Check out these 7 Eco-Driving Habits that promise to increase your fuel efficiency. You might unknowingly be costing yourself more money at the gas pump.

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Though changing your own motor oil may sound intimidating, you can follow our simple steps to change your oil with confidence.

Step 1: Remove the drain plug and allow oil to drain into the oil pan.

Step 2: Clean the drain plug and replace it.

Step 3: Remove the old  oil filter and replace with the new filter.

Step 4: Add new oil.

Now you’ve changed your oil and you’re good to go for another 3,000-7,000 miles depending on your manufacturer’s recommendations. You’ll be surprised how much you can save by completing your oil changes yourself and following the manufacturer’s guidelines.

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After you check out this infographic, you’ll know how important it is that you install children’s car seats correctly. You’ll also be able identify the right car seat for your youngster. Even if you’re not a parent, be sure to read this infographic to learn how to keep even the youngest passengers safe while riding in the car.

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Before attempting to remove stains, we recommend thoroughly vacuuming out your car, including seats. Be sure to vacuum any stained areas especially well. This will remove any dirt and debris that could create a bigger mess once the debris is wet. For leather interior, it’s always best to choose a leather safe cleaning solution and condition the leather after treatment.

Food and Drink Stains

Most food and drink stains will come out with a solution of 20% liquid soap to 80% warm water. Spray the stain lightly and let it soak in for several minutes. Use a soft bristled brush or an old toothbrush to scrub the stained area and blot the area with a clean dry cloth. The stain should come up entirely after three applications.

If this doesn’t remove the stain entirely, we recommend trying an upholstery cleaner. Be sure to test the cleaner on an unseen spot to ensure it won’t change the color of your upholstery. For small stains, you can spray a dab of shaving cream on the stain and work into the fabric with a toothbrush. Blot dry with a clean cloth.

Mildew and Mold

If you notice you have a problem with mold and mildew in your interior, try a cleaner with both hydrogen peroxide and citrus oil. Repeat as often as needed.

Cigarette Smoke

The best thing we can recommend to remove cigarette smoke is a solution of 2 cups vinegar, 2 cups warm water and 2 teaspoons baking soda (This also works well for other pungent odors like vomit). Mix well and  spray liberally about your car. Include under the seats, the carpets, the headliner and headrests. It may take several applications to remove the smoke smell entirely. After your final application shake generous amounts of baking soda into the carpets and allow it to sit for a week, then vacuum out. Don’t forget to replace your air filters, and clean your dash and windows.

Melted Crayon

Removing melted crayon can be a challenge. The easiest solution it so use an iron and a brown paper bag. Place the brown paper bag over the melted crayon mark, use the lowest setting on your iron and allow it to sit on the paper bag for just a minute. As soon as the wax begins to heat it will adhere to the paper bag and you will be able to remove small portions at a time. After several passes, the mark should be removed. You can also try using an ice cube to harden the wax and scrape it off the upholstery with a credit car or blunt knife.

Pet Odors and Stains

Most pet odors and stains can be easily removed with a simple soap and water solution. For a more intensive stain, check upholstery cleaner geared towards animals.

When cleaning stains from your car, it’s easy to see that prevention is the best policy. There are many selections of car seat covers that can easily be removed and washed or replaced. In addition, protecting your seat with a stain blocker is a great solution. The most common brand is Scotchguard but there are many choices.

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You may be surprised at how easy it is to change out a headlamp light bulb. In fact, in most cases it doesn’t even require tools! Since you have to change the bulb anyways, why not upgrade from standard light bulbs, and see even better at night. We talked about this in our post about seeing better while driving at night. We know the unknown can be an intimidating task, that’s why we will walk you through changing a headlight bulb.

1.) First, you’ll need to buy a new light bulb. You can find out what type you need by checking your owner’s manual or by stopping at any auto parts store. Most auto parts stores have a book of light bulb types for all makes and models. Purchase the type and grade of light bulb recommended for your vehicle. Remember to take extra care when handling halogen light bulbs. It is best to use a tissue when touching the bulb, if any oils from your hands get on the light bulb it may burn out more quickly than expected.

2.) Open your hood and feel around the back of your headlamp. You may need to remove a rubber cover in order to reach the back of the headlamp comfortably. You’ll notice three wires coming out of a bulb holder (a hard plastic piece – often shaped like a trapezoid). Pull firmly to remove the plastic bulb holder from the bulb itself.

3.) Remove the light bulb. It is generally held in place by a plastic catch, metal clip or a screw cap.

The plastic catch has a small lever you need to press firmly while removing the light bulb.

The metal clip should just pull away. Be sure to hold onto the metal clip if it comes off completely, because they are easy to lose.

The screw cap should turn counter clockwise one quarter of a turn and slide out.

4.) Hold the light bulb by the plug end, be careful to avoid touching the bulb itself if a halogen light, and place it inside the headlight. Visually confirm it is in all the way in and lined up evenly. Secure the light with the plastic catch, metal clip or screw cap.

5.) Now plug in the bulb to the bulb holder, and replace the cover if applicable.

6.) Turn on the light and ensure it is working correctly.

It may be tricky to replace a headlight bulb, however, it only takes a few minutes and can save you from a costly ticket in the future. Remember as you complete your monthly maintenance of checking fluids and your tire pressure; take the extra seconds to walk around your vehicle and check the external lights.

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After you read this infographic, you can shop with confidence. You’ll know the best time of day, week, month and year to buy a car. Now all you need to do is decide on which model vehicle you really want.

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First, make sure you have the following supplies:

• Car wash soap – Don’t make the mistake thinking that dish soap will be good enough. Dish soap is hard on rubber components and can strip your car’s wax coat
• A wash mitt – We recommend sheepskin or a microfiber cloth, these are ideal materials to avoid scratches
• 2 individual buckets – one for the soapy mix and one rinse bucket
• A detail brush or old toothbrush for stubborn spots
• A hose with a spray nozzle long enough to reach around the entire vehicle
• A drying cloth – An absorbent waffle-weave drying towel or an extra microfiber towel

Step 1. Pre-treat Stubborn Areas

Now that you have all your supplies handy, move your car to a nice shady spot. This will stop the water from evaporating too quickly and leaving spots. Take a walk around your vehicle and identify any stubborn spots, such as sap, dead bugs or bird droppings. Treat these spots with undiluted car soap.

Step 2. Wash your Wheels

Next, inspect your wheels. If your hubcaps are very dirty, wash them before you wash the rest of the car. Give the wheels a preliminary rinse, and then clean thoroughly with car wash soap and a detail brush. Rinse the wheels before continuing.

Step 3. Rinse Your Car

Now you’re ready to tackle the body of the vehicle. Lift your windshield wipers and begin spraying on the roof of your car. Work you way down the vehicle, paying special attention to your pre-soaked trouble areas.

Step 4. Scrub Gently

Once your car is thoroughly wet, dip your wash mitt in the soapy water and begin lightly scrubbing. We recommend starting at the top of the vehicle and working your way down. Be sure not to press too firmly and to always rinse your mitt before dipping back in the soapy water. When you rinse your mitt before soaping up again, you deposit the majority of the dirt in the rinse water, this prevents you from accidentally scratching your vehicle’s clear coat with dirt.

Step 5. Final Rinse

When you’re ready for your final rinse, remove the spray nozzle. This allows for a gentle stream of water to wash away the soap. Once again, start rinsing at the top of your car and work you way down. Remember, soap likes to collect in the crevices by the trunk and engine, as well as the tires. Rinse your vehicle thoroughly.

Step 6. Dry your Car

Finally, you’ll want to dry your car with the waffle-weave drying towel or the microfiber towel. Finish with the microfiber towel to get all the hard to reach places. Don’t forget to dry around the seal of the doors and trunk. Now your car is completely clean and it looks like a pro has done the work.

If you noticed that the water wasn’t beading when you rinsed your car off, you probably need to give it a good wax coat.

The post How to Wash Your Car appeared first on Mt. Moriah Auto Sales - Dealership Blog.

1.) Adjust your Headlights

When driving at night it’s imperative to have your headlights pointed in the right direction. If you think your lights aren’t illuminating enough of the road, bring them to a professional or check them yourself. You can adjust your headlights by parking in front of a wall and moving your lights yourself. If you are unsure how to adjust the lights yourself, bring them into our service department and our friendly technicians will adjust them for you.

2.) Clean Your Lights

Over time road dirt and grime builds up on headlights, be sure to take special care to clean all external lights on your vehicle. Being seen at night is nearly as important as seeing yourself. Some older vehicles have plastic headlight covers that tend to yellow with age, replace your yellowed headlight covers and you’ll be seeing like new again.

3.) Turn on Your Lights During Twilight Hours

When driving during dusk you may believe that you’re easy to see, but actually without lights some cars can blend in. Use your lights during these hours to make yourself more visible to other drivers.

4.) Watch the Right Side of the Road

If you find yourself being blinded by another driver’s lights, focus on the right side of the road. This will give you a guide to know where your car should be, as well as block some of the light blinding you. On many roads there is a white line on the right side of the road making it even easier to guide yourself through the night.

5.) Get Enough Sleep

Your eyes have to work harder after dark to differentiate shapes and signs,if your mind is fatigued too, it can easily lead to accident. Be sure your mind, and eyes, are well rested before beginning a late night venture.

6.) Don’t Drink and Drive

This should go without mention, but we feel compelled to discuss it anyways. Drinking slows your reaction time and relaxes your body. This increases your chances of falling asleep behind the wheel. In an intoxicated state, it would be more challenging to maneuver turns, judge the distance and speed of other drivers. The simple solution for this situation is to have a designated driver. Be mindful that drinking and driving is more common at night, so continue to drive defensively.

7.) Watch for Animal Eyes

If you find yourself driving down a lonely stretch of country road, remember to watch for retina reflections in the dark. Those eerie red reflections are often spotted long before the body of the animal comes into sight. We recommend slowing until you identify or pass the animal. If you swerve to try to avoid the animal, they sometimes follow your headlights and you’ll hit them anyways. Keep in mind that larger animals such as deer, or large dogs, can cause serious damage to you or your vehicle.

When you put these 7 tips into action, you’ll be surprised how much easier it is too drive at night. If you still find that night blindness plagues you, you might want to ask a friend to drive.

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This infographic has a couple of interesting tidbits about vehicle theft in the U.S., including the top 10 states and cities for car theft. You may be relieved to see that Tennessee was not mentioned, however, that doesn’t mean that car theft isn’t an issue. Luckily, this infographic also provides a few tips on how to prevent your car from being stolen. Be sure to check it out to learn how to best protect your car from theft.

Click on the image below to view the full-sized version of this infographic:

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Here are the 5 most common transmission problems and what to look for:

Low Fluid Level or Leaks

When you check and refill your transmission fluid regularly, you’ll notice if the fluid is continually low. Be sure to refasten and tighten all parts when finished. Leaks can be caused by punctured fluid lines, worn transmission pan gaskets, poorly secured bolts and seals on the transmission pan. To identify a leak, have your fluid lines checked by a reputable mechanic.

Torque Converter

Normally when a torque converter is damaged it is to its needle bearings. You’ll notice the engine is making an odd grinding sound when the car is in gear. The best time to identify damage to your torque converter is while the transmission fluid is being changed.

Solenoid

The solenoid manages the transmission fluid flow rate. You should have it checked if there are no evident leaks, but the transmission is not changing gears smoothly.

Clutch

Your clutch, located inside the torque converter, can jam and gears will be sluggish when shifting. A jammed clutch can cause a car to shake and the engine temperature to rise. If you’ve got a jammed clutch, service is needed immediately.

Other Drive Train Problems

A defective universal joint can interfere with power reaching the wheels. It can generally be diagnosed by a horrible squeaking sound the car is idling. When the transmission mounts are damaged the gearshift will no longer engage correctly.

Most of these issues can be identified by regular maintenance, completed by yourself or a professional. Don’t overlook recommended services, such as checking and refilling your transmission fluid, or you could end up with a costly repair bill from a major transmission problem.

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