Can you believe we’re already halfway through April?! It’s hard to believe and if you’ve yet to take your first road trip of the season because of fuel mileage issues, we’re here ready to rescue you and your Kia! This week, we have put together a helpful list of 10 fuel-saving tips that will help you get the most out of your vehicle and fuel tank this spring! We encourage you to check out all of those details below and when you’re ready, schedule your service appointment online today to get the A+ grade on your vehicle before hitting the road! We look forward to working with you and your Kia – see you soon! 

10 Fuel Saving Tips 

• Keep your tires properly inflated at correct PSI levels 
• Replace spark plugs early to save on fuel 
• Replace/ check your air and cabin filters each time you get an oil change
• Always ensure that your vehicle is properly aligned
• Avoid hard acceleration in stop-and-go situations
• Keep your speed close to 55 MPH on highways to maximize efficiency
• Keep an eye on warning lights on your dashboard and assess properly 
• Check for brake drag which can reduce your mileage 
• Replace a failing thermostat 
• Replace oxygen sensors before they go bad & cost you in fuel

Spring checking in – are you ready for an adventure? We thought so! And we’re ready to help you get ready for all of those springtime adventures. That all starts right here on our blog and this week we are discussing all things air filters. And if you haven’t swapped those babies out in a while, it’s definitely time to schedule an appointment with our team and hurry on by! We look forward to working with you and your Kia and we hope to see you soon for some air filter maintenance! 

The Purpose of Filters 

• The answer is pretty easy, your vehicle air filter keeps debris, dirt, leaves, and other particles out of your engine so that it can operate at peak efficiency. Filters are often composed of pleated paper or cardboard material and are either rectangular or cylinder in shape. Neglecting to change your air filters can lead to: 
  • Decreased engine power 
  • Poor acceleration
  • Poor engine health 
  • Higher RPMs leading to more wear on your engine

The Benefits of Changing Filters 

• It’s been known that when you change your air filter, your fuel mileage can increase upwards to 14% for more modern cars. Changing your filters can prolong the life of your vehicle since these trapped dirt, debris, and other particles can lead to costly repairs on your engine. Keep a close eye on your filters and consider changing them every time you have an oil change. 

How To Know When To Change 

• Filters should be changed around every 15,000 to 60,000 miles depending on the make of your vehicle. If you find yourself traveling dusty or dirty roads more often, your filters will likely need to be replaced more often. Keep an eye on these tops signs to ensure when to swap: 
  • Your vehicle is having issues with acceleration
  • Your RPMs are higher than normal
  • A visual inspection of your filter shows it to be dirty

We’re taking care of business this month at King Kia and by that we mean we’re making your car buying experience easier that ever before when you choose to shop with us! Below, we have five tips to help you be prepared for your visit and make things easy. We know spending excess amounts of time at the dealership is something everyone tries to avoid and with these tips, your wait time could be cut in half. Check out these details below and when you’re ready to talk further details and upgrade, hurry on by to see our team at King Kia! 

Get Pre-Approved: getting a pre-approved auto loan before stopping in to see our team will speed up the buying process and keep you from waiting long periods of time while we’re dealing with the bank. Also, we recommend getting pre-approved before even starting your vehicle search, so you will have a better idea of your budget and what types of models you can afford. 

Know The Value of Your Trade: planning to trade in your old vehicle? Do a little research before stopping in. Not only is this beneficial for you, knowing your vehicle’s trade value can help you negotiate the deal and in some situations, can get you a lower payment. There are many tools available to you to use for research and find your vehicle’s trade value. A trade appraisal will also work as a starting point when it comes time to discuss your trade. 

Personal Identification: the paperwork process can be a pain in the butt and we recommend bringing in the right items on the first purchase visit in order to ensure a quick, pain-free process. Be sure to bring in your driver’s license, proof of insurance, current registration and the title to your trade (if you are trading in a vehicle.) These are all necessary in order to get you out the door with your new car and if you end up forgetting any, the process can be held up. 

Review Your Deal: before you sign on the dotted line, you need to know what you are paying for, how much, and for how long. If you are going to be shelling out cash, you should know exactly what you are paying for. Don’t be afraid to ask questions before signing on the line and if you don’t understand something – it is your salesman’s job to explain all of those nitty-gritty details. Don’t be afraid to ask! 

Take a Test Drive: we sure hope no one would ever purchase a vehicle without taking a test drive but if that’s the case, let us recommend to take one! A test drive is the most important thing to do before buying. This is a big investment and if you are not 100 percent happy, it’ll be a waste of time and money on your end! Even if you have to test drive the vehicle a few times and ask a million questions, it is better that you get everything you want than just agreeing to something you think you will like.