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The Mechanic's Corner

From car tips to fun trips, check out the latest news on our blog!

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Five Simple Car Tips for Graduates Heading Off to College

Sounthaly Outhavong June 5, 2016

Congratulations to all our Austin high school graduates and their parents! You’ve hit a major milestone, and now it’s time to start thinking about the next step to college. As you prepare over the following months, don’t forget about teaching your child some automotive basics that will keep them safely on the road in between trips back home.

Tire Pressure: Make sure your child has a good tire pressure gauge in the car at all times and knows how to use it. Even if the car has a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), teach your child to get in the habit of visually checking the tires every one to two weeks instead of relying on the TPMS only.

Fuel: Check your child’s vehicle owner’s manual to confirm what grade of fuel should be used in the car. A lot of people assume using the highest grade fuel will result in optimal engine performance, but that’s incorrect. Manufacturers will state in the owner’s manual which grade of fuel is best for a specific vehicle.

Engine Oil: If your child has never looked under the hood of the car, checking the engine oil is an easy way to start getting familiar with basic car care. Make sure to write down the grade of oil that is needed for the vehicle in the car manual and teach your child how to check the oil level. Even better, give a bottle of the recommended engine oil to your child to keep in case it needs to be topped off in between visits home.

Coolant: Another simple, automotive check under the hood is for the engine coolant. Identify for your child where the coolant recovery tank is and make sure the fluid level is always between the maximum and minimum level lines. A quick check every couple of weeks is ideal if your child is going to school in a hot climate like Texas.

Head and Tail Lights: Working headlights and taillights are easy to check and can keep your child safe on the road. Whenever they’re picking up a friend, suggest they ask the friend to take a quick trip around the car to make sure all lights are working properly. We’re sure the friend will appreciate the safety check as well.

For parents, when your college kids come home and you take their vehicle in for routine car care, consider asking the mechanic to do a quick inspection for any possible problems. You don’t always know the conditions the car has been through while your child has been away at school, so a quick check by a professional can help identify issues early.

 

The Auto Stoppe is a local, family-owned and operated business serving the greater Austin area since 1980. We’re a full-service, auto repair shop providing exceptional service on both domestic and foreign vehicles.

Tagstips, maintenance, young drivers, fuel, tires, oil, coolant, head and tail lights
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Archive

  • September 2016
    • Sep 20, 2016 Make Your Tires Last Longer Sep 20, 2016
    • Sep 5, 2016 Save Your Car Brake Life and Save Money Sep 5, 2016
  • August 2016
    • Aug 20, 2016 Wheel Alignments: Good for Your Car. Good for your Wallet. Aug 20, 2016
    • Aug 5, 2016 Hot Weather Tips – August is Hottest Month in Austin on Average Aug 5, 2016
  • July 2016
    • Jul 20, 2016 Apps for Your Summer Road Trip Jul 20, 2016
    • Jul 5, 2016 Keeping Cool in Your Car this Summer Jul 5, 2016
  • June 2016
    • Jun 20, 2016 Understanding Car Motor Oil Grade Jun 20, 2016
    • Jun 5, 2016 Five Simple Car Tips for Graduates Heading Off to College Jun 5, 2016
  • May 2016
    • May 20, 2016 Keeping your Engine Cooling System Cool in the Texas Heat May 20, 2016
    • May 6, 2016 Three Indicators Your Car Air Conditioner Needs Attention May 6, 2016
  • April 2016
    • Apr 20, 2016 Family-Friendly Texas Summer Events Apr 20, 2016
    • Apr 5, 2016 Keep Your Car Paint Clean of Bird Droppings Apr 5, 2016
  • March 2016
    • Mar 20, 2016 Why You Should Care about a Clean Engine Air Filter Mar 20, 2016
    • Mar 5, 2016 Spring Weather Driving Mar 5, 2016
  • February 2016
    • Feb 26, 2016 Simple DIY Brake Diagnostic Checks Feb 26, 2016
    • Feb 20, 2016 Fun Day Trips Austinites Can Drive to this Spring Feb 20, 2016
    • Feb 1, 2016 Using Technology in Your Car in Austin Feb 1, 2016
  • January 2016
    • Jan 26, 2016 Tune-Ups Today Jan 26, 2016
  • November 2015
    • Nov 27, 2015 Checklist for First Time Car Owners Nov 27, 2015
    • Nov 20, 2015 Great Apps for Fall Vacation Road Travel Pt. 2 Nov 20, 2015
    • Nov 13, 2015 Great Apps for Fall Vacation Road Travel Pt. 1 Nov 13, 2015
    • Nov 6, 2015 Five Things to Look for in a Good Mechanic Nov 6, 2015
  • July 2014
    • Jul 8, 2014 10 Fuel Saving Summer Tips Jul 8, 2014

The Auto Stoppe | 5201 Burnet Road  |  Austin, TX  78756  |  Phone: (512) 458-3126 | service@autostoppe.com
Mon- Fri: 7:30 a.m to 6:00 p.m | Sat: 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m | Closed on Sundays

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The Auto Stoppe

Complete Automotive Repair Services for Austin, TX

The Auto Stoppe in Austin, TX is a family owned and operated auto repair shop since 1980. Our ASE certified mechanics perform complete auto repair services including tires, brakes, air conditioners, suspension, alignments, tune-ups, electrical, computer diagnostics and more.