Summer Time For You & Your Truck

Summer has finally arrived!  Hopefully for most of you, it will be more play than work.  However, whilst it might be all summer rays and lounging at the cottage for you, have you ever stopped and wonder about the effect summertime has on your truck?  If you are like me, the answer would be - No.  

When Ram released the official 2013 Ram Truck Super Bowl commercial - "Farmer", it highlighted all of the work that both farmers and Rams really do.  To see the commercial, click the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMpZ0TGjbWE

 While most of us do not work on a farm, we do put our trucks to the test when summer rolls around.  Whether it may be towing a trailer to the family camp site, or towing your fishing boat out to the lake, summer means work for your truck.

Due to the fact that more demand is put on your truck, proper summer maintenance curtailed to your truck should always be a priority.  
Here are some of Peter Lafrance's tips for proper summer maintenance of your truck:

• Keep your engine oil at the proper level.  If the oil is left too low, it will cause the oil to oxidize, which in turn will put more wear on your truck's engine.
• Stop idling!  Although people believe that idling will allow for your vehicle's engine to cool down, idling will also burn more fuel and in turn, will burn a hole in your pocket.
• For those of you (like me!) who love to add accessories to your truck, do not add anything that will reduce air flow through the grill.
• Ask your service adviser to make sure your air filter is clean.  If it isn't, have it replaced.  It will not only improve your engine's performance, but will also save you money on fuel.
• Ask your service adviser to check your tire pressure.  Tires that are both over or under inflated can pose a serious risk.  Please remember to check your trailer's tires as well!

For those of you planning on doing any travelling this weekend, or at any point during the summer season, we ask that you put these tips into practice to make sure that your summer travel plans remain what they should be: carefree and worry free time spent with loved ones.

• Buckle Up!: It should be like second nature to put your seat belt on once you get into a vehicle.  However, a reminder never hurt, so please make sure that all passengers, including those in car seats are safely buckled up.  It is the quickest and easiest way to reduce the risk of injury in case of an accident.
• Don't Over Pack: We know that camping trips require a lot of supplies.  Put please, when packing your vehicle up, make sure that your view of all angles of the road are left visible at all times.  
• Watch Out For Others: With the warm weather comes the need for drivers to share the roads with cyclists and motorcyclists.  Children playing outside, roller bladders and pedestrians are also out in full force and drivers need to pay attention.  
• Arrive Alive: Summer brings with it many family get togethers, nights spent on friend's patios and poolside weekends.  If your planned activity is going to involve enjoying an alcoholic beverage, please make sure you have made arrangements for a designated driver to bring you home.  
• Construction Season: Everyone knows that summer is construction season.  While this may cause traffic for commuters, please keep in mind that construction workers on exposed on the roads and to be weary of them.

On behalf of the entire Southbank Family, we wish you a safe and happy summer!  

And do not forget your sunscreen!

Peter's Top 10 Summer Vehicle Maintenance Tips

The summer weather has finally come to Ottawa!  That means, patio season has arrived, time spent by the pool and Sens playoff hockey!  What summer time also means is, it is time to prep your vehicle for the gruelling temperatures that Ottawa can climb to during this beloved time. 

Peter Lafrance, Southbank Service Manager, has prepared his top ten list of recommended summer maintenance tips for your vehicle to follow before you hit the open road. Here they are:

1. Check your tires - Peter stresses that tires are one of the most overlooked parts of your vehicle.  Under or overinflated tires can pose a serious risk to you as driver, your passengers and fellow drivers on the road. 
2. Change your oil and oil filter - Peter recommends that you change your oil and oil filter every 5000kms.  The oil in your vehicle should appear to be a brownish yellow colour on the dipstick if it is clean.  If the oil is dark, with dirt and grime in it, Peter says it is definitely time for an oil change.  
3. De-Winterize your vehicle - Peter says first thing is first - remove your winter tires!  Second, book a detailing appointment with Southbank to make sure your vehicle is properly cleaned, including the very crucial area of the undercarriage of the vehicle.  Due to Ottawa's horrible winter season, the gunk, grime and salt of old man winter can get stuck in your under carriage and will eat away at the metal.  
4. Maintain the hoses and belts of your vehicle - Hoses and belts are crucial components to your vehicle.  If your vehicle's belts snap or its hoses crack, your radiator will soon over heat and that will mean that you will be stranded on the side of the road.
5. Change your vehicle's air filter - Peter says if you are looking for a quick way to increase your gas mileage, change your filter.  This can easily improve your gas mileage as much as ten percent.  Debris, salt and gravel from winter driving can become lodged in the filter, causing it to become inefficient, so if you are planning a road trip, make sure you check your filter.
   
6. Check your wind shield wipers - During the winter, your wind shield wipers battle snow, ice, freezing temperatures and salt.  Although they can come out of the winter season intact, they may be in bad shape.  Freezing temperatures can cause them to crack and the rubber to tear, making it impossible to protect you from those summer showers.  Peter says it is always a smart decision to change your wind shield wipers, as it is a cost effective way to enhance the safety of your vehicle. 
7. Maintain your brakes - Peter states that because of the huge importance brakes play to the safety of you and your passengers whilst in your vehicle, it is imperative that you regularly maintain them.  If your brakes are too soft, or too resistant, or creating a loud screeching noise, Peter says it is time for a check up.  
8. Check your coolant and radiator - Peter recommends that if you have not had your radiator flushed and new coolant added to your vehicle recently, this is time.  While we sit in our vehicles in the heat, during the endless Ottawa traffic that we all know and love, pressure is being put on our vehicle's radiator to maintain its optimal temperature.  By flushing the radiator and adding new coolant, Peter says you are reducing the strain the heat is putting on your vehicle.
   
9. Maintain your vehicle's air conditioning - It's a hot summer day and you and your loved ones have hit the road for a mini summer vacation.  Two hours in and your air conditioning stops working, leaving you exposed to the unbearable heat.  Peter recommends that if your vehicle is having a difficult maintaining a cool temperature, bring it in to Southbank to have us look at it, just to make sure you will not be left stuck in the heat.
10. Drive Safe! - Peter says that the most important thing to remember about your vehicle, whether it be in the summer or winter months is to drive safe.  Always maintain your vehicle, make sure all passengers wear their seatbelts and if you are planning on attending a summer get together, make sure you have a designated driver.  

From Peter Lafrance and the rest of the Southbank Family, we wish you and your loved ones a very happy summer season.  Drive safe and have fun!