2013 Shelby GT 500 - Mustang Lovers And Ford Fans Gotta Smile At This One!

OK, so I don't usually do car reviews.  I leave that to the real experts like Motor Trend and Car and Driver and the other select few journalists that are way better equipped to bring you all that great stuff.  But, every now and then this little gear-head gal finds something that just gives me goosebumps and I just have to throw in my two-cents! 

Now, for those of you that know me, I'm kind of a Chevy gal.  Camaro gal to narrow it down a bit....So, you can see why Ford's announcement of the 2013 Shelby GT 500 caught my attention, and the attention of muscle car and speed freaks everywhere, for that matter!  Even this Chevy loving, Camaro preaching grease monkey has to admit that this thing is a beast! 

This stunningly beautiful monster has been affectionately labeled "the widow maker" by even the big boys in automobile journalism. The heart of this new Ford stunner is a 5.8-liter, aluminum-block V8, complete with a larger, more efficient supercharger. Nearly the entire powertrain has been upgraded for 2013, including a new cross-drilled block and heads, updated camshaft profiles, a carbon fiber driveshaft and upgraded clutch, transmission and axle. The cooling system has also been upgraded, and the new six-speed manual transmission now has a final drive ratio of 3.31-to-1 – optimized to handle the massive amounts of torque put down by the new engine.  What that boils down to was Ford's claim of 650 hp and somewhere around 190 mph out of the box!

What's even more amazing is that upon further testing, Ford was wrong!  Yup, a little further investigating turned up the fact that Ford was slightly off in it's calculations.  This little puppy was recently certified at 662 hp and 630 lb. ft. of torque that will take you to a speed of around 200 mph!  And, that's just the way it arrives in your driveway!  I've got chills just thinking about the ride in this one!  See Ray Wert's 4/27/12 article in jalopnik.com, 2013 Shelby GT500 Actually Hits 662 HP.

Now that I've slowed my heart down a little, here's the answer to the inevitable question....how much is this gonna set you back?  Ford just recenly released the pricing of this incredible engineering wonder. The base price is $54,200 for the standard model and the $59,995 for the convertible, but if you want to add the SVT Performance Package, it jumps up by another $3,495. This package includes: Torsen limited-slip differential, 19" forged-aluminum front wheels or 20" forged-aluminum rear wheels, Bilstein adjustable dampers, unique rear springs, a unique instrument cluster, and an SVT gear shift knob. A glass roof will add yet another $1,995, while an electronic package adds another $2,340.

OK, so you might have to take your banker out to dinner and break out a seriously good bottle of vino to gain his attention and beg for a slightly larger loan on this one.....but, what an investment! 

My question?  Will Chevrolet come back with a trump for this one?  C'mon guys!  The new  Camaro ZL1’s LSA 6.2L supercharged V-8 engine producing an estimated 550 HP and 550 lb.-ft. of torque is nothing to shake a stick at for sure.....but, alas, we have been "one up'd" yet again.  But, I will keep the faith that our friends at Chevrolet will not let this be the last word in the newly founded "muscle car" wars!  AND, according to my favorite writer's blog, Jalopnik.com and Ray Wert, the Z28 is still comming!  Or, is the new Camaro 1LE actually the Z28 in disguise?

My guess....my love of Chevy and my beloved Camaro will have the last word here!  And so we will wait and see just what comes of this situation.  I'm not taking off my black silk Chevy racing jacket just yet!

I'd really like to hear from our readers on this one.  Chevy and Ford fans alike must have some sort of opinion here....so send me your comments!  I hear tale that GM would love to hear about what you'd like the Z28 to be too!  Send us your ultimate Z28 configuration and what you'd like to see when, and if, one gets unveiled! 

Happy Motoring!

Larry and Dee

More about → 2013 Shelby GT 500 - Mustang Lovers And Ford Fans Gotta Smile At This One!

Would Your Shop Go The Extra Nine Yards? Customer Service Should Be Their Number One Concern.

We were recently contacted by one of our customers who told us that the water pump on her 2005 Saturn Ion 3 was leaking badly and needed to be replaced.  The pump had been leaking water and had gotten progressively worse.  Upon inspection of the vehicle, we found that the water pump bearing was the problem and replaced the water pump to resolve the issue.

After she had picked up the car and driven it home, she called to let us know that there was a "high-pitched" squeal comming from the engine compartment that got louder as she excellerated the vehicle.  We told her to bring the car back to the shop so we could inspect it and see if we could find the reason for the noise.

Our mechanic inspected the car and determined that the noise was comming from the timing assembly.  On this vehicle, the timing chain actually drives the water pump.  The whole situation was beginning to take shape.  Upon removing the timing assembly cover, our mechanic discoved a timing chain tensioner that was sticking and causing a severe pressure to be put on the timing chain and the water pump bearing.  Aha!  This is the reason the water pump had gone out in the first place!

Now, this particular vehicle had only 38,000 miles on it.  Really low milage for a vehicle of it's age, but, still within the warranty of the vehicle.  We documented the job, took pictures of the defective part, replaced it, charged the woman the necessary labor AND offered to help her get the work done under warranty.  Would your shop have done the same?

In these economic times, it's important to save money where you can.  Using the warranty for your vehicle is extremely important as car repairs can be expensive.  This woman's repair bill would have cost her around $900 in labor, plus the parts! 

My point here is to be sure that your repair shop is willing to work with you when it comes to items that should be repaired under warranty.  Ensure that they will back up the repairs with a letter, if necessary, explaining the reason for the repair and any information leading up to what caused the damage or need for repairs in the first place.

Customer satisfaction should be the number one priority of any shop, big or small.  Going the extra nine yards for customers is what gains respect and loyalty and when it comes to car repair, both of those should be at the top of any shops' list.  If it's not, it's time to find a new shop.  In these times, shops and customers need to work together to make sure that everyone comes out a winner. 

When it comes to buying a car, knowing your shop will go the extra nine yards there can be really helpful too.  If possible, have your mechanic check out the vehicle before you buy.  Small problems that might not be noticeable to just anyone might be found by your mechanic and save you money down the road.  Problems that need to be fixed are also great bargaining chips when it comes to negotiating the right price for a car or truck.  When it's not possible to bring the car to your mechanic, always use a good, established servcie to get a vehicle history report.  AutoCheck is the best vehicle history report available.
 
Buy a vehicle history report today and find out why AutoCheck is better than Carfax!
Shopping for a used car? For only $44.99, an AutoCheck® Unlimited lets you check unlimited VINs for vehicle history for 30 days.  That's right, unlimited VIN# checks for a full 30 days! 

This allows you to check each vehicle you look at and compare them all for one low price.  You can also take those vehicle reports to your shop and get a professional opinion of which vehicle is the best buy without having to bring the car to your mechanic or vise versa!

Try AutoCheck today!

You'll be happy you did.

Happy Motoring!

More about → Would Your Shop Go The Extra Nine Yards? Customer Service Should Be Their Number One Concern.

Prepping For A Show Quality Finish - How The Pros Do It

Ahhh, the satisfaction of the "do-it-yourself" project.  It's a great feeling to finish a big project and see the return on your "sweat equity" investment!  Working on a classic or custom vehicle project that you've done yourself certainly ranks high on the list of "do-it-yourself" accomplishments.  While going thru my list of blogs that I follow, I came across a great article for the "do-it-yourself" car enthusiast that was really well done.  It's definitely an 8 or better on the rating scale for covering some great information and so I'd like to share it with you here.  It's a great place to start for anyone wanting to take on the job of putting an excellent paint job on your custom or classic project.

1970 Convertible GTO from blog post at AutoMedia.com

The folks at Automedia.com have put together and article entitled "Paint Secrets" that is one of the best I've seen in awhile.  It is in-depth enough to get you headed in the right direction when getting ready to do a quality paint job.  The article is written by Jim McGowan of Automedia.com and he has done a superb job in our opinion.  Jim's advice here is excellent and following the instruction he has put together will definitely head you in the right direction for a beautiful finished product and as you can see from the final picture, this GTO looks great.


Jim touched base on a very important point when he said to check with your shop to find out what type or brand of paint system they are planning to use when spraying the final finish.  We can't stress this enough.  Paint systems are all different and they don't mix well!  Always stay with the same manufacturer throughout the project AND if you have any questions regarding which products to use durring the prep work, ask those questions before you start.  There is no shame in not understanding what products to use. There is a seemingly endless list of products available for different uses and even products by the same manufacturer can cause problems depending on what system you are using.  It's always better to clarify those questions prior to using any product in the paint prepping stages as an error here will not only require extra work, but, can be extremely costly depending on what needs to be done to correct the error.  Ask first and be happy later!

If you are going to be spraying the primer yourself, there are a few suggestions I might add to make the difference between a good and a great paint job.  If the vehicle has had a significant amount of body work done, using a high build primer will give you the advantage of making sure those little spots don't blemish the final finish.  High build primers are thicker and will help first timers get a little better coverage on hard to see and feel low spots.  It's a little harder to sand, but, also more forgiving to the amateur when sanding and blocking the primer.  The primer is final finish before the color and how you prep that will determine what your final finish is going to look like.  The better the primer finish, the better the paint job. 

Scan down the sides of the vehicle.
Look for any highs or lows.

Looking down the sides of the vehicle is key at this point.  Use different lighting to ensure that there are no ripples, high spots or low spots.  Check the body lines for any indentations that occurred during sanding.  Feel the finish using the "flat" of your fingers and palm of your hand.  Close your eyes and follow the finish with your hand.  If you can "feel" it, you'll definitely be able to "see" it and now is the time to "fix" it!

When it's time to apply the color, the first thing to do is to "wash" the finish with a high quality wax and grease remover.  Don't skimp on quality here.  We recommend Prep Solvent-70 by 3M, but, any good prep solvent will work.  Use two rags when performing this process.  Wet the first rag with the solvent and wipe it onto the surface and then immediately use the second, dry rag, to wipe it off.  Do NOT allow the solvent to air dry on the surface.  This defeats the purpose and allows the grease and grime to stay where it was.  This process is key to a good final finish in that it removes any substances that might cause blemishes or "fish-eye" in the final product.  Do this process in small areas and ensure that you don't miss any areas.  Don't forget to get into the small groves and areas that aren't as easy to get at as those areas are the very ones that will allow moisture and corrosion later on and give those things a starting place.  Use this process to inspect the entire car for any items that need to be fixed, like edges where the primer might have been broken through.  This is the perfect time to do your final inspection as you do have to go over the entire vehicle.  Also, do this step right before you are ready to apply the paint.  Don't wait for a long period after as airborne chemicals will have time to settle on the finish if you don't do it right away.

When you are satisfied that you're ready to go ahead with the color, follow the instructions exactly as the manufacturer recommends.  Measure twice, mix once is the attitude to have here! 

I concur with the writer that the initial color coat should be kept just slightly lighter.  This coat should be used to find any problems that are going to arise.  Look for any anomalies in the finish.  Sanding this coat with 1500 will assure good adhesion of the following coat and give you the ability to look for any problems while you're sanding.  Make sure to go over the entire vehice with a "tac rag" to remove any traces of dust or debris from the sanding. Once the finish has been sanded, you're ready to lay the final coats of your color.

Jim's description of the spraying motion is very important here.  Lay the paint evenly using your wrist with a snapping motion to avoid "lingering" in any spots.  Slow and steady wins the race here.  Start from the center of the hood, deck lid, and roof panels and work toward the edges. Watch the paint as it hits the surface and ensure that it is wet, but, not heavy enough to run.  This is an art that you will perfect as you go and looking at the surface as you paint is the best indicator.  Gravity fed guns do not require a lot of pressure, but, you must atomize the paint to ensure good adhesion and keep the solids, like metal flake or pearl from concentrating in one spot.  Check for even color in between coats.  Mentally make a note of anything you need to give attention to on the next coat. 

When spraying base coat / clear coat systems, remember that the clear is going to protect the finish for a long time.  This is not the place to save money.  The clear is going to be the layer that is brought to a mirror-like gloss in the final process of your finish, but, some of it is going to be removed in that process!  On "high-end" show cars, I have sprayed as many as 5 to 6 coats of clear, or more, and sanded them in-between.  Depending on what you want the finished product to look like, I recommend at least 3-4 coats of clear on any show quality finish.

Lastly, I also concur with Jim McGowan on his last statement that "rubbing out" or buffing of the completed finish is best left to the pros until you have gained a good confidence in your abilities.  On show paint, I wet-sand the entire vehilce "by hand" allowing me to see any imperfections that need attention.  Tiny bugs, dust, or any other anomalies should be wet-sanded out.  After wet-sanding the entire car, start the buffing process using a high quality machine buffing compound.  Buffing compound is extremely abrasive.  Be careful even when wiping the excess off with a rag as the compound will leave scratches where you wipe it!  Keeping the buffing bonnet perfectly flat on the surface is the key here.  Keep the bonnet clean!  Remove any excess compound by running a screw driver or other sharp object against the bonnet as it spins.  Watch for "caking" of the compound on the bonnet.  I prefer a "foam" bonnet over the "wool".  Wool was fine in the old days when foam wasn't available, however, it's much harder to burn the finish with foam than with wool, so it's a good idea to use foam, especially if you're just learning.  I also prefer foam because it is a lot more flexible and offers better action on edges and "hard to get to" places. 




 After buffing the entire vehicle, the next step is to apply machine glaze.  Machine glazing removes any swirls from the compound and brings out the "mirror-ike" finish in the clear.  Once again, glaze is also an abrasive, so be careful when removing any glaze after you're done as it will scratch the beautiful finish you've worked so hard to achieve. 

Take care in choosing the proper products to perform the final steps in buffing and protecting your finish.  Meguir's is a leader in automotive finish care products and their products are formulated to give you the very best in finish care.  You can find all the products you need at our "Onine Finish Care Store".  The products listed here are the ones we recommend and the links here will get you the best prices as they are direct from Meguir's! 

When the finish is complete, I like to give it a machine wax followed by hand rubbed wax for the final finish.  Hand rubbing the final wax coat gives you a good basis for getting all the residual compounds out of the small crevises and corners and leaves a thicker coat of wax to protect that finish. 

1970 Cutlass 442 Convertible painted by Larry Blackman
Notice the mirror like finish down the sides of a completely straight quarter.
Viewing the vehicle from this angle shows all imperfections.
See more paint work by Larry at www.ldjautobody.com

OK, now, stand back and observe the beautiful, new finish on your vehicle! 

Happy Motoring!

Larry and Dee

More about → Prepping For A Show Quality Finish - How The Pros Do It

Wheely Contest Videos - Great Videos of Our Friends Havin Fun!

Summer fun from where we came from in Illinois always includes racing and the drags are my personal favorite!  I've been a drag racing fan ever since I was a little girl.  Growing up on the South Side of the great City of Chicago, the infamous "Chi-Town Hustler" was being built in a garage just down the block from me.  I can remember the sound of the enormous motor revving up on Saturday mornings as they worked endlessly tuning her up for Sunday's drags.

Although I was only 11 or 12 years old at the time, I somehow knew that that sound and that smell of burning rubber and Nitro Methane would stick with me forever.  At that time, ChiTown Hustler was in her infancy.  Who would have known that it would become a legend in drag racing history.  And Austin Coil, of Team John Force, would become my hero!



As time passed and I met my husband, I had no idea that we would someday be working with cars like these and watching our friends on the same tracks that I remembered from my much younger years.

Here are a few videos of friends and customers having fun in the quarter mile!

Hollis Jones wins the Byron Wheel Stand Contest in Byron, IL!



Send us your videos and share your stories with us! 

Happy Motoring!

More about → Wheely Contest Videos - Great Videos of Our Friends Havin Fun!

Are You A Muscle Car Fanatic? Don't Miss This!

I've spent a little time here talking to you about auctions and how you can find things in an auction that you simply won't find anywhere else.  Muscle car enthusiasts should take a particular interest here.

Muscle cars are a breed all their own.  Started by Oldsmobile in 1949 with the Oldsmobile Rocket 88 which featured America's first high compression overhead valve V8 in the smaller and lighter Oldsmobile 76 body (originally designed for a six-cylinder motor).  Born in a time when gas was cheap, cars were more popular than ever, and the "need for speed" was moving faster than "John Force in the quarter mile", the muscle car began it's evolution.

For the true "muscle car aficionado", auctions are indeed the sales venue of choice.  I introduced you to Iron Planet Motors as a starting block for auctions because they cater to those new to the auction and are a great place to "get your feet wet" and learn the auction process.  Although they are easy to work with for the beginner, Iron Planet Motors is one of the largest auction houses in the world and features excellent, well run, auctions of every kind, including "online auctions" regularly.  And, they too feature "muscle cars" in their events. 

Mecum Auctions is yet another extremely large auction house which is very simple and easy to work with.  Mecum offers two ways to bid at their auctions.  Either on-site at the auction or by telephone.  Mecum's auctions are exciting, and for those that can't make it to the auction site, they offer "live simulcasts" and "telephone bidding", the next best thing to being there!  Although they offer auction events of every kind, Mecum Auctions does a large amount of "muscle car auctions" that will have our muscle car enthusiasts jumping for joy!  Mecum often offers "whole private collections" at auction.  Find out more about Mecum Auctions and sign up for Mecum InfoNet, a free service that will help you manage their events and help you keep track of what you're watching at Mecum.

Here is a little beauty that Mecum sent me to take a look at.  Lot 350 at Dana Mecum's 25th Original Spring Classic Auction, scheduled for May 15-20, is 1970 Chevrolet Yenko Deuce

LT1, 4-Speed! This gorgeous car is only one of the many muscle cars offered by Mecum at the auction to be held in Indy. It's cars like this that keep muscle car fanatics going to the auctions!  And, with whole private collections sometimes going on the block, keeping an eye on the auction houses can be fun and exciting!

Vehicle history report services are provided by many companies and are available via the internet. Bidders are responsible for deciding whether or not to purchase a vehicle history report.

With Mecum, the seller will afford every opportunity for the bidder to view all lots prior to sale. However the purchaser must understand that he/she is buying property entirely upon his own or his agent's examination and opinion prior to the auction.  For this reason, purchasing a vehicle's history report is highly recommended. And, ALL BIDS ARE FINAL AT AUCTION There is no "Cooling Off Period." If you are awarded the final bid, ownership changes hands at the drop of the gavel. You own the merchandise and are responsible  for payment in full and Payment is required within ONE HOUR of purchase unless other terms have been pre-arranged.  See all the bidding information terms and conditions here

Once again, these are just some of the awesome items you can find at auctions.  And, don't forget, for a really fantastic auction experience and some "hand-holding" for your first few bids, don't forget to check out Iron Planet Motors.  Our pick for learning the ropes of the auction process.

.

Till next time, Happy Motoring!

Larry and Dee Blackman

More about → Are You A Muscle Car Fanatic? Don't Miss This!

What Is Available At Auctions? Why This Should Interest You

Hello to all my readers.  TGIF!  I was going through my usual reading lists this evening and I came across an article that I want to share with you. 

"Oldest know Indian Motorcycle"
Photo by Steven Rinker

Recently, I've been talking a lot about auctions and how they can help you in finding the perfect vehilce to buy and get some really good deals.  The article, titled "The Oldest Indian in the World is For Sale",  can be found on one of my favorite sites, www.Jalopnik.com.  Being an Indian Motorcycle fanatic, they already had my complete, undivided attention.  Imagine, the one and only "oldest" Indian motorcycle, for sale!  As you can see in the picture here, it's definitely not a pretty bike by any means, but, it is believed to be the oldest known complete Indian in existance.  And, it will be sold at auction.

Now, I'm not suggesting that you run out bid on this bike unless you "hobknob" with some of the major players in the motorcycle collecting circles. It's been estimated to sell for anywhere from $65,000 to $500,000! But, it does help me to drive home a point that I've been trying to get across.  Auctions are places where you can find things you won't find anywhere else. 

For this very reason, auctions can produce some very nice finds for the discriminating buyer.  My point is this.  When someone wants to sell something that will be of interest to many people, and they want to sell it now, an auction is the perfect answer from a sellers perspective.  Selling at auction means that on the day of the auction, you will walk away without the item you brought with you, and, you will have some extra money in your pocket!  People who sell at auctions can usually be divided into two separate categories.

• Those who have something to sell that is unique and want to reach as many interested people as possible who are interested in their offering, without the hassle of advertising the item themselves.

OR

• Those people that have something to sell and want to reach as many interested people as possible, and, have a need to sell the item right away.

OR

• As in the case of the Indian Motorcycle, it is a rare item which, most likely, will only be found at large, high dollar auction houses that sell only those rare items that will bring high auction bidders all to one place at the same time.

Either of these cases make auctions great places for buyers who are looking for good bargains!  Which is why I have taken the time to talk about this venue as a perfect place to shop for a vehicle.  Of course, we are talking about auctions that cater to every day buyers like you and me!  Vehicle auctions open up a whole world, literally, in which to search, shop, and compare prices on the specific vehicle you are looking for.   

In a past article posted in our sister blog, "The Art of Custom Car and Motorcycle Maintenance" , introducing my readers to auctions, I went over all the reasons why purchasing at an auction could be a very rewarding experience. In the article, entitled "When Purchasing A Used Vehicle, Do Your Homework, Or, Have Someone Else Do It For You", I also introduced you to my "favorite" auction house, Iron Planet Motors.  They are one of the best auctions for first time auction buyers, and, for some very good reasons.  Let's go over those reasons again here.

• Iron Planet Motors caters to first timers.  Auctions can be very confusing if you don't know what you're doing, and, mistakes made at an auction are not at all forgiving! So finding an auction that is "first-time-user-friendly" is not just a convenience, it's imperative if you want your experience to be a pleasant one.

• Iron Planet Motors has a "vehicle report" on each vehicle to be sold at their auctions that is prepared by an automotive expert who actually visits the vehicle wherever it is located.  They do not rely on the owner's description of the vehicle and all claims of vehicle condition, operating condition, lists of options the vehicle has and all other claims are verified by a real person who knows what they're talking about when it comes to the specific vehicle they are reporting on.  Pretty cool considering the reports are free and everyone who has ever had a vehicle inspection done by a true professional knows that inspections start at around $150 and go up from there depending on how in-depth you want the inspection to be!

• Lastly, Iron Planet Motors helps the first time buyer with a host of other miscellaneous items that need to be considered when you are purchasing a vehicle that might not be located right down the street.  They will help you with financing, transportation, and insurance.  All of which are things that need to be considered.  Once you buy a vehicle at auction, you will be able to do these things on your own.  However, having an experienced group of people working with you on your first time is a real blessing.

To summarize how simple all of this is, At IronPlanet, you can search, view, and bid on automobiles, motorcycles, powersports and more. It's simple, convenient, and hassle-free. Buyers can bid with confidence, knowing the vehicle they’re interested in has been inspected and that there will be no surprises.

Most vehicles sold through IronPlanet have undergone a rigorous inspection process. The inspection reports are posted on their website, and each report includes details and 15-25 photos of the vehicle. They back up the reports with their IronClad Assurance®, which guarantees that the vehicle is as good as they say it is.  You can find out more about their IronClad Assurance here.  To review inspection reports, you will be asked to sign up — it's quick, easy, and, best of all, it's free. Members of IronPlanet have full access to their available vehicles, past auction results, and can place bids. Their PriorityBid feature allows prospective buyers to place bids prior to auction day. You set the maximum amount you’re willing to bid and their auction system keeps you in the lead up to your maximum!  It just doesn't get any simpler to participate in an auction!   You can read more about PriorityBid here.

On auction day, each item is on the block for a limited time period, with multiple items often on the block simultaneously. If active bidding is still in progress at the end of the original bidding period, the auction may be extended. If there is no active bidding in the last two minutes of the original bidding period, no more bids are accepted and the auction ends. The highest bidder wins the auction!  You can read more about bidding here, or better yet, go ahead and Try IronPlanet today!  It really is just that easy!

Whether you are looking for cars, trucks, motorcycles, rv's, motorhomes, or even farm equipment, tractors and construction equipment, Iron Planet Motors has your auction.  And your first auction is just a click away!  So what are you waiting for?

Get started today! Click on one of the links here to get signed up at Iron Planet Motors.  It's free and it's easy.  Once signed up, Iron Planet will get you the information you need to get started and you'll be notified of the auciton dates you're interested in.  The only thing left to do is start bidding!

Good luck to all our readers and please, send us your auction stories!  We love hearing from our readers and we want to see what you've purchased.  Brag about your bargains right here!

Happy Motoring!

Larry and Dee

More about → What Is Available At Auctions? Why This Should Interest You

APRIL IS NATIONAL CAR CARE MONTH! What Does That Mean?

Did I mention to you yet that April is National Car Care Month?  My regular readers are shaking their heads in amazement!  By golly!  I don't think she did!  Well, fear not my fellow preventive maintenance enthusiasts, I did NOT forget, nor, did I plan on letting this month go by without at least bringing this to your attention, at least once!  The logo below is shown on all genuine "CCC" literature.  These guys have taken preventive maintenance to a new level!

So, here it is April 16th, and we're about half way through National Car Care Month.  I was actually waiting because I wanted to put together a fantastic, unbelievably great article that would not only bring this month to your attention, but, also make you want to do something about it!

I thought long and hard and I figured out that what I need to do to really get everyone revved up (yes, pun intended...) was to make it so easy, so unrealistically simplified, so non-thought provoking, that you would just take my advice and trot off to your local shop and have your car, truck, suv, van, or motorcycle serviced.  And, I did just that.  I have put together some things that will have you at your shop by the time you finish reading this.  And here's how.....

Inside a dirty motor, notice the
brown discoloration from "varnish"
from unchanged oil. All of this
can and will cause sticking valves,
bad gas milage and more!

Here's the top of a badly burned piston.  Also
caused by lack of oil and not changing the oil.
As with the "varnish" build up, this can cause
rough running and seriously bad gas milage.

First, I put together some pictures of what actually happens to the inside of your motor when you don't change the oil.  Yup, these are real, live pictures of just what happens to your poor motor when you simply don't take the time to care.  Now, I've also included some pictures of what happens to brakes when we don't change the brake pads regualrly.  Once again, these are pictures of rotors when brake wear down and score the rotors.  These are what's left to actually "stop" your vehicle when you're tooling down the highway at speeds sometimes in excess of 70 mph.  Not a very pretty picture at all!  Especially when you think that changing those brake pads is a very minimal expense compared to what you're going to  have to pay for if you can't "stop" your vehicle and even worse.

Set of seriously worn brake
pads. These worn pads will
cause the damage seen in the
lower photo of worn rotors.

Now, with all this being said, I also came up with a list of suggested preventive maintenance items and some materials that will help even the most mechanically challenged of us determine what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, and why!  It doesn't get any simpler than that.  Clicking here will take you to a nice, general service schedule that has everything you need to have done to your vehicle regularly, in color.....very cool!

Rotors worn down by
bad brake pads.

All of this damage can be avoided by simply maintaining your vehicle.  And, that maintenance is far less expensive than replacing the parts that break and the labor involved in repairing this damage.

I have included a link to National Care Care Association's booklet entitled "The Car Care Guide" written by the Car Care Council. It's a great guide for determining what things need to be maintained on your vehicle and how often they should be done.  It's a great basis for planning out your scheduled maintenance routine and ensuring that nothing slips by.
The booklet not only describes each routine maintenance point, but, also gives a detailed explanation of why the service needs to be done.  It's a great guide for both the average car owner and the do-it-yourself'er to use as a reference.

There are other things to mention here in addition to what needs to be done to properly care for a vehicle, and here are some ideas to help save you money when you do actually have the services rendered.

1. When changing your oil, look for sales that include oil, oil filter and air filter combined into a single package deal.  Most auto parts stores will rotate different manufacturer's products into deals on a regular basis.  It's much more cost effective to "bundle" these items than to pay for each one of them separately.  We recommend Monthly Oil Change Special (OCS) page from Advance Auto Parts.  Advance Auto Parts offers a monthly oil change special each month to save you money on a bundle of everything necessary for your oil change.
2. Purchase "lifetime warranty" brake pads.  Most manufacturer's offer lifetime warranties on their brake pads.  Simply keep the receipt from your purchase and when it's time to change the pads, go back to the auto parts dealer and bring them back the used pads to receive a refund on the purchase price of the pads.  Essentially, you can purchase only one set of pads for the entire time you own the vehicle!  You can click here to go to our 'Online Parts Store' and search right there for the brake pads you'll need! 
3. Buy your maintenance parts while they are on sale and keep a small inventory of the parts you will need to replace.  Hoses, belts, and even small replacement parts are good to have handy, like the idler pulley for your serpentine belt, windshield wipers, and fuses, etc.

Planning out your preventive maintenance will help you keep your vehicle in top running form for the life of your car, truck, suv, or van.  It will help maintain it's value too.  Not enough can be said for the value of these small items which in total add up to great value.

And, of course, there's no better place to save you money than our good friends at Advance Auto Parts.   

Seriously, I wouln't preach if I didn't care.....so, get get your car serviced and feel better about it!  It'll give you the satisfaction of knowing that you're vehicle is running great and you've taken all the little precautions to keep you and your family safe!

Happy Motoring!

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