Blog | Lev Kia of Framingham

Your car's battery performs at its best when it maintains 80 degrees Fahrenheit temperature. Extremely cold or warm weather causes this perfectly balanced temperature to fluctuate, which is bad news for your battery. Extreme heat causes the chemical activity in your battery to accelerate while extremely cold temperatures cause your battery to run slowly.

During seasons when the weather is cold, warm up your car before going somewhere, but make sure you're not warming your car up in an enclosed garage. Make sure your garage is clear of debris, such as trash and storage items.  

When winter comes, it is important to have your vehicle prepared for snow and ice. At Lev Kia of Framingham, we try to help our consumers prepare for harsh road conditions. When it comes time to choose your next set of winter tires, there are three performance categories.

Studdable winter and snow tires are manufactured to provide drivers with maximum traction on ice with an optional metal stud. You can use these tires without the stud for driving on the snow, but it is best to have the stud in place when you are driving on the ice. 

A motor oil's viscosity is a measure of how fast it moves. Generally speaking you want oil with a higher viscosity when the engine is warm. This is because oil will get thinner as it heats up. Therefore, it needs a higher initial viscosity to ensure proper coverage of engine parts.

Conversely, you want a lower viscosity oil when the engine is cold because it will flow fast enough to avoid becoming too thick. On a bottle of motor oil, the first number that you see is the viscosity when the engine is cold. The second number is the…

There are a number of warning signs that your car tires are going to need to be replaced soon. Here are a few signs your car tires need replacing.

One issue you should be concerned with is low tire tread. Not only could the tire blow out at any point, the treads have a more challenging time being able to grip the road.

If you see cracked tires, don't put this off a second because it might be the tire is defective and will fail at any moment.

With wear on one side and not the other of the…

Your vehicle needs fresh air for its engine to run well. The engine's air filter provides optimal engine performance and fuel combustion. The cabin air filter keeps the air fresh and clean for you and your passengers.

It will be visible when your filters become clogged or dirty. You'll notice reduced air flow in the cabin and more noise than normal when the fan is running. Your vehicle's acceleration may be slightly reduced.

Be prepared. The filters keep out dust, mold spores, pollen and more. When they are visibly dirty or it's time to replace them…

One of the most important components to a vehicle are belts and hoses. These are devices that hold the entire care together, and they also help the vehicle turn, brake, and release power. It is important that all belts and hoses remain in good condition at all times.

Many people do not realize they have a problem with their belts or hoses until their vehicle starts making weird noises. Another indication that there is a problem with the belts and hoses is when the car is stalling, but many people think hundreds of other parts of the car at this…

There are certain times when you have a roadside emergency and someone decides that they want to help. There are a few things to make sure that you remain safe in this instance.

One thing to do when someone asks if they can help is keep the doors unlocked. Also, if you are unable to call for help, tell them to call for help. Also, when you are faced with a problem where you have to get out of traffic, activate your emergency lights. This will get traffic to open up a bit so that you can get to the…

Because your vehicle's engine is made up of a variety of electrical components, it can be hard to tell what's wrong when the engine won't start. Although many think it's the battery, it could be a sign that your ignition needs to be serviced.

Freewheeling happens when you try to crank the engine and only hear a whining sound. This could mean that the flywheel isn't engaging correctly with the starter gear. In these circumstances, it is imperative to have your vehicle serviced immediately because you may need a starter replacement. A grinding noise is…

When figuring out when it is time to change your tires, there are a lot of factors to look at. Not all of them are going to be very obvious. When determining when it is time to change a tire, one thing you have to look at is the depth of the treads. In order to find out how deep the tread is, you should test it.

One way to test the depth of the thread is with the use of a penny. The determining factor is Lincoln's head. Hold the penny upside down and place the penny on…

One of the easiest ways to protect your vehicle from getting scratches and dings is to use a car cover when it is parked. We at Lev Kia of Framingham are big supporters of car care because it helps keeps your car looking new and well maintained.

A car cover will protect your car from looking faded and the interior from getting cracks and looking worn over time. You will also save money on repairing dings and scratches that happen when your car is parked. Trips to the car wash will decrease as well!

Theft is also a concern for…