Heiser’s Quick Maintenance Tips

Fuel Saving Tips: How to get better gas mileage in your car or truck

Proper vehicle maintenance doesn’t just help extend the life of your vehicle – it can help relieve some of the financial pressure brought on by high gas prices. The following are a few key services our factory-trained auto service technicians can perform to help boost your MPG and fuel economy.

3 Key Maintenance Services for Great Fuel Economy:

  1. Keep your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Making sure your tire pressure isn’t too low – or too high – can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3%.
  2. Get the recommended grade of motor oil. Our experts offer a full line of high-quality oil and filter products from Motorcraft®. Using the one that’s right for your vehicle can help improve fuel efficiency by up to 2%.
  3. Get an engine tune-up. Making sure all your systems are operating at their best can save you 4% in fuel efficiency.

How to Change a Flat Tire: A Step-by-Step Guide

A flat tire is one of the biggest inconveniences you can experience on the road. Make sure to consult your vehicle owner’s guide for details specific to your car or truck, such as the location of the spare and jack kit. Also, be aware of your surroundings. If you do not feel safe, do not hesitate to call the local police for help.

  1. Remove the spare tire and jack from your vehicle. Check the inflation level of your spare – if its pressure is too low, you’ll either need to find a place where you can inflate it or call a tow truck.
  2. Your jack kit should include a tire iron for removing the lug nuts. Use it to loosen the lug nuts on the flat tire, but don’t remove them yet. If you need to use a lot of force to get them loose, you don’t ever want to do it while the vehicle is already jacked up.
  3. Block the other tires to make sure the vehicle doesn’t roll.
  4. Raise the corner with the flat tire high enough off the ground to put the spare tire on. You should always avoid raising the vehicle any higher than you need to.
  5. Finish removing the lug nuts from the flat tire and pull it off.
  6. Put the spare tire on the vehicle.
  7. Replace the lug nuts, but don’t tighten them yet.
  8. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack in reverse.
  9. Tighten the lug nuts. After a few turns, rotate clockwise to tighten the next lug nut. Repeat this process until each lug nut is securely in place.
  10. Stop by Heiser’s Quick Lane for a replacement tire as soon as you can. If you have to use highways to get there, keep your vehicle under 55 mph and use your hazard lights. Most spare tires are not designed to handle high speeds for long periods of time.

How to Spot Worn Tires

Your tires are crucial to your car or truck’s handling and safety. Regular tire rotations can help distribute wear evenly over a longer period of time, but no tire lasts forever. Stop by Heiser’s Quick Lane for a new set of tires if you notice any of the following symptoms.

Replace your tires if you notice:

  • Tire tread depth of less than 3/32″ or tire treads that don’t reach the top of Lincoln’s head on an upside-down penny
  • Punctures, cuts, or snags in your tire tread or sidewall
  • Sudden loss of tire pressure
  • Your tire wear indicator is visible
  • Sudden vibration when driving
  • Poor handling or traction on slippery surfaces

 

  
Please don't hesitate to direct your service questions to us! Fill out the simple form below and our technicians will get back to you.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.