Frequently Asked Questions

Your automotive questions answered here!

When it comes to buying a new or used vehicle, Neil Huffman Auto Group has you covered!

The Neil Huffman Auto family of dealerships is ready to serve you in our Louisville, southern Indiana, and central Kentucky showroom locations. Above all, we are here to help you find the vehicle that best fits your budget and lifestyle.

Neil Huffman Automotive Group’s sales and service consultants frequently receive common questions regarding vehicle care and upkeep. We’ve compiled a few for you here that you may find helpful. So let’s get started!

Why do I need to change my car’s oil every 3,000 miles? 

While this well-known guideline has some wiggle room (up to 5,000 or 7,000 miles in some cases), this is an important rule-of-thumb when it comes to your vehicle’s overall upkeep and lifecycle. While surpassing this mileage guidepost a bit is generally fine in some circumstances, excessively delayed oil changes can lead to lower performance and at worst, early engine failure.

So, why is it so important? The older the oil is in your car, the more oxidized it becomes, due to regular exposure to the heat of your engine. If you delay oil changes for a lengthy period of time, the oil can become sludge and fail to draw heat from the engine. This ultimately may cause your engine to seize up, or warp your engine’s components. Vehicles driven in more “severe” circumstances, like those regularly towing heavy loads or in extreme heat or cold, may need more frequent oil changes.  

Why is it important to rotate my tires every 5,000 miles?

Rotating your tires approximately every 5,000 miles serves the purpose of maximizing the lifespan of your tires. Rotating tires front-to-back on a regular basis helps all four tires wear more evenly, which protects the handling and traction of each tire. Uneven tire wear eventually may lead to more frequent tire purchases in the long run, and therefore more expensive. Most car maintenance experts recommend rotating your tires with every oil change (or every other), depending on frequency. Also, consider purchasing tires from a shop offering free rotations for the life of your tires. 

How often should I check my vehicle’s fluid levels?

Maintenance experts recommend checking important fluid levels with each oil change cycle. Beyond the oil, which if too low may lead to catastrophic engine damage, a list of other fluids are critical to the safety and performance of your vehicle. These include transmission fluid, brake fluid, engine coolant, and power-steering fluid. These fluid levels are affected not only by driving frequency and demand but extremes in temperature and environment, as well. Your maintenance technician can advise you on the best guidelines for your vehicle.

How do I know when it’s time to replace my car’s brake pads?

In a typical scenario, brake pads generally begin to degrade around 20,000-to-30,000-miles. There also are a few ways to know if it may be time to replace your brake pads. If you suddenly notice squealing or grinding noises when braking, or if it seems to take more pressure on the brake pedal to stop the vehicle, these are signs it’s time to head to the shop for a brake inspection. Running too long on worn brake pads also will cause additional damage to other brake components, including rotors. Another good rule of thumb – have your brakes checked once per year, even if you aren’t noticing any problems. Schedule this during an oil change session for extra convenience!

How often should I check tire pressure?

At a minimum, check your tires monthly with a reliable air gauge you carry in your car. You can easily check your car manufacturer’s recommended tire pressures in the owner’s manual, or on the side of the driver’s side door. Tires that are over-or-under-inflated can impact your gas mileage, road handling, and overall driver safety. So be sure to check regularly!  Additionally, do a quick visual inspection every week or so. This is a good way to check for obvious low inflation or tread wear issues. If there is a particular tire that consistently deflates, even shortly after inflating at the air pump, there may be an issue with a lodged piece of metal or even wheel corrosion.

Neil Huffman Auto service departments are ready to assist!

Regardless of the make or model of your vehicle, Neil Huffman Auto’s certified service advisors and technicians can help with all necessary vehicle repairs and regular maintenance. If you need to talk to a service advisor or would like to schedule an appointment, you may contact a Neil Huffman dealership that fits your needs. Thank you for choosing Neil Huffman Automotive!