Celebrate the End of National Car Care Month
April is National Car Care Month, and we know what you’re probably thinking: why? It can be easy to forget, but outside of the El Paso area, most of the country has to trudge through long, cumbersome winters. Thus, April has become the designated time to recoup after the winter, handling any maintenance issues that may have gone ignored and making sure your vehicle is set for the rainy season ahead.
Although we don’t have to deal with as many issues as elementally-challenged car owners in the north and northeast, stormy weather is still right around the corner. That makes April the ideal month to inspect each component of your car, ensuring it’s in top shape for the year ahead. For your convenience, Casa Buick GMC presents this handy checklist of everything you should take care of as April winds to a close.
1. Check and/or Replace Your Tires
Our tires thankfully don’t get wrecked by winter weather, where each 10-degree drop can cause their air pressure to lose a full PSI. Nevertheless, checking the state of your tires is an appropriate way to kick off National Car Care Month. You should get your tires aligned at least once a year – which the trained technicians at our Service Department can handle for you. Check your air pressure to make sure your tires are at their optimal PSI, as indicated by the sticker inside your driver’s door. Lastly, check the wear on your treads; if they’re exhibiting significant wear or damage, we’ll help you find a perfect set of new tires for your vehicle.
2. Check Your Brakes
You should check your tires so you can get where you want to be. Conversely, you should inspect your brakes to prevent winding up where you don’t want to be. If you hear any squealing, squeaking, or other unusual, high-pitched noises emanating from your brakes, it’s time to schedule your service immediately. Squealing brakes are most likely a sign that your brake pads are thinning. Your brakes’ rotors, linings, and drums should all be thoroughly inspected. An ideal time to do this is during every oil change. Speaking of…
3. Get Your Oil Changed
It used to be that every 3,000 miles was the standard checkpoint to change your oil. Thanks to modern lubricants (who said technology was good for nothing?), that number has shifted to intervals of 5,000-7,500 miles. (That number can climb significantly higher if your car’s engine requires full-synthetic oil.) Although it’s convenient to have to change our oil less frequently, it also makes us more susceptible to forgetting about it altogether. Get in the habit of making April your regular time of year for a standard oil change.
4. Refill All Other Fluids
Your car is thirsty by nature, and it takes more than motor oil to satisfy it. Check your brake fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, coolant, and windshield washer fluid, refilling them to their recommended levels. As the heat intensifies this summer and storms develop, these various fluids will be vital to both your car’s health and your personal safety.
5. Clean Your Car
It’s spring-cleaning season – an exercise that shouldn’t be limited to your home. Give your car a thorough wash to relieve it from all this dry air. If you take it to one of our local car washes – such as El Paso’s Splash N’ Dash – be sure to take advantage of any available vacuums, cleaning out all the dirt and debris that might have accumulated over the past few months.
Take Care of Your Spring Maintenance at Casa Buick GMC
If this spring checklist seems daunting, don’t fear; you don’t have to tackle everything yourself. At Casa Buick GMC, our trained technicians are on standby to handle all your spring maintenance needs. From tire rotations to battery diagnosis, we’ll handle every service your vehicle requires in one convenient stop. Send April off the right way by taking your vehicle to Casa Buick GMC: El Paso’s National Car Care Month headquarters.
Expanding Horizons: The 2024 GMC Yukon XL
Americans are known for their desire to make things bigger and better. GMC has embraced this idea with its full-size SUV lines. The 2024 GMC Yukon XL is a prime example. Offered in five trim levels, your choices seem endless. We’ve assembled a synopsis of the features available with the Yukon XL to assist you in deciding which SUV will enable you to push the envelope of the activities available to you like never before.
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We really do take it for granted today. GMC has become so synonymous with American automotive strength that it’s easy to forget the manufacturer – like so many other twentieth century success stories – began with nothing more than a dream. In this case, the dream was shared by two brothers, who aimed to develop commercial trucks that could traverse every inch of the country.
At Casa Buick GMC, we have a deep admiration and respect for the historic building blocks that led us to GMC’s prestigious present. Today, we examine the early years of GMC, including their formation, acquisition, and wartime efforts.
The Formative Years: 1900 – 1912
Currently a division of General Motors, we’ve always associated GMC with the Detroit-based automotive manufacturing company. From 1911 to 1943, GMC was the General Motors Truck Company, and later operated as the GMC Truck & Coach Division from 1943 to 1998. But when the company was founded in 1900 by brothers Max and Morris Grabowsky, the GMC acronym stood for the “Grabowsky Motor Company.”
That original GMC name wouldn’t be long for this world. In 1902, the Grabowsky brothers built the Rapid: the first commercial truck operated in Detroit. Accordantly, they renamed their company the “Rapid Motor Vehicle Company.” Despite its rudimentary design, the Rapid caught the attention of Durant-Dort Carriage Company owner William Durant, who had previously overseen Buick’s ascension. Though the country didn’t realize it yet, Durant was constructing the architecture for what would become General Motors.
Durant purchased RMVC in 1909. Two years later, he also bought the Reliance Motor Car Company – another early commercial vehicle manufacturer. The two companies merged under Durant’s General Motors banner and changed their name to “General Motors Truck Company,” consolidating all GM truck production in Pontiac, Michigan and paving the way for the GMC we know today. By the time GMC made its debut at the New York Auto Show in 1912, drivers everywhere were craning their necks to witness the rise of America’s next great company.
Pressing on Through Wartime: 1914 – 1945
GMC’s momentum continued rolling into 1916, when commercial truck driver William Warwick loaded his wife and daughter into their 1.5-ton GMC truck and transported a shipment of Carnation Evaporated Milk from New York to Seattle and back. In doing so, GMC became the first truck to cross the country in under 32 days.
Unfortunately, World War I was well underway by then, and it had other plans for the young company. Like Buick, Ford, and the majority of American manufacturers, GMC put its domestic plans on hold and began shifting its focus towards producing military vehicles. By 1918, nearly 90% of GMC truck production was dedicated to military vehicles. In all, GMC provided the U.S. Army with over 8,500 vehicles throughout World War I – comprised mainly of troop carriers, aviation support vehicles, and ambulances.
The decades between wars proved fruitful for the enterprising company. In 1923, GMC trucks were sent overseas to Japan to aid the recovery and reconstruction effort following the Great Kanto earthquake. In 1926, General Motors began expanding into other modes of transportation, acquiring bus and taxicab manufacturer Yellow Coach and starting production on GMC buses. Yellow coach was rebranded as Yellow Truck & Coach Manufacturing Company, and all General Motors manufacturing operations were placed under it. In 1943, after purchasing the remaining interest in YT&CMC, GM renamed the company GMC Truck and Coach Division – which it would continue to be known as throughout the greater part of the century, until it was officially shortened to GMC in 1998.
When the United States joined World War II, GMC once more turned their attention to military vehicles. In contrast to the 8,500 vehicles they supplied to U.S. Armed Forces 20 years earlier, GMC would produce over 600,000 trucks for the war effort throughout World War II. After the war, GMC simply continued their work on expanded truck design they had begun in the 1930’s, which resulted in the company’s earliest SUVs: the GMC Suburban and GMC Yukon.
Become Part of the GMC Legacy Today
There’s so much more to GMC’s rich story that we’ll dive into another day: the introduction of the Sierra and the shift from commercial to personal use trucks in the 1960’s, GM’s rounded line truck series of the 1970’s, the sales explosion of the 1980’s, the Acadia’s debut in 2007… the list goes on.
For the time being, you can become a part of GMC’s history when you shop at Casa Buick GMC. From the 2024 Encore GX to the all-new Hummer EV, our inventory is loaded with the latest in new and pre-owned GMC trucks and SUVs. See for yourself how these vehicles pay homage to GMC’s past, while guiding it towards an exhilarating future.
A hands-free power liftgate, powerful engine, wireless phone charging, and room for the whole family are just some of the features our customers love about the 2024 Buick Enclave. This mid-sized SUV comes with many thoughtful features inside a stylish, luxurious package, and all trims give you the flexibility to choose between front-wheel or all-wheel drive models.
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The 2024 GMC Hummer EV is the perfect adventure-ready vehicle for environmentally conscious drivers. From bullet-train acceleration to loads of off-road features, here’s what to expect from this ride.
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The 2024 GMC Sierra 2500 HD offers enhanced safety, new technology, and impressive capabilities. Read on to find out more about the new Sierra 2500 in this comprehensive guide.
Read the rest of this entry »Does Your Buick or GMC Vehicle Need New Tires?
Making sure your car is equipped with good tires is necessary for safe driving. Tires wear down over time, however, so there comes a point when you will need to go to the GMC dealer for new tires. Fortunately, there are warning signs that your old tires are wearing out.
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The 2024 GMC Sierra 2500 is a powerful full-sized pickup with enhanced safety features and new tech capabilities. Read on to learn more about this latest model or visit your local GMC dealership.
Read the rest of this entry »Meet the 2024 Buick Enclave
An excellent model in the increasingly competitive segment of luxury SUVs, the 2024 Buick Enclave earns high marks and excellent reviews with its impressive cargo capacity, its comfortable and modern interior, and its many standard tech features. If you and your family are searching for a new high-end SUV to explore new destinations, the 2024 Enclave is an excellent choice. Get in touch with your trusted Buick dealer and check it out in person today.
Read the rest of this entry »Getting a New Car Battery for Your GMC or Buick
Your Buick’s battery will wear out in time, and your car will develop problems when that happens. The battery is essential as it provides the electrical charge that enables your engine to start. At your Buick dealer in El Paso, TX, we can repair battery problems or install a new car battery if you need one. These are a few signs that you have a possible battery problem.
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