In case you missed the memo, April is National Car Care Month. In terms of cost savings and realized gains, properly taking care of your vehicle is important whether you plan to sell it later on, trade it in for a new model, or even keep it until the engine dies.

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What follows is the Einspahr Auto Plaza, “Car Care Top Ten List.”

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1. Read the manual. You know who you are – the person that never touches or opens the vehicle manual. Don’t be that person. A quick Google search might give you a general idea about how often to care for various maintenance items in your engine, but often one website will contradict another. The best way to determine how often to change your oil, engine filters, hoses, etc. is to read your manual.

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2. Change your oil. Some mechanics say that if you change your oil often and regularly, you can make your car last forever. Well, unfortunately, nothing lasts forever; however, changing your oil regularly is good for your car. Although some cars manufactures don’t require frequent changes, dirt builds up, and the more dirt in your oil means more dirt in your engine, shortening the life of the engine. Clean oil keeps your engine lubricated and running smoothly.

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3. Address all scheduled maintenance items. Yes, oil is important, but so are a lot of other items. Coolant, transmission fluid, belts, hoses, filters, brakes, spark plugs—everything needs to be inspected and/or replaced at a certain point. Act in a timely fashion to avoid more expensive repairs down the road.

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4. Care for the appearance. Although caring for the appearance of your car doesn’t necessarily make it last longer, it allows you to get much more out of a resale than you would get if you had rust and torn up upholstery. Hopefully, the snow is over, but if not, washing the salt of your car is important to prevent rust. Park in the shade to avoid damage to the paint. Wash and wax your car when you can, and wipe down the inside of your car regularly. Besides, who doesn’t love driving around in a clean vehicle. If you don’t have the equipment or the time, our Recondition Department can help make your vehicle look its best.

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5. Don’t drive recklessly. You have probably heard enough of this when you were a teenager learning to drive. But not only will it prevent accidents, but avoiding quick starts and stops also prevents stress and wear on the engine. Just because your car can go 0-60 in 6 seconds doesn’t mean it should.

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6. Don’t ignore noises/engine light. If you hear strange noises in your car or your check engine light is on, you may be right in thinking that it’s probably nothing major. But many times what’s small now can turn into a larger and more costly repair later. If you think something is not right, the sooner you get the problem checked, the better.

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7. Check your tires. Make sure your tires have proper air pressure. Inflated tires prevent uneven wear, get better gas mileage, and prevent bad braking. Also, be sure to rotate your tires as recommended in your manual. Rotating tires prevents uneven wear, saving you money on tire replacement and creating safer driving conditions.

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8. Start slow. Don’t go full speed ahead immediately after starting your car. Start at slower speeds and give the engine time to warm up and circulate oil.

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9. Add a little extra to your oil for a boost. Most oils come with additives in them, however, if you have an old car or a high-mileage car, adding a good oil additive might put just a couple more years on your car and get you to your next mileage milestone.

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10. Work with the right mechanic. Most people have lived through a bad service experience at some point in their lives. To avoid one in the auto industry, consider an experienced provider who is certified as an expert on the type of vehicle you drive. Beyond expertise, choose someone who communicates clearly, conducts a vehicle diagnostic, is efficient, offers a clean and comfortable waiting area and has the resources to service whatever need may arise related to your vehicle.

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So, what do you think of our top 10 list? Anything missing that you would add? Let us know in the comments below.

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For almost 50 years, Einspahr Auto Plaza has been the choice in the Brookings area for quality service on Ford, Lincoln, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram vehicles. We invite you to check us out and start experiencing the Einspahr difference.  

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Spring comes early at Einspahr. The weather might still be cold out, but there’s light at the end of this long tunnel we know as winter. If you have lived any number of years here in Brookings, you know that the coming of spring is something to be celebrated, and no one is more excited about spring than us. This year we’ll be having our 39th annual Spring Fling, starting March 7th and going through the end of the month.

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The Spring Fling is our way of welcoming in spring. This is the real start to the new year. We bring flowers into the show room, offer great car sales, have door prizes, and serve free SDSU ice cream cones. We are really excited about this year and want to invite you to our celebration.

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The story of the first Spring Fling is a memorable one. The winter of 1977-1978 was a cold one. According the National Weather Service, the winter of 1978 was the second coldest winter on record. Usually, the average temperature in February is 28º – in 1978, the average temperature was 17º. On March 4 that year, the temperature in Sioux Falls was -14º. This year on this same day it was 46º.

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“It was just an awful winter. In March, we had 3 feet of snow on the ground. It looked like it was going to keep going for a long time,” said Matt Einspahr.

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Ron Einspahr (Matt’s father) and Grant Peterson, a local radio talk show host, were discussing the never-ending winter and how to break the monotony and misery of that cold season. They had to do something to help raise the spirits of the Brookings population. Since business had been bad those first couple of months and cars were covered in snow, they decided to have a car sale. They filled their showroom with flowers and gave away prizes and free SDSU ice cream. Their Spring Fling was a success. And since then, it has become a tradition.

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The Spring Fling is the perfect event to attend. What better way to celebrate the end of winter, slushy roads, and ice than with a new vehicle. There are “great deals all over the lot whether you’re looking for a new or pre-owned vehicle,” said Einspahr. Ford and Chrysler are also offering great deals this time of year, and lease options that you can’t find all year round. And during this time of year, if you got your taxes done early, you will have some extra money to put toward your new vehicle. The Spring Fling comes at the perfect time.

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Help us carry on the tradition of a successful Spring Fling by stopping by anytime this month to get your free SDSU ice cream cone and to check out our great deals. We look forward to seeing you. 

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Buying a new car is confusing enough with trying to sort through gas mileage, safety features, price, dependability, etc. without having to worry about terms you may not understand. We here at Einspahr want to help alleviate your burden by taking the time to explain one often confused feature—the drivetrain. Front wheel drive vs rear wheel drive vs four wheel drive vs all-wheel drive—what’s the difference and which one do you need? What you need depends on what you will use the vehicle for, whether off-roading, in snow, in bad weather, or whatever your need may be. At Einspahr, we have a full range of vehicles to meet each need, and hopefully after reading this post, you will more confident in your decision of which vehicle you need to purchase.

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Front Wheel Drive

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Most cars have FWD because of its many advantages. First, FWD cars are more fuel efficient because the car can be slightly lighter and because the engine has a shorter driveshaft to turn. Second, FWD cars are good in the snow. The heaviest part of the car sits over the front wheels, creating traction, making FWD cars better for climates where there is much snow and ice. However, there are some disadvantages. Because the weight is not balanced, the front tires tend to wear faster, and these cars do not accelerate as quickly as rear wheel drive cars do.

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Rear Wheel Drive

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RWD is what performance cars have. RWD creates quick acceleration because as the car accelerates, the weight “shifts” to the back of the car causing the rear wheels to grip the ground and make for a quick start. Because the weight is more balanced throughout the four tires, the ride also tends to be smoother. Unfortunately, since these vehicles do not have good traction, they do not perform as well in snowy conditions.

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Four Wheel Drive

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Not all 4WD vehicles are the same, but in most cases, 4WD is when engine powers all the wheels, but only when the driver switches 4WD on. When 4WD is not switched on, the vehicle is either just FWD or RWD. 4WD is great in off-road or slippery conditions. When FWD vehicles get their front wheels stuck in a slippery spot, they can’t go anywhere. But when a 4WD vehicle gets its front wheels stuck in a slippery spot, the back wheels will still push it out.

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Most 4WD vehicles have HIGH and LOW ranges. HIGH is for faster driving, such as driving on a slippery road or highway. LOW is typically for driving under 15 mph, such as those times you might be stuck in a ditch or climbing a slope.

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All Wheel Drive

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AWD is different than 4WD. AWD is when all the wheels are spinning all the time. This is different than 4WD because, in most cases, AWD cannot be turned off. This is nice because this creates traction no matter what the road conditions are. The advantages and disadvantages of AWD vehicles are that the AWD vehicles drive on dry roads better than 4WD, but don’t have the fuel economy that FWD cars have. On the other hand, AWD vehicles drive in the snow better than FWD vehicles, but certainly do not do as well as 4WD. AWD vehicles are good for if you need something that has good traction in any kind of weather.

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Hopefully, after reading this post, you have one less question to worry about when finding your new vehicle. Einspahr has a full range of cars and trucks from Ford, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, and more to suit any situation you drive in. Stop by the dealership or check out their website for the full list of makes and models.e Text Here!

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Here at Einspahr Auto Plaza in Brookings, South Dakota, we just celebrated our 47th year in business. We’re proud to say we have been family-owned for that entire time-period.

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During a recent dealership gathering, Dealer Principal, Matt Einspahr, reflected on the past 47 years.

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Einspahr said, “We have such a great staff and loyal customers. We have employees that have been with the dealership since I was two months old.” He continued to reminisce about when he was five years old hanging out at the original dealership, located in downtown Brookings. It was the only place he wanted to be. And is still the place he loves to be.

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Each day at Einspahr Auto Plaza we strive to make it fun for everyone. Most importantly, we want to take care of our customers, but also want to get to know them. Matt Einspahr’s Dad, Ron Einspahr, taught him that the most important thing in life are relationships.

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Einspahr went on to say, “Doing business the right way is always providing a fair deal to the customer, which is the only way.”

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We invite you to experience the Einspahr difference for yourself the next time you need a new or used vehicle.

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With 2016 coming to an end, we at Einspahr Auto Plaza look back on a whirlwind of a year. This year we celebrated our 47th year in business. Without the support of the great community of Brookings, dedicated employees, and most importantly amazing customers we would not be where we are today; and for that we are grateful.

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In the spirit of this time of year, McLane Mertz, Sales Consultant, reflected on what is important to him, “In 2016, I was most thankful for great friends and family. Also, I’m thankful for the great opportunity to work for a family-oriented business in an outstanding community.”

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Everyone has many New Year’s resolutions. And many come and go. One thing that won’t come and go for us at Einspahr, is our appreciation and dedication for everyone who helped us become the dealership we are today. For 47 years, we’ve made it our priority to put our customers first. This is best captured by Service Manager, Kyle Jeremiason, “We make our best attempt to treat each customer as we would want ourselves or our family members to be treated. We understand vehicle maintenance and repairs can be an inconvenience and try to be as accommodating as we can.”

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Einspahr Auto Plaza started as a Ford dealership, while also servicing vehicles, and has grown to include Lincoln, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram options. We look forward to continuing to serve the Brookings community for many years to come. Thank you and Happy New Year!

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Every day we see problems resulting from auto owners neglecting their tires. To help you save money and stay safe, we’ve crafted this blog post.

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Almost four tire-related accidents occur every hour, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. This fact is sobering and should serve as a reminder to all of us to take a few minutes to check tread wear and tire pressure. There are few vehicle maintenance jobs that are easier than tire maintenance, but many of us forget how very important it is to our safety and the safety of our families.

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If this fact isn’t enough to motivate you to check your tires regularly, consider the smallness of your tire’s contact patch. For most tires the area that contacts the road is a little larger than the size of your hand. Four hands worth of tire connect you to the road. So it makes sense to keep your tires in tip-top shape.

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Today’s tires are significantly safer than those produced a decade ago and have come a tremendously long way in the five decades Einspahr Auto Plaza in Brookings, South Dakota has been installing them. But, they still need regular attention. We want to share a few reminders about how to take care of your tires to help you save money and keep your family safe:

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• Check tire pressure regularly (at least once a month) and before going on a long trip, including the spare. According to a survey from the Rubber Manufacturers Association, only 9{83951c3c923d19e44167f79798e64c4aae41df40e53a089bc0d08f070d69866f} of vehicles have properly inflated tires, while 18{83951c3c923d19e44167f79798e64c4aae41df40e53a089bc0d08f070d69866f} of autos on the road today have at least one very under inflated tire.

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• Inspect tires for uneven wear patterns, cracks, foreign objects, or other signs of trauma. Remove bits of glass and other foreign objects.

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• Make sure your tire valves have caps.

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• Pay attention to performance changes. Don’t only rely on the appearance of your tires to identify problems. Be aware of other changes in performance, such as noise, vibration or “pulling” while driving.

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• Rotate your tires regularly every 5,000 – 8,000 miles.

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• Monitor tire thread.

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Trouble with your tires? Questions about your tires? Visit Einspahr Auto Plaza, call us at 605-692-6106 or go to http://einspahr.com/schedule-service

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