Author: mattwolf13@yahoo.com

Tire alignment is an important factor in the maintenance of your car or truck, and it’s not that hard to knock your vehicle out of alignment with potholes, curbs, or regular wear and tear. In today’s blog, Crossroads Ford Lincoln explains everything you need to know about tire alignment and why it’s important.

What Is Tire Alignment?

Tire alignment refers to the adjustment of your vehicle’s suspension rather than the actual wheels or tires. A tire alignment adjusts the angles of a vehicle’s wheels on its suspension and should be part of regular car maintenance to make sure your vehicle rides straight and to reduce tire wear.

Why Is It Important?

Tire alignment greatly affects the performance of your vehicle in the following ways:

Tire Life

If your vehicle’s suspension is out of alignment, it can cause uneven wear and tear on your tires that can greatly shorten their lifespan. Regular tire alignment service will help save you money by helping your tires last longer.

Safety and Comfort

Uneven alignment can cause your vehicle to pull to the left or right while you are driving, making handling and control difficult. An aligned suspension will not only make it safer to drive, but it also makes driving easier and more comfortable if you don’t have to overcompensate or constantly correct the pulling.

How To Determine if You Need Tire Alignment

These are the most common signs that your vehicle needs an alignment:

• Your vehicle pulls to one side.
• Your vehicle shakes side to side after you hit a bump.
• Your steering wheel does not line up.
• Your front tires show uneven wear and tear.

If you are experiencing any of these signs, take your vehicle to a certified technician who can properly align your vehicle’s suspension according to the manufacturer’s specifications.

Tire Alignment at Crossroads Ford Lincoln

If you think your vehicle needs a tire alignment or it’s time for regular maintenance, bring it to Crossroads Ford Lincoln. Our world-class service department is certified to give your vehicle an exact alignment that will keep it running as smooth as possible. Call us at (502) 695-1990 or Contact Us online today to schedule an appointment.

Buying used trucks is not as simple as buying used cars. There’s a lot more than choosing the make, model, and color that goes into it. With a long list of specific features and size options for tires, cab size, and bed size, depending on what your truck is used for you may find yourself with a long list of options. Crossroads Ford Lincoln is here today to give a few tips for buying used trucks, so you know what to look for.

What’s Available?

Most used trucks found for resale today are full-size models, but you can still find smaller midsize and compact models on the market. Before you shop, consider what you need in terms of size, hauling capabilities, and use.

Give It a Good Inspection

It’s a good idea to give any used vehicle a good inspection before purchase. This includes taking it to a trusted mechanic to ensure it’s mechanically sound and to find out if anything will need to be replaced in the near future. If you can’t take it to a mechanic, make sure to check for any leaking fluids, cracked belts or hoses, and be aware of sounds or smells that don’t belong. Check the tires for tread, and look underneath the truck for any injured metal on the frame. Keep in mind that any damage to the frame is extremely costly and should be a deal breaker!

Consider Towing and Hauling

Depending on how much towing and hauling the truck has done in the past, it may have endured more than the normal wear and tear. The easiest way to find out it’s history is to ask the owner. But understand that you can’t count on getting the whole truth, so this is another good reason to have a mechanical inspection.

Consider Off-Road Use

Many trucks have been used for off-road use in fields, farms, or ranches which can cause a lot of extra wear on the truck’s suspension and other components. This is another good reason to take a good look underneath the truck for excessive scratches or bent parts or take it in for a mechanical inspection.

Test Drive

As with any vehicle you buy, take the used truck for a test drive. You’ll want to look for things like unwanted smells or sounds along with outward visibility, your ability to climb into the cab, and a comfortable seating position. Pay special attention to its ability to park and maneuver, the security of the breaks, and the ease of engine acceleration.

Used Trucks at Crossroads Ford Lincoln

If you’re looking for a used truck from a reliable source, you can count on Crossroads Ford and Lincoln for trustworthy sales and service! Check out our variety of Used Trucks online or call us at (502) 695-1990 with any questions about our inventory.

At Crossroads Ford, we pride ourselves on a top-notch service department. We take care of a car oil change, transmission service, and any car maintenance your Ford or Lincoln vehicle requires. When you bring your car in for service, we will ask you what brand of oil you want in your vehicle. Then we change your oil based on the manufacturer’s recommendations. However, your choices for different types of motor oil go deeper than just your favorite brand of motor oil. In today’s blog, Crossroads Ford discusses different grades and types of motor oil for a car oil change.

Numerical Coding System

The numerical coding system used on different grades of motor oils comes from the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). You might see letters and numbers, such as “5W-30” or “10W-40” or something like that, on a bottle of motor oil. The “W” stands for winter. The number in front of it shows the lowest temperature the oil is rated for in degrees Fahrenheit. If you see “5W,” that means the motor oil is rated to maintain its viscosity, or thickness, at 5 degrees Fahrenheit. For a car oil change in a colder climate, a technician might recommend motor oil with a lower degree. There are 11 temperature grades of motor oil, from 0W up to 60W.

The larger number after the dash shows you the viscosity of the oil. The higher the number, the higher the thickness of the oil. Motor oil with a 5W-30 grade has less viscosity compared to 5W-40 oil. Thicker oil isn’t necessarily better, although oil that maintains its viscosity better is generally better for your vehicle when it comes to a car oil change.

Conventional Versus Synthetic

Most vehicles handle conventional motor oil just fine when it comes to a car oil change. Conventional oil means it comes from refined oil that was extracted from the ground using traditional drilling methods. Synthetic oil comes from a laboratory and typically works for high-tech engines in luxury vehicles. These oils go through stringent laboratory tests before they go on the market and provide superior, longer-lasting protection for engines.

Synthetic motor oil typically costs more compared to conventional oil, but it does offer some guarantee of higher performance. Some oils are a blend of conventional and synthetic while others are formulated specifically for higher-mileage engines to help protect parts from wear.

Oil Additives

Oil additives help prevent sludge build-up, varnish, and damage to engine parts. Additives may include detergents to help remove deposits, dispersants to help reduce sludge, and anti-wear agents to protect metal surfaces from wearing down when the oil gets thin. Ask your car oil change technician if any motor oils have extra additives to protect your vehicle’s engine and extend the life of your car.

Crossroads Ford and a Car Oil Change

At Crossroads Ford, we recommend an oil change every six months or 7,500 miles on Ford vehicles 2008 or newer. We recommend six months or every 5,000 miles on Ford miles from 2007 or older. Contact us if you have any questions about a car oil change, or make a service appointment so we can give your car a thorough check-up.

It’s springtime in Kentucky. That means the rainy season for Frankfort and the surrounding area. When rain coats the roads, it causes fits for motorists going to and from work. It also creates difficulties on busy highways. Crossroads Ford wants you to be safe when the rain hits. In today’s blog, we discuss some safety tips for driving in the rain.

Slow Down

The first thing to do when it starts raining is slow down. Speed limit signs are there for when the road is dry, and conditions are sunny. Most certainly drive under the speed limit when it rains, whether you see a light drizzle or a heavy downpour. Leave enough braking distance between your car and the car in front of you. Also, don’t slam on your brakes. This gives vehicles behind you enough time to slow down. Crossroads Ford encourages you to practice this defensive driving in dry weather to get used to being safer when the weather turns to rain.

Turn on Wipers and Lights

If you need your windshield wipers on, you should also have your headlights on. Headlights make your car more visible to other drivers in adverse conditions. Crossroads Ford has a world-class service department with techs who can assess your wiper blades and install new headlights if you have one that’s blown out.

Turn off Cruise Control

Cruise control may make your car lose control on slick pavement. If your car starts to hydroplane or lose its grip on the pavement, your car doesn’t slow down when the cruise control is on. Turn off cruise control on the highway so you stay in total control of your vehicle in wet weather. Leaving off cruise control means your car instantly slows down whenever you take your foot off the accelerator.

Watch for Slick Pavement

The most dangerous time for slick roads is just after the rain starts. That’s because water mixes with oil and other car chemicals already on the road. Drops of oil leak from car engines and land on the pavement. However, these oil slicks combine with water to form a slippery layer. Be extra-cautious when it first starts raining, because this is when many accidents happen due to slick roads. Although Crossroads Ford sells many new and used cars with anti-lock brakes, you should still exercise caution when it comes to driving in the rain.

Count on Crossroads Ford

The service department at Crossroads Ford can help put your car in top shape for the spring season. Come by our location on Versailles Road, or make a service appointment, to get started on the road to safer driving today!