Car Care Tips

Car Care Brings Reliability & Peace of Mind

Oil Change in Batavia, IL

It's not a secret: the older vehicles you see on the road that are in excellent shape get there because they receive regular care. Routine maintenance, like oil changes, tire rotations, and brake inspections, can prevent repairs and extend the life of your car. On the other hand, skipping out on maintenance can result in breakdowns and a frustrating hit to your wallet when repairs are needed. Another perk to keeping up on automotive upkeep is that a properly cared for car tends to hold its value better, making maintenance a smart investment in the long run.

So, whether you're a seasoned gearhead or a casual driver, taking time to care for your car pays off in reliability, safety, and peace of mind.

With this in mind, Batavia Avenue Mobil would like to help you keep your vehicle at is best. We have car care tips and reminders to share to assist you in this endeavor. Remember to always check your owner's manual to confirm the specifics related to your make and model, or give us a call for assistance with taking care of your scheduled maintenance.

Change &Top Off Automotive Fluids

Change conventional oil every 5,000 miles and synthetic oil every 7,500 miles

Replace the oil filter at every other oil change

Change antifreeze every 30,000 miles.
Change brake fluid every 30,000 miles.
Change transmission fluid every 30,000 miles.
Schedule a maintenance check every 15, 30, 60, and 90,000 miles.
Replace your cabin air filter every 12 months or 12-15,000 miles (whichever comes first).
Check your engine air filter yearly and expect to replace the engine air filter every 30-45,000 miles
Replace your fuel filter every 24 months or 24,000 miles (whichever comes first).

Tire Maintenance & Care

Rotate your tires every 5,000 miles or every 6 months.
Check tire pressure approximately once a month. Low tire pressure can affect fuel economy, handling and comfort. To accurately measure your tire pressure, check tires when they are "cold." This means you should wait at least three hours after driving, because tires that were recently moving will be hot and give inaccurate readings.
Always make sure that your wheels are properly aligned. Poor wheel alignment lead to dragging of the car on the road and may cause the tires to wear in irregular ways that require earlier replacement than would be neccessary if the wheels are aligned correctly.
Check your spare tire each month and keep it properly inflated so it¹s ready to go when you need it most. Ask to include it in the tire rotation schedule. This way, if you need to use it, the tire will be a near the tread wear of the other tires.
Use the "penny trick" to determine if the tread on your tires is worn or low. Take a penny and put Abraham Lincoln's head into one of the grooves of the tread. If part of his head is covered by the tread, you're ok. If you can see all of his head, it's time to replace the tire. In Illinois, the tire must be replaced when the tread is worn down to 3/32 of an inch. However, it is recommended that tires be changed at 4/32 of an inch since that is safer.

Gas Mileage Tips

Check and/or change your cabin air filter on time; yes - the cabin dust and pollen filter can imapct the HVAC system, which in turn impacts your engine's performance and fuel economy.
Don't top off gasoline. Any additional fuel is going to slop around or seep out.
Tighten up that gas cap. Gas will evaporate from your car's gas tank if it has an escape. Loose, missing or damaged gas caps cause 147 million gallons of gas to evaporate each year.
Go for the shade. The hot summer sun that makes the inside of your car feel like a sauna also evaporates fuel from your gas tank.
Use the right oil. You can improve your car's gas mileage by 1% to 2% by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil.