Top 5 – Fusion Auto Finance

A woman wearing a medical facemask in her car during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Top 5 Quarantine Car Maintenance Tips

Blog, Car Maintenance, Top 5 / By Dylan Citron / May 19, 2020 / 2020, Blog, Car Maintenance, Top 5

TOP 5 QUARANTINE CAR MAINTENANCE TIPS

While the world stays at home during the COVID-19 crisis, it is still important that your car gets the care and attention it would normally receive. Lack of use can cause long-term damage, so here are the top five ways to keep your car running at peak performance:

1. Go for a Weekly Drive

Although there are not many places to go, a quick drive around the neighborhood is still beneficial to the health of your car. Weekly drives will help keep your battery charged and will prevent rust from building up on your brakes. Going for a ride around the block is also a great way to safely enjoy some time out of your house or apartment.

2. Maintain a Full Tank of Gas

Fill your tank! Now is a great time to fill your tank as prices continue drop. Not only will you save money, but you will also save your tank from accumulating condensation, which can negatively impact the longevity of your engine. Remember, a full tank a gas can turn into a liability if you let it set for too long. Make sure to follow tip number one to prevent your gas from oxidizing and going bad.

2. Maintain a Full Tank of Gas

3. Keep Your Maintenance Schedule Intact

Even though you are not putting as many miles on your car, keeping your maintenance schedule intact is a must. Regular oil changes are still recommended since oil will deteriorate if the car is idle for an extended period of time. Please reference your car’s owner’s manual for the recommended time between oil changes.

4. Check Your Tire Pressure

Tire pressure can still fluctuate whether you are driving your car or not. It is necessary to check your tire pressure regularly to ensure tires are properly inflated. A lack driving can cause tires to deflate, which impacts the safety and efficiency of your vehicle.

4. Check Your Tire Pressure

5. Wash Your Hands, Wash Your Car

On a nice day, spend some time outside and wash your car. Whether your car is being driven or just parked in the driveway, natural elements can still damage the exterior of the vehicle if not properly treated. Be sure to rid your car of any dirt, pollen and debris that has built up overtime. If your parked car is directly in the sun, consider parking it in the garage or buy a cover to preserve the paint.

Top 5 Winter Car Maintenance Tips

Blog, Car Maintenance, Top 5, Winter / By Dylan Citron / January 7, 2020 / 2020, Blog, Car Maintenance, Top 5, Winter

TOP 5 WINTER CAR MAINTENANCE TIPS

Even though the holidays are in the rear view mirror, winter is still going strong in the Northeast. With icy roads and dropping temperatures, keeping your car running at peak performance can be challenging. Cold weather can affect everything from the health of your tires to your fuel lines. As you keep your eyes on the road ahead towards warmer weather, make sure you don’t overlook these important winter car maintenance tips:

1. Check Your Tire Pressure

Weather can be a significant factor in the health of your tires, especially the cold winter temperatures. For every 10 degrees the temperature drops, tire air pressure falls one pound per square inch of pressure. Low tire pressure causes more wear and tear on the tires, ultimately lowering your fuel efficiency. Make sure to keep your tires at the recommended PSI, which can be referenced in your car’s owner manual.

2. Replace Any Worn Tires

The tread on your tires allow them to grip the road while driving. With slick and slippery road conditions during winter, it is crucial to replace any tires that lack sufficient tread. Replacing worn tires will maximize your car’s performance during these unpredictable winter road conditions, as well as improve the safety of the vehicle.

2. Replace Any Worn Tires

3. Monitor Your Heater and Defroster

Make sure that your car heater and defroster continue to be in working condition. As obvious as it may seem, monitoring these functions of your car will keep you safe while driving this winter. It is important to give your car time to warm up and completely defrost any ice that may be on your windshield and windows. A frozen windshield will obstruct your visibility, putting yourself and other drivers at risk.

4. Prevent Freezing of Fuel Lines and Engine’s Cooling System

It is important to monitor the amount of fuel and antifreeze that is in your car. Keeping your gasoline level steady will prevent any accumulated water from freezing inside the tank. Similarly, maintaining a proper amount of antifreeze will prevent the water in your engine’s cooling system from freezing and causing serious damage to your car.

4. Prevent Freezing of Fuel Lines and Engine’s Cooling System

5. Stock Your Car with the Essentials

Make sure your car is fully equipped for any winter weather. You should always have an ice scraper and snow brush available to completely clean off your car before you start driving. Also, regularly replace your windshield wipers to keep your windshield streak-free and improve visibility during any potential snowfall.

Top 5 Money-Saving Driving Tips

Blog, Top 5 / By Dylan Citron / July 24, 2019 / 2019, Blog, Top 5

TOP 5 MONEY-SAVING DRIVING TIPS

When purchasing or leasing a new vehicle, it is important to remember that a vehicle costs more than just the price tag on the window. Gas, insurance, and routine maintenance (i.e. oil changes) quickly add up and can consume a significant portion of your monthly budget. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2017 Consumer Expenditures study, transportation costs are the second highest expense for U.S. consumers, trailing only housing expenses. Vehicle expenses (not including the actual purchasing or leasing of the vehicle) cost consumers an average of $4,810 per year. Fortunately, there are ways to minimize driving expenses. Here are our top five money-saving driving tips:

1. Find the Cheapest Gas in Your Area

The purchase of gas tends to be very similar to the purchase of groceries: both are necessities and tend to be purchased on a weekly basis. However, the way consumers go about purchasing both is very different. Consumers research the dynamic pricing of groceries each week to learn which store is offering the best deals and sales, but rarely research which gas station has the lowest price. There are many apps, including GasBuddy, that allow you to instantly compare gas prices in your area in the palm of your hand. So next time before you fill up, make sure you are paying the lowest price for gas.

2. Avoid Idling

Even if you are paying the lowest price, there is no financial recovery for wasting gas. Idling, the act of leaving your engine running while the vehicle is parked, wastes about 1/5 to 7/10 of a gallon of gas per hour. Idling is also detrimental to your engine’s health, as well as to the environment. Idling cars produce as much pollution as moving cars, per the Environmental Defense Fund.

2. Avoid Idling

3. Don’t Speed or Slam on the Gas

Speed kills…your fuel efficiency. That’s right, speeding and rapidly accelerating do more damage than good when trying to save on your driving expenses. According the U.S. Department of Energy, both aggressive driving tactics can lower your gas mileage by up to 30% at highway speeds and 40% in stop-and-go traffic. Furthermore, gas mileage also decreases when your vehicle reaches speeds above 50 mph. Expect to burn an extra $0.19 per gallon of gas for every 5 mph you drive over 50 mph. From a cost-cutting and safety perspective, it’s better to ease into acceleration and stick to the posted speed limit.

4. Make Sure Your Tires are Properly Inflated

If you find yourself at the gas station more often than normal, it might be time to check your tire pressure. Low tire pressure can cause lower fuel efficiency, as well as extra wear and tear on your tires. Low tire pressure can result from cold weather, over inflation, slow leaking punctures, and osmosis (natural passing of air through the tire over time). Be sure to reference your car’s owner manual to ensure your tires are inflated to the recommended PSI. Also, be sure to inspect the tread of your tires to confirm that they are still in good shape.

4. Make Sure Your Tires are Properly Inflated

5. Don’t Overpay for Insurance

Like shopping for groceries and now gas, make sure you are not overpaying for car insurance. Shopping for the right policy might seem overwhelming at first, but resources like The Zebra allow you to compare quotes easily and efficiently. Be sure to also ask your insurance company about any potential discounts for organization affiliations, safe driving history, specific car features, and complete safety training.