You may be under the impression occasionally adding antifreeze and water to your radiator to replace evaporated fluid is all the maintenance your car’s cooling system needs. If so, you’re wrong. Like all vehicle components, the cooling system needs preventive maintenance. This important service is called a coolant flush. Your engine relies on a steady flow of antifreeze to keep it at optimal operating temperature. Your car’s cooling system is what protects it from temperature extremes so it will run as reliably in subzero temperatures and in triple-digit temperatures as it does on a balmy spring day. Even if you live in an area not typically subject to extreme temperatures, your vehicle’s cooling system still needs regular service to keep your engine operating as intended.

Most people are aware updating their homes can increase value, but did you know there are ways to improve comfort and safety to your vehicle, as well as improve its resale value? Whether you intend to sell your car soon or you plan to keep it for the foreseeable future, these tips for selling your used car can be useful in helping you boost the amount of money you can expect.

Despite the fact half the drivers on the road are women, there’s a huge disparity in women’s car knowledge compared to men’s. We could speculate and debate about the reasons why that’s the case. Instead, we at DeBoer's Auto understood the importance of educating women about their cars and decided to do something to help change that. When it comes to any subject, the more you know, the more confident you are. On Saturday, October 17th, we presented a two-hour seminar designed to familiarize women with their cars so they’ll be more confident drivers and consumers.

For most people, the process of buying a new car is both exciting and a bit stressful. Test driving cars and finally finding “the one” is the fun part. But making sure you are getting your new or new-to-you vehicle at the best price can often cause stress. So can dealing with the financing and insurance aspects of the car-buying equation. Choosing the right car-insurance policy is especially important considering the fact that the moment you drive your new car off the lot, it depreciates by 10% to 13%, according to data from the Kelley Blue Book.

One of the best ways to save money when buying a new car is to not buy a “new” car at all. Buying a car that’s new to you, however, is smart. If you buy from a reputable used car seller, you can purchase with the assurance your car has a clean title and has been repaired and reconditioned to provide years of reliable service. You’ll get a like-new car and have the satisfaction someone else paid top-dollar to drive it off the new car dealer’s lot. Buying pre-owned saves you money right away.

As with any significant investment, you may wonder whether you should purchase a warranty to protect your new tires. After all, you’re probably purchasing them with the assumption they’ll last for years. If something unexpected happens and you need to replace them sooner, that’s a significant expense you may not have budgeted for. Should you buy a tire warranty? There’s no right or wrong answer. Before you decide what’s best for you, read on to learn the services included in a road hazard warranty and circumstances that may void your warranty.

If you’re like most drivers, your knowledge about vehicle tires is limited. However, when it comes time to replace the tires on your car or truck, knowledge is power. Before you go tire shopping, take time to evaluate your driving habits, the environmental conditions your tires likely will be subjected to and your budget. The adage, “you get what you pay for,” certainly applies to tires. Sure, even the cheapest tires will suffice to get you from point A to point B, but skimping on quality will affect your ride quality and, more importantly, your ability to adeptly handle your vehicle.

They’re black, round, your car needs four of them (plus a spare) and sometimes they need to be replaced. That sums up many peoples’ knowledge of tires. If the sea of options at your local tire shop is overwhelming and the meaning of the letters and numbers on your car’s tire walls is a mystery to you, read on to learn how to decipher the information found on your tires. Once you know what the information means, you’ll find it much easier to shop for new tires.

You could drive the priciest performance car out there, but if its tires are substandard, your ride will be substandard too — not to mention potentially dangerous. Most people don’t think much about their tires until a dashboard light indicates they’re low on air, they discover one is flat or they’re riding along and have a blowout. The best way to protect against this last worst-case scenario is routinely inspecting your tires for wear and damage.

If you’re like most car owners, when you a buy new car, you don’t pay for it upfront with cash. Instead, you finance it and make monthly payments over the course of years (on average, most car loans are for a five-year term). The two most popular sources for financing your next car purchase are commercial banks and credit unions. Read on to learn the pros and cons of credit unions vs. traditional bank loans for vehicle financing.