Category: Blog

For anybody who has driven or owned a vehicle for a considerable amount of time, you know that car oil changes are a regular maintenance task. The question of how often you need a car oil change is one that has evolved over the years. There are many factors to consider when assessing the need for an oil change. Crossroads Ford Lincoln examines some of those factors to help you determine how often you need a car oil change. 

Why Are Car Oil Changes Important?

Your car’s engine simply cannot function without oil. Oil changes are not intended to replace an empty oil tank like a stop at the gas station. They are meant to add clean oil and make sure your engine is being lubricated properly. Car oil changes keep sludge and harmful particles out of your engine. These particles can cause significant damage as they build up, and they can harm components and corrode your engine.

How Often Should You Change Your Oil?

There is no single answer to this question. According to Edmunds, most manufacturers recommend oil changes between 7,500 and 10,000 miles. This is a far cry from the typical 5,000- to 6,000-mile recommendation that many people have become accustomed to. Some manufacturers mention a mileage limit and a time frame. You should change the oil by going with whatever event happens first. For example, Ford recommends an oil change every 7,500 miles or after six months for newer models, whichever comes first. 

There are two ways that you can determine how often you need an oil change. Start with the manufacturer’s recommendation. Secondly, you should evaluate your driving habits. Drivers with typical driving habits — reasonable commute to work, occasional travel, average miles per month, and more — won’t need an oil change as often as drivers with less typical habits. If you have a lengthy daily commute, frequently drive off-road, or tow heavy loads regularly, you should get an oil change every 5,000 miles. 

Contact Crossroads Ford Lincoln for More Tips

Regular car oil changes are crucial to the life of your vehicle. For more details on oil changes at the Crossroads Ford Lincoln service department, call (502) 695-1990 or contact us online today.

It is important for car owners to have a basic understanding of car maintenance. This will help save you time and money in the long run because you can avoid certain repairs and keep your car in better shape. At Crossroads Ford Lincoln, we help teach our customers how they can take care of their vehicles and keep them out of the shop. In today’s blog post, our service department discusses a few essential car maintenance tips every car owner should know. 

Learn What Your Warning Lights Mean

It may seem surprising, but many drivers don’t know what most of their warning lights indicate. Modern cars have a variety of warning lights that will alert you to all sorts of potential problems, from engine trouble to brake failure. You need to know what these lights mean so you can take appropriate action. This will allow you to quickly respond to a warning light and avoid costly repairs. 

Check Your Tires

If you want your vehicle to run efficiently and have better fuel economy, checking your tires regularly is crucial. Both tire pressure and tread depth are key factors to improved fuel economy. These things are also essential for the safety of your vehicle and its passengers. Checking your tires is one of the easiest things to do as a car owner because it just requires an eye test. Your car may have a warning light that indicates when your tire pressure is low. However, you can see when your tires need air or if your tread has wear every time you walk out to your car. 

Replace the Air Filter

Air filters help make sure that your engine is getting the clean air it needs to ignite fuel. When that clean air becomes dirty, your engine starts to take in dirt, dust, and debris. These things will decrease fuel efficiency and damage components. An easy car maintenance exercise is to replace your air filter regularly and according to your manufacturer guidelines. 

Listen to Your Car

One of the most valuable car maintenance tools for any driver is their own ears. As you drive more and listen to your vehicle, you can become familiar with what sounds are normal and what sounds are out of the ordinary. Listening helps you notice when something has changed in your car and when it may need repairs. 

Change Your Oil Regularly

Oil is one of the most essential fluids in your vehicle. There is simply too much friction in your engine to neglect regular oil changes. Even if you are low on oil, getting an oil change is still important because it prevents particles and sludge from building up in your engine. 

Contact Crossroads Ford Lincoln for Car Maintenance Help

If you need car maintenance, Crossroads Ford Lincoln’s service department can work on a wide range of maintenance and repair issues. For more details on what we offer, give us a call at (502) 695-1990 or contact us online.

When it comes to automotive repair, it is reasonable to be a little bit nervous when looking for the right garage or shop for your vehicle. It can be challenging to find a mechanic that is affordable, fair, and provides high-quality service. At Crossroads Ford Lincoln, we provide our customers with top-notch automotive repair services at fair and competitive prices. We also keep our customers informed and explain how they are getting the best possible automotive repair services. In today’s blog post, we discuss some of the key factors to consider when choosing the right repair company. 

Find a Garage That Specializes in Your Make

The ideal mechanic is one who has experience with the make and model of your car. For example, if you have a Ford or Lincoln vehicle, you won’t find a better mechanic for your automotive repair needs than the staff at Crossroads Ford Lincoln. We have experience with all Ford and Lincoln vehicles. Finding a garage that has experience with your vehicle is a great benefit and one that is worth searching for. 

Ask Around

The odds are good that you have friends and family who have had both good and bad experiences with auto mechanics. An easy way to find the right shop for you is to just ask around. Find out which shops to avoid and which shops to trust, directly from the people you know and trust yourself. If you’re new in town, check with some people who know the area, such as coworkers or neighbors. They may have insights, especially if they have had an experience with that particular shop. Make sure to get multiple opinions, because friends and family can provide you with valuable intel about a shop. 

Read Reviews

Friends and family are a great way to get information via word of mouth. In the digital era, there are many other ways to learn about a particular automotive repair shop. Online reviews are one of those ways. It’s essential to read reviews contextually, meaning not putting too much stock in just one review. However, if you see that a majority of people had good experiences at a certain shop and bad experiences at another shop, these can help you make your decision. Reviews are valuable because you typically have a large sample size to choose from, making it easier to see a pattern of good or bad reviews. 

Contact Crossroads Ford Lincoln for Automotive Repair 

At Crossroads Ford, we are proud of the automotive repair services we offer. Our staff works hard to keep our customers happy and their vehicles healthy. For more information on our service department, get in touch with us at (502) 695-1990, or contact us online.

One of the most common automotive repairs for car owners involves replacing the old air filter with a new one. Your air filter delivers clean air to your engine. If enough air doesn’t get to your engine, it won’t perform well over time. If you don’t replace your old air filter with a clean one regularly, you run the risk of needing heavy-duty automotive repairs. Changing your air filter is a very minor automotive repair, but it can save you a lot of time and money in the future. In today’s blog post, Crossroads Ford Lincoln will take an in-depth look at how often you should replace your air filter. 

What Is an Air Filter and Why Is It Important?

For all fuel-burning engines to function, they need constant airflow. Your air filter makes sure your engine receives clean air instead of air with dust and dirt in it. This keeps your engine clean while also giving it the air it needs for combustion in the ignition chamber. An air filter helps prevent any potential dirt build-up. Air filters help to extend the life of your engine and prevent the need for more expensive automotive repairs. They are also inexpensive and easy to replace. Many car owners bypass the shop altogether and replace them at home. 

How Often Should You Change an Air Filter?

For years, the answer to this question has varied. The one thing all automotive repair experts agree on is that you need to change your car’s air filter regularly. Most auto mechanics suggest you replace the air filter between 15,000 and 45,000 miles, depending on the type of car, type of engine, and the driving conditions. That is a pretty broad starting point for car owners, especially without any vehicle maintenance experience. The first thing you should do is check to see if your vehicle manufacturer gives you a specific mile marker to change. For instance, most Ford engines recommend a change every 30,000 miles, while Chevy recommends a change every 45,000 miles.

What Happens If You Don’t Change the Air Filter?

If you don’t change your air filter before 45,000 miles, depending on the vehicle, your engine begins to take in unfiltered air. Gas will not ignite as easily or as strongly due to the lack of high-quality air. This, in turn, decreases your engine’s power and makes it run less efficiently. Over the long term, enough debris from a dirty air filter can damage your engine’s internal components and parts. 

Contact Crossroads Ford Lincoln for Automotive Repair Help

Check with your manufacturer to see how often you need to change your air filter. You can find this information in the owner’s manual for your car. Regardless of when you need to change it, keeping your air filter fresh is one crucial step to avoiding costly automotive repairs. If you need automotive repair, Crossroads Ford Lincoln can help. Call at (502) 695-1990 or contact us online for more details.