Getting ready to hit the road this summer is much more than just gassing up your Kia and packing your bag. In fact, you should service your vehicle right before your big road trip of each and every season. The summer season is known for making vehicles overheat leaving you and your passengers stranded on the side of the road. This week, we are here to help avoid that by giving you a few summer car care tips to keep you on the road and en route to your destination! Check them out and be sure to head over to see our team for a service appointment today. And don’t forget to head over to our service and parts offers page to score big on savings this month when you stop in to see our team for service! We look forward to working with you and your Kia. 

Keep your engine cool 

An overheated engine is very common in the hot, summer heat. But if you keep your coolant at the proper levels and periodically flush out your engine, chances of your engine overheating are slim! If you choose to top off your coolant yourself, be sure to let your vehicle cool down and NEVER open your radiator cap when the engine is hot! 

Make sure those fluids are at proper levels 

Most engine fluids lubricate and serve as a way to help carry heat away from critical components in order for them to cool off in hot temperatures. When you let your fluid levels drop, this cooling off effect is drastically reduced which makes overheating a real possibility. We recommend checking all of your vehicle fluids including motor oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and brake fluid periodically to ensure they are at their proper level. 

Maintain a comfortable driving environment 

When those temperatures start to ride, your air conditioning system becomes your best friend. Not only will the cooler temp keep your comfortable but it also increases your alertness and reduces fatigue. If your AC system isn’t working quite like it used to, it could mean that your refrigerant level is low or there is another underlying issue. We recommend stopping in to have your system checked over to diagnose any issues. 

Make sure your battery is prepared for high temps

Many people think battery issues only happen in the winter time but that’s not true. In fact, extreme temperatures have an impact on your battery, no matter if it is the heat or the cold. Heat and vibration are your battery’s worst enemy which will lead to an internal breakdown and eventual failure. So, make sure your battery is securely fastened in your vehicle, properly cleaned, and charged ready to go. 

Who doesn’t love a spontaneous road trip to fill the summer days? Everyone I hope. But if you’re not sure where to go this summer, let this week’s blog be your guide. We have listed out five fun and inexpensive road trip destinations that will help jump-start that summer fun without breaking the bank! Check them out below and be sure to avoid any roadblocks by stopping in to see us for a service appointment! Trust us, nothing is worse than blowing out a tire or being stranded on the side of the road because your ride overheated. So, let our technicians give your ride the green light to travel long distances! We hope to see you soon!

C & O Canal – Whether you are looking to bike, jog or just take a stroll, the historic C & O Canal is the perfect place to do it. Explore all that this 184-mile long trail has to offer because wherever you choose to explore, it’ll be a beautiful scenic route.

Swallow Falls State Park – If you’re looking for a quick little trip to see some beautiful scenery, Swallow Falls is the place for you! All of these sites are easily accessible so if you’re not in for a hike, no worries! These falls offer beautiful views that will blow you away without having to spend half the day hiking!

National Harbor – A popular place in the summer months, National Harbor is home to plenty of shopping, restaurants, and the Capital Wheel! Spend the day or the night – we promise you won’t regret spending your weekend here!

Catoctin Wildlife Preserve & Zoo – If you have smaller ones traveling with you, this might be at the top of your list! Check out the animals up close and take a safari ride that you won’t forget. Take the family and let them roam this remarkable zoo!

Maryland Vineyards – If you’re a lover of wine, there are dozens of vineyards to choose from across Maryland which several are open year-round! Enjoy the tastey wine paired with beautiful views that these vineyards have to offer. Just prepare to have a designated driver!

Remember all of those summer road trips that you’ve planned? Well, they’re creeping up and it’s time to get your vehicle ready and in check to hit the road this summer. Trust us, nothing is worse than being excited for your trip only to be stranded on the side of the road because you neglected to service your Kia! So, whether your service needs are minor like a filter replacement or something major like a power steering fluid service, we have the right tools and a trained team that will get your vehicle ready to hit the road without any roadblocks this summer. And, you’ll even save big bucks when you stop in to see us thanks to our service and parts offers that are listed out below for you. Take a look, choose which offer is best for you and your vehicle, and be sure to schedule your service appointment online today! Oh, and one more thing, head over to our specials page to claim your coupon by printing or sending it to your mobile device. Now, let’s get started, shall we?

June Service & Parts Offers:

Brake Fluid Service – $149.95*

Cabin Air Filter Replacement – $49.95*

Engine Air Filter Replacement – $39.95*

Air Conditioning Evaporator Service – $99.95*

The “Essentials” Specials – $59.95*

• Oil & Filter Change
• Tire Rotation
• Multipoint Inspection
• Exterior Car Wash

Complete Fuel Injection and Induction Cleaning – $299.95*

Power Steering Fluid Service – $129.95*

Coolant Flush – $159.95*

Buy 4 Tires Get $100 OFF*

*All offers expire 6/30/2019. See specials page for full details.

Summer is the perfect time to hit the road for a road trip. I mean, if you haven’t already planned a few, the time to plan is right now! But if you’re worried about having to stop and fill up the tank every few miles because your vehicle doesn’t get the best gas mileage, this week’s blog is calling your name! Whether your travels will take you far or you’re staying local, these tips will help you steer clear of the pump (of course not completely) and on the road for more miles! So, take a look at our tips below and get ready to hit the road this summer!

Fuel Economy Tips:

• Always stay on top of replacing or cleaning out your air filter.
• Plan your trips and be smart about mileage. Don’t make numerous, unnecessary trips.
• Cruise control will keep you from unnecessary acceleration.
• Choose a good set of wheels that won’t cost you dollars at the pump.
• Don’t overdo it with your vehicle’s A/C unit during the summer.
• Take it easy on your gas pedal, don’t accelerate forcefully.
• Fuel up with the proper recommended fuel type.
• Watch the weight & get rid of any excess weight in your vehicle.
• Inflate your tires to the proper PSI levels.
• Reduce drag.
• Keep your gas cap fully sealed and properly tightened.
• Choose the proper motor oil recommended by your vehicle manufacturer.
• Avoid any prolonged idling – just turn your vehicle off or get going.
• Aftermarket solutions can and will hurt your fuel economy. Forget about them!
• Always refuel your vehicle in the morning vs. the nighttime.

Well, are you ready to hit the road? We thought you might be! And, we have one more solution to improving your fuel economy – make the switch to a hybrid or electric vehicle! Whichever you might be looking to upgrade to, we have plenty waiting for you to choose from right here at King Kia! Come see our team and let’s hit the open road for a test drive! We hope to see you soon!

Listen up, I know you pull up to the pump not really paying attention and just fill up the tank. But do you know what those numbers and fuel levels actually mean? If you’re anything like me, the answer is HECK NO! So, this week I want to help you understand what octane is, what those numbers at the pump mean, and why you should be filling up with the appropriate fuel levels! Take a look at our guide below and if you’re unsure of which level you should be using, check your owner’s manual or give us a call today!

The real difference between fuel types:

• The most obvious difference between fuel types is the price point that comes along with them. When you pull up you’ll notice that “premium” fuel is more expensive and it’s a pretty obvious difference. In fact, premium fuel usually runs about 20 cents higher than regular fuel.
• In addition to those price tags, premium fuel has a higher octane level. The numbers you see, 92, 83 and 87, indicate how much octane is in the fuel. So in order to differentiate the octane levels, premium is a higher number and regular gas has a lower number.

What is octane?

Perfect question! Octane is exactly how much compression fuel can withstand before igniting inside your engine. A higher octane fuel will not pre-ignite or explode as quickly as lower octane gas. So, it’s important to fill up with the right fuel especially if your vehicle requires premium fuel. Why? Well, let us tell you….

Every Kia model and every other model on the road is designed to take in a specific type of fuel and while it may seem like a good idea to fill up on a lower level, it’s not. Doing so could leave you with a damaged engine and a hefty repair bill in the end. If your vehicle requires premium and you choose to fill up with lower levels, that combustion we talked about earlier, will occur faster. Which in turn, could lead to issues like your engine to make knocking noises, reducing your car’s power and fuel economy, and potentially causing engine damage. Again, that means a hefty repair bill will be coming your way!

What if your vehicle requires lower levels and you choose to fill up on premium? Well, I’m here to tell you not to waste those dollars! Filling up with a higher octane fuel doesn’t have any real negative effects but it also doesn’t have any positive benefits. It’s basically neutral – so just fill up with what you’re supposed to!

Servicing your vehicle is something that you should do routinely. And while I know that you probably don’t, this week I’m here to remind you that it’s something that you should start doing. Servicing your vehicle on a regular basis will help you stay off the side of the road and en route to your destination. So, why wouldn’t you stick to your plan of regularly servicing your ride? Perhaps it’s the cost? Well, if so, we’re here to help you out with that. With our May service and parts offers, you’ll be able to service your ride while keeping costs down and dollars in your pockets.

We encourage you to check out those offers below and choose which offer is just right for you and your Kia. Once you’ve decided which of our offers are just right, choose to either print your coupon or send it to your mobile device. Then, head over to our online scheduler to schedule a service appointment for your earliest convenience and stop in to see our team! And if you’re ready to upgrade your ride altogether, our team can help with that too!

Brake Fluid Service – $149.95*

Cabin Air Filter Replacement – $49.95*

Engine Air Filter Replacement – $39.95*

Air Conditioning Evaporator Service – $99.95*

The “Essentials” Specials – $59.95*

• Oil & Filter Change
• Tire Rotation
• Multipoint Inspection
• Exterior Car Wash

Complete Fuel Injection and Induction Cleaning – $299.95*

Power Steering Fluid Service – $129.95*

Coolant Flush – $159.95*

Buy 4 Tires Get $100 OFF*

*All offers expire 5/31/2019. See specials page for full details.

Goodbye April, hello May! We’re so happy that May is finally here and you might be wondering why. Well, May means that it’s getting closer and closer to summer! That means that you’re probably thinking about or already planning a summer road trip with your friends or family. While that’s exciting, you might be planning on driving and if your vehicle is old and banged up – you could be putting yourself and passengers at risk. So, what can we do about it? We can upgrade your ride! And this May, we want to help you upgrade for less.

Whether you are looking to pack everyone in plus your gear, our new offer on the Kia Sorento is probably the best choice for you! Or if you’re looking to get behind the wheel of something a little smaller yet sporty – the Optima special is the right choice for you! Either way, our team is dedicated to helping you get behind the wheel of your dream Kia. Come see us today!

2019 Kia Sorento L

• Buy for only $19,999*

2019 Kia Optima LX

• Buy for only $15,999*

Not sure if these models are for you? No worries – if you’re not ready to upgrade your ride or these are not the ones for you, we encourage you to check out our service and parts offers to help tune-up your current ride! Whether your service needs are small or large, we can help you get your vehicle in shape to take on whatever the road ahead has to bring! Give us a call today or schedule your appointment online today!

*All offers expire 5/31/2019. See specials page for full details.

May is a great month to get your vehicle into our shop for some routine maintenance. Whether your needs are small or large – we can help you complete any service or maintenance task right here at King Kia! But this week we want to discuss the importance of certain service check-ups that will keep you on your destined path and off the side of the road due to a breakdown. So, check out those spring service areas of focus below and be sure to schedule your service appointment online today! Whether you’re looking to dive deep into service or just take care of a few things, be sure to stop by our service specials page to help save you a few bucks when it comes to servicing your ride!

Spring Service Areas of Focus:

• Windshield wiper blades & frames
• Windshield wash fluid top-off
• Tire rotation and alignment
• Oil change
• Filter replacements
• Brake servicing
• Brake fluid top-off
• Fluid top-offs

Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it? All that is left to do is schedule your service appointment and stop by our dealership when it’s your time! We’re here to help get your ride in check for those upcoming road trips. Don’t get left on the side of the road – service your vehicle with King Kia today! We hope to see you soon!

Spring is in full bloom and pretty soon summer will be here and you know what that means – ROAD TRIPS! And whether your travels are taking you far from home or you’re traveling close to home, every road trip needs a list of games to keep everyone entertained and of course, their mind sharp as a tack! This week we are bringing you a list of our favorite road trip games that will help pass the time while keeping everyone from asking, “are we there, yet?” So, take a look at our guide below and be sure to pack up all the essentials that you’ll need along the way! And if a new Kia is something you’re ready to upgrade to, stop in to see our team! We are dedicated to finding you and your family the perfect sedan or SUV that fits your needs! We hope to see you soon!

I Spy:

• Everyone knows this one! Start with saying “I spy with my little eye….” and give a clue as to what you are looking at. Everyone takes a turn guessing at what you could be seeing, the person who guesses correctly gets to start the next round.

License Plate Map:

• Grab a clipboard, a color-less printed out copy of the U.S. map, and some crayons! When you see a license plate from a certain state, color it in! This will keep kids occupied for hours as they race to be the first one to get all 50 states!

Spot The Car:

• This is a great game for older children who can differentiate the difference between vehicle models. Instead of looking for different states like we did in the Licensee Plate Map game, you’re looking for different models. You can make a printable scavenger hunt list to check off when that model is found. The first one to check off all models wins!

The Alphabet Race:

• One adult picks a letter from A-Z and whoever spots that letter out the window first (billboard, cows, tires, for example) gets to go next. This game is truly endless and can help pass the time, especially with small children who are learning new items!

20 Questions:

• Another popular and easy game! Someone in the car thinks of a specific object and other passengers take turns guessing what the person, place or thing could be and can be answered with a simple yes or no. After every answer, the questioner gets one guess at what is being thought of. The first person to guess correctly wins and gets to start the next round!