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They say change is good right?  Well the same goes for the oil in your vehicle.  The fact is, motor oil is the lifeblood of your engine.  So, the best way to extend the life and fuel economy of your car, truck, or SUV is to have the oil changed regularly. The purpose of motor oil is to lube up the moving parts of the engine while keeping all the seals tight.  However, with the high temperature of the engine, the oil is put under great stress.  The thermal breakdown wears on the oil’s additives and lubrication.  When the lubrication wears down, parts of the engine may start to rub together.  The thermal breakdowns will also cause gaps to form in the various seals; this is where dirt and debris can sneak into the engine.  When you have your oil changed here at any Preston location, you will also get a new oil filter.  The filter works to keep the sludge from getting to your engine.  If it becomes clogged with too much gunk, it will decrease the amount of good oil that reaches your engine. These are all ways that unchanged oil could negatively affect the life of your vehicle.  So basically, the way to prevent all of this is to check your oil often and get it changed regularly.  We make that easy for you here at Preston Nissan and Mazda.  We have a deal so amazing it seems too good to be true – but it’s not!  Our Triple Play Oil Change gets you your first oil change for $19.95, your second for $12.95, and your third one is absolutely free!  The only stipulation is that they all have to be done within a year from your first one.  Which, if you are following the expert recommendations, you should be getting three or four oil changes per year anyway.  So, this deal is saving you money that you would otherwise have to spend no matter what.  Drop your car off today to start taking advantage of this great deal!

Vehicle recalls are something that happen more often than you might think, but owners may not always know their recalled vehicle needs to be repaired.  Just to be clear, I’m not referring to any major recalls like the Toyota sticking gas pedal incident or the Firestone tires on Ford SUV’s because of course those are recalls that everyone hears about on national news.  I’m talking about those smaller recalls that just about every car brand has at one time or another for things such as faulty airbags or switches for example.  So, it is just as important to know about the little recalls as it is to know about the larger ones because they are both threats to your safety.  And now there is any easy way to keep up on those threats with safercar.gov. Safercar.gov is a government website run by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA).  This site exists solely to inform consumers on everything to do with vehicle safety.  From recalls, to investigations, even to common complaints – safercar.gov is the catch-all site to ensure you and your family are safe in your vehicle. There are a couple ways to see if your car is on a recall list.  You could search as specifically as the VIN number or as general as the vehicle year, make, and model.  Regardless of how dependable your make of car usually is, everyone should take a look at this site anyway.  It’s fast, simple and you have nothing to lose except about thirty seconds of your time.  However, if you do end up finding something about your car involving a recalled item, then I’ll bet you’ll be glad you checked.  And even more than that, taking a couple seconds to check for your car could save your life or many others. If you got your car, truck, or SUV from Preston Automotive Group and it turns out to have a recall, no matter how small or large, you can be sure that one of our three auto body shops – in Preston, Snow Hill, or Cambridge – will be able to help get you in-and-out and safely back on the road.

There have recently been an abundance of vehicle recalls on many models.  You should know what to do in the case where your vehicle is recalled, or is recalled for a safety recall.  Recalls are happening more and more often.  In the year 2013 there were 632 recalls which impacted 22 million vehicles according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  In the year 2014 there have already been more than 120 recalls affecting nearly 13 million cars.  This means this year is on pace to break the previous record which was set ten years ago. Recalls are issued because the defect or possible defect might make the vehicle unsafe.  For any recall, defective parts are placed at no cost to the owner.  Engineering errors which can be both large and small can cause significant defect that can compromise the driver’s safety and require a recall.  These types of errors are usually on specific models produced during a specific period of time at the manufacturing plant. The most common defects include: Wiring or leaks that cause fire Accelerators that break suddenly Ineffective steering parts that may cause a loss of control Air bags that deploy late Faulty seat belts that break An official safety recall notice is sent to vehicle owners at risk.  These owners are typically identified through DMV records.  The notice explains the following things; the safety hazards that may result from the defect, how to fix the defect and eliminate the safety hazard, when the defect repair will be available and how long it will take to be completed, and who to contact in the case of difficulty. Remember that recalls are meant to protect you!  This doesn’t mean you purchased a lousy vehicle.  New vehicles are made with millions of moving parts and mistakes are bound to happen.  Even for the biggest automotive manufacturers, these recalls are meant to fix the wrong doings!  Ignoring a recall is not a good idea, as soon as you are notified you should try to get the recall fixed!

As much as vehicles cost it is important to keep them in the best shape possible.  That is why Preston Automotive Group offers  high quality oil changes and service repairs.  Engine oil provides three key functions in the engine.  It first helps keep the engine components working smoothly together.  Inside the engine there are thousands of controlled detonations happening every minute, it can be extremely hot and oil helps draw heat away from the combustion chamber.  It also helps prevent carbon and varnishes from accumulating in the engine.  Oil also helps to keep the vehicles engine clean.  The oil within the engine is constantly cleaning as it lubricates picking up and holding dirt.  Oil is similar to a sponge.  A sponge has the ability to pick up and hold fluids, dirt, etc.  When a sponge becomes saturated it cannot hold fluid any longer.  These same things apply to motor oil.  When oil becomes saturated with contaminants and can’t hold any more than the excess falls out of suspension and can form deposits in the engine.  Regular oil changes will remove suspended contaminates before they can form.  This helps the engine run cleaner and much smoother. It is also important to know what oil to use.  There are many different types of oil and it should be fairly easy to determine which kind a vehicle takes.   The owner’s manual will usually contain this information. There are two different types of oil; synthetic and conventional oil. Oil changes are often recommended when a certain mileage or time limit is reached.  The most common interval is 3,000-5,000 miles or three months. The changing of oil is a simple process of draining the old dirt oil from a car and replacing it with a new supply.  When a customer comes to any of the Preston Automotive Groups Service Departments to request an oil change they will also receive a check on the all-around vehicle.  The first thing that is checked of course the oil level.  Then after the oil is changed they service technician’s top off the windshield washer solvent.  They also check the power steering fluid as well as the transmission fluid and the brake fluid.  The tire pressure is also checked and if the tires need air then they are filled.  Lastly, they service technicians visually inspect the whole vehicle and make sure everything is working properly.    Oil level, top of washer solvent, check power steering fluid, transmission fluid, brake fluid, tire pressure, visual inspection of whole car.  Mike Snyder, a Master Certified Mazda technician at Preston Mazda said “changing your oil is cheap insurance, it is around $30 whereas a new engine job would be around $9000”. The Service Centers with Preston Automotive Group are open Monday through Friday from 7:30-5:00 and on Saturdays are open from 8:00-5:00.  At Preston there are many professionally trained technicians who are very well knowledgeable on all models of vehicle.  The Master Certified Technicians have been working on vehicles for many years.

The summer heat is upon us and as it arrives everyone will try to keep cool.  Just as heat will have an impact on people it will also have an impact on car reliability and safety.  You can easily reduce the risk of tire blowouts if you follow some of these simple maintenance tips.  Something as little as having your tires properly inflated will go a long way in helping to avoid failures!   Hot weather causes heat build up and weakens the tire, potentially leading to abrupt failure.  On a 90-degree day surface temperatures can easily hit 150-degrees. First you should check the inflation pressure in each tire, including the spare tire.  You should do these when the tires are cold or have been sitting for more than three hours You should also inflate the tires to the recommended setting outlined on the tire information placard found most often on the driver’s door jamb and or the vehicle owner’s manual. Check your tires monthly.  Tires can typically lose up to 1 psi per month.  The pressure in the tire drops about 1 psi for every 10-degree drop in the air temperature. You should invest in a good tire gauge.  It is even a good idea to also buy a portable compressor that works off of the cars power outlet. Tires also lose air to common punctures.  If you find you are always adding air to your tire than you might have a slow leak in your tire.  Have this checked at your local service garage which includes the many service departments with the Preston Automotive Group.

This winter brought on a lot of snow, sleet and ice.  With these types of conditions the roads worsen, not just when this bad weather is happening but after the bad weather has cleared.  The brutal winter has created crater sized potholes that weren’t seen before winter came around.  Driving into a pothole puts enormous strain on your tires, wheels, and suspension.  The speed you are going and the depth of the road all play a part in the severity of the damage that can be done.  Potholes are caused when relentless freezing and thawing of water under the pavement weakens the road and causes large cracks which when combined with the weight of a vehicle driving over eventually turn into potholes. Any direct hit in a pothole could bring about instant air loss in your tire and this will require your tire to be replaced. There are different ways to survive these pothole infested roads! Slow down and pay attention to road conditions.  Some potholes might appear smaller than they are if they are filled with water.  You should also keep an eye on the distance between you and the car in front of you.  This will give them time to react as well as you if there is a pothole ahead. If the impact of the pothole is inevitable try to at least partly slow down and drive straight into the pothole.  Turning into the pothole could create more sidewall damage.  Also make sure that you have a firm grip on the steering wheel to avoid losing control. After encountering a pothole be sure to stop or pull over and check your car for visible signs or wheel or tire damage.  Keep in mind that if the front tire hit the pothole than the back tire more than likely did as well. Keep tires inflated to the recommended inflation pressure.  This is one of the best guards for minimizing pothole damage.  Most cars are now equipped with a inflation pressure monitor.  Under or overinflated tires can affect a tires resistance to pothole damage. A great way of avoiding potholes is to take roads that you know well.  When you take the roads you are familiar with then you will know exactly where the potholes are.  Also try to drive on well-lit roads when driving at night so that you can see any potholes. The potholes can damage much more than just your tires, these include: Tire puncture, damage or wear Wheel rim damage Premature wear on shocks and struts Suspension damage, including broken components Steering system misalignment Exhaust system damage Engine Damage

Cars get dirty but there is more than just the dirt and rain on your cars exterior; pollutants, acid rain, dead bugs and bird dropping all degrade your paint!  It isn’t just the exterior that gets dirty.  The interior will also go through wear and tear.  The cloth seats will need to be shampooed and leather seats deserve a proper leather cleaner and then followed by leather conditioner. The first step to detailing your vehicle is to wash and dry your car as thoroughly as possible.  You should park in the shade while washing and waxing your car in order to prevent the heat from drying off the car and in return creating water spots before you get a chance to dry it.  By washing your car this gets off the dirt that comes off easily so that later on the cleaning products can get rid of the harder, stuck on dirt. Next you should clean the door jambs!  This is often forgotten because you cannot see them without the door being opened.  However, door jambs tend to collect a lot of dirt.  Spray them with a good detail product and wipe them down with a microfiber detail towel. Now you are ready to clay the paint.  Clay is used to remove deep ground in dirt and stains without damaging the cars paint.  This is especially important on newer cars because they have a clear coat paint.  In order to clay the car spray the area with a detailer then slide the clay back and forth over the paint.  The clay pulls up dirt and shaves it off of the cars surface.  Don’t drop the clay, if the clay is dropped it can pick up dirt that can scratch the vehicle making it useless.  After you clay the car the surface should feel noticeably smoother. Now it’s time to polish your car.  Polishing your car smooths, clarifies, and cleans the surface of your car.  It will remove some small scratches, but it can also remove paint so make sure if you polish by hand that you are careful with the amount of pressure you put on the car. It’s time to wax your car!  Wax doesn’t just make your car look nice but it also provides a coat that protects the paint.  Wax can be applied by hand but an electric orbital polisher/waxer can save you a lot of time and might be a good investment if you have a large car or truck!  Apply the wax directly to the applicator not directly on to the car.  Work in one small area at a time, make sure you are careful not to get wax on the black plastic trim as it will stain.  When the wax looks hazy run your finger through it if it breaks apart then it is ready to come off.  Buff the wax off gently with a cotton or microfiber towel. Don’t forget to clean the inside of your vehicle as well.  Take out any floor mats and lay them aside.  Now vacuum all the floors, under the seats, the seats, etc, making sure you get into all the cracks and crevices.  Spray a dashboard cleaner on the dashboard and wipe them down getting all dust and pollen off the dashboard.  You can also get window cleaner and clean the inside of your windows eliminating streaks and smears. Now you are ready to drive around in your extremely clean vehicle!  Preston Automotive Group has a detail team here that can detail your car for you if you prefer to have someone else do it!  The team here will get every nook and cranny so that your car looks and feel brand new!

Preston Auto Body is a part of the Preston Automotive Group which is an organization of approximately 300 employees.  Preston Auto Body has a lot of community involvement which is one of the reasons it is set apart from other companies.  The teams overall refer shop score is a 9.72 year to date in 2013.  Preston Auto Body keeps the desire to give the customers a winning experience.  The Auto Body has dedicated customer service personnel and uses advanced technology like Frog Watch.  Frog Watch is a program which allows the customer to watch the progress of their vehicle as it goes through the repair process.  Year to date their kept informed result is %97.82 with also a 10.0 in Customer Service.  A final numerical measure for them is the overall experience.  Year to date they have achieved an outstanding 9.90 surveys submitted from customers. Dave Wilson is a Provident State Bank Board Member and has served as a board member since 1989.  He has also served as the Chairman of the Eastern Shore’s Walk America.  Since 2009 he has raised over 230,000.00 for the March of Dimes.  He was awarded the Prestigious Award of being the #1 Fund Raiser in the country in 2000.  In 2002 he was the #1 fund raiser in the state of Maryland. Dave is also a participant in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Caroline County.  For the past fifteen years he has been involved in this even and Preston Automotive Group as a team has raised over $100,000.00 for the American Cancer Society. He is also involved in many other organizations as well.  Such as the Susan G. Komen Organization, a local group called Saving Second Base raises money for this organization and the Preston Automotive Group sponsors their events as well as helps raise money for them.  Preston Automotive Group will also be hosting the 2014 Mid Shore Walk for the March of Dimes.  Preston Automotive Group has also been involved with the Delmarva Shorebirds, Parks and Recs Programs, Paddlefest, Travel Baseball, Toys For Tots, Bears that Care, Operation White Tail, Kidney Foundation, Caroline County Humane Society and many more. Preston Auto Body is honored to accept such a prestigious award.  They pride themselves on providing excellent customer service and vouch every day to do better than they already are.

If you would like to customize your ride just the way you like it then you should consider coming to Preston Customs at Preston Autobody!  We can add those special touches to your vehicle that you desire. When the weather gets cold you might want to think about having leather seats with heat installed in your vehicle.  If you only want leather seats without the heat then that is available as well.  Leather seats are a nice addition to a vehicle, they add value.  Leather is also more durable than fabric and vinyl.  When it comes to maintenance lather is also better than fabric.  All you need to clean leather is a damp cloth and a little detergent.  Leather also does not soak up spilt drinks as cloth seats would.  Not only are leather seats more durable but they are also extremely comfortable.  If you spend a lot of time in your vehicle driving to work or going on roadtrips than leather seats would make your journey a lot more comfortable. Another custom we offer is remote starts.  Remote starts make for a great feature!  The biggest benefit of having a remote start is the comfort of knowing that your car can be warm or cool before you get in.  On those cold mornings when you are getting up for work you can use your remote start to start your car and thus your car will be warm by the time you are ready to leave for work.  This also works the same way if it is extremely hot outside.  You can start your vehicle and it can cool down while you are waiting to leave.  No more getting in a vehicle where your seats are too hot to sit on!  Remote starts can also offer you safety that you didn’t have before.  By allowing an icy car to warm up before driving it is easier to scrape or defrost your windows.  This results in greater visibility for the driver. Preston Customs also offers a back-up camera which can be installed in your dash or in your rearview mirror.  Back-up cameras have a lot of safety features.  Back up cameras can help prevent you from backing up over someone or something.  In larger vehicles without a backup camera your blind spot is 20 feet behind your vehicle.  It is also beneficial when hooking up a trailor.  The driver can easily navigate their way to the trailer, avoiding accidents as they may miss the mark or accidentally hurt the person helping them.  If you are in the city and need to parallel park then your new back-up camera from Preston Customs will significantly assist you with this. Some of our other options include Bluetooth and DVD systems which are available to be installed in a headrest of drop down, and navigation systems which come in handy when you are going on long trips.  To go along with your backup camera from Preston Customs you can also get backup sensors!  These beep everytime you get too close to an object.  In case you don’t have power windows and power locks we can install these for you as well as radios of your choice! For more information on Preston Customs please visit www.prestonautobody.com or stop by one our our body shops today in Cambridge, Snow Hill, and Preston!  We can help you with all your autobody needs!

Taking proper care of your tires can not only save you money on many tire expenses but it is also much safer. At the Preston Autoplex we have four service centers who can assist you with any tire maintenance or vehicle care you may need!  If you are in the Salisbury, Maryland area we have a service center located at Pittsville Ford! Tire pressure is the most common cause for unnecessary tire failure.  Without proper tire pressure, tires are subject to tire stress, irregular wear, and can cause loss of vehicle control or even accidents.  An interesting fact we have found is that a tire may not appear to be flat but could have lost up to 50% of its air pressure!  This is why you need to always check your tire pressure, if you just take a look at your tire you may think it is fine when in fact it is going flat.  In order to check your tire pressure all you need is a tire gauge.  Make sure that when you are checking the tire pressure that the tires are cool, even if you have only driven a mile your tires could still be warm.  Don’t forget to check your spare tire as well!! Alignment is also important in taking the proper care of your tires.  Poor alignment can cause a vehicle to pull to one side or the other and also cause the steering wheel to shake unnecessarily.  Hitting a curb or hitting a pothole can cause your alignment to be thrown off which then will cause wear on your tires.  When your tire has uneven wear it is more susceptible to blow out or have a shortened lifespan.  You should periodically have a service center check your alignment! At Preston Automotive Group we offer free alignment checks, bring your vehicle in today to see if you need to have your tires aligned! It is a good idea to regularly rotate your vehicles tires so that they wear evenly and have a longer life.  Tires should be rotated about every 5,000 miles.  Rotating your tires means that you switch the tires in a pattern among the wheel positions of the vehicle.  This is an important task because the front tires have different responsibilities then the rear tires.  Different tires also carry different amounts of weight.  Doing tire rotations can slow down uneven tread wear by evening out the differences.  A common used pattern when rotating tires on a front wheel drive vehicle is to move the tires in an X-pattern.  The left front tire trades places with the right rear and the right front trades places with the left rear. You should get in the habit of inspecting and measuring your thread.  If the thread on your tires is wearing in certain spots rapidly or unusually, this could mean that your vehicle doesn’t have optimum grip on the road and could be unsafe in adverse conditions.   Ask Preston Ford how the tread looks during your tire rotation or free alignment checks!  Tires must be replaced when the tread is worn down to 1/16 of an inch.  A test that will let you know if you are driving with the right amount of tread on your tires is to place a penny in the tread groove.  If part of Lincoln’s head is covered by the tread you’re driving with the correct amount of tread.  If you can see all of his head then you should buy a new tire.  Built in tread indicators are narrow strips of smooth rubber across the tread, this will appear when the tread is worn down to 1/16.  This makes it easy for the driver to tell when tires need to be replaced. Different level wears of tire tread. Interesting Tire Care Facts: -27% of passengers cars and 32% of pickup trucks, SUV’s and minivans have at least one significant under inflated tire -9% of tires on the road are bald -A tire can lose as much as 50% of its inflation pressure and not appear to be flat -Inflation pressure in a tire goes up in warm weather or down in cold weather, 1-2 pounds for every 10 degrees of temperature change. Schedule your service appointment with Preston or Pittsville today! We will be sure to assess your tires and get you back on the road safe and sound! At Preston Nissan we offer all of our tires for $10 over our cost! Tire maintenance will help keep your car in great shape.

Winter is here and there are a few easy steps you can take to get your car ready for the cold, rain and snow that might come your way this winter. Get the right kind of oil change. If you are approaching that time for an oil change then do not procrastinate!  The oil used should have the right thickness for your vehicle at this time of the year.  When the weather changes and gets colder the oil in your vehicle gets thicker.  If oil becomes too thick it will not do a good job of keeping your engine lubricated.  If you aren’t sure of which kind of oil to use check your owner’s manual or come visit any of our service locations at the Preston Automotive Group! Always make sure that you can see.  When it starts snowing or raining you need to make sure that your windshield wipers are in tip top shape!  Wiper blades usually work effectively for about one year.  Don’t forget to get new ones put on if you have had yours for a year.  You also want to make sure that your windshield washer reservoir is filled with washer fluid. Using water won’t clean your windshield in the winter because it can freeze if it is cold enough out!  Make sure to also check if your heater and defroster are working correctly.  If they are not working correctly have someone take a look at them before winter comes around in full swing!! Examine your belts and hoses.  In the winter months, cold weather can have a huge effect on your belts and hoses so they need attention too just like the rest of your vehicle does.  Have them checked for wear and tear! Give your battery some tender-loving care!  This is the perfect time of year to make sure your battery’s posts and connections are corrosion free.  If your battery is more than three years old or getting close to being three years old the stop by one of our certified service centers or body shops and test its ability to hold a charge. Check your tire pressure.  Your tires must be properly inflated to ensure you will have the best traction while driving on the road.  Traction is often severely jeopardized when it is raining outside or snowing outside.  When the rain first starts that is when the road will become the most slippery. Think about switching to snow tires.  If you live in a hilly place that gets its fair share of snow then you should consider getting snow tires.  You can also get chains for your tires so that you are less likely to slip on the road while driving in the winter.  When you are looking for snow tires look around and ask a lot of questions there might be fees for installing, mounting and balancing. Get the antifreeze mixture just right.  In the winter months you should aim for having about a 50-50 mix of antifreeze and water inside your radiator.  This will help prevent the mixture from freezing even if it is insanely cold outside. Prepare an emergency kit.  Store these items in your trunk when the weather gets cold just in case you decide to go on a last minute road trip! The essentials that you should put in your truck are a blanket, extra boots and gloves, an extra set of warm clothes, extra water and food, ice scraper, tire chains, a spare tire, tire-changing equipment, first aid kit and a flashlight.  There are many more items that you can add to your trunk as well but are not listed here. If you need assistance in completing any of these tasks visit our service centers at Preston Automotive Group!  We can surely help you get your vehicle ready for the winter.

You may have wondered if the extra step of waxing your car is really necessary, after it’s been washed and already sparkling. While it can seem like a hassle, it really is a simple step that can help all vehicles out in the long run. There are definite benefits to waxing your car and Salisbury Maryland Car Dealer is here to explain them to you. Preston, Maryland dealer on benefits of waxing your car. Clean Your Car Less Often with Wax By adding a coat of wax, the car will stay cleaner, longer. Dirt and water will not stick as easily, which can do a number on the paint over time. With less grime stuck on, it will make washing the car easier in the future. Maintain Your Car’s Shine with Wax Dirt and debris can eat away at the paint. Even washing the car over time will destroy its gloss, little by little. When you add wax, it pulls the shine up by replenishing the paint molecules. Additionally, the wax will protect the paint from harsh outdoor elements that it comes into contact with each day. Rocks and other hard fragments can make small dents and cuts in the clear coat that will begin to erode and rust over time. The better the paint job, the more it positively impacts a car’s resale value. This reason alone makes it wise to put a coat of wax on every six weeks. Protect Your Car From the Sun with Wax Think of it as SPF for your car. Wax forms a barrier that will protect the paint job from harmful UV rays. It will reflect the sun off your car and protect the coats from deteriorating over time. If you live in Annapolis, Salisbury, Dover or Easton and are interested in getting your car detailed Preston Automotive Group is located not far away in Hurlock, Maryland! About Preston Automotive Group Preston Automotive Group services the Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania area with Ford, Lincoln, Mazda, Hyundai and Nissan brands and used cars and trucks of all makes and models. The auto group carries the largest selection of new and used cars. Additionally, the dealership services all makes and models, both imported and domestic cars with ASE certified and factory trained technicians. To learn more, visit https://www.prestonmotor.com/