What is Synthetic Oil and How Often Should I Change It?

Wellsville is in the midst of a challenging winter, leaving us to make the proper adjustments: heaters are cranked up, sidewalk salt is spread, and cold weather clothing has taken up their seasonal residency in your wardrobe. In the meantime, perhaps you've noticed your Chevy Bolt EUV isn't quite as spry as it was during the summer and fall. Though you should be commended for making the switch to electric, becoming an EV owner comes with its own, unique set of challenges. Given that conventional car batteries already face challenges in cold weather, it's not surprising that electric vehicles require some additional attention during the winter months. Your EV's range and performance may see a slight decrease until the temperature rises, but by following these helpful suggestions, you can confidently weather the season until it changes. Don’t Let Your Battery Dip Below 20% During the winter, EV owners may experience a 20-30% reduction in range due to lower battery performance and increased energy consumption. This is completely normal, as the lithium ions in electric batteries tend to slow down in colder temperatures. Ultimately, EV batteries aren't that different form the human body: they prefer warmer weather, with optimal temperatures of 59-95 degrees Fahrenheit. When winter arrives, it's important to take certain precautions. One of these is to always ensure that your battery doesn't fall below a 20% charge. Cold weather can significantly impact battery performance, making it risky to let the charge drop that low. Just like you would charge your phone or any other electronic device, remember to plug in your electric vehicle when it's not in use. Park Indoors When Possible If you've got a garage or storage unit, you should park your car inside during wintertime. But if you're stuck with street parking, try firing up the engine at least once daily instead of leaving it parked for extended periods. And when circumstances force you to leave it idle, ensure the battery has at least a 70% charge to prevent any degradation. It's also important to steer clear of rapid (or DC) charging. While it may not be the most convenient option, charging at slower speeds during colder weather proves more advantageous for the battery's well-being. Opting for Level 1 charging, known for being the slowest alternative, is actually the recommended choice when facing chilly temperatures. Moreover, if you're operating a hybrid or plug-in vehicle, remember to activate ECO mode for optimal efficiency. Monitor Heat Levels When preparing to go out for work or errands, heat up your electric vehicle beforehand. By gradually increasing the temperature, you can minimize the strain on the battery when you begin driving. If possible, continue to charge your car while heating it, as the heater will absorb power from the charger instead of the battery, maximizing your daily range. After warming up your car, it's important to be mindful of the heat consumption. Rather than relying solely on the heater, consider utilizing the heated seat to stay warm. Keep in mind that excessive use of the heat can impact your car's range. Striking a balance between your comfort and not overusing the heater is key. Just remember - your heater isn't fond of winter any more than you are. Remember That We're Always Here to Help If your vehicle is still succumbing to the effects of winter, make a trip to Bokman of Wellsville today. From battery replacements to oil changes, our team of service technicians is here to get you to the spring. Remember that your tires also play a huge factor in extending your range, so make sure you have your EV equipped with a proper set of winter tires. Visit us today and explore the most cutting-edge EVs, including the all-new Hummer EV. After all, the future is bright; reserve your spot in it today.

Everyone knows that buying a used car is a great way to save money. However, the real key to frugal car ownership is performing your own maintenance at home. You can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars simply by performing your own routine maintenance on your vehicle. When it comes to owning a car, there is no better way to ensure it has a long lifespan than with routine maintenance. However, not everyone is a trained mechanic — that’s why we put together this list of five valuable car maintenance tips that make your life easier. Whether you’re an expert mechanic or new to wrenching, you’re sure to find a useful tip on this list. Keep Cardboard Boxes While most people look at empty cardboard boxes as trash, us DIY mechanics look at them like they’re gold — and they kind of are. Cardboard boxes are perfect for repurposing in the garage since you can use them for a variety of jobs. Don’t want to lay on a cold concrete floor? Put down a flattened cardboard box. Doing an oil change and don’t want oil on your garage floor? Easy solution: put down a flattened cardboard box. See where we’re going with this? When you use cardboard boxes in your garage — you’re not just being savvy — you’re making a positive impact on the environment too. Why not save the environment while also saving your back from the cold concrete floor? Get a Magnetic Dish Staying organized is one of the most important parts of working on your car at home, that’s why this is one of our favorite tips to share. If you want to keep track of those pesky nuts and bolts that want to roll away on you, there is no better way to do it than with a magnetic dish. A magnetic dish is exactly what it sounds like, a dish that is magnetized so you can easily store objects within it. You can attach the dish to your car so it is always within reach while you’re working, helping you keep track of things with ease. If you’re looking for a magnetic dish, you can find them at your local hardware stores like Home Depot or Harbor Freight. Magnetic dishes are fairly inexpensive and their use will far outweigh any money you spend on it, so get one today! A Little Light Goes a Long Way Another great way to make life easier in the garage is to have a great light source. When you’re working on your car, things can get tough to see, especially when they’re covered in motor oil and dirt. That’s why we suggest having at least one good source of light handy in your garage at all times. We recommend a headlamp as it's a hands-free way to get light in the exact places you need it. However, if you don’t want to look like an angler fish, there are plenty of great shop lights out there to choose from. There are magnetic lights that you can attach to the car, old school “trouble” lights and fancy LED strip lights — all of which work great in the shop. Don’t work on your car blind, stop by your local Harbor Freight and pick up a shop light today. No matter which light you choose, you’ll be glad you did it! Take Pictures as You Go Cars are complex pieces of machinery and while anyone can work on them, there are some best practices you should follow. This tip is an absolute must for any mechanic, be it experienced or not. If you want to make performing your own vehicle maintenance simple, taking pictures with each step is the best way to do it. While you’re working on your car, keep your smartphone handy and snap pictures as you go. Chances are you’ll need to reference the pictures at some point during your repair, so it’s best to have them than not. If you’re ever unsure about how something goes back together, having a picture on hand really comes in handy. Another bonus of taking pictures is being able to reference them down the line during other repairs. Need to take that manifold off again but can’t remember how? Just reference your tear-down photos from the last time and you’re off to the races. This simple tip will save you hours in the shop and endless frustration — so don’t forget it! Replace Things in Pairs Whenever you’re replacing an item your vehicle has more than one of, always replace all of them at once. There is no bigger annoyance than replacing an item on your car, only to have to do it all over again just a few short days or weeks later. That’s why we recommend always replacing things in pairs if they come in them. Whether its brake pads, headlights, tires or anything else on a car — replacing both or all at once saves you time and frustration. The best part of this method is that you’ll never have to play the “when was that last replaced” guessing game! When In Doubt, Visit Bokman Chevrolet Still unsure about your ability to work on your car? That’s okay, simply bring it to our service center here at Bokman Chevrolet and our expert technicians will handle the rest. Whether you just need an oil change or a full engine rebuild, the expert technicians here at Bokman Chevrolet can do it all. If your car needs maintenance and you don’t want to do it at home, come on down to Bokman Chevrolet and we’ll take care of it for you. At Bokman Chevrolet, we make servicing your car a breeze. Simply stop by our service center or schedule an appointment ahead of time on our website — it’s really that easy.

Winter is coming! That means it’s time to start preparing your vehicle for the cold temperatures and harsh weather to come. With harsh weather and cold temperatures comes car problems that could leave you out in the cold. Ensure you and your vehicle make it through the winter without any hiccups by following these wonderful tips on winterizing your vehicle. Not ready to winterize your vehicle on your own? Bokman of Wellsville can help, as our service and parts professionals have the knowledge and product to help you keep your vehicle in tip-top shape during the winter months. Batteries Need Attention, Too One of the best ways to ensure you and your vehicle survive the winter is to check and maintain your battery. The battery in your vehicle is one of the most important parts of your car, as it not only helps the vehicle start-up, but it keeps all of the accessories running, including that precious heat system. As the temperatures drop outside, so does the cranking power and charge of your battery, so make sure to constantly check your battery to ensure it’s operating effectively. Checking the charge level on your battery is simple, just bring it to the service center here at Bokman of Wellsville and one of our technicians can perform a voltage check on your battery. This voltage check can alert you to upcoming issues with your battery, as well as tell you if it needs to be serviced or replaced entirely. If you need to replace your battery, the technicians here at Bokman of Wellsville can have a new one installed in your vehicle swiftly, and at a great price too! Avoid breaking out the jumper cables by having your battery checked before the winter comes, it could be the difference between a smooth winter ride and being stranded in a cold vehicle. Stop by Bokman of Wellsville Service Center today to have your battery tested, serviced, or replaced. Check Those Tires A good set of tires goes a long way during the cold season, as it helps keep your vehicle on the road and under control during heavy braking. Before you embark on a winter journey, make sure to check out your tires, the cold months can cause cracking in the rubber, and low tread levels can be disastrous in icy conditions. Opting for a solid set of winter tires is also a fantastic way to stay safe while driving during the cold months, as they perform better in cold weather and icy conditions. Have your tires inspected, serviced or replaced in our service center, here at Bokman of Wellsville located in Wellsville, NY today! Wiper Blades Are you having a hard time seeing through the ice and the snow? Maybe it’s time to change out your wiper blades, so they can perform better for you this winter. There is nothing worse than trying to navigate a winter storm with streaky windshield wipers that miss large parts of your windshield. Most folks tend to overlook their windshield wipers when it comes to basic maintenance, only to scramble to replace them once winter hits and they can’t see through the blizzard. Routinely checking your windshield wiper blades for wear and tear is a great way to catch problems before they arise. Another good way to ensure long life out of your windshield wiper blades is to lift them off the car before a winter storm comes, this will prevent the rubber from getting frozen to the windshield while the vehicle sits. Avoid using your wiper blades as a means of clearing ice from your windshield, as this can cause premature wear and tear on your wiper blades. Keep your windshield clean and free of debris with a set of fresh wiper blades, installed by the professionals here at Bokman of Wellsville. Top Off Your Fluids Keeping up with your fluid levels is always important when you own a vehicle, doubly so for those that live in places with harsh winter months. A car that lacks the proper levels of fluids will struggle to perform at its peak, making daily driving a hassle and potentially even dangerous. Some fluids to keep an eye on are: Coolant (Anti-Freeze): This fluid not only keeps your engine running at optimal temperatures, but it also helps keep fluids in the vehicle from freezing during the winter as well. Coolant goes in your coolant reservoir and runs throughout the engine to provide cooling, but it also can be added to your washer fluid to prevent those lines from freezing as well. Coolant is one of the most important fluids to monitor in your vehicle. Engine Oil: It may seem obvious, but having the proper level of oil in your vehicle is extremely important in keeping your engine and car running. Engine oil lubricates the necessary parts of the engine so it can run smoothly, as metal on metal doesn’t bode well for the life of your engine. Engine oil behaves differently in extremely cold temperatures, therefore you may need to use a special blend during the winter months. If you need help determining which engine oil is right for your vehicle, speak with one of our service technicians here at Bokman of Wellsville today! Washer Fluid: Although washer fluid may not be the first fluid on your mind when it comes to maintaining your vehicle, it is an important one to remember during the winter. With most cities that get snow using a salt or brine mixture to keep roads clear, your windshield gets dirty quite quickly during the winter, and that’s why it’s important to keep your washer fluid full. One good snowstorm can see you running your washer fluid tank dry, so always keep an extra bottle on hand during the winter months to avoid disaster. Ensure you have a safe and easy winter, make an appointment today to get your winter car servicing performed here at Bokman of Wellsville. Test Your Climate Control Testing your climate control systems before the winter hits is an absolute must if you want to survive the winter comfortably. Before you start driving this winter, make sure to check the defroster and heating functions of your climate control system, as you most likely haven’t used them since last winter. Check your climate control in just a few seconds, simply run your defroster and heat at each fan speed and temperature available. This simple action will tell you if you have any climate control issues so you can have them fixed just in time for winter. If your climate control system needs servicing, our service professionals here at Bokman of Wellsville can help! Located in Wellsville, NY, Bokman of Wellsville’s Service Center is the best place to have your pre-winter vehicle inspection performed. Be Prepared It sounds cliche, but being prepared for the worst-case scenario is actually the best thing you can do. When it comes to being prepared for winter driving, the above tips are always great to follow but its also important to go a step further and have an emergency scenario bag packed and available in your vehicle. Keep a bag full of spare clothes, including winter clothes in your vehicle. Inside of this bag should not only be clothing, but a blanket, a first aid kit, a flashlight, jumper cables, a cellphone charger, and some snacks. You can feel free to add more to this bag, but this is the bare minimum we recommend keeping in each one of your vehicles. Imagine traveling down a back-country road in the winter, when suddenly you lose traction and skid off the road. Luckily nobody is hurt, but your car is disabled and needs to be towed out of the ditch on the side of the road. Waiting for that tow truck in below-freezing temperatures in a car with no heat is not ideal, however, it’s much easier when you have a winter emergency bag in your vehicle. Winter Servicing From a fluid top-off to new tires, and everything in-between, Bokman of Wellsville is the place to have your annual winter vehicle servicing performed. Here at Bokman of Wellsville, our highly trained service professionals are dedicated to making sure your vehicle is safe and ready to tackle any adventure you throw at it. Ensure you have safety and peace of mind each time you hit the road this winter, have your vehicle winterized by the service professionals here at Bokman of Wellsville today!