Blog

If you’re interested in getting more involved in what’s happening under the hood of your vehicle, a great place to start is definitely the various fluids that call your engine bay home. There are five that we’ll cover in this blog today, but arguably these are the five that you really, really should know. So, without further ado, here are the FIVE FLUIDS OF DESTINY, or even just the five you should know. First, you have your oil. Without oil in your engine - or even sufficient oil - your engine will be running VERY dry and without the cooling and lubricating effects of the oil, your engine might even seize and weld itself together, effectively turning it into a block of metal that is shaped like an engine. To make sure you’re taking care of your oil, check it at least once a month and get regular oil changes. Second is the coolant. This does pretty much what it says on the tin, and cools your engine and radiator so they don’t overheat. The reservoir for this fluid is located near the radiator and is a clear opaque plastic container. You can see the coolant level through the plastic, which is good because the more the reservoir can stay closed, the better. If the level is low, take your vehicle to us so that we can top off that coolant. Next is brake fluid, which is also in a tank marked with minimum and maximum lines. Make sure the level of this fluid is good because if it’s chronically low your brakes might be wearing down. Regardless, if the fluid level is low you should bring your vehicle in for a brake fluid top-up. Power steering fluid is number four. The reservoir for this fluid is located at the base of your windshield and is a small tank (opaque, so you can see the level). This fluid makes steering your car easy, and without it, your steering mechanism will not operate properly. Make sure the fluid is always between the minimum and maximum levels indicated on the tank. Finally, the fifth fluid - your washer fluid! This one basically everyone knows. If you want to find the tank, look for a large cap with a windshield diagram on it. Pop that open and fill it with fluid that you can buy at basically any gas station. Bam, you did it! Make sure you always have fluid in there, though, because it sucks to get stranded with a dirty windshield and no way to clean it Service Your Vehicle For Less!

Are you a hands-on kind of person? Maybe you like popping open the hood of your Chevrolet and getting a little grease on your hands. Yet, you may not know how exactly to change the battery under the hood of your precious Chevrolet. If so, this week’s blog is one that is perfect for you! This week, we have come up with a guide on how to change the battery in your vehicle. Take a look below and give it a go when you feel confident and your Chevrolet is begging for a new life, battery we mean! Park your vehicle on a flat, leveled surface and give your vehicle’s engine ample time to cool down. Pop open the hood, locate the battery, and decipher the positive cable from the negative one. The positive cable often has a plus sign and usually is red, the negative will have a negative sign and is usually black. Disconnect the negative terminal first, loosen the bolt and remove the cable from the port, push toward off to the side. Repeat this step for the positive port. ALWAYS disconnect the negative terminal first because you can end up shorting your circuit if you disconnect the positive cable first. Once the cables have been disconnected, unclamp the battery. Now, you can remove your battery from the holding tray; be careful, can be heavy and difficult to lift. Clean off the terminals and the new battery before placing it back into the battery tray. Use a battery-cleaning solution and a wire brush to clean the terminals. If there is any excessive corrosion to the clamps, consider replacing them. Let everything dry completely before re-inserting the new battery back into your vehicle. Once the battery is back in the tray, secure it once again with the clamp we removed prior. Reconnect the positive terminal first and do the same with the negative - tighten all clamps with a wrench to secure that you have a strong connection. To avoid corrosion, apply an anti-corrosion solution to each of the terminals. Close the hood and try to start your car - if it starts up, you are good to go. If your vehicle doesn't start, check the connections and ensure your battery it tightly secured. If you are still having problems, contact our service department. If you’re unsure if your battery is still in good standing, give us a call to schedule a service appointment for one of our mechanics to test your battery. You can also ask to test your battery when you have your oil changed. This is a proactive way to know where the life of your battery may be. New Chevy + New Battery = Happy You

Did you know that your vehicle’s radiator cools your engine and in order to function during the day-to-day drives it needs water and coolant? We sure hope so! If not, no worries. We are here to share some car knowledge and hopefully get you comfortable with what is under your car’s hood! This week we have a DIY guide to changing your vehicle’s coolant - check it out below! It is a good idea to do this before you have gone anywhere for the day to ensure a cool engine and radiator to avoid burning yourself. If not, give your vehicle ample time to cool down. Also, it is important that you are parked on a flat surface. If you are parked on a hill or a slight slant, your coolant will not accurately read in the reservoir. Pop open the hood and find your coolant reservoir. Instead of opening up the cap, check to see where the liquid hits in the reservoir - you should see a “full” line. If your coolant hits below this line, add a 50/50 mix of water and coolant (antifreeze) until you reach the line. Certain coolants are premixed, check the bottle for more instructions. Tip! - Only in an emergency is it acceptable to add just water to your coolant system. Antifreeze contains protective anti-corrosion properties that most modern engines require. Warning! - DO NOT add coolant to a hot engine! Or open the cap, you run the risk of burning yourself or cracking your engine block. Coolant can be ejected, as well. Wait for the engine to cool completely. More tips: Coolant usually has a color to it, popular colors are green, red, blue, or yellow. If your coolant has particles floating around, looks rusty or is colorless - flush out your system and add new coolant. When checking coolant give your radiator hoses a look-over. They are large in size and go into the top and come out of the bottom of your radiator. If they are cracked, leaked, bulging, or squishy, replace them. If you notice an oily surface, bring your vehicle to our service department ASAP to check for an internal head gasket leak. Our Service Department Can Assist Further

Even though summer is winding down, there’s never a bad time to allergy-proof your car. For some folks, allergies are a year-round problem, and the inside of your car is no exception when it comes to places that harbor allergens and dust and all manner of things that could set someone off into a sneezing attack. So, for that, there’s allergy-proofing! This is a super easy thing to do that can save someone on tissues big-time. The most important thing you can do is to vacuum your car out. Thoroughly. Every surface, every vent, every crack, and crevice. This also has the added bonus of making your car smell better when you’re done. If you want to go further, you can also use an allergen-reducing spray (Febreeze has a good one) on all of the soft surfaces inside your vehicle. You can also check your cabin air filter. This guy is the intermediary between the air outside your car and the air that comes into the cabin through your vents. It’s pretty likely that the filter is gross and full of dirt and pollen. The good news is that these are generally really inexpensive and easy to replace. Check out a tutorial on YouTube if you’re more of a DIY type, or take your vehicle into your dealer (may we suggest Galles Chevrolet?) and we’ll take care of it for you. When you’re driving around, especially in spring and summer, you should try to not have the windows down as much as possible. This lets pollen-filled air directly into your vehicle, and then the pollen and dust settle inside your vehicle and can trigger allergies easily. Even when you’re parked, pollen and dust will stick to the outside of your vehicle - so you should get your car washed somewhat frequently to get all that pollen off. And even if your car does send someone into a fit of sneezing, after you’ve vacuumed and Febreezed and replaced your filter, you should keep tissues handy at all times! Save On Service This Month!

Do you know the basics of checking your oil? The answer should be yes… but if not, then we’ve got a guide for you. Our next question is: do you know how often you should be checking your oil? The answer to THAT one is “every month,” because you shouldn’t be waiting for oil changes to crack open the hood! Checking your oil at least once a month lets you get more in touch with your engine, your vehicle as a whole, and any problems that might be starting up in your engine that you might not have experienced the effects of yet. The oil in your engine is like blood in your veins. If there’s something wrong with it, you can almost guarantee that there’s an issue (or that there will soon be an issue) in your engine that needs to be addressed. Nip it in the bud! Check your oil often! Here’s how! Open the hood. Prop it so it stays open. Locate the oil dipstick next to the engine. It should have a yellow handle and/or be labeled. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it on a clean cloth or paper towel. Dip the stick all the way back in. Pull it out again and look at the oil level. If it’s in the middle of the hatched/indicated area, you’re good. More is better, less is okay, but if you’re lower than the area you need to get your oil topped up and have your system checked for leaks. Look at the oil quality and color. If there are a lot of particles or if the oil looks sludgy, you need to get it changed as soon as possible. Put the dipstick back in. Close your hood. Schedule Your Regular Oil Change Now

The most important thing to have if you’re going to drive? Your license! For a lot of people, the prospect of renewing your driver’s license can be a little intimidating. Nobody wants to deal with the DMV or have to make sense of the process because it’s just… well, it’s just a lot. Luckily for you, we’ve simplified it for you so that the process can be as stress-free as possible! First off, your license is valid for four or eight years, so that’s one less thing you have to worry about! You’ll even get a renewal reminder from the DMV telling you it’s almost time to renew (which you can do up to 90 days before it expires) so that you don’t have to remember and then worry about forgetting to do it. If you have had an expired license for over 5 years, then you will have to take the driver’s exam again. You can renew your license online if you’re eligible to do so, but you can also renew in person! To be eligible to renew online, you must: Be 18 to 75 years old. Have conducted your last renewal in person. Have a non-commercial driver's license. Have your Social Security number (SSN) on file with the NM Motor Vehicle Division. Not have any changes to your vision or medical condition since your last renewal. Not have any outstanding traffic tickets or arrest warrants. Have a driver's license that is expiring within 1 year or has been expired for less than 1 year. When you go online to renew, make sure that you have your NM license number, the last 4 digits of your social security number, payment for the renewal fee, and a printer to print your temporary license to use until your real one comes in the mail. If you're not eligible for online renewal, you'll need to visit your local New Mexico MVD office and: Make sure to have your current NM driver's license. Bring proof of your identity. Pay the appropriate fee. Take a vision exam. Pass both the written and driving tests, if applicable. Drive Away In A New Chevrolet!

Construction seems to be an inevitability whenever you’re driving anywhere, and I for one envy anyone who can drive more than half an hour without encountering a work zone on their way. When you drive through a work zone, you need to drive more safely than usual, because there’s a lot more at stake. Not only is the speed limit lower, but the road can be narrower or bumpier, and there are probably people on the highway. Here are our tips for driving safely in construction areas! Always expect the unexpected. Just because you are trying to be a safe driver doesn’t mean that everyone else is as well. This means that you need to follow the rules to the letter and not let anyone else’s driving distract you! Pay attention at all times. You’ll not only drive more safely, but you’ll actually see signs and flaggers the first time around and won’t be caught off guard by the work zone. If you do ignore a flagger, you can face the same fine you’d get for ignoring a sign. So pay attention! Merge as soon as you see that a lane is closed ahead. If you wait until the last minute, you can hold up traffic and make other people angry, as well as getting frustrated yourself. If there’s a reduced speed limit, start slowing down as soon as you see the signs. If you are going 60, you’re moving at about 88 feet per second. If there is a work zone in 1500 feet, then you will get there in about 17 seconds if you’re going 60. Slow down! Never tailgate to begin with, but when you’re going through a work zone you especially should not tailgate. Because everyone’s driving is unpredictable, you should keep your distance. Stay in the center of your lane at all times. This is part of paying attention, and it helps you make sure you don’t hit a barrier or anything else. I’ll just say it again, pay attention!!! The final thing is that the work zone is not over until the signs say it is. Even if you don’t see any work, don’t speed up until the signs say the work zone has ended. You can still get an expensive ticket! Stay Safe With Chevy Technology

With winter coming and the weather getting worse, now is the perfect time to make sure your windshield wipers are doing well and will be able to manage any weather that’s thrown at them. Keeping your windshield wipers in good shape also makes sure that your windshield stays free from scratches and damage from wipers that might be broken. Check out the ways to make sure your wipers are good to go below! Look at your blades for: Broken frames Metal corrosion Visible cracks, missing chunks, and rips in the rubber part of the wiper Make sure the wiper is flexible and doesn’t crack when you flex it Check for rounded edges on the rubber part - they should be crisp and square to work properly Things that can break down your wipers: Sun due to UV light and ozone Oil from other cars and the road, especially exhaust Sand, rocks, dust, and other road debris carried in the wind Acid rain and saltwater If your wiper does any of these things, it’s time for a change: Streaking, which is from a hard, cracked wiper. Make sure the streaks aren’t due to tree sap or something else caught between the blade and your windshield. Skipping, which comes from curvature that stems from lack of use Bent frames, which make your wipers virtually useless If you do find that it’s time for new wipers, stop into Galles Chevrolet and talk to some of our service professionals about which wipers are best for you! Get Your Whole Vehicle Serviced For Less

When you go to buy a new vehicle, the first thing you should always do is test drive everything you’re interested in. A test drive is not only free but the best way to find out if a vehicle is right for you. Sure, you might have fallen in love with a photo on the internet, but nothing compares to driving the real thing. Of course, you also need to know what to look for and think about when test driving, which unfortunately flies straight out of everyone’s mind the minute they turn the key in the ignition. Check out our list of things to ask yourself about your test drive, and maybe even bring a friend along to prompt you with this list! How does the ride feel? Is it smooth or bumpy? Do you feel like you are connected to the vehicle? Different vehicles handle the road differently, of course, but does this one meet your expectations? Make sure you test the brakes in every braking situation. Slow braking, fast braking, braking on a hill… if you can drive, you can brake. How do the brakes feel? Would you trust them with your life? Test the acceleration where it’s safe to do so. Do you get up to speed the way you want to? This is a very important part of a new vehicle for many people. Is the inside of the vehicle noisy? Do you get a lot of feedback from the road? Can you see clearly out of all the windows? Finally, how do the steering and handling hold up? Do you have the kind of control you want? How’s the turning radius? How does the vehicle deal with curved roads? Ask yourself these questions before making any decisions and you’ll be so much more likely to end up in the perfect vehicle! Test Drive Some Of Our Great Specials

We all know that gas prices have been rising lately and it’s getting more tedious to fill up the tank because of how much it costs. Even with the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the market, we’re still going to have to fill up eventually. Here are some tips on maximizing your vehicle’s fuel efficiency and making sure that you won’t have to fill up quite as often. Don’t speed. Speeding really decreases your gas mileage with the acceleration and deceleration that it involves. For every five miles per hour over 50 you go, you’re paying the equivalent of 10¢ to 20¢ more per gallon of gas. That can add up to a lot! Be a patient driver. When you drive more carefully, you save more gas! I know, it sounds crazy, but it’s true. Fast accelerations and braking a lot can lower your gas mileage by 15-30% on the highway and 10-40% in stop and go traffic. If you have a roof rack, consider ditching it in favor of a rear-mounted cargo box. The former increase drag and decrease how aerodynamic your vehicle is, which decreases your fuel efficiency. With a cargo box on the back (or rear-mounted bike rack, whatever floats your goats) your efficiency isn’t hit nearly as hard. Don’t idle by the curb. Turn your car off if you’re going to be stopping (except, of course, while you’re at a stoplight) because idling wastes about a quarter to a half a gallon of fuel per hour. That’s a lot! Make sure your car isn’t weighed down by a lot of stuff. Cleaning out your vehicle every so often can increase your MPG by about 1%. Seriously. Cruise control is your friend. Using cruise control eliminates accidental acceleration and braking that can happen when you’re driving on the highway and keeps you moving at a consistent rate of speed. Good stuff, right? Try using these tips when you’re driving and you should see an increase in your MPG’s. If you don’t go from 25 MPG to 70… well, you’re not gonna. That’s just not realistic. But you might go from 25 to 27, which, hey! That’s pretty good. Check Out Our Most Fuel Efficient Vehicles!

If you’ve ever gotten stuck in the mud, you know that it is almost impossible to get your car out of it. Of course, you’ll pretty much always get out of it, but if you want to expedite that process, there are some tools that you should have in your vehicle if you know that you’re going to be somewhere where you’re at risk of getting stuck in the mud. Check out our list of these tools! Shovel - you’ll need this to dig out your wheels, move mud aside, and free your car a little bit more than you’d be able to if you just had your hands! Pieces of old carpet, cardboard, or wood - to put in front of your tires to give them a little more traction and ability to climb out of the mud. Drive slowly over these pieces to give your tires a chance to grip onto them and get out properly. Plastic recovery tracks - this is only for the serious mud-lovers who also get stuck the most often. These will lift you right out of the muddy hole you’ve gotten yourself into, and can even be used as shovels. Tow strap - If you have a friend with you, they can use a tow strap on their vehicle to pull yours free. These don’t take up much space but are very useful! Winch - if you don’t have a friend, having a winch and tow straps (as well as a tree saver strap and snatch block) will help you get your car out of the mud on your own by using a tree, a rock, or something else. Just make sure you get a winch that can support the weight of your vehicle. Snow chains - Not just for snow! These can also help you get traction in mud. Make sure you put them on before you need them. While you think about this list, take a look at this video of someone’s really ingenious technique for getting out of the mud! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8ie05PybBI New Cars For Goin’ Muddin’

Football season is starting up and what better fall activity is there than tailgating? Whether you’re cheering for the Lobos, the Cowboys, or the Broncos, you’re going to need a tailgating kit in your car, right? Read on for our list of tailgating supplies you should have, and some other great tips for making your tailgates great all football season! Supplies you’ll need can conveniently be stored in a toolbox in your backseat or your truck bed, ready whenever you need ‘em. Spatulas Tongs can opener Toothpicks wooden skewers basting brush mini flashlight trash bags paper towels wet wipes hand sanitizer sunscreen poncho plastic zip bags Sharpie Masking tape your favorite condiments, spices, and seasonings You should also know how to pack a cooler as efficiently as possible, so on game-day, you can pack the most food and beverage possible to satisfy your friends and family. Put those cans of soda and water bottles (pre-chilled!) on the bottom of the cooler and throw a layer of ice on top, making sure that ice gets between the cans and bottles. Then put your food items, packed in watertight ziplock bags, on top of that bottom layer. Make sure the cooler is packed tightly so that no warm air gets in! If the weather is a little colder, you can also turn your cooler into a warming oven! Check it out here. A good idea is to bring thermoses full of hot soup or cider to keep your guests warm if it’s a chilly day. Here’s hoping your tailgate is great! Our favorite place to get ready for the big game is in the back of a Chevy pickup. Check out what we have in stock here at Galles Chevrolet! Go, team! Perfect Trucks For Perfect Tailgates