CAR TIPS FOR THE AUTUMN SEASON

It’s a new year, with new possibilities and beginnings. We don’t think of how much we rely on our vehicles as an automotive-dependent society, and there's no quicker way to hate your daily drive than owning a cluttered vehicle. If you're one of those who drive a cluttered vehicle year-round, let’s resolve to turn over a new leaf. Seen below, check out some important annual car maintenance tasks to consider for 2021, because a well-maintained vehicle is a happy vehicle! CLEAN AND PRISTINE: It’s a great feeling when you slide into a clean vehicle. You are ready for the road! Let’s begin by emptying out the entire vehicle and putting back only what you’ll need. That should include an emergency kit. Your road emergency kit should contain an ice scraper, an extra pair of gloves, a hat, and a small... more blanket in a box in the trunk. These items are good to have if you have a tire blowout, especially during the winter season, you can stay warm while help is on the way. Also, keep a flashlight with fresh batteries handy for emergencies. HEALTHY RIDE: Performing monthly auto maintenance on your vehicle is a must, and you will pat yourself on the back in the long run. And the long run is right! Your vehicle’s engine will last longer and perform better and achieve a better fuel economy. So make sure your vehicle’s engine is properly lubricated and all fluid levels are at operating levels. Get routine oil changes and check oil levels frequently. Checking the oil every other time you get gas is a good rule to go by, or you can schedule a monthly reminder on your mobile device. TIRED TIRES: Don’t have tired tires and risk a blow-out on the road. It’s always good to have a tire gauge tucked away in the glove box of your vehicle. The recommended PSI (pounds per square inch) is usually between 30 to 35 for most tires. Check your owner's manual for how much you should air up your tires. Also, check the tread depth of each tire. You can purchase a tread depth indicator at your local tire or auto store, or there's always the old penny trick. Using a U.S. penny with Lincoln's profile on it, Insert the top part of Lincoln’s head (head down) into one of the tire treads. If you can see Abe's entire head, it’s time to replace that tire. If only a small part of his head is cut off, consider a replacement soon. If his entire forehead to his eyebrows is covered, you’re good to go. These are just a few suggestions for New Year’s Resolutions for your vehicle that will help you have a safer, happier motoring experience in 2021. If your vehicle needs service and maintenance, or if you’re ready to trade in for a new Buick or GMC vehicle, come see your friends at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC in Bentonville. Let us put your mind at ease and assist you with your automotive needs. See you soon! CLICK HERE TO CONTACT THE MCLARTY DANIEL SALES TEAM

Between the bugs, pollen, sap, oak-tree danglies, dive-bombing birds and everything else that the season brings about, springtime can be murder on your car, not only making it look bad but also potentially damaging your paint, chrome and more in the process. McLarty Daniel Buick GMC of Bentonville is here for you, though, with our tips on how to keep your car looking great no matter what Mother Nature throws your way this spring. Seen below, check out McLarty Daniel Buick GMC's tips on how to remove the various "Springtime Stuff" that might end up on your car. And if you car is looking a little tired, check out our huge inventory of beautiful new Buicks and GMC vehicles, and our great inventory of quality, low mileage huge cars. At McLarty Daniel Buick GMC of Bentonville, we're second... more to none, and we're eager to prove that to every customer. Stop in today or shop us online right now. BUGS: Bugs can be a real pest in the springtime if you're determined to keep your car looking its best, with some insects making quite a splat on the grille, windshield or paint of your ride. To make matters worse, some insects can be rather acidic when they go splat, potentially leading to discolorations or even faded spots in your paint if you leave them there too long, especially when coupled with rising temperatures. The best way to fight bug damage is proactively, buy washing your car every two weeks and being sure to spring for the wax. The wax creates a barrier between the world an your car's paint, allowing bugs to be wiped off easily. For those stubborn, stuck-on critters, use a microfiber cloth, a little mild dish soap, and some elbow grease. SAP: Trees are some of the biggest fireworks shows of spring, helping bring us the shade that can keep us cool come August. But trees are also a pain if you own a car. Depending on the species, trees that overhang your driveway or parking spot can begin to shed excess sap, and that sticky stuff can be a real pain to remove from your paint, and can even etch your car's clear coat if left on too long. As with our tip about bugs above, the best defense against sap is a good offense, keeping your car clean and waxed with a regular trip to the car wash. With a good coat of wax, sap will often wipe right off. For those more stubborn wax issues, you may have to bring in the big guns: Dampen the corner of a microfiber cloth with some rubbing alcohol, then carefully work at the sap drip until it dissolves. This may take two or three applications, but alcohol will usually lift most saps. Wash the spot afterwards with soap and water to remove any remaining residue. BIRD POOP: Birds are another welcome harbinger of springtime, with everything from robins to hawks to small, migratory songbirds adding their voices and colors to the riot of spring. While those birds give you an automotive assist by gobbling up a lot of bugs that might wind up on our grille or windshield with a splat, the unavoidable result is that when the birds gotta go, they gotta go, often right on your windshield or paint. Depending on how big the bird is and how long it may have roosted over your parking spot, the result can be an unsightly, smelly mess. While some ignore the bird poop speckles, that's not wise, as bird poop can be a nightmare for paint, especially darker paints, even causing the clearcoat layer to lift if left on so long. There's plenty of ways to remove those Avian Number Twos, but our favorite is available at any corner store: a sugar free Sprite or other no-calorie lemon-lime soda. The mild acid from the citrus in the soda cuts bird poop like magic, and the carbonation lifts it away. Just make sure it's sugar free! For best results, dampen a paper town with the soda and place it over the spot to soften it. Leave it five minutes, and the bird poo should be a thing of the past in no time. These three methods are proven to keep your beautiful springtime into becoming a drag. Give them a try and let us know what you think. And if your car, truck, van or SUV is looking less than springtime fresh, trade up! Come see us at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC of Bentonville for the best selection in our area of new Buick and GMC vehicles, plus our outstanding used car selection. We look forward to seeing you, at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC!

While Buick and GMC have been at the forefront of making vehicles safer for decades, we can all do better when it comes to vehicle safety, and nowhere is that goal more important than when it comes to our kids. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, car accidents are the leading preventable cause of death for children between the ages of 1-13. While child safety seat technology has advanced by leaps and bounds over the past 20 years, even the best car seat won't work as designed if it isn't installed and fitted properly to your child. Even for seasoned parents, properly installing and fitting a car seat can be something of a mystery. With that in mind, read on for McLarty Daniel Buick GMC's five car seat tips to help keep your littlest passengers safe. Together, we... more can do more to keep everyone safer on the highway. 1) KEEP CHILDREN REAR-FACING AS LONG AS YOU CAN: When you're on a trip, everybody likes to see where you're going. But when it comes to children and car seats, a rear-facing position is the safest and best is bad turns to worse. With that in mind, your child should stay rear facing until they are at least two years old and longer if their height will permit it. 2) WHEN THEY DO FACE FORWARD, USE A TETHER STRAP AND ANCHOR POINT: Like all vehicles sold in the U.S. since 2000, all four-door 2020 Buick and GMC vehicles feature heavily-anchored tether points in at least three positions in the rear seat that can be used to attach a child safety seat when it faces forward. In the event of a collision, using a tether and anchor point can decrease the amount your child's head can move, preventing brain injuries. 3) USE THE RIGHT HARNESS STRAP SLOTS: In the back of the car seat, there are usually six slots that allow the chest harness to be moved up and adjusted as your child grows. Using the right slot is crucial to your child's safety. In rear-facing seats, use the slots located at or just under the height of the child's shoulders. In a forward-facing seat, use the slot located at or above the child's shoulders. 4) MAKE SURE THE HARNESS STRAPS ARE SNUG: Kids may not like having their car seat straps snugged up, but it is crucial to their safety. With the child buckled in place, pinch the straps on each side at the child's shoulders. If there's any slack, the straps are too loose and should be adjusted. 5) MAKE SURE THE STRAP RETAINER CLIP IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE: While that rectangular plastic clip that holds the chest straps in place doesn't look like much, it's a lot more than decorative and important to safety in a crash. The clip should never be placed over the child's stomach or up near his or her throat. Instead, always place it at armpit level, with each strap flat and untwisted in the clip. Car seats are always a pain in the keister for everybody involved, but they save lives. By following these simple tips, you can make sure your child's car seat functions as it was engineered in a collision, turning what could have been a tragedy into a near miss. Worried your vehicle might not be safe enough for your most precious cargo? Stop in today at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC to check out our selection of beautiful, safety-rated vehicles today, or shop us online right now.