Get your vehicle ready during National Fall Car Care Month!

October is National Fall Car Care Month

Between getting ready to go back to school, Halloween, and preparing for Thanksgiving, there’s a lot of stuff to plan and remember in the autumn months! Sometimes, your vehicle can unexpectedly take a back seat in all the chaos, and when you need it to perform, something unanticipated happens. A great way to prepare your vehicle for the colder months ahead is to perform a couple of simple checks during October, National Fall Car Care Month!

This month, we’ll be adding tips every weekend to help our readers prepare their vehicles. If you’re not much of a DIY type, you can turn to VIP! Our Certified Automotive Professionals will be happy to provide you with details about our special Winterization Package – which can save you over $70! See here for more information.

Tip #1 – Tires

Every vehicle needs a good set of reliable tires. Whether you’re the kind of person who has a dedicated set of winter tires for the colder months or prefers to run a great set of all-seasons all year round, making sure that your tread is adequate is essential. Your tires are the only four points of your vehicle that touch the road, so you want to be sure they’re safe. Some important things to check in October:

• Tread: While the legal minimum for tread on tires is 2/32″, it’s important to note that for reliable traction, you should have at least 4/32″. Good tread, decent sipes, and aggressive edges will help to maintain control, acceleration, and, most importantly, stopping power during the snow, sleet, and icy months ahead. You can check your tire tread at home with a penny, or you can turn to VIP, and our TIA-Certified tire experts will be more than happy to check them for you.
• Proper Tire Pressure: Making sure that you have proper tire pressure is also important. Overinflating your tires can be just as detrimental as underinflating your tires. Overinflated tires can increase tire wear and reduce the life of your tires including traction and performance. Underinflated tires mean too much of the tire’s surface touches the road, increasing friction, which can cause the tire’s rubber to overheat and lead to a blowout. If you don’t know how to check your tire pressure or find the proper pressure for your tires, you can check out this tutorial or head to your local VIP. We’re happy to perform free tire pressure checks, and if you need air, that’s free too!
• Alignment: In the winter months, when staying on the road is hard enough with heavy wind, snow, and ice, don’t fight your alignment, too! Get a free check from VIP to determine if your tires need an adjustment. Not only does this provide a smoother, safer ride, but it can also extend the life of your tires.

Tip #2 – Fluids

Another necessary check on your vehicle before winter is fluids. At a minimum, you should plan to get an oil change in the fall. You may want to consult your owner’s manual on whether or not your vehicle needs a lower viscosity oil in colder temperatures. Other fluids to check:

• Windshield Wiper Fluid: As temps drop and things start to freeze your windshield wiper fluid can, too! Consider investing in a winter blend that can help with deicing.
• Coolant: Fall is a great time to check your coolant and make sure that it’s still in good condition. Your coolant should remain the same color it was when first added: blue, green, yellow, or red. If it’s become discolored or there seems to be debris in it’s time to get a coolant flush. VIP’s Winterization Package includes a coolant flush.
• Power Steering Fluid: Are you beginning to hear a strange whining when turning your steering wheel? Does it feel a little harder to steer? Use National Fall Car Care Month to check your power steering fluid. Adding a little fluid now might mean avoiding an expensive repair in the future.
• Transmission Fluid: If you’re nearing a maintenance milestone for your vehicle, check your owner’s manual to see if you need a transmission flush. It’s important to perform your transmission maintenance as close to the recommended intervals in your owner’s manual as possible.

Tune in each Saturday and Sunday for a new October Fall Car Care Month tip! And if you’d like to schedule your Winterization appointment, our 60 locations all over New England are open seven days a week! Schedule your appointment today.