You might think that you know how often you should get your oil changed, but the fact of the matter is that every vehicle is different. There are a lot of different factors that go into how frequently your oil needs to be changed, such as:

• The age of your car

• The type of oil you use

• How many miles are on your car

• What conditions you usually drive in

• How hard you drive your car

The general rule of thumb is that you should get your oil changed every 6 months or 3,000 miles – but that might not be right for your vehicle. Depending on the above factors, you might need oil changes more frequently or even less frequently. Who knows the answer? We do! Come see us when you’re due for your next oil change and ask us to check everything out and give a recommendation for how often you need your oil changed. You might be surprised!

When you’re driving, one inevitability no matter where you’re going is construction. Whether it’s just a stray traffic cone or a full-blown work zone, you need to stay safe. Check out our failproof tips for driving safely and obeying the law in a construction area!

First, expect the unexpected. Never assume that everyone is going to follow the rules or drive safely. This is why YOU should follow the rules and drive as safely as you have ever driven in your entire life.

Always pay attention. Not only will it help you to drive more safely if you do, but it’ll also help you notice signs, flaggers, and more. Pay attention specifically to the signs, because they’ll tell you speed limits and upcoming work areas. Flaggers are just as important as signs, though – if you ignore a flagger, you could face the same ticket that you’d get for ignoring a sign.

Merge as soon as you can instead of waiting until the last minute. Not only is waiting rude, especially if you use the closing lane to speed past others, but it can hold up traffic and you risk getting into an accident.

If you see that the speed limit is being reduced, slow down immediately. If you’re going 60mph, you’re moving about 88 feet per second. If you see a sign that says there’s a work zone in 1,500 feet, you’ll get to that work zone in about 17 seconds. So, go slow!

Tailgating is always a no-no. Does this even need to be said? Stay far away from the person in front of you. Space is safe!

Always stay in the center of your lane. This is part of paying attention – when you are focused, you won’t swerve in and out of your lane. If you can’t stay in your lane, you’re likely to hit cones, barriers, and even workers.

The work zone is not over until you see a sign that says it is. Even if there’s no work happening, you’re still subject to speed limits and fines until you see the sign that says the work zone has ended.

Do you chronically drive your car when the fuel gauge says that you have little to no gas? If you answered yes, you need to break that habit immediately. Bro. Listen. Look at me. This is a problem and I’m here to help you overcome it, just like that time that you helped me when my mom accidentally washed my snapback in the washing machine. Okay? First, let me tell you the bad things that come from driving with an empty tank. I can’t believe I have to say this to you. You know better, bro. You do.

So first you can wear out your fuel pump. If you don’t have enough gas then the pump starts pumping air. This is because gas acts as a coolant for the fuel pump motor. The air makes heat and then the pump wears out and breaks and then I have to loan you like a hundred bucks. Not cool, man.

Secondly is that the gauge is not accurate. Like, it’s close? But the thing is that it’s more of an approximation than anything. So like, don’t trust it all the way. My dad said not to let your tank ever get below three-quarters empty. I feel like that’s a solid plan, right? Just start doing that. I got you!

The last thing is that there’s all kinds of gunk and stuff in the bottom of everyone’s gas tank. Even yours, bro! But when you’re mad low on gas then all that sediment gets stirred up and then goes through all your pipes and hoses and such and will make you need to get a flush. Like, a full engine flush. And because I’ve hypothetically already loaned you a hundo, you’ll have to ask your dad for money. Again. Don’t stoop that low, bro! I got your back. Bros for life.

It’s a common fact that Volkswagen owners love their VW’s. That’s just something that we have all known for forever and it’s not something that’s going to change any time soon. But, even the most die-hard Volkswagen fans might find some new information in this list of our top 10 favorite Volkswagen fun facts: check them out!

1. The VW Beetle’s original name was the Volkswagen Type 1.

2. The name Volkswagen translates directly into English from German as “People’s Car,” because it was designed to be an affordable car for the German people.

3. Ferdinand Porsche (yes, that name sounds familiar!) designed the original prototype for the Volkswagen Type 1 in ten months.

4. The VW Beetle was produced from 1938 to 2003 – that’s 65 years!

5. Volkswagen used to give savings bonds to babies who were born in Beetles – though giving birth in a car is never anyone’s top choice, at least they got some compensation for it!

6. The first Volkswagen vehicles to arrive in the US came stateside in 1949.

7. The world record for the most people to fit inside of a VW Beetle at one time is 57. How this was done remains a complete mystery to me.

8. New Volkswagens are named after global wind currents. “Golf” is actually the German name for the Gulf stream.

9. The most famous Volkswagen in the world is “Herbie,” from the 1968 movie The Love Bug.

10. Volkswagen is one of the world’s largest employers, with over 600,000 employees worldwide.

Do you suffer from blind spots in your vehicle? Sometimes it’s a burden we all have – but did you know there are some quick and easy ways to completely eliminate your blind spots for good? Sure, it does involve careful driving and making sure to look in your mirrors when you’re changing lanes or backing up… but you should be doing that all the time anyway. Check out our two tips for getting rid of your blind spots once and for all!

The first tip is the easiest. Get a couple of aftermarket stick-on convex mirrors and stick them to the outer corners of your side mirrors. They help you see pretty much everything around your vehicle, eliminating rear blind spots.

If you don’t want to spend money, adjust your mirrors. There’s a trick to it. Here are the steps:

• Adjust your rearview mirror to give you a view directly to the rear. Make it so that it best covers your rear window view. Don’t tilt it to get side views – just straight back through your window.

• Lean your head until it almost touches your driver’s side window. Adjust your left side mirror so you can just barely see the side of your car – no more.

• Lean your head to the passenger side as far as you can comfortably while still sitting up and adjust the right mirror so you can barely see the right side of your car.

• You shouldn’t be able to see the side of your car when your head is all the way upright!

Are you planning some road trips this holiday season? And by “road trips,” of course I mean “getting the family into the car and to Grandma’s with minimal drama” which is an important distinction to make. Anyway, it’s important to have the right supplies with you when traveling, especially when it’s not exactly the first thing on everyone’s list of things they’d want to do if they were given the choice. We have put together a list of important things that should live in your car if you travel with family a lot, and we know it’s a bit overboard but please feel free to pick and choose to build your perfect kit/tote bag/backpack/whatever for your road trip supplies!

In The Car

• Blankets and pillows

• Music

• Folding chairs

• Reading material

• Camera

• Cash for toll roads

• GPS

• Binoculars

• Wet wipes

• Puzzle books and quiet toys for kids

• Pen, pencil, notepad

• Tissues, paper towels, toilet paper

• Small bags for garbage

Vehicle Emergency Kit

• Flashlight, roadside signal flares or reflective cones/warning signs

• First aid kit

• Booster cables, wrenches, screwdrivers (basic toolkit)

• Gallon jug of water

• Extra washer fluid, oil, transmission oil, brake fluid

• Rags, workshop towels, old blanket

• Gloves

• Spare belts (alternator, fan and air conditioner belts)

• Candle, warm clothes, heavy blanket (for winter travel)

• Duct tape and WD40

When it comes to your vehicle, one of the most important things to keep an eye on and monitor is your tires. Seriously – tires are the key to everything from getting better gas mileage to staying safe in hazardous conditions. This means making sure that they are at the correct pressure and that the tread depth is still good. The great thing about this is that checking both of these things is super duper easy!

First, to check your tire pressure, all you’ll need are the tires and a tire pressure gauge. The gauge can be bought at pretty much any auto store (or store that sells auto supplies and accessories) for super cheap. Put the gauge on the valve stem and it should tell you what your pressure is. To find out what it should be, check in your owner’s manual, the sticker inside the door jamb of the driver’s side door, or the sidewall of the tire itself. If you’re low, pump your tire up with an air compressor. Easy!

Second is checking the tread. This will cost you approximately one cent and is a great use for your pennies, which are basically useless. The way to use a penny to check your tread is to put the penny into your tread with Lincoln’s head facing directly down. If you can see the top of his head, you need new tires. That’s all there is to it!

Your tires should be lasting you at least five years, so if you find them wearing out faster than that, you might want to be more vigilant about your tire pressure as well as the way you drive. You should see an improvement in the longevity of your tires!

If you’re anything like my wife, you look at something that’s broken and think, “well, I can fix that myself – it’ll save money!” However, we’ve found out through some amount of trial and error that when it comes to your vehicle, there are some things you should really be leaving to the professionals. Here’s what we’ve found to be the things you shouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole unless you’re a certified pro like the folks at King Volkswagen (thanks for being awesome)!

The Transmission. Just don’t even try anything with this, because when it’s broken it’s really actually broken and it’s an expensive replacement. Even changing the fluid is something for the pros. Trust me on this.

I know that there are kits you can get that say they’ll fix your windshield, but this is also something you should take to your dealer’s service center. If you’ve got a big crack or chip, it’ll more than likely grow, and you’ve got to replace your windshield anyway if the injury is big enough to see. The glass can even crack invisibly, so even if the glass looks okay there could be a bunch of tiny cracks through it that damage the structural integrity of the glass.

Anything with wires, like your sound system, is a thing you shouldn’t mess with. Not only because you run the risk of shorting out your car, but because you could cause a fire, or at the least spend money and time trying to do something and just not have it work. When it’s a pro job, you know it’ll work and be good and your car won’t catch on fire in your driveway.

The fuel pump is another thing you should take to get looked at by professionals. It’s a very precise part that requires precise repair and installation, and if you mess this up you’ll total your car from the inside out. It’s not pretty, trust me.

The last thing, and my wife actually agrees with me on this, is that you shouldn’t use one of those engine diagnostic tools. Sure, they’ll turn off your check engine light, but you should really be, you know, seeing what’s wrong and then getting it repaired. Turning off a light doesn’t fix the problem! So, if that light comes on, check your gas cap and if it’s fine then bring your vehicle in to get evaluated and repaired by professionals.

Has your Check Engine light come on recently (or at all)? Did you feel that instant panic? That sinking sensation in your stomach? Well, you can rest easy because there are five reasons (well, the five most common reasons) that we’ll be telling you for your check engine light to have come on. Only five! And one of them is a really easy fix. So, please. Relax, sit back, and absorb the heck out of this important information.

1. It could be your gas cap. Seriously, if your gas cap is loose or broken or cracked or totally missing, this could be what’s making that light come on. So if the light appears, the first thing you should do is check on your gas cap. It’s a possibility that that’s the solution. If the cap is broken or missing, your dealer can replace it for wiiiicked cheap.

2. Spark plugs are also a likely culprit. Everyone needs to get them replaced every so often (usually about 100,000 miles in newer cars) and it might just be that time for you.

3. Your Mass Airflow Sensor could be to blame. This part tells your car’s computer to add the right amount of fuel based on the amount of air that’s coming in to the engine. When this piece is broken, your emissions increase, your efficiency decreases, and your car might stall.

4. Maybe your oxygen sensor(s) are to blame. Your O2 sensors monitor the unburned oxygen in your exhaust, which tells your vehicle’s computer how much fuel is being burned in your engine. When the sensor is broken, your mileage can decrease. Don’t wait too long to get this checked out, because you run the risk of burning out your…

5. Catalytic converter! This is also a reason your check engine light might be coming on. If this part is broken or faulty, it won’t reduce your exhaust gases like it’s supposed to, which in turn will decrease your MPGs and mess with your acceleration. Get this fixed IMMEDIATELY, even though it is the most expensive repair on the list.

When it comes to what’s under the hood of your vehicle, how much do you know? It’s okay if you’re not a car genius (or even if you are), but there are definitely some basics you need to know. The one we’ll cover today is… drumroll, please… fluids! There are a lot of fluids in and around your engine, and you should have at least a basic understanding of what they are, how to check them, and what to look for if you have a problem.

First is the oil. This is the lifeblood of your vehicle, and if you don’t have oil your engine can weld itself together, meaning that you’ll just have a chunk of useless, engine-shaped metal in your car. Not good. Oil lubricates and cools all the moving parts, and it also prevents the buildup of residue in your engine. Check your oil at least once a month, and if something’s wrong, go see your dealer for an oil change.

Second, comes the coolant. The reservoir for this is located near the radiator in a clear opaque plastic container. You can see the coolant level through the plastic, which is great because you shouldn’t be opening that reservoir too much. If the level is low (there should be an indicator line) then take your vehicle in to your shop to have them top it off.

Power steering fluid is next, and this is important! The reservoir is located at the base of your windshield in a small tank. The fluid makes it easier for you to steer your car, and without it, your steering mechanism won’t work properly. There are levels indicated on the tank, and the fluid should be between the minimum and maximum levels.

Then comes brake fluid, which is also in a tank marked with minimum and maximum lines. Keep an eye on this – if the level is chronically low (i.e. it keeps getting filled up and going down again quickly) then your brakes might be wearing down, so you need to get that checked out pretty quickly.

Finally, the windshield washer fluid! This one we all (should) know, but it’s in a big tank with a windshield diagram on the cap, and when we run out it’s impossible to clean the windshield. This is also an easy refill because all you need to do is stop at a gas station, pick up a new bottle, and fill ‘er up again.