The Mom’s Quick Guide To Taking Care of Your Car

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.#DropShopAndOil #CollectiveBias

In my car, I’m carrying precious cargo: my kids! My grandfather owned an automotive care center when I was growing up, and he taught me a long time ago that taking care of your car is serious business. As mom’s, we’re super busy and on top of everything our kids need. But sometimes, we let other things slide, like maintaining our cars. I’m not just talking about getting it washed and vacuumed once in a blue moon. So keep your precious cargo safe and your wallet intact by using my grandfather’s words of wisdom, and I’ll show you how to make your life easier while takeing care of your car!

The Mom’s Quick Guide to Taking Care of Your Car

1.Turn Down For What?

Now I’m guilty of having the kids’ DVD player turned up too loud or really belting out the Frozen soundtrack for the 897^th time, but turn down the volume and take a listen to your car. Do you hear a squealing when you hit the breaks or when you apply the gas? Do you hear or feel a vibration? What about when you turn the steering wheel? Any sound is a clear sign that something needs to be fixed or adjusted. Usually we’re multi-tasking or not paying attention to those sounds, but they are tiny cries for help. OK, that’s a bit dramatic, but you get the point. Don’t ignore these sounds! It could be something minor but it could be a sign of a bigger problem!

2. Let the President Check Your Tires.

Got a penny? Sure you do! Just check the floor of your car (I’ll wait until you clear some goldfish crackers and juice boxes to find one). Now take that penny and place it in the grooves of your tire. If part of Lincoln’s head is always covered, your tires are in good shape. If you see the top of Honest Abe’s head, you need to get your tires replaced ASAP! Bald tires are no joke. This quick test can also tell you a lot about your car’s alignment and give you clues to bigger issues.  Try this on all four tires and in different spots of the tread. Who says a penny can’t buy you anything? You just bought yourself a little piece of mind!

3. Wait a Minute Mr. Postman!

No matter how long you’ve had your car, it can have a recall. Don’t ignore these recall letters that you get in the mail! You wouldn’t ignore your kid’s doctor’s advice, would you? Think of these recalls as the same thing. Take care of these problems now so you don’t have bigger problems later!

4. Blinded By The light!

Listen, I’ve been there, the check engine light goes on, and I send up a quick prayer to the car gods that it just goes off.  Maybe you’ve been driving around for a while with the light on because you forget about it the second you step out of the car. The check engine light could be something as simple as you didn’t screw the gas cap on tight enough or it could be a sign of a much bigger problem. Think of your car as a big computer. With an easy diagnostic test,  a mechanic can tell you why that light is turned on and fix it.

5. Change Is Good!

One of the easiest and most important things you can do to make sure car is in tip-top shape is to get your oil changed regularly. Grab that giant owner’s manual or do a quick search online and see how often the manufacture recommends oil changes. It can be so easy to forget oil changes, so set a reminder on your phone.  Make sure you are using quality oil like Pennzoil for all oil changes. This is also a great time to grab that penny to check your tires and to get all of your other fluids checked too.

There is no need to dread getting your oil changed because at Walmart Auto Center, I can drop off my car, do a little shopping, and come back after the oil change: drop, shop, oil!

I was even given this tag to take with me while I shopped so I could check the status of my car on the scanners in the store.

 I’m all about making my life easier and saving money. So I did a little grocery shopping and came back to grab my car. Of course, Walmart’s Auto Center had great prices and I knew that Pennzoil would keep my car running well because:

• All Pennzoil products help clean out sludge lesser oils leave behind. Don’t bargain shop here, friends!
• Pennzoil allows you to drive an extra of 550 miles per year vs. a dirty engine.
• No other motor oil provides better protection from friction
• Pennzoil Conventional Motor Oil is fortified with Active Cleaning Agents™ to  prevent dirt and contaminants from creating problems.

So fess up! What things do you need to check in your car?