Helpful Routine Maintenance Tips

OKEMOS, Mich., – Like your home, your vehicle is a huge investment. Making sure you protect your investment will extend your vehicle's life and increase its resale value. Use these helpful routine maintenance tips to improve your gas mileage, the appearance of your vehicle, and more! Preventative maintenance will help you save money on repairs in the future and can make all the difference in the long run. Check out our list of tips to make your car look and feel its best!

How to Check Fluid Levels

Checking your fluid levels in your vehicle can seem like a daunting task, but it's actually very easy! Whether you're checking your oil, wiper fluid, or coolant levels, we've put together a quick and easy list for you to reference!

How to Check Your Oil Level: Checking your oil level is a great way to find out whether or not you need an oil change! Typically, you should get your oil changed every 5,000-8,000 miles, or whenever your owner's manual tells you to, but if you aren't sure, you can check yourself! Look for the oil dipstick, located on your engine (it should have a plastic circular handle), and pull it out. Wipe it on a clean cloth, then dip your dipstick back into the pipe you withdrew it from. Pull it out again and check the film level on the stick. There should be indicators labeled "ADD" and "FULL". If you're below the "ADD" mark, it's time for an oil change!

How to Check Other Fluids: The other fluids in your engine, such as wiper fluid and coolant, are much easier to check. You'll be able to tell immediately whether or not they need refilling. If you're wondering about your coolant level, look for the large plastic container in your engine. The side of the container should have a "HIGH" and "LOW" level, indicating whether or not it needs refilling. You can tell whether or not your wiper fluid needs refilling the same way, too! The wiper fluid container, typically located on the left side of your engine, has "HIGH" and "LOW" labels as well. Your coolant should be replaced every 30,000 miles or whenever your manual says to, and your wiper fluid should be replaced as you use it!

Check Your Tire Pressure

A great way to increase your vehicle's gas mileage and performance on the road is to regularly check your tire pressure. The amount of pressure in your tires, or PSI, keeps your vehicle running efficiently on the road. Improper tire pressure can put strain on your other tires, which can cause uneven tire wear, blow-outs, and can negatively impact your gas mileage. If you notice your vehicle sitting at an uneven angle, it may be time to get your air refilled! Purchasing an affordable tire gauge can help you check the PSI of your tires at home - they're only a few dollars and are a valuable investment. Typically, tire pressure in sedans is between 27-32 PSI, while larger vehicles like trucks and SUVs are anywhere between 4-8 PSI.

Get Your Air Filter Replaced

Your air filter serves as the "lungs" of your vehicle. Dust and dirt accumulate over long periods of time and can clog your engine, leading to inefficient fuel economy and slower acceleration times. Getting your air filter replaced every 15,000-30,000 miles will improve your gas mileage and make driving much better. Replacement air filters are very affordable and only take a few minutes to replace. Schedule an appointment to get your filter looked at and replaced today! You'll notice the difference almost immediately when you start driving!

Keep Your Vehicle Clean

A great way to increase the resale value of your vehicle and make it more appealing to the eye is by keeping the interior and exterior as clean as you can. Driving a clean vehicle prevents rust and corrosion and can make drivers much happier, too. With a fresh and clean vehicle, you'll be looking and feeling like brand new! It's a great way to make the most of your investment and create a healthy and clean environment for your commute, whether you're taking the kids to school, driving to work, or going on a road trip!

Park in the Shade

Whenever you're able to, make sure you park in the shade, especially on hot summer days! You can extend the life of your tires and other rubber components of your vehicle by regularly parking in shaded areas. Plus, it never hurts to have a cooler vehicle on a hot summer afternoon! If you can't find shade, you can always purchase an inexpensive sun shade to create shade for all of the plastic and rubber components in your vehicle's interior. 

Apply Wax Every 6 Months

Keep your vehicle's coat of paint shiny and eye-catching with a fresh coat of wax! Whether you apply it monthly or every six months, it can decrease the rate at which dust and dirt accumulate on your vehicle. You can do it yourself by purchasing wax and applying it after a car wash, or you can have it done at a car wash itself for an affordable price! Reduce the buildup of rust and dirtiness on your vehicle with a car wash and a new coat of wax.

Follow these helpful routine maintenance tips to keep your repair costs to a minimum and to extend the life of your vehicle! Not only will your vehicle have increased performance, but you'll also be driving around in a fresh, clean, and eye-catching ride, too! Bring your vehicle up to speed this season with some summer car care tips that'll protect your investment. If you find anything that needs further maintenance, like an oil change or tire rotation, feel free to schedule an appointment with us and our Service Staff will have your vehicle taken care of right away! Looking to sell your vehicle soon? Follow our tips to increase its resale value and bring it in for the best deal you can get in the Lansing area!

Located conveniently just outside of Lansing, Hank Graff Chevrolet Okemos is here to help you with your car buying and servicing needs. Our goal is to create a transparent experience and a comfortable environment for all of our valuable customers. If you have any questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, reach us at (517) 349-8300, or stop by the dealership at 1748 W. Grand River in Okemos, MI 48864

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Summer Car Care at Graff Chevrolet Okemos

OKEMOS, Mich.,–– Your car is a significant part of your life. Whether you prefer joy rides or simply heading from point A to point B, taking care of your vehicle is very important. With Michigan's unpredictable weather, keeping a close watch on vehicle maintenance will keep you enjoying your drives without any issues! Routine care maintenance will keep your vehicle safe from any unnecessary damage and can help extend its life so you can enjoy the fresh air and activities of the summer. Read up on our Summer Car Care tips to learn how to keep your vehicle running smoothly this summer. When Okemos starts warming up, keep a close eye on these key components of your car to ensure a safe and enjoyable car ride:

Cooling System

When it gets hot, your air conditioning is working double-time and can wear down making hot days a miserable experience. If you feel weak airflow or lack of airflow coming from your vents, you'll want to get it fixed before the heat starts to kick in. Service is typically very affordable and doesn't take much time, so make sure you get it taken care of before it starts to get too hot out there!

Fuel System 

It's road trip season, which means gas prices can go up and fuel systems can wear down with extensive driving. If your fuel system starts to wear down in any way, it can affect your fuel economy and gas mileage, which can make your trips a lot more expensive. Keep a close eye on any emergency lights and be sure to take care of any issues so that you can travel all over the state this summer without any automotive issues.

Exterior Vehicle Lights

Late nights and nighttime driving tends to increase in the summer, and remaining visible on the road is extremely important to your safety. Getting your lights fixed in advance can improve your visibility and assist with nighttime driving, which can help you keep an eye out for deer or other road hazards. Make sure your lights are working this summer so you can drive safely when the sun goes down.

Cosmetic Vehicle Repairs

The outside of your vehicle is just as important as the inside. Chipped or cracked glass can greatly reduce visibility, and rust from extensive use can wear down your vehicle, causing additional damage. If these repairs are left untreated, they can make car rides very risky, especially with damage through rust. Repairing these exterior issues can make car rides much safer in the short and long run.

Sun Protection

UV rays can damage your skin, but did you know that they can also damage vehicles? The increased heat can cause your engine and other interior parts of your vehicle to heat up, which when added to the heat of driving can warp and damage components. Purchasing a sunshade or regularly washing and waxing your vehicle's exterior can reduce the risk of interior and exterior damage.

Summer can be the most enjoyable time of the year, but it's important to minimize the stress on your vehicle by following our Summer Car Care tips. Watching out for any big issues that may come up will help you make the most of your summer while also avoiding any extensive and costly maintenance to your car. If you have any questions or concerns, our Service Center staff would be happy to assist you with scheduling service to your vehicle!

Hank Graff Chevrolet Okemos is committed to providing you with integrity and convenience, all close to home. Let our friendly team of Chevy professionals at Hank Graff Okemos help you – simply call us at (517) 349-8300 or visit our showroom, located at 1748 W. Grand River Okemos, MI 48864. We’re just minutes from Lansing!

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What Road Salt Does to Your Vehicle During the Winter

OKEMOS, Mich. –– In states like Michigan, road salt is vital for keeping drivers safe. Road salt provides traction for vehicles on roads that would otherwise turn to sheets of ice and slippery packed-down snow. But despite the benefits of road salt, it also has a corrosive effect on your vehicle. It's important to understand what road salt does to your vehicle during the winter, and how you can limit the negative effects it has.

While you drive down salted roads, the salt accumulates on your vehicle, including on its side panels, front and rear ends, wheel wells, and the entire underside of your vehicle. While your vehicle was likely designed to handle corrosion, overtime that protective barrier breaks down and elements like road salt are able to begin their corrosive effects.

At the end of a winter day after it has snowed and salt has been put down, you may notice a white dust that has clung to your vehicle, coating it from the windows down to the bottom of the vehicle. This is the salt your vehicle has accumulated from the roads.

The best thing you can do when your vehicle is covered in salt is to keep it clean and run it through a quick carwash. While a carwash may seem unnatural during the winter, it's a necessary step you must take to clean your vehicle of the corrosive dust from the salt.

When you take your vehicle through a carwash, it doesn't have to be for the sake of preserving your vehicle's glamorous appearance. All your vehicle needs is a quick wash––no wax or extra-sparkle carwash options are necessary. The entire point of a carwash during the winter is simply to wash your vehicle of the corrosive salt it has accumulated from driving on winter roads.

It may seem like a fruitless process, washing your vehicle of corrosive road salt after driving on winter roads only to have it accumulate more salt over the course of a few days, but in reality you're doing your vehicle a huge service by getting it washed. If you chose instead to leave the salt on your vehicle until after winter, you would be letting corrosive salt eat away at your vehicle's body over the course of many months. This could cause serious body damage to your vehicle that could cost a good deal of money to fix.

Instead of spending a large amount of money to refurbish your vehicle to a healthy appearance after the winter months, it would be smarter to spend less money overall on regular car washes throughout winter. Now that you know what road salt does to your vehicle during the winter, you know to keep your car in great shape all year long! You can do so with help from our seasonal maintenance pages at Graff Chevrolet Okemos!

Hank Graff Chevrolet Okemos is committed to providing you with top-notch service and convenience close to home. Let our friendly team of Chevy professionals at Hank Graff Okemos help you find your dream car – simply call us at (517) 349-8300 or visit our showroom, located at 1748 W. Grand River Okemos, MI 48864. We’re just minutes from Lansing!

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How to Cook a Thanksgiving Turkey the Right Way

OKEMOS, Mich. –– Preparing a well-cooked turkey for Thanksgiving is no easy task, considering how quickly it can dry out or how easy it is to undercook it. Before you stuff your bird and stick it in the oven this November, follow our tips on how to cook a Thanksgiving turkey the right way.

1. Choose the right size turkey.

Choosing the right size turkey depends on how large of group you're planning to serve this Thanksgiving. In general, a 20-pound turkey will feed a large group, but the best way to estimate the right size bird is to assume each guest will consume about 1 1/2 pounds of turkey, including bones and giblets.

2. Prepare your turkey so it's safe to consume.

Properly cooking a turkey requires preparation. You should thaw your turkey in the refrigerator to prevent the growth of bacteria. Place the bird breast-side-up on a rimmed baking sheet in your fridge, and give 24 hours of thawing time for every four pounds of turkey. After your turkey thaws, remove the giblets and save them for gravy stock. Rinse the turkey under cool water and dry it completely.

3. Stuff your turkey with caution.

If you plan on stuffing your turkey, make sure you do so just before you place the turkey in the oven. This prevents bacteria from having the time it needs to grow, whereas if you stuff your turkey ahead of time, bacteria has plenty of time to grow. Use 10 cups of stuffing for a 12–15-pound turkey, and 12 cups of stuffing for a 15–20-pound turkey.

4. Use a stainless steel roasting pan to cook your turkey.

Using a stainless steel roasting pan will ensure heat is distributed evenly to your turkey as it cooks. Set the turkey on a rack in a shallow stainless steel roasting pan. After the first hour of cooking, regularly baste the turkey in the juices that collect in the pan to keep the turkey moist and help it brown evenly. Roast your turkey until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

5. Let your turkey sit after it cooks.

Letting your turkey sit for 15–20 minutes after it cooks allows it to absorb the juices you basted it in, as well as the juices in the pan. This will help your turkey stay moist and finish do a little extra cooking on the inside before you cut into it.

If you're hosting Thanksgiving this November, make sure your know how to cook a Thanksgiving turkey the right way using our tips for reference. On the other hand, if you're traveling somewhere else, check out our Thanksgiving travel tips here. Make sure your vehicle is ready to hit the road and oil change or any auto service it may need from our friendly team of Chevy professionals at Hank Graff Okemos. Call us at (517) 349-8300 or visit our showroom, located at 1748 W. Grand River Okemos, MI 48864. We’re just minutes from Lansing!

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