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If you want to avoid a roadside breakdown on a busy day, always keep your car's fluids in good shape. With regular fluid checks and timely flushes, you'll ensure your Ford's engine, cooling system, transmission, brakes, and differentials all perform properly over the long run. To help with this, you can set up an easy-to-follow fluid servicing schedule at your local Ford dealership. Coolant Your engine generates a lot of heat, which needs to be controlled with a healthy radiator and fresh coolant. Your coolant is likely to last from 30,000 to 50,000 miles, meaning you'll need to flush it once every two to four years. Make sure to check its condition monthly; you'll find the coolant in the transparent coolant reservoir. Motor Oil Friction must also be always kept under control inside your engine. Motor oil does this by lubricating each moving part while also cleaning the system and helping to combat heat. Check your motor oil once a month using the dipstick, and you'll typically need to change it twice a year. more Brake Fluid Whenever you use your brakes, the brake fluid carries the stopping signal from the brake pedal to the calipers. If your brake fluid leaks or degrades, you'll find it harder to stop your car. It's therefore vital to check your brake fluid monthly and have it flushed every 30,000 miles or so. Transmission Fluid Inspect your transmission fluid once a month using the dipstick. This fluid ensures your car keeps shifting smoothly. Transmission fluid is long-lasting and typically only needs to be refreshed every 60,000 to 100,000 miles in modern automatic vehicles. Differential Fluid The differentials allow your car to corner smoothly. These relatively simple gear systems are located in the center of each wheel axle and require differential fluid to stay lubricated. Differential fluid lasts from 30,000 to 60,000 miles and should be checked monthly as well, something many drivers forget to do. Power Steering Fluid Your steering will stay smooth and effortless as long as you keep the power steering fluid fresh. Power steering fluid requires flushing every 30,000 to 60,000 miles and should be checked once a month. Windshield Wiper Fluid Let's not forget the windshield wiper fluid, which keeps your vision clear in sudden downpours. Once a month or after prolonged use of the wipers, check and top up this fluid. Have Your Car Serviced at Your Ford Dealership Our knowledgeable, dedicated technicians can keep your Ford in tip-top shape with regular services. By keeping a close eye on each fluid, we can let you know in advance when it's next likely to need a flush. Visit Randy Wise Ford in Ortonville, MI, for comprehensive vehicle services.

There are several reasons you need to get an inspection from your Ford dealership on a regular basis, even though yearly car inspections aren't required here in Michigan (you are required to get a thorough inspection of any salvage vehicle). Here's some signs that it's time to get an inspection and see what's going on in your car. A Dashboard Warning Light Is On This is obviously a pretty clear indication that something needs to be checked out. If you schedule regular maintenance appointments at your dealership, however, it's unlikely you're going to get too many of these when you least expect them. If you get things checked out as soon as these lights come on, usually you can get a problem fixed before it becomes costly. The Car's Leaking If you're noticing puddles under your car, or if you find that you're having to top up your vehicle fluids more often than you should, there's a leak. Puddles are pretty obvious, but when you're having to top up even when you don't see puddles, there's a chance you've got a leak somewhere in the engine. If that's the case, you might also smell some burning when you initially start the car. If anything is leaking, come see us because your engine or your brakes are being deprived of a fluid needed to ensure that you're always running efficiently and safely. more Things Sound Weird You're used to the way your car sounds, so if your vehicle starts making any noises that you can't identify, you should get it checked out. Squealing when you brake usually means you need new brake pads, but in some cases, there could also be issues with the rotors. If some of the joints or bearings are starting to get worn out, you might hear a humming sound. Screeching could be one of the belts, and that could become an issue quickly if the belt fails. Whatever the odd sound, get it checked out. Things Smell Bad If you're smelling a rotten egg smell, there could be something wrong with your fuel system or with your catalytic converter. If you smell gasoline or oil, you might have a leak of either or maybe a faulty injector. If you smell burning or electrical odors, the car could be overheating, or you might have a loose belt or hose somewhere. If you're noticing any of these signs, or if things just don't feel right, come see us at Randy Wise Ford in Ortonville, MI right away for help. Our factory-trained techs will make sure your car is in great shape.

Purchasing Ford parts through your Ortonville Ford dealer is a must. Getting your parts through a dealer comes with several benefits that you won't find anywhere else, and we'd like to share those benefits with you now. It's our goal to provide excellent customer service, and part of that is helping you make the right choice about who you buy your parts from. 1. We Can Quality Test Your Parts Most people have no way to quality test parts that they bought by themselves, and that puts you at risk of having a subpar part fitted into your vehicle. We quality test all of the parts that we acquire, so you'll never have to worry about having a second-rate part placed in your vehicle. If we find that the part we secured for you isn't up to our standards, then we'll send it back and get you a better part. more 2. You'll Get OEM Parts Dealerships can acquire Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts for you, but many regular mechanics can only secure aftermarket parts. Aftermarket parts are cheaper and easier to acquire, but their quality doesn't match that of OEM parts. You'll also find aftermarket parts when sourcing your own parts online. A vehicle that's full of OEM parts will sell for a higher price if you plan on selling or trading your vehicle in at some point. Be sure to get the most out of your vehicle, and use OEM parts when you need a parts replacement or an upgrade. 3. You'll Avoid Scams The internet is full of scammers who pose as legitimate sellers. These scammers can fool even the smartest people around. Usually what'll happen is that you'll pay in advance, then the scammer will send you the part you purchased. When the part arrives, you'll discover that it's old, useless, or not what you thought you were purchasing at all. Unfortunately, the seller usually disappears at this point, and you'll never get your money back. You'll avoid these scammers if you visit our dealership. You'll see who you're working with face-to-face, and you can see the part you're getting, so you can be sure it's exactly the part you're looking for. If you're unhappy with the part that we provide, then we'll do our best to find another part until you're satisfied. 4. We'll Install Your Part for You When you acquire a part by yourself, then you have to go looking for a mechanic who's qualified to fit it into your vehicle. This isn't always easy. Sometimes your part requires an expert's skills, and nobody has more expertise than dealership technicians. You'll save yourself time and hardship by getting your part through us and letting us fit it into your vehicle for you. It's an all-in-one service that's convenient for everyone involved. Do you need to replace parts of your Ford? Schedule a Service Appointment with our trained technicians at Randy Wise Ford in Ortonville, MI and let us know how we can help you and your Ford vehicle get back up and running at optimal levels again. Image via pexels.com.