Protect & Keep Your Vehicle Beautiful!

Your vehicles paint job is usually the most noticeable and the easiest to spot. Over time the sun & heat can definitely do much damage to a nice paint job. It can dull, fade, get spotty, peel, etc. A few easy ways to keep your paint looking great longer is to park in the shade as much as possible, this will also keep the inside of your vehicle alot cooler. A good car cover can be helpful too. Also washing your vehicle regularly and using a wax with a UV absorber will help keep your paint looking beautiful.

On to the interior, whether you have leather, vinyl or cloth upholstery there are ways to protect it. You can  maintain vinyl and leather interiors with a UV absorbent cleaner/protectant and as for cloth, seat covers work great. Don’t forget things like your dash, steering wheel & other areas that can be exposed to the sun & heat. Things like dash mats, steering wheel covers and always using a handy inexpensive sun shade in your windshield can work perfect.

Some other areas that are not as visible and may be over looked are things like the weather stripping that protects your windows, sunroof & t-tops from moisture getting in & those pesky leaks. The weather stripping should be regularly treated with UV inhibitors to help protect against sun damage which can age & crack after prolonged exposure.

So if you follow these simple & easy helpful tips to keeping your vehicle looking super great inside & out it will look beautiful for many, many years to come. Also if you need any help with any of your car maintenance issues don’t forget you can always turn to the awesome Napleton Service Group for help!

Lots of outdoor elements such as the sun & the heat can be very damaging to your vehicle’s interior and exterior. There are some helpful tips that can help extent the life and beautiful look of your vehicle. The sun & heat can be harmful to lots of different part of your vehicle from your paint job, the weather stripping on windows, sunroofs & t-tops, the upholstery, the dash board, steering wheel & more. Just taking a little extra time for a lil TLC and being aware can keep your ride looking beautiful!

Save $$$ at the Pump!!!

Making lots of trips to the gas pump is part of our regular routine but throwing away all of your ca$h there doesn’t have to be.  There are lots of different ways to help keep some of that money in your pocket. Some ways are as simple as a little know how, awareness & very easy upkeep on your vehicle. So who wouldn’t want to take advantage of these simple ways to help you save a little more money here & there. 

It’s very important to know what kind of fuel economy your vehicle is getting to help you start saving. You can start by tracking your everyday driving to find out the gas consumption from tank to tank of your vehicle. There are few different methods you could chose from such as a fuel-economy computer like the Scangauge. If your car is an older model you might want to try installing a vacuum gauge that will measures how hard the engine is working  or you could look into DIY fuel-economy electronics. Which ever route you take will give you instant feedback mixed with the knowledge of your own vehicle will to get you that instant 10 percent.

Make sure to pay close attention to your surroundings while driving can also help out. You ask how? Well the less you have to use your brakes can help cut your fuel cost. Constantly stopping & going in traffic can use alot more gas than if you were to slowly coast to a stop. So paying closer attention to your surrounding can help you stop your vehicle easier than a very abrupt stop which can eat up more gas. Sounds pretty simple to me!

Try and think of driving your car like you would ride a bike. Think about the last time you ever rode your bike uphill & how much more energy it took for you to get to the top. Well your car is no different, it needs more energy to get up those inclines also. If you lay off the gas pedal just a bit making that climb it will help you burn less gas. So when you start going back down the other side your wallet won’t go with it.

Another fairly simple thing to do is to make sure that your tires are fully inflated. To get the best mileage out of your car, up the pressure to the maximum that’s written on the sidewall of the tire.  The ride won’t be quite as smooth, but your rolling resistance will be reduced and you will get better gas mileage. So if you can compromise a little bit of your smooth ride to fully inflate those tires you be a little richer for it in the end.

Other very simple steps to take would be to start with choosing the right kind of vehicle for the amount of driving you need to do. You can also try multi-tasking a little bit throughout the day to cut down on your driving to save some gas. Also you can plan your route better, try taking ones with less stop lights, not alot of traffic & lower speed limits. Lastly and I’m sure everyone will agree, try to stay away from rush hour traffic. Try and plan your day to avoid sitting in that dreaded bumper to bumper traffic.

Just a  little knowledge can definitely go a long way. Also try these simple ways to help out in cutting the money you spend at the gas pump. Don’t forget if you need help with your vehicle or have any questions, you can always turn to the awesome Napleton Service Group for help!

Take Care of Your Car!

Protecting your vehicle in the hot summer sun & heat is just as important as protecting ourselves. Things like drinking lots of water, wearing sunscreen to protect our skin & wearing sunglasses on those sunny days. Well your car needs attention too to stay protected and well maintained through the hot summer months as well. Here’s a few helpful tips on how summerize your car & things to look for and do to keep your vehicle running & looking great for a long time to come.

Start by giving your vehicle a good bath to welcome in those summer months followed by a good wax job to help protect the body &  paint job from any damaging UV rays just as we wear sunscreen. Also use some sort of protectant coating such as Armor All on your vehicles interior parts as well like the dash board, steering wheel, leather seats & any upholstery. Another great way to help with protecting the inside of your vehicle is to always park in the shade when you can & always use a sunshade to keep the inside out of direct sun rays & to help keep it cooler inside.

Now let’s not forget to check all of your vehicles fluids such as windshield wiper fluid, oil, transmission fluid & the coolant. These fluids can tend to evaporate quicker in the hot summer months which can lead to costly future repairs to your vehicle. Keeping the oil changed is an extremely important thing to remember for the best car maintenance tip. So many things depend on the oil life in your vechicle, so definitely stay on top of that.

Some other important thing to check are the tires on your vehicle. Hot summer roads can add to wear & tear on your vehicles tires much quicker and be very damaging. Make sure to check your tires air pressure or any signs of bulging or cracks and always change a tire when needed to prevent a dangerous blowout on the road.

Also things like your battery & belts should be checked also to prevent any damage or costly future repairs. Hot summer weather can be super demanding on your vehicles battery because the liquid inside the battery can evaporate alot quicker. Also your vehicles belts can dry out and crack, split &  fray due to the summer heat. Just make sure you give them as much attention as everything else to help keep your vehicle well maintained & running in tip top shape all year long.

If you have any questions or need any help with any of your vehicles maintenance, don’t forget you can always turn to the awesome Napleton Service Group for answers or any help that you may need!

Make a Maintenance To Do List

What woman doesn’t have a thousand and one things to do daily? Car maintenance isn’t always at the top of that daily list. Here are a few important things to remember to keep up with to make sure your vehicle continues to run great for a long, long time. We all know that having to stop our daily routine for unexpected vehicle repairs can really throw a wrench in our lives.

Start by making a simple maintenance checklist to make sure you are keeping up with the most important things on your vehicle. You can have a car-care expert such as the Napleton Service Group perform preventive maintenance services on a regular basis. They can do things such as topping off fluid levels, inspecting hoses & belts, checking your engine oil, checking the tire pressure and making sure all the lights work.

Some other very important car care thing to keep up with are things like checking your air filter, which is what keeps your vehicle breathing clearly just like a persons lungs. Yes, that should be pretty high on your list. Followed by your engines oil and oil filter. The oil keeps everything lubricated and flowing smoothly throughout your vehicle to keep things working correctly at all times. Another top of the list tip to keep your vehicle happy & healthy for many years to come.

You should also check out the tire pressure and wiper blades as well. The tires are what your vehicle rides safely on everyday and you want to make sure they are properly inflated and there are no cracks, split, etc. Those wipers blades keep your vision clear while driving to keep you and others around you safe on the roads. You want to make sure your wiper blades are clean and functioning properly. You should probably look at changing them out at least once every six months to be safe. 

So don’t forget to keep up with routine car care & maintanence on your vehicle and everyone will be safe & happy! Also don’t forget the Napleton Service Group can help you out with all your vehicles needs!

Everyone Loves a Clean & Fresh Smelling Car!

If you spends lots of time driving back & forth to work, running errands or just plain ‘ol cruising around in your car than who wouldn’t want to keep it a neat, clean & smelling fresh as possible?! . If you keep up with it pretty regularly it won’t be such a huge and horrifying task. Here are a few quick tips to help with keeping your vehicle sparkling easy

Let’s start with a good sweap over with a vacuum. Make sure you have a long enough vacuum hose pipe for all those super hard to reach places where things like to hide. Hey, you never know what you might find down the side of your center console, under those seats and under the floor mats.

Then it’s time for the dashboard and upholstery. Try using some inexpensive & very handy things such as baby wipes & handy wipes over the dashboard. This will not only clean like new but it will leave an anti-static layer over the dash. Things like paint brushes & makeup brushes can be very helpful to get dirt & dust out of little grooves. As for the upholstery, if you have any ink stains on your leather you can use a cuticle remover (not nail polish remover) just apply and leave on anywhere from 10 minutes or however long needed depending on the severity of the stain. You can also multi-task and put some on those cuticles of yours while waiting.

Now if you get the famous hazy look on your windshield, you can use full strength white vinegar on a cloth to run it down the wiper blades a couple times to clean them off. Hold on to all those old & mismatched socks that everyone always seems to have, they make a great hand mitt for waxing & buffing your car.

Now for a few things you may not have thought of cleaning such as your license plate. If your plate starts to get a litle rust on it you can take some WD-40 on a cloth to remove light rust and prevent more from forming. An easy inexpensive cleaner for battery acid build up is a little baking soda & water. Just sprinkle the baking soda on the terminal & spritz some water on it and let it sit for a bit and wipe off with water and then let it air dry.

Everyone Loves a Clean & Fresh Smelling Car!

Don’t forget to top it all off you can freshen up the air and get rid of any stale odors in your vehicle by spraying some sort of odor eliminator into the system’s air intake, it’s located at the base of the windshield. After that just run your A/C at full blast for about 10 minutes and it will be as fresh as can be. So just follow these few tips & steps to keeping your vehicle sparkling and smelling great all year long! If you have any questions or need any help with anything don’t forget about the awesome Napleton Service Group!

Keep that Shine All of the Time!

How would you like to keep that just bought shine on your vehicle all of the time? Well waxing is the key and if you keep up and wax an older car at least twice a year it will most likely shine even more than when it was brand new. This will also keep a high resale value on your vehicle and make it much easier when & if you decide to sell it. Here’s a few easy tips to help you keep your vehicle as shiny & new as ever!

There are a few ways to tell if it’s time to update that shine. You can take the super easy water test, if water does not bead up on the painted surface than this means it’s time to put a fresh coat of wax on it. It depends on the type of wax you use and how you want your car to look when trying to figure out how often to wax. There are some products that can last for more than a year before you have to do it again.

It’s always good to save a little money and wax your own vehicle. Be sure to always start with a clean surface on your vehicle. Also never wax your vehicle in direct sunlight or on a very hot day. Make sure when you run your hand over the surface of your car that it feels smooth and no gritty or sandy feeling. If so, than you need to wash your vehicle first with some sort of non abrasive cleaner until you get that smooth feeling. Now you can start waxing!

When you’re finished waxing your vehicle you should always check for any wax residue that you missed, especially in corners, around trim and body moldings. Q-tips or a soft toothbrush works well to get to those hard to reach spots. Be careful when waxing around black trim on a vehicle, some waxes can leave a chalky white residue on it making it look dull. There are specials products you can use instead to help avoid that from happening.

Follow these few tips and you will have a happy & great looking vehicle that sparkles & shines for many, many years! If you have any questions or need any help with any of your vehicles care & maintenance, don’t forget you can always turn to the awesome Napleton Service Group for answers or any help that you may need

Don't Neglect to Check Your Oil!

One of the most important things you can do for your vehicle is to have the oil changed and it will reward you with a great & long lasting ride. When you have the oil changed on a regular basis it can keep your vehicle in tip top shape and running great for many, many years into the future. If you love your vehicle than show it some TLC by keeping the oil clean. It’s said that it is best to have the oil changed right around every 3 months or 3,000 miles. Having it done every 3,000 miles is the general time frame but it does vary on different vehicles. But overall it is one of the most important things to keep up with on a vehicle.

A few other things besides different types of vehicles can factor into when to have the oil changed. Other things like how much you drive your vehicle and how hard you drive it also. If you drive it a little harder you may want to look into having the oil changed before the 3 months or 3,000 miles. If your driving is a little on the easier side than you can probably go a little longer before having it done. You can check the oil yourself to see how it looks and there are a couple indications that will tell you if it’s time. When you check the oil it should have a transparent kind of brown creamy look to it. If you check the oil and it looks dark brown to black than it’s definitely time to get it changed.

The reason for having your oil changed is so very important because the oil lubricates all the parts in the entire vehicle and keeps everything running smoothly. Without oil the different parts would be rubbing on each other and metal on metal will wear down to almost nothing and that can’t be good at all. There are different types of motor oil for people to choose from for their vehicles engines. There are different weights of oil to use depending on the weather temperature. There are also different types such as synthetic oil that can go as long as 5,000 miles before changing. So whichever oil you choose for your vehicle just always remember to keep up with those regular oil changes to keep your vehicle healthy, happy and running smooth! If you have any questions or need any help with any of your vehicles maintenance, don’t forget you can always turn to the awesome Napleton Service Group for answers or any help that you may need!

Don't Let this Happen to You!

If you are like most than you work very hard for your money, so who wants to dump it all into your gas tank each time you fill up at the gas pump. There are  lots of very easy tips on saving a little extra money each time you feed your vehicle at the pump and it sure does add up over time.

Start your savings at the pump by picking the correct octane to fill your tank with. Some higher octanes are recommended by some manufacturers and really offer no extra benefits but it is definitely more pricey. Unless you hear a knocking in your engine than using regular is the way to go and will help keep your money in you wallet where it belongs.

Stay within the speed limit while driving and this can help to save the gas in your vehicle. Speeds over 60 miles per hour can burn gas very quickly. Try to avoid sitting and idoling in your vehicle as much as possible, if you know you have a bit of a wait just turn your engine off. Using your cruise control or overdrive while highway driving can also help you save as well as and when you are driving around town try to drive a little more gentle. If you can avoid abrupt stopping & starting and you can improve your gas mileage by 5 percent.

Another way to save a little at the pump might come as a surprise. Make sure you clean out your trunk. It’s said that an extra 100 pounds in the trunk can reduce fuel economy by up to 2 percent. So keep that trunk clean, organized and filled with only the necessities that you need to bring with you for the day.

Don’t forget these simple yet helpful tips to help you cut your gas costs at the pump and save your money! If you have any questions or need any help with any of your vehicles maintenance, don’t forget you can always turn to the awesome Napleton Service Group for answers or any help that you may need!

Show Your Vehicle Some Luv!

In general we spend alot of time in our vehicles. Whether it’s back & forth to work, running around town or just cruise along. So of course you would want to keep your vehicle in the best condition ever. It just takes a little extra time to keep up with regular cleaning and doing these few easy steps for detailing. You will be rewarded with a vehicle that will keep that brand new look alot longer. This doesn’t mean you have to give your vehicle a scrub down every free moment you have, but make sure you set a side a little time in your schedule to give your car or truck some TLC.  

Before washing your vehicle be sure to give it a good rinse to remove any dirt and dust particles. Leaving any particles on your vehicle can actually damage the paint job by leaving scratches and marks when you rub over them with a sponge or cloth. Over time this can also dull the paint and you will lose that shine on your vehicle. So make sure to rinse all the dirt and debris off before you get started. Make sure after you have finished washing and cleaning out all the small places you give your vehicle another good rinse to remove everything. You don’t want to leave any soap behind or this can dull things as well.

Using a soft cloth or sponge will give you the best results while washing your vehicle. You don’t want to scratch it when you apply pressure while cleaning. For those hard to reach places you can use a Q-tip or even a cotton ear bud for removing any dirt or build up. Once again another reminder, don’t forget to give it that good rinse to wash away all the dirt and soap left behind.

Follow your vehicles bath with a good polishing. Always make sure you clean the plastic parts on your vehicle with products that are recommended for use on plastics. Some polishes and waxes can leave them looking extremely dull. Once again you can grab those Q-tips for any hard to reach spots when polishing also. Make sure to get all the polish & wax off your vehicle so you don’t dull the look of the paint. When you’re finished your vehicle should have that shine once again and you & your car or truck will be very happy!

Last but not least don’t forget a nice smelling air freshener to top it all off & keep your car smelling terrific! If you have any questions or need any help with any of your vehicles maintenance, don’t forget you can always turn to the awesome Napleton Service Group for answers or any help that you may need!

Don't Ignore Your Car's Upkeep!

If you love the vehicle you’re driving and would love the get the best & most life out of it without emptying your pockets than here’s a few things to help you. Things such as keeping it clean inside & out to regular maintenance can keep you and your vehicle healthy & happy for many years to come. Some of tips are things that probably would never cross your mind when thinking about maintaining your vehicle. Following a few easy tips can also help keep more of your hard earned money in your pocket while extending the life of your precious vehicle, now who wouldn’t be happy about that?!