checked. But proper maintenance will help with charge, performance, and efficiency. Before hitting the road, have these checked by making an appointment at your nearest Certified Service dealership.  
• Know your range and map out charging stations. While charging stations across the U.S. are continuing to increase, it’s important to your EV range, and map out some stops – one example is Chevy.com, which has information on public charging made easy along with a mobile app with energy assist to help plan the most efficient routes. 

And finally, does this help improve fuel efficiency or range?  Here’s the truth on two features and if they save energy or gas. 

• Using the recirculation button for A/C:  Using this feature will decrease wear and tear on your AC system by recirculating cooled air in the vehicle cabin but isn’t proven to save on gas mileage. 
• AWD vs. FWD/2WD: If you have the option, AWD provides better traction, but when you don’t need it, choosing 2WD/FWD will save on energy and gas. 

How to find a dealership and/or parts? 

You can find over 4,000 expertly trained Certified Service dealerships nationwide here. For EV owners, there is a filter on the Chevrolet Certified Service section dealer locate tool – after entering the zip code, owners can filter for EV service dealers. 

If you are a Do- It-Yourselfer, ask for ACDelco or GM Genuine Parts, the only parts backed by General Motors, locations nationwide and shopping online can be found at https://www.acdelco.com/shop.

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