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Maintenance
April 30, 2020
Synthetic vs. Conventional Oil: Which Is Better for Your Car?
When it comes to oil changes, you’ve got a lot of options. Will you take your car to the auto repair shop or the dealership? Or will you try to DIY your oil change? What brand of oil will you get? And—perhaps the most confusing part of an oil change—what type of motor oil should […]
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Safety
April 9, 2020
Everything You Need to Know About How to Check for Car Recalls
In 2017, the automotive industry recalled 74% more vehicles than it delivered to consumers. A whopping 30.7 million vehicles were recalled, while only 17.6 million new vehicles were sold in the U.S. While these numbers might seem crazy, auto recalls actually hit a four-year low in 2017, and the number of affected vehicles has been dropping ever […]
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Maintenance
March 30, 2020
What Pothole Damage Can Do to Your Car
It’s officially spring, which means it’s officially pothole season. As much as you may try to avoid driving over these obnoxious roadway obstructions, you’re bound to hit one eventually. What are they? Potholes are cracked, sunken-in portions of the road that form when water weakens the soil underneath the pavement. Potholes are especially bad during […]
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Safety
March 16, 2020
Driving in the Rain: 10 Tips for Safe Driving
🎶I’m driving in the rain, just driving in the rain, what a glorious feeling…🎶 Well, maybe not. Whether it’s a light sprinkle or a heavy downpour, driving in rain can be stressful and dangerous, and you can’t avoid it! It rains roughly one-third of the days in a year in Northern Virginia, so one way […]
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February 14, 2020
The 6 Best Tires for Wet Roads
Here in Virginia, you never know what kind of weather you’ll get from week to week or even day to day! There could be snow in April or summery temps in December, but no matter what time of year it is, you can count on having rainy days. Unfortunately, drivers tend to brush off rainy […]
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Savings
February 4, 2020
How Much to Budget for Car Maintenance
Life can throw a curveball once in a while. Or a nail in the road. And if you don’t have a solid car maintenance budget, you could be scrounging for cash to pay for surprise repairs or even just to keep up with regular car maintenance. According to the AAA, one-third of drivers in the […]
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Maintenance
January 23, 2020
What Is a Timing Belt & When Should You Replace It?
Timing is everything. For jokes, music, cooking, dating—even engines! That’s because your car’s engine relies on a timing belt to stay in sync. The timing belt makes sure everything in the engine is operating smoothly, keeping you safe on the road. Replacing the timing belt is an important maintenance item! So, if you own a […]
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Tires
January 15, 2020
Are Used Tires Safe? The Dangers of Used Tires
Used books, used cars, used clothes—there are plenty of items we buy second hand to save a few bucks. But when it comes to buying used car tires, do the risks outweigh the benefits? We think so. Keep reading to find out why. Are Used Tires Safe? To put it simply: no. We never recommend […]
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Maintenance
January 6, 2020
What Voids Your Car Warranty? Here’s What You Need to Know
When it comes to your vehicle, the last thing you want to do is void your warranty. Your car warranty is a promise from the manufacturer that, for a set period of time, they will fix any defects or malfunctions and pay for covered repairs or part replacements. Many vehicle owners believe that all repairs, […]
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Maintenance
December 11, 2019
How Often Should You Change the Engine Air Filter?
It’s a classic story of getting duped at the auto repair shop … the salesperson comes up to you, gets down on one knee, and presents a filthy-looking air filter for you to inspect: “It looks like you need to replace your engine air filter, ma’am.” But how do you know if you need a […]