Oil Change
Get Your Oil Changed
Getting the oil changed regularly on your Ford Ranger is essential. This goes for any model of Ford vehicle that you may have. Because a vehicle is made up of so many different parts that need to be continually lubricated, fresh oil is a must. Without it, these critical components will dry up and not work properly. That can lead to potentially costly repairs much sooner than would have otherwise been necessary.
It is estimated that more than one out of five vehicles on the road today are either running low on or are using dirty oil, so it is important that you not become a part of that statistic.
Countryside Ford has a service center that you can count on to change your oil with each service. Freshly changed oil will help to cool the important parts of your engine. This is important because the constant friction that occurs in the engine while you are driving leads to an extremely hot environment. Having your oil changed regularly will help prevent your engine from overheating.
Another benefit of having your oil changed on a consistent basis is that it will increase your fuel efficiency by as much as two percent. Not only will this lead to some savings at the gas pump, but it will help out the environment as well.
How often you get your oil changed depends on your driving habits. If you constantly take short trips around Watertown, WI, you might need to get your oil changed more frequently than if you regularly drive long distances. This is because the oil does not have enough time to do its work if you are not driving very far. Regardless, ask Countryside Ford and we can advise you as to when your next oil change should be.
Battery Service
Have Your Battery Tested and Serviced
Nobody likes to be stranded on the side of the road. This is especially true when it is blazing hot outside. One way to help make sure that this does not happen is to have your battery tested and serviced by one of our certified technicians at least twice a year.
Keep in mind that your car battery is called upon to perform a critical service. Just like most components, it can be adversely impacted by extreme temperatures. Before a change in season, it is helpful to have the battery in your Ford Escape checked out by our service department.
Servicing your battery should be a part of your routine maintenance schedule. You should also contact Countryside Ford if you notice that your car is having more difficulty starting than normal. This could be the sign of a weak battery and it needs to be taken care of in order to keep it from dying on you altogether. In many cases, a simple recharge is all that is needed. In other cases, it might be discovered that you are just a few startups away from having a dead battery. In that case, we will recommend a replacement right away.
Brake Service
Get Your Brakes Serviced
No matter what type of Ford we drive, whether an F-150 or Escape, we all rely on our brakes every time we drive. This is the one component of your vehicle that you call upon a lot, yet pay very little attention to. When you are counting on your brakes to stop a multi-ton vehicle on a dime, you will want to make sure that they are properly serviced by a certified technician.
Keep in mind that your brakes will not last forever. How long they do last for you will typically depend on your driving habits and how often you have them checked out and serviced. When you make a brake service appointment at Countryside Ford, you can count on a certified technician to clean and lubricate all of the brake pads and make sure that everything is functioning properly.
Depending on a variety of factors, you should not have to replace your brakes until you have driven between 30,000 and 70,000 miles. Between that time, proper servicing should keep you in great shape for any trip that you take.
It is recommended that you have your brakes serviced when you make an appointment for routine maintenance every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. At the same time, your brakes may tell when you need to have them checked out. If you notice a loud squeaking sound when you press on the brake pedal, that is one indicator. If your Ford just seems to be taking longer to stop than normal, then you will want to stop by Countryside Ford and have us take a look at it as well. It is always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to your brakes.
Alignment Service
Make Sure Your Tires Are Properly Aligned
Your Ford Fusion was made for driving. You probably take it on road trips, depend on it for work, and use it to comfortably transport the kids to all of their various activities. For all of this driving, you can imagine just how much you depend on your tires. While a good set of tires can last you for many thousands of miles, even when driving your Ford Super Duty over the toughest terrain possible, you can extend that life further by properly taking care of them.
You may not be aware of this, but tires wear unevenly as they are being driven. This often depends on the make and model of Ford that you are driving. For front-wheel drive vehicles, the tread on your front tires will wear out more quickly than those on the rear.
This is why you will want to have your tires rotated every 6,000 miles or so. This will help spread out the tread wear so you do not encounter one or two tires needing to be replaced before the others. When averaged out, this will save you many miles and a lot of money.
It is also important to have our service department align your tires from time to time. This helps makes sure that there is an even weight distribution on all of your tires. If you notice the vehicle swaying to one side or another, that is an indication that you need to align your tires. Again, our certified technicians will be able to do that when you make an appointment.