Blog | Lev Kia of Framingham

We enjoy informing drivers like you at Lev Kia of Framingham. Let's talk today about a fascinating and useful automobile feature, auto-dimming rearview mirrors. They help you drive safer at night.

Between dusk and dawn, we have all experienced other drivers' headlights reflecting off our rearview mirror and distracting us. Auto-dimming mirrors solve this problem. They also prevent a related issue, the Troxler Effect or post-glare blind spots.
 

 

The terms oversteer and understand are terms to describe the way that a vehicle responds to the steering mechanism as it relates to the dynamics. As the name implies, oversteering is when the vehicle turns more than the driver initiates while understeering occurs when the vehicle turns less than the driver commands would expect.

Oversteering is more likely to occur in vehicles that are equipped with rear-wheel-drive. Conversely, understeering is more likely to happen when driving a front-wheel-drive vehicle...
 

 

If you drive in winter conditions, having winter tires on your vehicle could allow you to have more traction in cold, snowy, and icy conditions. Winter tires are made from a softer compound than all-season ones and are more flexible under colder conditions. This, combined with the deeper tread designed to deal with snow and water, can allow the tires to grip more effectively in difficult conditions.

To further improve traction, winter tires are made with a tread with more biting edges and higher sipe densities. These tiny little slits in the tread allow the tires to grip better on…

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…

The Fall season brings a return to the routines of school and family driving. For some families, it means sending an older child off to college with a vehicle. Whether home or away, basic school maintenance is critical for car performance and safety. Back to school auto care includes oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, and coolant. With ice and snow in the near future, vehicles need a supply of windshield wiper fluid.

Framingham drivers know the benefits of an organized plan or vehicle maintenance. The back to school season is an opportunity to prepare for the cool weather of Autumn…