Grand Prix Performance - Costa Mesa, CA

How often do you check your tire pressure? If you’re like the majority of drivers, it’s not nearly often enough. And that’s a problem because tires are one of your car’s most important safety devices—right after the brakes. So why is either too much or too little pressure a bad thing.

• Too much pressure reduces the footprint of the tire. This means that less of the tire hits the road while driving, which creates more bouncing and less traction, and can seriously impact stopping distances.

• Too little pressure means more of your tire touches the pavement, and that increases friction and uneven wearing. It also increases the chances of overheating and tread separation—both of which can lead to reduced control in braking and cornering.

  Always check your owner’s manual or the sticker on the door jam of the car for the recommended tire pressure: Don’t go by what’s marked on your tires. That number is the maximum allowable air pressure—and it can be a lot higher than what’s actually right for your vehicle.

  Some tips on maintaining tire pressure:

• Check pressure once a month, or seasonally at the very least.

• Always take a “cold” measurement. That means check tires after they’ve been sitting for a few hours. A “hot” reading after you’ve been driving is usually less accurate.

• Don’t go by looks. Your tires could be over or under inflated by a good ten pounds and still look normal to the eye.

• If you’re heading out on a long road trip, check the tire pressure in all tires, including your spare before you leave, just to play it safe.

  • Be particularly mindful of your tires in the winter. Tires can lose up to one pound of pressure per square inch every time the temperature drops 10 degrees.

  • If possible, use a digital gauge to check the pressure. Other types tend to be less accurate.

    Regularly checking your tire pressure can help increase your car’s safety and performance—and help you get the maximum amount of mileage out of your tires. Isn’t it worth taking the five minutes to check? 

 

Today we're going to go over a few MUST KNOW "How To's" for every savvy gal on the road.  As a matter of fact, this guide is good for anyone who has a set of wheels...

1.  How to Check the Oil

The first thing you need to know is where to find the oil. The cap on the oil tank may be a little tricky, it is more pull than twist, but you can get it off. It is also important to know which type of oil your car takes, and how to add some oil if you needed to do that on your own.

 

Also find out where the air filter is, if it is accessible. It is cheaper to change your own air filter before a serviced oil change than it is to purchase an air filter

 

2.  How to Check the Transmission Fluid

One important car maintenance task that women should definitely know how to do is to check their transmission fluid. Unless there is a problem, or your car is older, you may not actually have to ever add your own transmission fluid. It is still important to know where it is under the hood, and how to add transmission fluid. Also know which type of transmission fluid to use.

 

3. How to Check the Brake Fluid

Brake fluid is another one of those things we never think about. Have someone show you where it is and how to check it.

 

4. How to Change a Tire

Do you know how to change a tire? While you may never actually have to change your own tire, especially if you have Triple A or don't travel too far off the beaten path, it is still nice to know how to change a tire. Also find out the correct tire pressure for your tires, and how to check the pressure, and add air when needed.

Come by the shop and we'd be happy to show you how to do all of the above...
Knowing how to do basic tasks and car maintenance can make women feel more empowered, and secure when driving.

 

Ok, not every girl needs to know how to tune up her car's engine. Heck, some of us don't even know that we need to tune our car's engine. Nonetheless, here are three basic components of car maintenance that every girl SHOULD know before she hits the road.

This guide will help you know what things to keep an eye on. You won't be able to fix everything that can go wrong, but at least you'll know that something is wrong and will know when you need to seek help.  At Grand Prix, we're committed to being a place that a girl feels comfortable walking into.  You will be treated just as we would want our own mothers, sisters, daughters and wives to be treated- with respect!  Ok, now onto the good stuff...

1) First things first, a girl should know how to check her tire pressure. It's one of the easiest parts of car maintenance but can make a huge difference in how your car performs. Your tires will last longer, and function to their maximum potential, you will save gas and therefore help the environment, you will have less wear and tear on your engine (saving you money long term) and just be all around safer if your tires are aired up correctly.  Believe me; no girl wants to experience a tire blow out on a major interstate just because she drove on over or under inflated tires.

For a few dollars you can buy a basic tire pressure gauge.  Once you have your tire gauge in hand, unscrew the valve stem cap on your tire (it's the little short thing that sticks out by the wheel). Now press the end of the gauge over the end of your valve stem. As you do, you'll hear a little air escaping the tire. It's ok as long as you move quickly. When you have the gauge positioned right, the stick inside it will pop out indicating your tire pressure. The last number visible (the one closest to being hidden) is your pressure. Most car manufacturers have the recommended psi on the inside of the driver's side door jamb.  If you are having trouble, come by Grand Prix, and we'd be happy to do it for you.


2) Another important part of car maintenance every girl should know about is engine temperature. Some cars have a gauge in the dashboard. If your car does, look at it occasionally while you're driving around. Now you'll have an idea what the gauge normally shows. If it goes a lot closer to the hot side than normal, give us a call or just come by the shop so we can take a look for you.

If you don't have that temperature gauge, don't panic. Some cars have a light in the dash that only lights up when the temperature has gone too high. If that light comes on and doesn't turn off, you'll know that it's time to look for help. Don't drive an overheated car. It can cause expensive damage. Under no circumstance, should you raise the hood on a car that has overheated and has steam pouring out of it! That's just asking to get burned.

3) Finally, this would be a very sorry guide to car maintenance if we didn't tell you that every girl should know to take care of her normally scheduled car maintenance. That means, every 5,000 miles or so (every car is different so check your owner’s manual and follow the manufacturer’s recommendation), you should plan on taking your car in for an oil change.  Did you know that we can do that for you at Grand Prix?  Anywho...Once you're in the shop, we can do a once over to make sure everything is in tip-top shape.

Following this guide won't guarantee that nothing ever goes wrong with your car. No one can make that promise. Taking care of these basic car maintenance issues will, however, go a long way towards guarding against surprise breakdowns. And every girl likes that!

Stay tuned for more helpful tips...

Getting your car serviced regularly is one of the most important things you can do to minimize emissions and maximize fuel efficiency.

Regular service can spot lots of problems that reduce gas mileage and increase pollution, such as a broken thermostat, low transmission fluid, sticky brake calipers--or even something as simple as a dirty air filter.

If you can't remember when the last time was you had your car serviced, take it in. In extreme situations, you might increase your mileage by up to 10 percent. So what? Well, if you drove 20,000 miles a year, you would save $145--enough to cover the cost of the service and then some!

As you may have heard, there is a lot of controversy over Obama's statement regarding conserving energy as it relates to tire pressure.

So we asked the question, "Does maintaining proper tire pressure mean better gas mileage?"  Well, according to Time Magazine the answer is yes!  "...efficiency experts say that keeping tires inflated can improve gas mileage 3%, and regular maintenance can add another 4%." 

So, that being said, we here at Grand Prix Performance recommend that in order to maximize fuel and vehicle efficiency, our customers follow a regular tire and vehicle maintenance schedule.  It's easy!  We promise!  And you make it happen by doing simple things like:
 
Rotating your tires regularly (which we do free for our customers)
Checking your tire pressure frequently (we can help you with that, just remember to do it when the tires are cold)
Getting oil changes when needed
And overall just staying on top of your vehicle's maintenance needs (when the check engine light comes on, it's time to check the engine)

By following these easy-to-do suggestions, you can ensure that your vehicle is running in the most efficient way.  We want our customers to get the best value for their hard-earned dollars.  If you maintain your tires properly, your tires will wear more evenly and therefore last longer.  What that translates to is more bang for your buck!  You are also helping to generate less waste (even though we recycle tires), and you are using less energy as you are using less gas when your tires are in good shape.  So, you can essentially save yourself some money and help the environment while you're at it!  Now, that's an easy way to be green, isn't it?