Hassett Automotive

Keeping your car up and running doesn’t involve much guesswork, unless you lost or don’t have an owner’s manual. Fortunately, there’s a general guide you can follow to keep your car properly serviced. Here’s a general service schedule from us here at Hassett Pre-Owned so you can keep your car running at peak performance.

Weekly

Drivers would do well to check their windshield washer fluid and engine oil levels weekly, if not more often. Make sure all lights are working, including the dashboard indicator lights. Check tire inflation and condition too.

Three Months/3,000 Miles

Every three months or 3,000 miles, make sure to check the oil, engine air filter, power steering fluid, automatic transmission fluid, and windshield washer fluid. Inspect the battery, cables, belts, hoses, and exhaust as well.

Six Months/6,000 Miles

In addition to the previously listed items, drivers should check their chassis lubrication every six months or 6,000 miles. Make sure to change the oil at this point if you haven’t already.

12 Months/12,000 Miles

Most vehicles are engineered for minimal attention which is why most items can go unchecked for one year or 12,000 miles. Make sure to check the wheel alignments, steering, suspension, coolant, brakes, and wiper blades.

Over caring for your car won’t hurt, but neglecting general service can lead to disaster.

Hassett Automotive

Can you believe spring is finally here? It’s been a long time coming, but alas, warmer weather is right around the corner and *knock on wood*, the snow is done for the year.

And with the changing of the seasons it’s important to remember to do some car maintenance. Sometimes its best to bring your car into a service center to get it looked at, but there are a lot of things you can do on your own to make sure your car keeps running strong for years to come. Keep reading below for a short list of spring car maintenance tips:

• Make sure your windshield wipers are in good working order. Springtime is one of the rainiest times of the year and it’s good to make sure both the front and rear wipers can effectively clear rain out of your line of sight.
• Check your fluids. This tip isn’t by any means exclusive to the spring. However, it is good to get in the habit of checking all your cars fluids, especially the coolant and oil, at the changing of seasons.
• Clean all the junk out of your trunk. Things tend to get piled up and stored in cars during the winter months, so whether it by an old fruit cake or chains for your wheels, go ahead and get that unnecessary weight out of your car so you can increase MPG.

And that’s all we have for today! Do you have any other spring car maintenance tips? Feel free to share them in the comment section below.

Hassett Automotive

If you keep up with our blog, then you know that about a month ago we started a blog series that gives tips on keeping your car in tip-top shape in the summer months. So far we’ve done two installments, and tips have included everything from making sure your windshield wipers are good-to-go, to checking all the belts and hoses under the hood. Well today we are happy to present the third and final installment of this car maintenance series.

So without further ado, here are the last three tips we have for you!

• Make sure your brakes are in good shape. Obviously this tip doesn’t only apply to summer. You should make sure your cars brakes are in good shape regularly as they are the single most important safety feature on your car. If the lining on your brake pad is worn down past the minimum thickness, be sure to get them switched out for some fresh pads.
• Check the coolant and radiator. Cars are designed to be able to withstand a lot of heat, but in the summer, when you’re in stop-and-go traffic, and it’s 100 degrees outside, you need to be sure your car is loaded up on coolant. Compare it to going running on a hot day, as opposed to running on a pleasant day. Which day do you think you will need more water? Point: made.
• And Lastly, clean your battery.  According to howstuffworks.com, “Summer heat can speed up the chemical reaction inside a battery, causing the battery to be overcharged. This can dramatically shorten the lifespan of your battery. Heat can also damage the battery by evaporating internal battery fluid.” If you notice your battery is struggling, take it to a service shop and get it looked at by someone who knows what they’re doing.

There you have it! Those are our nine summer car maintenance tips. We hope you learned a lot! And always remember, if you need any assistance whatsoever keeping your ride up to snuff, stop by Hassett Automotive. Any one of our knowledgeable service professionals would love to help you get your car running like new!

Hassett Auto is here for all your car care needs.

Hassett Automotive