New Year’s Resolutions for your Car

Many people try to set resolutions at the beginning of the year in an effort to better some part of their lifestyle. This is a good practice for your vehicle as well. By setting some simple New Year’s Resolutions for your vehicle, you can ensure that it keeps working properly for the entire year. Here are some tips to keep your vehicle running in top shape this year:

• Clean and fix any interior and exterior issues – Most resolutions are centered around a person’s body, so why not apply that same principle to your vehicle. Setting up a simple maintenance schedule will help you make great strides in repairing any aspects of your vehicle that may have been caused by the harsh weather conditions. Some suggestions to do this would be to make sure you check for leaks, take your vehicle in for regular tune-ups, clean the interior and exterior, and especially reading the owner’s manual. If you have any questions about what your vehicle requires for maintenance and how often it needs to be done, feel free to contact Thelen’s Service Department and they will be happy to assist you with any questions. You can request an appointment by clicking here as well.
• Keep an eye on your fuel consumption – Take a deep breath and relax while behind the wheel. Aggressive driving and excessive speeding can increase your fuel consumption by nearly 35 percent! A great way to keep your vehicle in good shape is to slow down a little, give yourself a little more time to get to where you need to be, plan your routes ahead of time to make sure you don’t deter from the path, and having a back-up plan in case of bad weather is a great way to save money and fuel. If fuel-efficiency is a top priority for you and your current vehicle is not performing to your standards, we do offer many vehicles that will help you get the most out of your fuel. You can view Thelen’s complete new and pre-owned inventory on our website.

• Watch how often (and how long) you idle your car – It is a great time to kick bad habits like unnecessary idling. By cutting this, you will save money, your vehicle, and the environment. This means to also avoid using automatic car starters since they encourage idling and waste a lot of fuel. Most of the newer vehicles available are electronically controlled and will allow you to drive away 30 seconds after starting your vehicle, no matter how cold it is.

• Check tire pressure – This is vitally important during the winter. Cold temperatures can decrease pressure in tires and this can cause quite a few issues when you are driving in snowy conditions. Driving your vehicle with underinflated tires can reduce the life of your tires and increase fuel consumption. Make sure to continually check your tires for any wear. Many cars also have a gauge in the menu screen that will help alert you of any low pressure tires, which makes this easier than the past. If new tires are needed, Thelen’s Parts Departments would be happy to help find the perfect tires for your vehicle.

By following these simple suggestions, you can help prevent any major issues that may occur with your vehicle in this New Year. Don’t let these resolutions be forgotten! If you have any questions, we would be happy to help! Contact us anytime by filling out the Contact Us form or by calling us at 989.671.1150!

Do you have any suggestions on how to keep your vehicle running smoothly throughout the year? We would love to hear them! Just leave us a comment below!