Maximizing Tire Life: Tips for Your GMC

Oil changes can be frustrating, but knowing when to get one is important in ensuring your car's health. Knowing when it's time for a car oil change is crucial and will limit the amount of time you need to spend servicing your vehicle. Here, we will discuss the most common signs that your vehicle needs car service in Carmel, IN. more Car Oil Change Light Some modern cars are equipped with a checking system to alert you when the vehicle needs an oil change. Older cars, however, may not be equipped with an oil change calculator. In that case, wait until the oil change light illuminates on the dashboard; when it does, look into getting an oil change as soon as possible. Odd Engine Noises Oil serves as a lubricant for car parts. It wets the parts of the engine that rotate to prevent metal-to-metal contact, so, with the right amount of oil, the engine should be quiet and without loud knocking sounds. If, however, your engine is making sounds that you don't typically hear, loud sounds of metal colliding, for example, this is probably a sign that your oil life is very low and your car should be taken for service immediately. Mileage Counter In the past, the general rule of thumb for getting an oil change was every 3,000-5,000 driven miles. With improved vehicles and synthetic oils, today, most cars can drive between 7,500 and 10,000 miles before needing an oil change. Research your car's oil capabilities, and count the amount of miles you have driven since the last oil change. When you reach your car's expected capacity for oil, it might be time to schedule an oil change. Black Exhaust Smoke A functioning exhaust pipe should be releasing translucent smoke, or if in cold conditions, white smoke. The white smoke that releases from your exhaust pipe is a mixture made of mostly water vapor. If the exhaust's smoke turns to a dark color, black or blue, for example, this could be a sign that your car has an oil leak or a lack of oil circulating through the engine. If you see a cloud of dark smoke, it is time to get your engine looked at by professional mechanics. If your car is showing signs of any of the four symptoms listed above, it is more likely than not that you are due for an oil change. Keeping your car regularly maintained is the key to a long-lasting, healthy vehicle. Is your car showing signs of a needed oil change? Contact us today at Ed Martin Buick GMC in Carmel, IN to schedule your car's service, and we'll be here to help with any additional questions.

The 2024 GMC Canyon stands out from the crowd of compact pickups. This rugged truck features a 310-horsepower engine that delivers 430 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Check out the four feature-packed trims to find your next great vehicle. more 1. Elevation The Canyon is ready for trail riding with its ultra-wide stance, 2" factory lift, and off-road-tuned suspension. The Elevation comes with standard rear-wheel or optional four-wheel drive, while all the other trims give you standard 4WD. It also incorporates convenient amenities like push-button start. Every trim comes standard with the Canyon Pro Safety Bundle. This driver assistance feature group includes front pedestrian and cyclist braking, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, IntelliBeam headlights, a following distance indicator, and forward collision alert. The Elevation model also features an 11.3" infotainment touchscreen with built-in Google apps and an 11" driver information center. 2. AT4 The AT4 and AT4X models prepare your truck for rugged terrain. These trims add hill descent control and red horizontal recovery hooks. With the ATX, you'll also get a 120-volt bed-mounted power outlet, a power-adjustable driver's seat, and a MultiStow tailgate with a hidden storage compartment. You can upgrade AT4 and higher trims with underbody cameras. The two base models are available with the Canyon Safety Plus package, which adds blind zone steering assist, rear cross-traffic braking, and rear parking assist. 3. AT4X The AT4X trim adds a more powerful alternator and an integrated trailer brake controller. You'll have an extra inch of ground clearance with this model. The Canyon AT4X provides extra safety equipment like rear cross-traffic braking, adaptive cruise control, a 6.3" head-up display, an HD surround-vision camera, blind-zone steering assist with trailering, rear pedestrian alert, rear parking assist, a safety alert seat, and off-road rocker protectors. This is also the only trim to come standard with the Trailering Package, which includes the hitch, pins, and connectors you need to tow up to 6,000 pounds. You can add this package as an option on other trims to unlock a maximum 7,700-pound towing capacity. The AT4X also features a standard in-vehicle trailering app. 4. Denali The Denali trim is enhanced with exclusive features such as 5" chrome rectangular assist steps. It also has a distinctive look with chrome mirror caps and door handles. The Canyon Denali adds blind-zone steering assist. You can also upgrade to the ​Black Edition for black ​assist steps, a black chrome exhaust tip, 20-inch black aluminum wheels, ​Black Edition badging, and all-weather floor liners. Get to know this go-anywhere compact pickup today. Visit Ed Martin Buick GMC in Carmel, IN to test drive your favorite trim.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Regular GMC maintenance keeps your vehicle working efficiently and reduces repair costs. Maintenance allows our technicians to identify small issues and fix them before they turn into potentially expensive problems. As your GMC dealer, we want to tell you about some examples of the maintenance we provide. more Battery Replacement A dead battery is stressful and annoying, but fortunately, it's preventable. Many drivers don't realize that the battery has a limited life. On average, your battery will work effectively for three to five years before it wears out. This limited lifespan is due to the natural breakdown of the battery chemicals that enable it to store and supply electricity. We can test your battery and give you a heads-up on its current and future condition. We'll hook it up to our computerized battery tester. This system tests your battery to identify any weaknesses or other issues. If your battery is in good condition, we advise retesting it in a year. If it's weak, we can replace it with a new one in minutes. Tire Maintenance Your tires are made from high-quality rubber but will eventually wear out. Tire rubber becomes less elastic over time, and this can cause it to crack and eventually leak. The tread gradually wears down due to friction, reducing tire grip on the surface and increasing braking distance. In addition, wheel balance or alignment issues can develop, causing further wear. We offer a range of services to extend your tire life. We can correct your tire pressure, as over or under-inflated tires suffer additional wear and tear. Our technicians can re-balance your tires by connecting them to our tire balancing machine. Wheel alignment problems can also be easily solved as our wheel alignment machine will adjust your wheels. When the time comes for new tires, we can fit and balance them for you. Fluid Checks Your vehicle contains many different fluids that keep the engine clean, control its temperature, enable the transmission to function, and force your brakes to engage. These fluids gradually degrade as time passes, and poor-quality fluids will impair your vehicle's performance. Some fluids, like coolant, will become corrosive and can cause engine damage. Some of the most important fluids in your GMC include transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and engine oil. Our technicians can easily test your fluids to ensure they're in good condition. We can drain and replace any old fluids and will also replace the fluid's filter if it uses one. Replacing fluids is inexpensive and helps your vehicle to work efficiently. If you want to know more about our other services, contact our service department today at Ed Martin Buick GMC in Carmel, IN.