Preventative maintenance is the best way to ensure your vehicle stays reliable, and lets you avoid major repairs as well as the expenses that come with them. At Woodard Automotive, we provide a complete preventative maintenance program, and carry all the necessary parts and expertise to take care of the little jobs that let you avoid the big ones.
Choose from a comprehensive range of the fluids, oils, filters, and belts that your vehicle needs to keep running happily and healthily. Relax while your ride is inspected by our highly-trained technicians, and rest assured that it'll keep running smoothly for miles and miles.
10 Minute Pre-Trip Checkup Can Pay Off
A properly maintained vehicle is safer and more dependable and will even save a few dollars at the gas pumps. Motorists should plan ahead to allow time to perform necessary maintenance themselves or at the local service facility.
Car Care Council offers three suggestions for a traveler's 10-minute pre-trip checklist:Check all fluids - There are several fluids that require attention: Engine Oil, power steering, brake and transmission fluids, and windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.
Check all hoses and belts - A belt failure can affect the electrical system, air conditioning, power steering, and the cooling system. Cooling system hoses may be deteriorating from within, so old hoses and clamps in marginal condition might need to be replaced.
Check the tires - Check tire inflation and inspect the tread for uneven wear, indicating the need for wheel alignment. Also look for bulges and bald spots along the tire's surface.
Follow these tips to maximize fuel efficiency of your vehicle:
Boost your vehicle's fuel efficiency with these simple yet effective tips. From regular maintenance checks such as monitoring tire pressure and replacing worn spark plugs to cultivating mindful driving habits like avoiding aggressive maneuvers and excessive idling, these strategies can help you optimize fuel usage and save on costs in the long run.
Vehicle Gas Caps
Regularly checking and ensuring the proper sealing of your gas cap is crucial. Surprisingly, approximately 17% of vehicles on the roads today have gas caps that are either damaged, loose, or entirely missing. This seemingly small issue leads to the vaporization of around 147 million gallons of fuel each year.
Under Inflated Tires
Maintaining proper tire pressure is crucial for optimal fuel efficiency. Driving with underinflated tires is akin to driving with a parking brake engaged, resulting in a notable reduction in mileage, often costing a mile or two per gallon. Regularly checking and maintaining the correct tire pressure can significantly improve fuel efficiency.
Worn Spark Plugs
The spark plugs in a vehicle, whether four, six, or eight in number, endure an incredible amount of stress, firing up to 3 million times every 1,000 miles. Such persistent use can lead to both electrical and chemical erosion from the generated heat. Regular inspection and timely replacement of worn spark plugs are essential for maintaining fuel efficiency.
Dirty Air Filters
A clogged air filter can disrupt the ideal air-fuel mixture, leading to a "rich" mixture where the proportion of gas to air is imbalanced. This not only results in fuel wastage but also causes the engine to lose power. The simple act of replacing a clogged air filter can enhance gas mileage by as much as 10%, making it a crucial maintenance step for fuel efficiency.
Don't Drive Aggressively
Aggressive driving habits, such as sudden accelerations and abrupt stops, can significantly reduce gas mileage. In fact, aggressive driving can decrease gas mileage by up to 33% on the highway and 5% on city streets. Opting for smoother driving habits can substantially improve fuel efficiency.
Avoid Excessive Idling
Allowing a vehicle to idle for extended periods consumes fuel without yielding any mileage. Minimize unnecessary idling, and avoid letting the vehicle warm up for more than one to two minutes as excessive idling contributes to unnecessary fuel consumption.
Drive the Speed Limit
Maintaining a consistent speed and adhering to the speed limit can play a vital role in fuel efficiency. Gas mileage tends to decrease rapidly at speeds exceeding 60 mph. For every mile driven above 60 mph, you can expect an additional 10 cents per gallon in fuel costs. Utilizing cruise control can also help in maintaining a steady speed, thus enhancing fuel efficiency during highway driving.
Partners
What our clients are saying about us
We have established longterm and stable partnerships with various clients thanks to our excellence in solving their automotive needs!
There are not enough stars on the scale to coincide with how elated I am with the level of service and overall satisfying experience I received on my first visit to Woodard! (This review is lengthy, but I wanted to show the huge difference between my experience with the dealer and Woodard Automotive.) I recently purchased a Certified Preowned (CPO) Land Rover (LR)... but had feelings of buyer's remorse -- especially after leaving Land Rover's service department. There was a rattling sound in my dashboard. After a 2-3 minute drive with a mechanic, and without popping the hood, LR told me that I would have to leave the vehicle because the "entire dashboard would have to be disassembled". The service adviser claimed that finding the cause of rattles is "tricky". He implied that it is so labor-intensive that it would take an unknown number of hours to "TRY to fix the problem..."; "there's no guarantee that it could be fixed...", and "the problem could even get worse... because you never know about rattles". (Imagine, purchasing a CPO vehicle, under warranty, but non-mechanical, non-electrical issues like "rattles" are not included in coverage.) As if their initial display of incompetence wasn't enough, the service adviser stopped me as I was getting into my vehicle and added - "...the other option is to wait until something worse happens in the dash... then Land Rover would cover it." I'm almost sure LR wouldn't take too kindly to that advice. (lol) And, why would he think I'd feel comfortable driving a vehicle that could potentially get worse, or leave me stranded somewhere -- primarily because I took the insane advice to ignore the rattle. (SMH) Their incompetence/fumbling blindly, hoping to get lucky and find the problem, would have cost me $246/hr. It took Woodard's owners, Andy, Lori, and a stethoscope (fondly called Dr. Andy) (smile) MINUTES to pinpoint the problem! I assume the mistake was probably made during the 165-point CPO inspection. (SMH) Needless to say, after leaving Woodard, I didn't even grant LR the courtesy of canceling my appointment. No call, no show is what they deserved. If Woodard accepts Land Rover's warranty and vice versa - I would breathe a sigh of relief, because I do NOT want to return to the dealer -- not even for repairs that are covered under the warranty. These days, it is virtually impossible to find a great master mechanic who can be trusted - in addition to a well-equipped facility to meet the demands of services needed to repair high-tech/late model vehicles. Woodard encompasses all of it! I thank God that I was led to Woodard's website. They are welcoming, personable, professional, and most of all competent and highly experienced! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!
(Translated by Google) Excellent (Original) Excelente