Rusty Eck Ford Omaha

You have probably heard a number of auto maintenance tips over the years and wondered if they were really helpful. Many auto maintenance tips for your Ford vehicles have good intentions, but they are not always based in truth. Here are a few auto maintenance myths that you may have heard along with the actual truths.

Change Your Oil Every 3,000 Miles
This maintenance tip may be true for older vehicles, but if you own one of the newer Ford models, the oil doesn’t need to be changed that often. Many newer models can go 7,500 miles or more between oil changes. Check your owner’s manual for more information.

Changing Air Filters at Every Oil Change
Most of today’s air filters can be cleaned by simply blowing compressed air on them. As a result, the air filter does not need to be changed at ever oil change. Try changing the air filter at every other oil change to reduce unnecessary costs.

Flush Your Cooling System Twice a Year
This advice used to be doled out because older cooling systems lost fluid over time and the coolant was not as durable as today’s coolant. However, new coolant can be effective up to two years and coolant systems no longer lose coolant like they used to. Flush your coolant every couple years rather than every six months for cost-efficient and effective maintenance.

Keeping an eye on your brakes is the best way to catch any problems with them before major repairs are needed. But do you know what to look for when visually inspecting your brakes? Here are some things to keep in mind so you can catch any brake problems before they become major problems.

Rotors
The rotors are the large round metal circles that you can usually see through the vehicle’s wheels. These should be smooth and shiny. If there are any grooves or other defects, have them replaced right away because they could cause more problems if left unrepaired. You can feel the rotors to check their smoothness, but make sure you have not been driving for a couple hours so they are not hot to the touch.

Brake Pads
These are the parts that rub along the rotors to stop the vehicle. If you notice any uneven wear on the brake pads or any cracks, have them replaced. This is a rather inexpensive repair job if you catch the problem before it goes too long. Also, if you hear a high-pitched squeak when stopping, that’s also a sign that your brake pads need replacing.

Drum Brakes
These types of brakes are common on the rear of the vehicle and they use the same concept as disc brakes. Inspect drum brakes with the same tips in mind.

If you have any questions or if your brakes need repairs, visit the service garage at your Omaha area Ford dealer for a complete checkup and repair service.

Taking care of your Ford cars and driving them correctly will help you get the most life out of them as possible. Engine performance is one of the most vital aspects of keeping your Ford vehicles running efficiently and smoothly. Here are some tips to help you keep your engine running at its best over the years.

Keep a log of maintenance and routine procedures. Keeping track of the maintenance on your Ford car or truck is ideal because it reminds you of how long it has been since anything has been done. If you do not have a written log, you may think you just had an oil change when, in fact, it was actually performed a year ago.

Use the correct motor oil. Oil is literally the lifeblood of your engine. It lubricates, cools, dampens and much more. That’s why it is so important to use the type recommended by your owner’s manual.

Use a high-quality fuel. Most gas stations these days have fuel options that contain cleaning agents. This can help clean any gunk or debris that has built up in your engine or any other parts of the fuel system. Fill up your Ford with this type of fuel every once in awhile to keep things running smooth and efficiently.

Do you want to get the most out of the tires on your Ford pickup truck? If so, it takes some care and maintenance. There are typically four things to remember about tire maintenance to keep them in tip-top shape. Here are those four main rules.

1. Check the air pressure. The air pressure in your Ford tires is extremely important. Too much air pressure and you could have a dangerous blowout and cause uneven wear. Insufficient pressure and your tires will wear on the sidewalls and you decrease your gas mileage by as much as five percent. Check the pressure about every 4 to 6 weeks to make sure they are at their proper PSI for optimum performance and durability.
2. Check the tread. The tire’s tread tells you about how much life you have left in your tires. The tread can also tell you if the tires are unbalanced or aligned improperly. Look for uneven treads to check for these problems. Also, place a penny upside-down into the tire’s tread. If you ca see all of Honest Abe’s head, it’s time to replace the tire.
3. Rotate the tires. Tire rotation keeps your tires wearing evenly and gets more life out of them. Before rotating your tires, however, check your Ford owner’s manual to see what pattern you should use for the best possible results.
4. Balance your tires. An unbalanced tire wears unevenly and causes unnecessary stress on the suspension system. If you feel a vibration when driving, you may need an alignment.

Are you in need of new tires for your Ford truck? If so, feel free to schedule a service appointment now at your Omaha Ford dealer. Whether you need a rotation, tire repair or brand new tires, we are here to service your needs.

The 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid comes with a number of great options and features that allow you to customize your car and make it your own. There are also some fun and practical accessories that you can add on if you want to customize it even further. Here are three of those accessories that make the 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid an ideal vehicle for you.

1. Keyless Entry Keypad – As long as you can remember a combination, you can forget about always searching for your keys to get into your 2010 Ford Fusion. With the keyless entry pad, you simply push a few numbers on the keypad device and you’re in!

2. Portable Navigation System – Choose from the NUVI 205 or the NUVI 265WT for all your navigation needs. These models are from Garmin, a recognized leader in the portable navigation industry. Whether you need turn-by-turn directions, restaurants in the area or a simple map of your destination, these devices will get you where you need to go in a stress-free way.

3. SmartAlert System – This helpful accessory keeps you connected in case of an emergency. If you get into a collision and you are unable to call emergency services on your cell phone, a simple push of a button connects you to a dispatcher. This system can also diagnose engine problems and much more. The peace of mind that the SmartAlert system offers is simply priceless.

These are just a few accessories you can add on to your 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid to make it even more spectacular than it already is. If these or other accessories are important to you, schedule a service appointment at your Omaha Ford dealer today!

When you take your Ford vehicle in for any kind of service, you should always keep records of the repairs, maintenance or work done. There are several reasons for keeping your Ford service records in a safe place. Here are a few of those reasons.

1. Service records help avoid confusion. You may think you remember exactly what you had done to your Ford vehicle four years ago, but memories change over time. If you have your service records from that repair or maintenance job, you can save yourself some frustration by knowing exactly what you had done.

2. Service records help you remember preventative maintenance procedures. Did you have the oil changed two months ago or four months ago? When was the last time you had the tires rotated? With your service records, you can avoid paying for a service too often and you can avoid going too long between maintenance procedures.

3. Service records help you get a better price when you sell your car. If you ever plan on selling your Ford and getting a new one, having your service records organized and handy will show potential buyers that you were serious about taking care of the vehicle over the years. As a result, you are more likely to get a price closer to your asking price.

Is your Ford about due for an oil change or some other maintenance procedure? If so, schedule a service appointment now at your Omaha Ford dealer. Just be sure to hang on to those records!

Your Ford vehicle relies on your tires to get down the road safely and efficiently. In addition, your tires say something about your vehicle, about how you care for it, and about where you take it. Keeping your tires and wheels clean is an important part of caring for your Ford vehicle.

You need to understand, from the outset, how the wheels on your Ford vehicle get dirty in the first place. The main source of dirt and grime on your wheels is brake dust. Brake pad adhesive is at the root of most of the wheel dirt problems. When that adhesive residue gets wet, it can etch your wheels. In addition, the metal filings of your brakes become hot during braking and may burn tiny holes in the finish of your wheels. You might also find small droplets that look like tar from the road on your wheels, which is probably re-polymerized adhesive.

It’s important that you pick the least possible aggressive way to clean the wheels on your Ford. Start off the cleaning process by using a detergent, and see if that will do the job or not. If not, move up to a tire cleaner. Try to choose one that isn’t heavily acidic, or you’ll possibly cause some damage to the wheel finish.

Need a new Ford to go with those clean tires? Come and see your Omaha Ford dealer today.

When you need to get the oil changed in your Ford vehicle, one of the options you’re going to be presented with is that of synthetic oil. You may not realize it, but synthetic oil has been in use for more than three decades, although it’s really only come into common use in the past 10 years.

Synthetic oil is different from regular motor oil in the way it is produced. Synthetic oil is produced in a lab; it’s man-made. Regular oil is produced in the ground, and refined.

Synthetic oil has an advantage over petroleum-based oil in that it doesn’t have the same degree of contaminants that can be found in crude oil. These contaminants, over time, can build up in one part of your engine and eventually reduce your engine’s life.

Using synthetic oil gives you other benefits, too. Synthetic oil is able to maintain its level of viscosity at much higher engine temps than traditional motor oil. What this means for you is that it’s longer before you need to have your oil changed.

If you’re due for an oil change, consider getting synthetic oil in order to extend the life of your engine and save you money in the long run. Talk to your Omaha Ford dealer about synthetic oil today.

The timing belt in your Ford vehicle is an extremely important component. The timing belt helps all of the different parts of your engine to work together at the right time. When your timing belt isn’t working correctly, your engine can malfunction. The results of a bad timing belt can be truly disastrous.

Your timing belt should be inspected around every 10,000 miles of driving. The timing belt is usually found underneath a plastic timing cover, located near the front part of your Ford vehicle’s engine.

You are looking for several different things when you are inspecting your timing belt. For example, you’re looking to see if there are any cracks in the timing belt. You might find a few tiny cracks, and that can be normal. But anything more than just a couple of tiny cracks indicates a problem with the belt.

You’re also going to take a look at the teeth on your timing belt. If any of the teeth are broken, It needs to be replaced right away.

If you don’t see cracks and the teeth in your timing belt are fine, the last thing you are going to do is try to twist the timing belt, to see how much play it has. If it twists more than half a turn, it may be time to replace it.

Get your Ford’s timing belt checked out today at your Omaha Ford dealer today.

Your brakes are, in many ways, some of the most important components to your Ford vehicle. You use your brakes everywhere you go, no matter what you’re doing. Brakes help keep you safe by letting you stop and avoid accidents, and they help you obey basic traffic laws. Taking good care of your Ford vehicle’s brakes is an important part of caring for your vehicle.

One of the things you need to do in order to properly care for your Ford’s brakes is to maintain your brake fluid level. Your ford vehicle has a reservoir of brake fluid that you need to check at least a couple of times a year.

If your brake fluid is low, you need to add some more. YOu will start by cleaning the reservoir. Brake fluid is especially prone to collecting foreign particles, so you want it to be as clean as it can.

You should check your brake fluid again within a couple of days of adding fluid. If the level has gone down, you may have a leak and need to have it repaired.

Your Omaha Ford dealer can check your brakes and fix any problem you might have. Get in to see them today
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