Valencia Auto Center Blog

Mark May 15, 2011 on your calendars to be sure you won’t miss the 1st Gourmet Food Truck Fest and Classic Car Show at the Valencia Auto Center where food fanatics, car aficionados and practically the whole family in Valencia will be treated to a fun day filled with succulent gourmet cuisine, classic cars and music!  Over 50 mobile kitchens (and still counting!) have already signed up in this grand food and car event put together by the collective efforts of the Valencia Auto Center, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Foundation and in cooperation with , the City of Santa Clarita, Newhall Land and Farming Company, The Signal, and The Magazine of Santa Clarita.

Greatly inspired by the overwhelming success of last Food Truck festival , prepare your eyes and taste buds for this time, an even more awesome event will take place from 11am to 7pm on Creekside Road in Valencia where the whole street will be closed the entire day! For a nominal per-car fee, first-come first-served VIP parking will be available, which proceeds will go to the SCV Sheriff’s Foundation. You have got to be there when the top culinary masters teaming up on the Gourmet Food Truck Fest and Classic Car Show shows off their most mouthwatering gourmet servings that are quite a taste from various regions across the globe. There will be Thai, Italian, Hawaiian, Mexican, German, Cuban, Indian, Japanese menus and so much more waiting for everyone as you listen to the Masters College Swing Band and feast your eyes on the Classics, Muscle, Antique, and ALL YEARS of Historical, Special Construction, Race, Motorcycles, Emergency, Historical and Military vehicles on display.

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Keeping your car running in top shape is very important; your tires also need some attention once in awhile.  By rotating your tires at regular intervals will help keep them in balance and improve your handling, traction and even extend the life of the tire.

Most tire warranties require tire rotation to keep the warranty valid.  But one question most drivers have is “wind should I rotate my tires?” Tire manufacturers recommend every 3000 to 5000 miles even if they don’t show any wear. Most automobile owners change their oil every 3000 to 5000 miles, so depending on your oil change schedule if it’s 3000 miles you should rotate your tires every other oil change.  If your car requires an oil change every 5000 miles, you should rotate your tires and every oil service.

The advantages of rotating your tires on a regular schedule will keep them from wearing unevenly which will prolong the life of your tires. Depending on the type of car you drive tire wear can be drastically different.  On a family sedan that is rear wheel driven will experience a different way or pattern then a front wheel drive sedan.  SUVs usually require larger tires to carry more weight this can produce uneven where across the tire tread.  Depending on the driving habits and conditions SUV owners can experience an increased amount of tire wear.  So rotating SUV tires on a regular basis is very important for safety and tire life. Sports car drivers need to inspect the wear of their tires more often due to the increased speeds and suspension of the vehicle.  It’s a good idea to check your tires at every fill up to make sure they’re wearing evenly.  If you notice uneven wear you should have a professional inspect your car for potential problems that could cause a natural tire wear.

Having your tires rotated by a professional automotive technician by one of the factory authorized service centers in the Valencia Auto Center will not only increase the life of your tires but can also provide preventive maintenance at the same time.  When a factory trained automotive technician inspects your car they’re trained to look for abnormal wear and signs of potential problems that could save you thousands of dollars in repairs. This is just one reason why having your vehicle serviced by a factory authorized service center can help you keep your car running better and longer.

Get a Clean Smelling Car For Less

Having a clean smelling car all the time is definitely what every car owner longs for. Every spray bottle, every can tree of car freshener, which is available in almost every sweet-smelling scent possible, are bought and placed in care to keep it smelling nice everyday.

Save Money on Air Fresheners

The problem with these seemingly affordable air conditioners is that their scents fade after a week or so, forcing you to buy another one. In the end, this could actually cost you more. In this day and age when prices of almost every commodity seem to go up, you need to devise some creative techniques on making your car clean smelling all day, without spending so much. Here’s how:

• Quit Smoking – Bad habits die hard but must die nonetheless so if you must quit smoking, do it now. You will benefit not only added years to your life, but you get to get rid of foul-smelling cigarette smoke as well which your seats and carpet absorb.

• Clean Your Car – Get rid of all your junk especially crumbs in and under your seats. Stale food is usually the culprit to a horrible smell in cars.

• Use Dryer Sheets – They’re cheap and they last long. Be sure to place one under each seat.

Make Your Own Deodorizers

Homemade Air Deodorizer – Another smart and inexpensive idea is to concoct your own air freshener using craft felt paper, fabric glue, thread, scissors, puncher and essential oil. Follow these quick, easy steps:

1. Cut out 2 shapes of equal sizes out of the felt and punch holes for hanging;
2. Apply drops of oil at the center of both shapes and glue them together around the edges;
3. Attach thread when completely dry and you’re good to go!

Air fresheners will cover scents in your car, but the most important aspect of maintaining a great smelling car is to clean it. When you clean you remove the sources of foul odors instead of simply covering them up. If you maintain your car pretty well, a deep clean once a month should be enough to keep unwanted smells at bay.