Portland Diesel Trucks: 6 Tips for Preparing Your Truck for the Winter

If your diesel truck has endured a couple winters or so, you probably know that the cold weather presents some unique challenges to your vehicle of choice. To reduce vehicle downtime and  ensure your truck makes it through the season’s lowest temperatures without a hitch, you need to take certain precautions with your truck. Your Portland dealer of diesel trucks has prepared for you a checklist of the preventive measures you can use to help your truck make it to spring without enduring too much wear.

Test Your Batteries

How old is your battery? Typically, a battery on a diesel truck will last three to five years. Winter has a way of depleting weak batteries, so to avoid being stranded, test the health of your batteries or have your trusted mechanic perform it.

Check Your Coolant

If the coolant fluid freezes, serious damage can occur in your engine, so it’s important to ensure this doesn’t happen. Diesel engines need a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze to protect against freezing. If you’re not sure about the mixture, drain the fluid and replace it with the correct mix. Better yet, have your mechanic do it for you.

Use a Winter Additive

Diesel fuel contains paraffins, which can cause your fuel to harden into a gel-like state during freezing temperatures. Gelling can clog the fuel system and cause the engine to shut down. Additionally, water and moisture can accumulate inside diesel systems during winter, which can freeze and clog the lines. You can take care of both by treating your fuel tanks with additives that prevent both paraffin and water related issues.

Inspect Your Tires

Truck owners tend to overlook their tires during routine winter vehicle maintenance checks. Don’t make the same mistake. Inspect the treads AND the sidewalls for any signs of damage. Sidewall damage cannot be repaired, so if you see serious cuts, bubbles or gashes, replace the tire immediately. As for addressing the weather, your truck will benefit from snow tires, but the type you need to buy should follow the conditions you expect to endure.

Replace Your Fuel Filter

The fuel filter is where freezing commonly occurs in a diesel engine. That’s because of the minimal amount of diesel that the fuel filter holds when the truck sits overnight. Although replacing your fuel filter for winter doesn’t guarantee that you won’t have gelling problems, it does reduce the chances, considering that you could be replacing a cartridge that’s old and partially clogged beforehand.

Go over Your Windshield

The windshields on diesel trucks are built to withstand nature’s harshest elements, but even the tiniest damage can easily worsen during extremely low temperatures. You probably already know that windshield cracks occur more often during the winter. Minor windshield damage can actually be repaired, so be sure to go over yours thoroughly.

You can have all these checks done for you by a reliable service center for diesel trucks in Portland, such as McLoughlin Chevy. Bring your truck in today and have the peace of mind knowing that your truck can handle the cold temperatures that lie ahead.

Source:

8 Ways to Make Sure Your Diesel Fuel and More are Ready for Winter, truckinginfo.com

A First Timer’s Guide: 4 Simple Tips for Acquiring New Cars for Sale

Shopping around for a brand new car can be a fun experience for many people. However, it can also be a difficult experience for first-time car buyers. If this is the first time you will purchase a new car, know that there are several steps you can take to ensure you will find and purchase the best car for your wants, needs, and budget. Some of these steps include:

Get Pre-approved for a Car Loan

More often than not, buyers will need to take out a car loan in order to acquire new cars for sale. Since you already know that you will need financing for your purchase, it would be a good idea to visit your bank and apply for pre-approval. Not only does getting pre-approved help expedite the purchasing process, but it also lets you know the maximum amount of money your lender is willing to provide you with, helping you establish your budget.

Consider Your Immediate and Future Needs

Whether this will be your first car or a new one to replace the car your parents gave you, it’s a good idea to consider both your immediate and future requirements before you visit a trusted dealership like Mcloughlin Chevrolet. This is because you can easily identify what type of car you’ll need, saving you valuable time looking at cars that do not fit the bill. For example, if you already have young children, it may be a wise move to buy a spacious SUV now for when the kids get older. Avid outdoorsmen may want to look into buying a new truck that has enough horsepower to tow a sizeable trailer.

Pay Close Attention to Safety Features

It’s easy to be dazzled with the extra features a car has. After all, it really is amazing how technological advances have allowed us to put GPS, rear-view cameras, and other features into our vehicles. However, take the time to carefully go over the safety features of each car that catches your eye. Airbag location(s), ABS, and other safety features are vital in keeping you and your passengers safe on the road in the event of an accident.

Go for a Test Drive

Even if you are buying a new sedan to replace your current one, this does not guarantee that you will find driving the new sedan to be the same experience. This is why you should take advantage of test drive offers from your chosen dealership. Be sure to drive a few miles before returning the vehicle to get a good feel for how the car operates. If driving that car feels uncomfortable, try different new cars for sale until you find a few that feel natural to operate.

About Mcloughlin Chevrolet: Mcloughlin Chevrolet is a respected auto dealership serving Portland and other nearby areas. We offer some of the best deals on both brand new and used vehicles in the area, and are always happy to go the extra mile to ensure our customers are completely satisfied with their purchase.

Sources:

How to Buy a Car – 15 Essential Tips to Get the Best Deal, moneycrashers.com

How to Buy a Car: Confessions of a Car Salesman, popularmechanics.com

Symptoms of a Car in Desperate Need of an Auto Service Appointment

Regular car maintenance is vital as it helps keep your vehicle running at peak efficiency for longer, as well as ensure you stay safe on the road at all times. Unfortunately, even the best maintenance routines won’t be able to stave off the wear and tear of everyday use. In some cases, very minor issues like a chipped paint job can be put off until your next car maintenance and detailing appointment. However, there are several warning signs that no car owner should ever ignore. With that in mind, here are a few issues that should prompt you to set an auto service appointment ASAP:

Frequent Overheating Issues

It isn’t anything out of the ordinary if your car’s engine overheats once in a blue moon, especially if it occurs during the warmest months of the year. However, frequent issues with overheating may indicate an issue with your engine. It’s possible that there is a coolant leak or your engine is suffering from a failing water pump. Once an experienced mechanic detects and repairs the affected part, your overheating issues should go away. Read more from this article: http://bit.ly/2kfxRpC

5 Common Warning Signs That Show You Need to Have Your Brakes Checked

It is no secret that your brake system is one of the most important aspects of your vehicle. As such, it is incredibly important that you have an experienced mechanic take a look at your brake system regularly to help prevent excessive damage. Additionally, any damage to your brakes should be repaired ASAP. The question is knowing when to see your mechanic.

People who own more modern vehicles are often alerted by a “check brakes” light if there is a problem with any part of the brake system. Unfortunately, this feature isn’t common among older vehicles, which can make it difficult to know when there’s an issue with the brakes. However, you can easily detect various warning signs your brakes will exhibit if there is a problem with them. Read more from this article: http://bit.ly/2BvsHgK

Bad Credit Auto Loans and Insurance: Getting Covered Beyond Standard

Oregon, like many states, has rules in place regarding the type of auto insurance that all drivers must carry. You need property damage liability, which covers the damage you do to the vehicles and property of others. You also need personal injury protection (PIP), which pays for medical bills and the injuries sustained by others in car accidents. In addition to PIP and property damage liability, there are some other types of auto insurance you may want to add to your policy.

Thankfully, bad credit auto loans that you receive from reputable auto dealers like McLoughlin Chevrolet can be so comprehensive, that you have the option to add to your current standard insurance when purchasing a vehicle. Below are some of the additional insurance coverages you may want to consider. Read more from this article: http://bit.ly/2CYhZ2u