Looking Ahead to Spring - For You and Your Car!

As we round out our winter season many of us are already looking forward to the warmer weather of springtime. Spring means warmer temperatures, blooming flowers, and hay fever if you are among the many with allergies! There are things you can do to help improve your comfort this spring and here are some tips relating to your vehicle. For the exterior of your car warmer days and higher levels of UV rays means abuse to your cars outer shell, your paint job! These Ultra Violet rays attack your vehicles paint and clearcoat to slowly begin to oxidize your car's paint job. But, There are ways you can help fight against UV rays and oxidation. The biggest key to fighting clearcoat depreciation is keeping your vehicle clean and most importantly using a high quality finish wax for best results.
"But what about my interior comfort" you might ask? Well for all you allergy sufferers out there many of todays vehicles are coming equipped with a filtration design for the cab of the vehicle referred to as the "Cabin Air Filter". Your Cabin Air Filter filters out pollen, mold spores and dust molecules to trap them inside the filter element and away from your eyes or nose.
This filter can be located in many different areas according to the different vehicle manufacturers. They are anywhere from behind your glove compartment to underneath your window cowling near your wiper blades. This filter is installed in the air duct system of your vehicle so all of the air coming through your heater and air conditioning vents first must be filtered through it. As these filter elements get full of contaminates it can begin to effect the performance of your heating and air conditioning system and reduce the volume of air coming from your vents. Also a common problem with these filters is that they are often located where they are pulling in damp or wet debris which will then sit in this dark place and begin to form mildew. So chances are that if you have a "musty" smell coming from your air vents, especially that first blast of air when you get in your car and turn on the fan, is probably related to mildew in the cabin air filter. At Express Oil Change & Service Center we will be happy to inspect your vehicle to see if your car came equipped with this option. Because this is a filter, it does need to be changed occassionally with most manufacturer's recommending 15,000 to 30,000 miles. We also make available a cleaning system or A/C Refresher service that will eliminate foul odors from A/C system, disinfect A/C evaporater assembly and deoderize and clean the vent system. We look forward to helping you make spring a breath of fresh air! Also visit us on Twitter @ExpOilChange.

Hunting for a Cure!

I want to take a moment to thank Express Oil Change Owners Jim and Mickey Johnson and Mickey's Daughter Jennifer Kotouch for being owners that care! Currently they have stepped up and taken a leadership role in trying to raise money and awareness for the Rotary Club Miracle Playground in Dothan, Al. The entire Month of January a portion of the money spent at Express Oil Change is being donated to this cause, but their love doesn't stop here. My wife and I are very thankful for Express oil Change and the entire Johnson family for always stepping up and being willing to help out those in need. Most recently they have impacted our lives with their donations to the CF Foundation (Cystic Fibrosis) which is a cause very close to home. Almost 15 years ago we were blessed with a wonderful son, Hunter, who was diagnosed very early with this disease. Through his life Hunter has been a fighter an inspiration and a true blessing to be around. He has fought through countless hospital stays, several surgical procedures, and most of all just the everyday fun things that children do, that he could not, to remain a strong teenager, a loving son and a very beloved brother to his little sister Payten! Hunter has done very well dispite his battle with his disease and manages to stay very active in school, church & sports as well. There are many small children in this world today that struggle for every breath and that don't know what it's like to play kickball and not be completely out of breath. Doctor's have made great strides over the years to help improve the lives of these kids and in their ultimate goal of finding a cure! It is through the love of people and companies such as Express Oil Change that these children can hold on to the hope of one day finding that cure. Each year in Dothan the CF Foundation has a charity walk to help raise money for research for a cure and this year Hunter is gathering his group of supporters to help him in this fundraiser. On April 24th, 2010 at the Kiwanis/Westgate Park we will be taking steps to cure Cystic Fibrosis with The Great Strides Fundraiser Walk. Here is a link to help support Hunter in his efforts and for all the children that fight this disease everyday http://www.cff.org/Great_Strides/MelanieWynkoop6782. Express Oil Change invites everyone to come walk with us this year. For details about CF or the CF Foundation go to www.cff.org. Again my family would like to take a minute and thank The Express Oil Change Family for their support and corporate sponsorship of this event. Don't forget that through the end of January every oil change at Express oil Change contributes money to the Miracle Playground park, because every child deserves a place to play! thank you and may God Bless you all.