Must Do Maintenance To Keep Your Vehicle Running Safe

 

It can be confusing to know exactly what maintenance is really necessary to complete at each interval. With warranties, synthetic oils and performance parts it can be tough to know when to maintenance should be performed. It is always smart to follow the factory recommended maintenance schedule in your owners-manual, but this is a simple breakdown of the basics. At John Elway Chevrolet, we conduct a FREE multipoint inspection to check for any unusual wear and tear that may lead to future issues when you visit our service department.

 

Once a Month Check:  

1. Oil: Check oil levels and look for leaks.
2. Hoses: Check hoses for cracks and loose connections.
3. Belts: look for uneven wear or excessive wear.
4. Tires: Check tire pressure and treads for uneven or excessive wear or cracking.
5. Coolant / Antifreeze: Check for low levels and leaks.
6. Air Filter: Replace if dirty

Every 3 Months:

1. Change Oil and Oil Filter: Check your owners-manual for recommendations. Vehicles using full synthetic oil can usually go up to 5 months before changing.
2. Windshield Washer Fluid: Refill washer fluid. Check fluid every month during the winter.
3. Power Steering Fluid: Check levels and for leaks.
4. Transmission Fluid: Check levels and for leaks.

Every 6 Months:

1. Wiper Blades: Check for broken or brittle blades.
2. Brakes: Check for uneven or excessive wear.
3. Spare Tire: Check spare tire pressure.
4. Shocks: Check for leaks and wear.

This is not a comprehensive list. This is meant to be a simple guide of preventative maintenance items to help keep your car running safe. We recommend consulting with a Chevrolet Factory Certified technician at John Elway Chevrolet and your owners-manual to make sure your unique vehicle receives the proper maintenance. To help you save time, we now take service appointments online and a free multipoint inspection with every service. 

5 Easy Steps To Increase The Life of Your Transmission

Your transmission is a crucial part of your drivetrain and can be extremely costly to fix. A new clutch can run anywhere from $1,200-$1,500 and a new automatic transmission can run $3,000 plus. Transmission troubles can mean a huge hit to the pocket book. We are here to give you 5 ways to help extend the life of your transmission.

1. Change Transmission Fluid: Be sure to check your owner’s manual or ask your service advisor how often they recommend changing your Transmission fluid. Most recommend every 15,000 miles or at least once per year. Your transmission fluid works just like the oil in your engine (please do not put engine oil in your transmission) by lubricating the gear for better performance and less wear. As your fluid gets dirty you increase wear and risk overheating.
2. Pick The Right Gear: Weather you have a manual or automatic, it is important to select the right gear for your driving conditions. Make sure you are using your lower gears when climbing hills, off-roading, or towing. Only use overdrive when you are driving at highway speeds. Follow these simple rules and you will reduce strain and wear on your transmission.
3. Use Brakes Not Gears: When you downshift to slow your vehicle you are putting significant stress on your transmission gears. Brake pads are much cheaper than transmission maintenance, so it’s a good idea to use your breaks first when slowing your vehicle.
4. Warm Your Car Up: Those cold Colorado mornings can be tough on your transmission if you don’t take the time to let the fluid warm up. It is good practice to let your car warm up and drive gently the first 2-3 miles. Don’t peel-out or do any doughnuts.
5. Watch For Overheating: Whatever you do, do not ignore your transmission overheating. If you are experiencing overheating in your transmission bring it in for service right away. For every 20 degrees over 200 degrees, your transmission’s lifespan decreases by a factor of 2. If this becomes a consistent problem your service adviser may recommend a transmission cooler be installed.

Be safe out there and take good care of your vehicle and it will take care of you. If you have any questions at all please call our service department or stop by and ask one of our Chevy Certified Service Advisers. Our extremely knowledgeable staff is here to answer your questions and help you get the most out of your vehicle. Check out our Chevy service specials and schedule your next service appointment online. 

Winterize Your Chevy In 7 Steps

Is you vehicle ready to battle the elements this winter? Before you find yourself driving through a snow storm of this season, you will want to make sure your vehicle is ready to keep you safe. Follow these tips before venturing out into the winter wonderland. At John Elway Chevrolet On South Broadway we have many service specials that will help you with making sure your vehicle will be 100% for what the winter has to offer. Just follow this link and see what offers we have, Service Specials. Come to John Elway Chevrolet and be ready for the winter.

• Get a Tune-Up. Have your mechanic check your hoses, belts and anti-freeze. A weakened hose or belt can break and leave you stranded, or a weak solution of anti-freeze can ice up and damage your cooling system.

• Check Your Battery. Make sure your car’s battery connection is clean, tight and corrosion-free. The battery should be securely mounted. If the battery is three years old or more, have it tested and replace it if necessary.

• Check Your Heater and Defroster. If your heater isn’t working, you’ll probably know. But what about front and rear defrosters? Before you’re faced with a frosty windshield, turn your front and rear defrosters on and off to make sure they’re working.

• Give Yourself a Brake. If you have the slightest concern that something’s amiss with your brakes, get them inspected immediately. If you have anti-lock brakes, you should avoid pumping the brakes if you begin to slide.

• New Wiper Blades and Washer Fluid. Even if your windshield wiper blades are in good condition, you might want to upgrade to a rubber coated snow blade that can handle the extra weight of wet snow. They’re not expensive, and could make your winter driving a lot safer in the long run. Slush and mud splashed on a windshield can spell danger for a winter driver. Make sure your washer fluid reservoir is sufficiently full, and keep a spare jug in the trunk.

• Take a Look at Your Tires. Your tires need to have adequate tread with “grip” to propel you through the snow. Take advantage of our 30 day price match guarantee and get the right tires for your vehicle installed by factory trained technicians. 

• Fill Her Up! One of the best driving tips for winter is to keep your tank more than half full at all times. It will help you avoid freezing in your fuel lines, and will keep you safer in winter weather situations.

If for any reason you are in need of assistance with any one of these safety precautions please give us a call and we will be happy to help you in anyway we can. Please give us a call at (720) 279-1799