Did you know that it’s really important that you check your oil at least once a month? It is! Of course, you should get your oil changed as regularly as your dealer recommends, but the oil is one surefire way to make sure that your vehicle’s engine is in good shape and not having any trouble. If you’re unfamiliar with how to check your oil, we’ve put together this easy guide on how to do it. Now go outside and check your oil right now – well, right after you finish reading!

• Open the hood and prop it up.

• 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.

In this day and age, it seems like one of the most important things to consider when buying a new vehicle is the gas mileage. With good MPG’s, you not only save money but also the environment (especially when considering electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles). But how can you get good mileage in an older vehicle? Luckily, there are some tips and tricks that we know to help increase your MPG’s! Of course, you won’t go from getting 20 MPG to getting 70, but you know what I mean. These tips will hopefully help you see a 1-5 mile increase in your MPGs… so let us know how they work!

First of all, take your foot off the gas. Speeding is the number one reason you might be getting bad gas mileage! When driving on the highway, use cruise control as much as possible. It not only helps you maintain a safe and consistent rate of speed, but it eliminates the accidental acceleration and deceleration that can come from speeding and that make your MPGs go down.

When you’re stopped somewhere, don’t idle your vehicle. If you know you’re going to be stopping for more than a couple of minutes, turn your vehicle off. You’ll save gas and the environment.

If you’ve got a storage box or a bike rack on your roof, consider switching to something rear-mounted. The aerodynamic quality of your vehicle is what helps your mileage, and so when you decrease how much drag is affecting your vehicle you are also decreasing your fuel economy.

The final tip is to focus on driving safely. When drivers focus on the road, they are less likely to get into an accident or speed, which are both things that can make your mileage plummet. Try it out!

Holidays mean road trips, at least in my family, and that also means that I have to be ready to entertain the kids AND my husband while we’re making the four hour trip to his mom’s house. Four hours to a kid (yes, my husband is fully a child on the inside… like all men are) seems like a million years, so I have devised a failproof kit for road trips that has everything I need as a driver and everything the kids need for entertainment. I’ve added some things to it so it’s more universal, but this should serve you well for any road trip occasion this season (and, honestly, any time of year).

In The Car

• Blankets and pillows

• Music

• Folding chairs

• Reading material

• Camera

• Cash for toll roads

• GPS

• Binoculars

• Wet wipes

• Puzzle books and quiet toys for kids

• Pen, pencil, notepad

• Tissues, paper towels, toilet paper

• Small bags for garbage

Vehicle Emergency Kit

• Flashlight, roadside signal flares or reflective cones/warning signs

• First aid kit

• Booster cables, wrenches, screwdrivers (basic toolkit)

• Gallon jug of water

• Extra washer fluid, oil, transmission oil, brake fluid

• Rags, workshop towels, old blanket

• Gloves

• Spare belts (alternator, fan and air conditioner belts)

• Candle, warm clothes, heavy blanket (for winter travel)

• Duct tape and WD40

Have you ever stopped at the pump to fill up your car with gas and looked critically at the signs and thought to yourself – what do these numbers mean? What exactly is “unleaded”? Well, if you think you fit this description, thank goodness you have this blog! I am about to take you to school! But, like, gas school. Anyway, read on.

So, let’s tackle the number issue. The numbers denote the octane levels of the gasoline, which differ and which are meant for different types of engines. The higher the octane, the higher performance your engine needs to be to use that type of gas.

What is octane, you ask? Well, even if you didn’t ask I am about to lay down some knowledge for you. So, octane (full name: isooctane) is a hydrocarbon that’s left in the fuel from the oil gas is refined from. Typically, hydrocarbons have a tendency to spontaneously combust before they’re really supposed to. Isooctane doesn’t do that, which is why the higher the octane level the less likely your fuel is to combust before it’s supposed to. If the fuel does combust too soon, you can get a “knock” in your engine.

You now might be asking yourself if your engine needs this higher octane fuel. Check your owner’s manual! If you have a regular vehicle, it can probably go without the high octane stuff. If your engine is more high performance, it might need the high octane. Always check. And if you do have a normal vehicle, using that higher octane fuel won’t magically make your engine into a race car engine. It’ll just be a waste of your money.

Now on to the “leaded” vs “unleaded” conversation. The quick and dirty of it is that in the 1920s, scientists were trying to figure out how to provide fuel for the rapidly expanding car market at a low cost. Regular low cost fuel made the engines knock, but the higher octane stuff was more expensive. But some genius figured out that if tetraethyl lead was added to the fuel, the octane level would increase with barely any impact on the cost. Sure, it gave everyone lead poisoning, and it wasn’t outlawed fully until the 1990s, but eh. It’s fine. Right? Right?!??

If you’ve been in the market for a new car ever in your life, you know how important the test drive is when it comes to deciding if a car is right for you. But you get into that car and immediately all of your questions about it fly out of your head because you get distracted by the drive. It’s okay! We’ve all been there. That’s why we’ve put together this list of things to think about as you take that test drive – maybe even bring a friend with this list to prompt you as you drive! Anyway, here’s the list: check it out and let us know what you think!

As you drive, think about how the ride is. Is it bumpy, smooth, disconnected? Of course, you should take into account the type of vehicle you’re test driving, but is it what you expected? Does the vehicle meet or exceed those expectations?

How are the brakes? Are they touchy or easy? Do you feel like they could save your life? Try a lot of different types of braking. Slow, short, forceful, long… these are all types you should test to see how you feel. If you are test driving a hybrid, remember that they brake differently.

The acceleration should be what you want. Try getting up to highway speed (on the highway, of course!) and see how long the vehicle takes to get there. Can you get up a hill easily?

How are the steering and handling? Can you turn on a dime or does it feel like you’re driving a barge? Basically, think about what you want in a car, and think about how you drive – will the vehicle drive that way for you?

How is it inside the cockpit? Can you see out of all the windows, mirrors, and are there many blind spots? Is it noisy? Think about what you want in a vehicle – don’t be blinded by how much you think you like a vehicle aesthetically if it’s not right for you in every other respect.

Remember that if you have a question about a vehicle or want to test drive more than one (which you should be doing!) the folks here at King Kia are more than happy to help!

Do you ever find yourself getting frustrated in the parking lot? That just means that your experience is missing something. Like the Salt Bae and his spice, the parking lot just needs a sprinkle of politeness. Keep reading to find out some of the essential parking lot etiquette tips!

One of the most obvious things is to make sure you’re taking up only one space. Taking up more than one space is just plain rude! If your car has the world’s most amazing paint job, or if it’s too wide to fit comfortably in one spot, park further out instead of trying to find a place closer to the store. Walking is good for you, anyway.

While we’re on the subject, don’t walk down the middle of the lane when you’re a pedestrian. Always watch for cars, make sure you stay in the crosswalk, and stick to one side of the road or another. Walking down the middle is a surefire way to get someone in a 2,000-pound bullet angry at you, which is never a good thing.

Take turns when it comes to finding a parking spot. Stealing spots is SUPER rude and can lead to accidents. Be patient. Another spot will be open.

Park straight in the parking space. This is related to the first tip we shared here about not taking up more than one parking space. If you’re parked too close to one side of the space, or if you’re parked off-kilter, that can force someone else to need to find another space when the one next to your car WOULD have been just fine… if they’d been able to open their door. On that same note, don’t park too close to another car that’s already parked. You can risk damaging their car, and also trapping them outside of their car until you leave.

Basically, just be polite. Use common courtesy. There you go!

Are your headlights busted? If the reason they’re dead isn’t that they are missing from your car or otherwise broken due to physical damage, keep reading for some great fixes for your dead headlights!

If only one headlight is broken…..
– You probably have a burnt out bulb that needs to be replaced.

If both headlights are broken…..
– If your headlights died at the same time as each other, that’s super unusual. Check your battery.
– Have your dealer look into your fuses/relays/modules, because that could be part of the problem.
– Your wiring could also be shot, so ask your shop to look at that as well.

Your high beams or low beams don’t work…..
– It’s probably the bulb.
– Well, that or a relay, if only one or the other works. Again, have your dealer take a look under the hood.

Your headlights are just dim…..
– Clean your headlights, silly! If that doesn’t help, look into reconditioning kits. Your dealer is a great source of information on this type of thing.
– It could also be down to a charging system issue, if reconditioning and cleaning didn’t do anything about the dimness (or if it was very clearly that the bulb itself was dim). Check it out with your dealer.

When we’re on the road, one of the most important tools that we have at our disposal as drivers is our turn signal. Luckily, we have two of them! The only problem is that we are generally really bad at using our turn signals, and then when we see other people using them improperly (or not using them at all) we tend to get a little irate. So, this blog today is dedicated to why we tend to not use our turn signals, and why we are WRONG and should be ashamed of ourselves, and then correct our behavior.

So, some people don’t use their signals when they’re making a right turn because it’s just a right turn. False! No turn is ever “just” a turn! You should be using your turn signals no matter what… because you’re making a turn. That’s what they’re for. Come on, people!

Another reason we might not use our signals is that there’s nobody around. Sure, that’s a somewhat valid argument, but when you don’t use your signals you create habits for yourself. And those habits can carry over into times when you ARE around other people, and then it’s super dangerous to not be using your signals.

The thing about turn signals is that they are our primary way of communicating with other drivers on the road, and when you don’t use them you are not only endangering yourself but the other drivers that you are sharing the road with. So, moral of the story, use your turn signals! And if you’re the type of person who prefers videos, check out this one on using your signals!

Looking for the perfect fall playlist? Well, we’ve got the answer for you! Of course, these are pretty largely driving-themed, so you might want to make sure that you’re in the car (may we suggest a Kia from King Kia?) to listen to this beauty. We recommend a nice fall drive to a park or historic site! Check out our recommendations!

Cake, “The Distance”

Willie Nelson, “On the Road Again”

Prince, “Little Red Corvette”

Matt & Kim, “Daylight”

Bruce Springsteen, “Born to Run”

Allman Brothers Band, “Midnight Rider”

Grateful Dead, “Truckin”

Sufjan Stevens, “Chicago”

Ray Charles, “Hit The Road Jack”

Stone Temple Pilots, “Interstate Love Song”

The Beatles, “Ticket to Ride”

Smashing Pumpkins, “1979”

Albert Hammond, Jr., “101”

James Taylor, “Carolina In My Mind”
Tom Petty, “Runnin’ Down A Dream”

Winter is coming… and even though we’re in Maryland, where winter is just a chill in the air at the mildest and a little nippy at the worst, we should still think about winterizing our cars in preparation for the season. Anything can happen, and you don’t want to be that one person stuck in the freak storm without preparation. So, check out our tips for winterizing your car, no matter where you live!

1. Make sure your battery is in fighting form. This entails having your mechanic check it out, testing it yourself, or replacing it if you’re due.

2. Change out your wiper blades and stock up on wiper fluid with antifreeze. Make sure you have the all-season wipers on before the winter actually starts!

3. Consider snow tires if you’re concerned about slipping and sliding in colder temperatures. Otherwise, check out snow chains or other traction devices.

4. Be extra vigilant about your tire pressure. This not only helps you get better gas mileage, but it helps your vehicle with traction.

5. If you have four-wheel drive, make sure it’s in working order. Again, talk to your mechanic about checking this out.

6. Make sure you have an emergency kit in your car and that it’s fully stocked and ready to go. You should also keep a couple of blankets in your car, just in case you need them for any reason.

7. Have your mechanic check your oil viscosity and the belts and hoses inside your engine. If something breaks, you’re not going to want to fix it in the winter. That’s just a fact.

Winter driving can be hazardous wherever you are – make sure that you’re prepared no matter what! Come see us at King Kia and we’ll get you squared away for whatever’s in store.