Elysian Auto Service

  Is Your Vehicle Ready For The Holidays? Before we know it, Christmas and the New Year will be upon us! For a lot of us, that means extra miles on our vehicles.  Making sure your vehicle is ready to take on the fierce Minnesota winter and holiday travel is very important, and might help give you some peace of mind the next time you have to hit the road. Here are a few things you can do to ensure that your vehicle is in top shape and ready for the season: 1. Check your tires, make sure they are in good condition and have a tread depth of at least 5/32". Buying a set of winter tires is another good option, they contain a specialized tread that can help with traction.  2. Check your tire pressure and make sure they are up to manufacturer recommendations. The cold causes tire pressure to drop. 3. Test your battery, the cold is very tough on batteries. Especially pay attention to your cold-cranking amps, this is what will determine if your battery starts in cold temperatures....

Tips For Traveling With Pets Most of us own a pet that we love like a family member. Approximately 78% of Americans travel with their pets. For some pet parents, this can seem like a daunting task, and for others, it is as easy as can be. Here are some tips to help make traveling with your pet easier.  -Invest in a harness or some type of restraint. This will ensure that your pet is secured in case of an accident. The back seat is the safest place for pets. The front seat has an airbag which could cause injury.    -Portable food dishes. These are usually lightweight and packable, which means they take up less space. -Make sure they have an ID tag with up-to-date information. Have you recently moved or changed phone numbers? If your pet has a microchip make sure to update your info in there as well.  -You never know what traveling might bring, be sure to have extra cleaning supplies and towels along.  -Bring familiar or comfort items. Traveling can be very stress...

  4th of July Travel Tips Are you planning to put on some miles this 4th of July? Maybe taking a trip up north to the cabin? An estimated 42 million people are expected to travel somewhere this weekend. If you plan to leave on Friday, July 1st the best time to hit the road is before 10:00 a.m or after 9:00 p.m. according to Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst. It is best to plan ahead and anticipate running into traffic. Here are some tips for planning a successful 4th of July road trip: -Check your tires. Look at all 4 and make sure they are free from any slashes and have a safe amount of tread. Check your inflation, and make sure all your tires have adequate air. This will save you from an unplanned tire failure. -Do you have a full-sized spare tire? Did you know that traditional “donut” spare tires are only meant to be driven at slower speeds and for only a few miles? Basically, they are adequate enough to get you to the nearest gas station. Purchasing an extra tire when you ...