Summer Car Care & Organizational Tips

PEKIN, Ill., – Check the temperature: sunny days and warm weather are here to stay! Road trip season has officially begun, which means you'll be spending a lot of time in your vehicle. With that in mind, we've put together a list of summer car care and organizational tips to get your vehicle ready to go for any road trip, no matter how big or small! From cooling systems to U/V protection, we've got you covered with tips and tricks to make sure you enjoy every drive this season. We've also included a few DIY tips to help you keep your vehicle organized for those long drives. Gear up and get your vehicle up to speed this summer!

1. Regularly Check Your Cooling System

Keeping your engine cool is just as important as keeping yourself cool! Your engine's coolant helps to reduce the temperature of the engine on hot days, and without coolant, it can heat up your engine and potentially cause a lot of damage to the interior. If you see any colorful fluids leaking from your vehicle or smell something sweet, bring your vehicle into our Service Center to get it checked out immediately!

2. Make Sure Your A/C is Working

This is a no-brainer, but it's better to be safe than sorry! You won't want to be stuck in rush hour traffic or on a road trip without a fresh breeze cooling you down. If you notice a lack of airflow or your vehicle doesn't produce A/C, get it checked out as soon as you can! Sometimes, all you may need is just a simple filter or fan replaced. These simple fixes can make all the difference in the world on scorching hot Illinois days!

3. Clean Your Car's Exterior and Interior

You'd be surprised at how much of a difference this can make! Having a cleaner interior will help on hot days and decrease internal temperatures when you enter your vehicle. If your windshield is dirty, it can get extremely hazy on hot summer nights and make it difficult to drive. Making sure you have a clean interior and exterior is not only safe, but it'll make your car look a lot better for those fun nights out with your family and friends!

4. Check Your Vehicle's Suspension

The long winter seasons take a toll on a vehicle's suspension, especially during pothole season. Repeated damage to the suspension can misalign your wheels and steering. A good rule of thumb is that if it takes a lot of effort to turn, there is a chance you could have damage to your suspension. If you've hit a large pothole and your steering seems a bit off, schedule an appointment as soon as you can. Our Service Staff is extremely experienced with suspension care and will get your car back into your hands in no time!

5. Keep An Eye on Your Fluid Levels

Keeping a lookout for wiper fluid, power steering fluid, brake pad fluids, and oil levels will allow your vehicle to run smoothly and efficiently through the warm months. Your power steering fluid will help you control your car through turns and reduce resistance, while your brake pad fluids will help to reduce resistance with braking, especially in quick scenarios. Your oil helps to lubricate your vehicle's engine, which will keep it running without heating or warping any other parts of the vehicle. While it may be a hot summer, the chance of it raining is extremely likely! Make sure you've got wiper fluid to wash off any dirt on your windshield so that you can drive clearly!

Keep your car clean this summer with these organizational ideas:

• If you have a dog, consider investing in a dog seat cover. This will keep the fur off your seats!
• Add hooks or hangers to your seats to carry groceries or backpacks easily.
• Get a cooler for your car to keep some drinks nice and chilly for the kids!
• Store plastic bags in a Kleenex box. They could come in handy later!
• Keep loose change in an empty gum container so you can have it nearby without making a mess.

If you like these ideas, check out our Pinterest page for more DIY car fun! Organizing your vehicle can be fun and easy this summer with these summer car care and organizational tips! You can keep your vehicle clean and your passengers happy with some quick and easy maintenance. In no time, you'll have a fresh and efficient vehicle and you'll be ready to tackle road trip season! By following all of our tips, you'll have more room, increased safety, and extended life for your vehicle in only a matter of minutes! If you're in need of additional vehicle maintenance, feel free to schedule an appointment and our Service Staff will get your vehicle back on the road as soon as possible!

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Stop by the dealership located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com for more information.

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6 Ways to Make Your Vehicle More Fuel-Efficient

PEKIN, Ill. – Gas prices are always fluctuating, so anything you can do on your own to cut down on the cost of gas is helpful. At Velde ford we’re here to give you a few tips to help you save gas and money. Take a look at our 6 ways to make your vehicle more fuel-efficient.

6 Ways to Make Your Vehicle More Fuel-Efficient

1. Use cruise control. If you’re driving on the highway for an extended period of time, flip on your cruise control. Cruise control keeps you at one speed, which will increase your miles per gallon.
2. Check your tire pressure once a month. You can find the correct PSI on the inside of your driver door. Under-inflated tires will burn through more fuel, so keeping them properly inflated will give you more miles.
3. Think about your driving style. If you find yourself often accelerating quickly you’re probably burning through quite a bit of gas. Always try to accelerate gradually.
4. Lighten your load. If you carry a lot in your trunk, we encourage you to clean it out. All you need is your essentials like fluid bottles,  your emergency kit, and maybe some tools. The heavier your car is, the less miles you’re getting per gallon.
5. Love your engine. Give your engine the attention it needs with routine oil changes and other services. If everything is running smoothly under the hood, your fuel-efficiency will be the best it can be.
6. Take care of all your errands at once. If you have a lot of errands to run in one day, try doing them all at once. If you’re taking multiple small trips, you’re wasting much more gas.

Try these gas-saving tips to save on fuel and money. Looking for a more fuel-efficient car? Try the 2016 Ford Fusion or the 2016 Ford Fiesta. Come into Velde Ford today and you can take a test drive!

If your vehicle needs a tune-up schedule a service with us online today. Our service experts are happy to take care of your and your vehicle. There are plenty of services they can take care of as well that will make your vehicle more fuel-efficient.

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit Velde Ford located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com

Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram