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August 6, 2023
Since driving requirements and lifestyles differ among Grand Rapids drivers, your vehicle manufacturer publishes two auto maintenance schedules: the regular schedule and the severe service schedule. Which schedule should Grand Rapids drivers follow? Here are some questions to ask yourself:
Are most of your trips less than four miles/six kilometers around Grand Rapids?
Are most of your trips less than 10 miles/16 kilometers in below-zero MI temps?
Are most of your trips off-highway in MI?
Do you drive often in dusty Grand Rapids areas?
Do you regularly tow a trailer or carry heavy loads around Grand Rapids?
Do you drive in very hot or very cold MI weather?
Think about your typical week. Do you live by your nearest Grand Rapids on-ramp and enjoy a non-stop commute? Or, do you drive the neighborhood car pool in stop-and-go traffic on Grand Rapids surface streets?
Let's suppose your owner's manual says the severe service oil change recommendation is 3,000 miles/5,000 kilometers and the standard recommendation is 5,000 miles/8,000 kilometers. You know that you need to change the oil somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 miles/5,000 and 8,000 kilometers. Analyze your driving patterns and Grand Rapids weather and road conditions to determine which end of the spectrum you're closer to.
Why should Grand Rapids residents care about this? Normal condensation causes moisture accumulation in the engine oil. Short trips around Grand Rapids or winter driving means that the engine doesn't heat up enough for the moisture to evaporate. The water in the oil turns to oil sludge that clogs up your engine and doesn't let the oil protect it adequately. That's why MI residents need to change their oil more often – to clean the sludge out before it causes problems.
Carrying heavy loads (with or without a trailer) in MI summer weather causes your engine and transmission to run at higher temperatures and with more stress. The fluids will break down more quickly. Additives that clean and prevent corrosion will be depleted sooner. Air pollution and dust cause fluids to get dirty faster. Ditto for filters. All of these things can lead to premature wear and eventual repairs. If you want some expert advice, talk with your friendly and knowledgeable Tuffy Grand Rapids (Fuller Ave) service advisor. We can help you restore your vehicle to good working order and help you know the best schedule to follow.
Tuffy Grand Rapids (Fuller Ave)
616.458.8091
1121 Fuller Ave. NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
http://www.tuffyfullerave.com
November 17, 2024
Do I keep my old vehicle or buy a new one? It's a question most Grand Rapids drivers ask themselves at some time or another.Generally, what it comes down to is the choice between a car payment and the possibility of repair bills. Most of the time, we want to choose the car payment because we don'... More
November 10, 2024
If your vehicle had something in its design or production that the manufacturer had figured out had an unanticipated problem, you'd want to know about it. And you'd want it fixed. There is something that can help drivers with just such a scenario. It's called a Technical Service Bulletin, or TSB.... More
November 3, 2024
There's nothing that radiates cool like a vehicle radiator that's helping to keep your engine running at the proper temperature. You don't have to baby it, but you can't simply ignore it, either. Let's take a quick dive under the hood to let you know what the radiator is doing. It takes the he... More
