GRANDVILLE, Mich., -- As any Michigander knows, our roads are terrible. Big time. Harsh winters coupled with the drastic freeze/thaw cycles we experience heading into springtime leave our highways and city streets peppered with potholes, which in turn wreak havoc on your vehicle.

This National Car Care Month, your friends at RiverTown Honda are here to show you how important it is to check your alignment and suspension this spring and help prepare your car to run at its best this summer.

ALIGNMENT

SUSPENSION

GRANDVILLE, Mich.––The bitter cold temperatures, the heavy snow fall and lake effect snow, and ice along the backroads can all make Michigan winters a pain to deal with. Whether you like the winter or not, driving in inclement weather can be scary, and even scarier in a car that's not equipped for it. If you're a Michigander, chances are there are some small steps you took to make dealing with winter driving easier like putting an ice scraper in your car, creating an emergency kit, and maybe even having winter tires put on your vehicle. We're here to help keep you safe on the road, help you deal with winter on the road, and keep your car running well through the cold weather with Winter Car Care and routine auto maintenance tips from RiverTown Honda.


We've got some informative pages on our website that highlight the components on your car necessary to take care of during the winter season because of their safety factor, complete with tips on how to do so and advice that'll help you extend the life of your vehicle! Explore these Winter Car Care pages by clicking the links below and let our team of auto experts at RiverTown Honda know if you have any questions.

Tire Inspection and Installation

Maintaining the health and longevity of your tires consists of inspection, inflation, and rotation. During the winter, these tasks are especially important. If your tires aren't inflated enough, or are lacking in tread wear, they may not be able to provide the traction you need. Check this page out for how to take care of your tires, check out our "should you invest in winter tires?" page for more information that might help with your next tire purchase.

Battery Tests and Replacements 

Although this is a simple part of routine maintenance, this is a critical part to dealing with winter driving. Have you ever gone outside in the morning only to find that your car won't start immediately? It could be because of your battery! Check this page to learn about when to replace your battery and how cold weather affects it.

Brake Inspections

Your brakes are what allow your car to stop - simple as that. Without properly working brakes in snowy and icy conditions, you're putting your safety at risk. There are ways you can ensure they have enough stopping power throughout the year by having inspections done and service as needed. See this page for more information and signs you need brake service.

Oil Changes 

Oil changes are an integral part of routine maintenance year-round, but are especially important in the winter. As the weather gets colder, your car works harder to run. To ensure your engine is running well an oil inspection and regular oil change every 3,000-5,000 miles is necessary. See this page for more oil change tips and schedule your next $24.95 oil change online!

Wiper Blade Replacements

These two rubber blades are responsible for keeping your view of the road clear. This is especially important to your safety this winter because of the snow, ice, and dirty slush that can cloud your windshield. It's also a good idea to have your washer fluid topped off. Learn more about wiper blade replacements and fluid top offs at RiverTown Honda on this page and our routine maintenance pages.


With these Winter Car Care and routine auto maintenance tips, you've got the tools to safely drive through the cold weather season. See our website for more seasonal maintenance tips and schedule your auto service online. Our team at RiverTown Honda is more than happy to help you find the perfect vehicle and take care of it throughout your time of ownership. It's our goal to provide you the best dealership experience of your life!


Give RiverTown Honda a call at (877) 236-9113, or visit us at 4260 Kenowa Ave. Grandville, MI 49418, one mile west of RiverTown Mall.

Visit Us Online: RiverTownHonda.com

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The shop where I have my car serviced has been urging me to change my oil in my 2013 Mustang GT California Special more often. I've owned this vehicle since May 2012 and have 11K miles on it. Since I don't have time to drive it much I change the oil once a year since Ford recommends every 10K. The question is should I change it more often or is once a year with synthetic oil okay? Thank you, Russell in San Jose

Answer: Russell, modern engine oils and engine technology allow for the 10,000 mile oil change intervals. Keep in mind the manufacturer also offers a powertrain warranty for up to 100,000 miles so a 10k oil change interval is not harmful under “normal” conditions.

If your trips allow the engine to fully warm up and the oil temperature to get over 200 degrees regularly to evaporate moisture, you’re probably just fine. Keep in mind the manual says to start the engine every 15 days and allow it to reach normal operating temperature.

Ford puts particular emphasis on their oil life monitor stating a the oil change must be done within two weeks or 500 miles of the ENGINE OIL CHANGE DUE or OIL CHANGE message. Should the monitor be accidentally reset or inoperative, Ford states to change the oil at six months or 5000 miles and never exceed one year or 10,000 miles between oil changes. More extreme use as described in your manual will require more frequent changes and the readout should reflect this.

If you want laboratory data to compare, I highly recommend Blackstone Labs for a $28 oil analysis www.blackstone-labs.com. What would be interesting is how the oil life display readout correlates to the vehicle miles and the lab analysis.