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Monday, December 18, 2017

Car Dealerships: Finding a “Forever Truck” and Key Maintenance Tips


A recent article from The Wall Street Journal detailed a family’s unique relationship with their 1964 Chevrolet C10 pickup truck. Purchased in the mid-1970s by Hannibal Anderson, the Chevy pickup truck, affectionately known as “Old Blue,” is an all-purpose vehicle for the family ranch. Over the years, various members of the family spanning three generations took turns driving the pick-up for work and leisure, becoming an important figure in cherished family memories. Today, the vehicle belongs to Daniel Anderson, Hannibal’s son.

In a world where most people purchase and sell cars every three years or so, stories like the one about “Old Blue” are truly fascinating. The best part is that you and your family can easily have a similar experience! You can drop by trusted car dealerships near Portland, Oregon, like McLoughlin Chevy, and find a fantastic new truck to become a part of your family. The key is keeping up with the necessary maintenance. With that in mind, here are a few maintenance tips you can use:

Keep Fluid Levels Up

It’s more than just replacing the oil every 7,500 miles or every six months (whichever comes first). Running low on coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and other fluids is a quick way to drastically shorten the lifespan of your pickup truck. On top of keeping fluid levels high, you should also regularly check the condition of the fluids, especially if you drive long distances or go off-road frequently. Fluids can easily turn into sludge in such conditions, which will wreak havoc on your engine.

Inspect Your Tires and Wheels

Tires tend to wear unevenly, which may lead to issues with your truck’s suspension. This is especially true for the front tires. The best way to ensure even wear is to rotate your tires at the same time you replace engine oil. This is also a good time to ensure that your tires are properly balanced to avoid accelerated wear on your tires that may lead to blowouts.

As for the wheels, you’ll need to make sure they are aligned properly. A quick way to check this is to see if your truck drifts to one side or another when you let go of the wheel while driving. If it does, your wheel alignment may be off. In such cases, it’s best to bring your truck to car dealerships with an in-house service center to have the wheels realigned.

Have the Underside Washed

If you plan to go off-road in your new pickup truck every other weekend, be sure to set aside time during a weekend to clean the underbelly of your truck. You’d be surprised by how much mud may be caked underneath your truck. This poses a problem as the mud can easily lead to rust and other forms of corrosion. Clean out the underside and protect the metal parts with a degreaser every month or so, depending on how often you go off-road.

About McLoughlin Chevy:
McLoughlin Chevy is a respected car dealership serving Portland, OR and other nearby areas. We take great pride in carrying the latest cars from Chevrolet, including sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, and more. We also offer a variety of used vehicles at great prices.


Sources:

How a 1964 Chevy Pickup Became Part of the Family, WSJ.com
The Long Haul: 10 Tips to Help Your Truck Run Well Into Old Age, RoadandTruck.com

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