Cooler Weather Vehicle Care

 

School has started and it’s time to get back into the swing of things. Cooler weather is coming faster here in Wyoming than other parts of the country. This means it may be time to start thinking about winterizing the RV, boat, motorcycle, and other summer-weather toys.

Let’s look at a few ways to take care of your vehicle for the cooler weather.

Fall Maintenance Prep

Though we’re typically familiar with things that need maintained throughout the year, let’s look at a few things that can be checked on as the fall season rolls in.

1. Fluids & Filters

Checking and changing fluids when necessary is crucial. Fluids include windshield wiper fluid, transmission fluid, oil, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and coolant. These fluids help keep your vehicle running smoothly. Changing filters helps keep air flowing into the engine, preventing the engine from working too hard and your vehicle from using too much fuel.

2. Tires & Brakes

Check the tires over. The tread can be checked with the penny test. Place a penny into the grooves of the tread, upside down. If you can see Lincoln’s full head, it’s time for new tires. Make sure the tires are properly inflated with a tire gauge. The appropriate tire pressure should be listed in your owner’s manual. Also, if it’s been a while, and the tread is still good, have your tires rotated. Wearing evenly saves you, not only, fuel, but money in the long run.

Your technician can check the brakes, making sure the pads aren’t worn down. Colder weather can be tough on brakes with slippery roads from ice.

3. Belts & Hoses

It’s a great time to do a quick check of the belts and hoses for wear, cracks, breakage, holes, and tightening them. Keep them safe and updated to prevent issues in the upcoming months. 

4. Battery & Lights

While you’re under the hood checking the belts and hoses, check the battery. The battery connections should be secure and also clean. It’s a good idea to replace a struggling battery in preparation for the colder weather.

5. Wipers & Wiper Fluid

Windshield wipers and the wiper fluid should be checked regularly. Wipers can quickly be dried out, cracking, or breaking because of temperature changes and extreme weather. Check or top off your wiper fluid. Be sure to use season/weather appropriate fluid. Some are fine for summer and warmer months; others are specially designed for preventing freezing.

 

Your Towing Company

This cooler weather vehicle care list is simple, but important to check throughout the year to prevent any surprises while driving.

We are Select Towing and Recovery. Located in Casper, Wyoming and serving the surrounding area with everything from car towing to heavy duty truck winch outs. If you find yourself broken down, call your 24-hour, local towing company at 307-277-0713. We will take care of you.

Read more of our blogs here: Our Blogs.

Driving Drowsy

 

We push ourselves daily, needing to be everywhere and doing everything. Driving drowsy and being mentally fatigued can have harmful effects, not only on your health and safety, but also your quality of life. As a result, late night or early morning driving, exhaustion after work, and not getting enough sleep are just a few of the reasons people drive drowsy.
Remain alert!

Planning Ahead

•  Plan out your trip. Long or short, have a plan to eliminate long days of driving, especially if you’re the only driver.
• Factor in rest times. Plan stops along the way to stretch, walk, or even nap, to recharge for the next segment of your trip.
• Get a good night’s sleep. Even the days before the trip, plan to get extra rest so you’re mind and body are ready for your trip. While on the trip, be sure to get plenty of sleep to prevent driving drowsy in the daytime.
• Pay attention to your internal clock. When are you the sleepiest? The drowsiest times of day are between midnight and 6am and, again, in the earlier part of the afternoon. Try to avoid driving during these times, even though it may seem like a good idea to make good timing.
• Stay away from sedatives and alcohol. These effect your quality of sleep and may prevent alertness for the next day.

While Driving

• Be aware of your body. For instance, watch for signs that you’re becoming sleepy or less alert. Find the nearest exit or rest area and get some rest. It’s definitely better to arrive safely to your destination than push yourself and end up in a wreck or emergency situation.
• “Tricks” don’t always work. Turning up the A/C, changing the radio station, increasing caffeine or energy drink stimulants don’t always work and draw your attention away from the road. Rather, it’s best to get the rest your body needs instead of pushing through.

What You Should Know

A few causes of drowsiness can be sleep deprivation or disorders, medications, time of day, alcohol, and working long hours. According to the National Highways Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA,  there were “693 deaths from drowsy-driving-related crashes just in 2022.” That’s too many. For more information, check out the NHTSA link above.

Here For You

Enjoy your trip through Wyoming. Be cautious and prepared, but if you find that you need help on Wyoming’s open roads, we are Select Towing and Recovery. Located in Casper, Wyoming and serving the surrounding area with everything from car towing to heavy duty truck winch outs. If you find yourself broken down, call your 24-hour, local towing company at 307-277-0713. We will take care of you.

Can DIY Towing Be A Bad Idea?

 

Can DIY towing be a bad idea? We are always looking to save money and do things quickly.  In our previous blog, we looked at finding your vehicle’s towing capacity. If you’re going to be DIY towing, it’s important to know what your vehicle can safely handle. But, also, let’s look at what can go wrong and why you should call a professional towing company.

What Can Go Wrong

• Vehicle Towing Capacity
  Not knowing the towing capacity can cause severe damage to the vehicle towing. If what you’re towing is too heavy, it can cause strain to the engine and transmission. Also, ruin brakes, tires, and the chassis.
• Improper Towing
  When you don’t know what type of vehicle you’re towing, you can damage both vehicles. For example, AWD vehicles need to be towed on a flatbed. Pull behind towing can ruin the drivetrain, causing costly damage.
• Tow Ropes
  Tow ropes and tow chains are a common way to help a friend, but they aren’t actually for towing. In reality, they’re just for pulling a vehicle out of a ditch. If the vehicles aren’t properly and safely connected, one could come loose, bumper damage could occur, and others traveling behind may not be able to see turn signals or brake lights.
• Driving
  Amateur, DIY towing can be damaging to both vehicles. Not knowing to take corners wide so the towed vehicle doesn’t collide with the sidewalk or a parked car, quick acceleration or deceleration can cause the vehicle towed to damage your vehicle or crash into your bumper.

Why You Should Call A Towing Company

 

Towing companies have trucks that are equipped with specific tools and machinery to meet towing needs. The operators have licenses, certifications, and training to make sure everything is connected, secured, and transported safely. When taking a DIY approach, steps could be missed and safety precautions could be overlooked just to get the vehicle towed quickly or save a bit of money. 

Here For You

Enjoy your trip through Wyoming. Be cautious and prepared, however if you find that you need help on Wyoming’s open roads, we are Select Towing and Recovery. Located in Casper, Wyoming and serving the surrounding area with everything from car towing to heavy duty truck winch outs. If you find yourself broken down, call your 24-hour, local towing company at 307-277-0713. We will take care of you.

Your Vehicle’s Towing Capacity

 

Most of us have had those instances where we either need a tow or are asked to help tow someone. Knowing your vehicle’s towing capacity is important, to be sure. Having this information is not only for the safety of the driver, but also the life of your transmission and other parts of your vehicle.

Where to Find Your Towing Capacity

To start, the vehicle’s towing capacity will be listed in the Owner’s Manual. Also, all vehicles post important information on a sticker on the driver’s side door or door jamb. All of the necessary details should be listed there. If any information that you need is not listed there, a dealership or your personal mechanic should be able to find that information relatively quickly. 

What that Means

Towing capacity is the vehicle’s maximum weight it can safely pull. Naturally, each vehicle is different. So, it’s important to know what your transmission is capable of towing beforehand, whether it’s a car, rv, or boat. In addition, exceeding the maximum weight limit puts severe stress on the vehicle and can cause damage to the brakes or transmission. A costly fix, undoubtedly, if the towing capacity restrictions aren’t followed. Consequently, this is why it’s important to always tow below maximum capacity.

More Information

Kelley Blue Book’s Towing Capacity Guide may be helpful. This guide goes into further detail, should you need it. Even included are various classes of vehicles and specific vehicles with their towing capacity.

Here For You

It’s always great to help a friend, but if you find that you need help on Wyoming’s open roads, we are Select Towing and Recovery. Located in Casper, Wyoming, we are happy to serve the surrounding area with everything from car towing to heavy duty truck winch outs. Most importantly, stay safe out there, but if you find yourself broken down, call your 24-hour, local towing company at 307-277-0713. We will take care of you.

Overheating Engines

 

It’s hot out. The sun is bright and temperatures are rising, quickly. This time of year we push our vehicles a lot harder than any other time of the year, causing issues, including overheating engines. Do you know what to do if your car or engine overheats? 

What to Do

• To start, pull over to the side of the road. Use your flashers and stay safe by pulling off of the road.
• Then, turn your engine off for at least 15 minutes. That should give your vehicle plenty of time to cool off so you can assess what steps need taken next.
• The engine should cool and you should be able to see the gauges move back to normal.
• With an overheating engine, do not drive the vehicle. Stay safe and call for a tow.
• Finally, get your vehicle into your preferred mechanic, ASAP.

Most Common Causes of Overheating

• Cooling system leaks
• Poor functioning thermostat or radiator
• Bad water pump
• Cracked or burst hoses
• Worn or broken belts 

Many times your mechanic can replace parts and get your vehicle running, safely, again.

 

Here For You

Enjoy your trip through or around Wyoming. However, be cautious and prepared, but if you find that you need help on Wyoming’s open roads, we are Select Towing and Recovery. Located in Casper, Wyoming and serving the surrounding area with everything from car towing to heavy duty truck winch outs. If you find yourself on the side of the road with an overheated engine or broken down, call your 24-hour, local towing company at 307-277-0713. We will take care of you.

Improving Fuel Mileage This Summer

With the prices of everything rising, including fuel, and summer trips approaching, everyone is looking for ways to save money. So, here are a few tips for getting better mileage out of your tank.

The Best Ways to Improve Fuel Mileage

 

1. Keep your car cool.

Summer can be sweltering. Park in the shade or roll down the windows for air flow. When a vehicle heats up or overheats it makes the other systems under the hood work harder, using more fuel.

2. Don’t overload your vehicle.

Pack light. Roof top cargo boxes change the aerodynamics of the vehicle, dropping your fuel economy. Also, extra baggage weighs down the vehicle, inside or out, making it work harder and use more fuel than necessary.

3. Watch your speed.

Quick, aggressive acceleration, as well as hard braking, uses fuel quickly. Also, idling consumes fuel unnecessarily. Try to plan your trip to avoid excess idling like rush hours and construction. Further, maintaining a consistent speed and using the cruise control can help improve fuel mileage.

4. Keep your tires inflated properly.

Underinflated tires requires your engine to work harder, in turn using more fuel. Check the owner’s manual for the recommended tire pressure and check the pressure regularly. Fluctuating temperatures, especially in the summer, can effect the pressure.

5. Don’t overuse your A/C, roll the windows down.

A/C use heats up the systems under the hood. Turn it down for slower speeds and roll down the windows. Overuse of the air conditioner is hard on the A/C and your fuel economy.

Read More

Read more of our blogs like Improving Fuel Mileage This Summer on Summer Maintenance, safety on Wyoming’s Open Roads, and more, here.

Here For You

If you find that you need help on Wyoming’s open roads, we are Select Towing and Recovery. Located in Casper, Wyoming and serving the surrounding area with everything from car towing to heavy duty truck winch outs. If you find yourself broken down, call your 24-hour, local towing company at 307-277-0713. We will take care of you.

Summer Maintenance

 

Spring is here and summer is coming. School is ending and it’s time to think about those summer vacation plans. So, whether you’re doing local day trips or traveling across the country, summer vehicle maintenance is important for the upkeep and safety of your ride.

Top 10 Summer Maintenance Prep Tips

Though some things need managed throughout the year, this list will cover things that may not be maintained regularly on vehicles.

1. A/C

If your A/C is pushing hot air when you test it, adding refrigerant may do the trick. If your A/C doesn’t cool, have your technician check it. Also, this is a good time to check the air filter. A dirty air filter can effect fuel efficiency, as well as create starting issues, concerning engine sounds, and black smoke from the exhaust pipe.

2. Belts, Hoses

Your technician will be able to tighten, but also, check all of the belts and hoses for cracks, breakage, wear, leaks, holes, or anything else that could cause issues down the road.

3. Coolant Flush

Coolant is a fluid that helps your vehicle regulate engine temperatures in both the extreme heat and extreme cold. Since low coolant can cause fuel mileage issues, odd noises, and heater failure, it’s good to check them occasionally.

4. Brakes

Grinding noises and vibrations are a sign that the brakes need checked or replaced. Your technician can check for things like fluid leaks, but also take a look at the pads, rotors, shoes, and drums. If they do, in fact, need replaced, the Repair Cost Estimator may help to get an idea of what that service may cost.

5. Tires

First, start by checking the tire pressure and tread on all tires and your spare. The pressure can be checked with a pressure gauge. The recommended pressure can be found in your vehicle owner manual or a quick search online. Next, tire tread can be checked with a quarter. Place the quarter in between the treads. If you can see George Washington’s head, it’s time for new tires. And last, if the tires haven’t been rotated in a while, or ever, it may be time so they can wear evenly and last a bit longer.

6. Wipers & Wiper Fluid

Wipers take a beating because they are exposed to temperature and weather changes, year round. So, they should be checked regularly. Make sure they are in good, working condition and your wiper fluid is topped off before that trip.

7. Transfer Case

If you have a 4WD, the vehicle’s transfer case and differential fluid aren’t always top priority when thinking of vehicle checks. Since these are tough jobs and should be handled by an experienced mechanic about every 30,000 miles. This keeps the drivetrain of the 4WD vehicles healthy and the vehicle running smoothly.

8. Other Fluids & Filters

The oil and oil filters are considered more often than other fluids or just summer maintenance, and changed every three months, but the power steering and transmission fluids may need checked and topped off before you head out to keep them in top working order.

9. Lights

Headlights and tail lights are easy to see and check. For safety, also make sure the blinkers are working properly. 

10. Battery

The battery connections should be clean and secure. In addition, your technician can check the life of your battery. If it is struggling, replace well before that road trip for safety and one less hassle.

This Summer Maintenance list is not exhaustive, but, it will give you or your mechanic a good start on making sure your vehicle is ready to go on your next adventure.

Your Towing Company

We are Select Towing and Recovery. Located in Casper, Wyoming and serving the surrounding area with everything from car towing to heavy duty truck winch outs. If you find yourself broken down, call your 24-hour, local towing company at 307-277-0713. We will take care of you.

We Are Hiring

Casper’s Local Towing Company is Select Towing & Recovery. We are hiring! With 40 plus years combined experience, we are Casper’s Preferred Choice when it comes to any tow services from heavy tows to medium and light tows.  Our employees complete the Wreckmaster Training and continue education classes.

Driving Wyoming’s Open Roads

 

Wyoming is a beautiful state, full of history, animals, mountains, rivers, gorgeous, clear blue skies, and open roads. There are also dangers that come with the vastness of the state and the relatively few towns and sparse population.

Things To Consider While Driving

• Animals
  Be aware of your surroundings while driving Wyoming’s open roads. Animals won’t stop for you. You have to anticipate them. Never get out of your vehicle if there’s an animal or herd blocking your lane. Don’t pull over to pet the cute, fluffy animals. This could result in fines, injury, or even death. No one wants to end up viral on social media because of bad decisions. However, it is best to stay safe in your vehicle, snapping pics or a quick video for proof of that rare Wyoming “traffic jam.”
• Elevation and Weather
  Drink and pack extra water, especially if you’re not used to the elevation. Dehydration can set in, quickly, because of the drier climate and the effect it has on your body. Even in summer, bring a jacket. Higher elevations are naturally cooler than lower elevations and some have been known to get snow even in summer months.
• Wind
  Wyoming is the windiest state of the lower 48; only second to Alaska. Very few of Wyoming’s open roads offer tree-lined scenery, which means few wind breaks. Be prepared for forceful gusts, head winds, shaky semi trailers, and tumbleweed.
• Desolation/Open Roads
  Printed maps, food, water, and fuel are a few very important things to have on hand. As much as Wyoming has beautiful backdrops for nature photography, there are also plenty of areas that have no cell phone service. In addition, fuel stations and grocery stores can be few and far between, so it’s important to fuel up and stock up on food or snacks before you head to the next town. Being prepared can make a setback a little easier to navigate.

Coming to Wyoming

Grab your map and highlighter and step back into simpler times when you travel through Wyoming. Take in the scenery and breathe in the clean air. Slow down a bit and enjoy your time on the open roads in the Cowboy state.

 

Here For You

Enjoy your trip through Wyoming. Be cautious and prepared, but if you find that you need help on Wyoming’s open roads, we are Select Towing and Recovery. Located in Casper, Wyoming and serving the surrounding area with everything from car towing to heavy duty truck winch outs. If you find yourself broken down, call your 24-hour, local towing company at 307-277-0713. We will take care of you.