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 elemental nuisances as car owners in the north and northeast, the stormy summer months are 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 Lincoln has prepared this handy checklist of maintenance tasks you should take care of as April winds to a close.
1. Check and/or Replace Your Tires
Our tires thankfully don’t get affected 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 Center 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 showing 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, inspect your brakes to prevent winding up where you don’t want to be. If you hear any squealing, squeaking, or other irregular, 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, 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. To ensure it doesn’t slip your mind, make 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 quench 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 instrumental 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 Lincoln
If this spring checklist seems daunting, don’t fear; you don’t have to tackle everything yourself. At Casa Lincoln, our trained technicians are on standby to handle all your spring maintenance needs. From tire rotations to parts replacement, we’ll handle every service your vehicle requires in one convenient stop. Celebrate National Car Care Month the right way by taking your vehicle to Casa Lincoln: El Paso’s most-trusted Lincoln dealership.
The History of Lincoln at the Movies
When you think of Lincoln and their relation to media culture, one famous face probably leaps to mind: Matthew McConaughey. Since the actor’s pre-McConaissance role in the 2011 film The Lincoln Lawyer, the Oscar winner and his distinct drawl have become entwined with the Lincoln brand. In the series of commercials McConaughey filmed since, he’s presented Lincoln ownership as a confidently cool experience.
And yet Lincoln’s cinematic history extends well beyond the True Detective star’s endearing endorsements. Here are five times when Lincoln and the world of movies have memorably collided.
The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)
The Lincoln Lawyer and its aforementioned star may not be the end-all-be-all when it comes to Lincoln in modern cinema… but it’s certainly the place you’ve got to start. McConaughey stars as Mickey Haller, a lawyer who operates, aptly enough, from the back seat of his 1986 Lincoln Town Car. That means we get plenty of shots of the Lincoln’s luxurious interior, as Haller begins to suspect his client is more guilty than he’s letting on. The film was a key part of McConaughey’s career revitalization and unofficially launched his ambassadorship with Lincoln. Today, Mickey Haller’s adventures continue in Netflix’s Lincoln Lawyer television adaptation, which is currently prepping its third season.
The Hangover Part III (2013)
A 2003 Lincoln Town Car stretched limousine made a cameo appearance in the first installment of this Vegas-set comedy trilogy. But it’s the third movie where Lincoln’s luxury limo moves into the spotlight, highlighted by madcap chase scenes through the neon-drenched Vegas streets. Considering Lincoln retired the Town Car in 2011, this may be the final time (period pieces aside) where we get to see the Town Car stretched limo in action… or at least until The Hangover Part 4 inevitably arrives way too late.
The Car (1977)
Reaching back a bit further into the archives, the titular Car in 1977’s The Car is a demonically possessed 1971 Lincoln Continental Mark III. Four separate Continentals were built for the supernatural horror film, which involves the unmanned Lincoln going on a murderous rampage in a small town. Influenced by road movies of that era, including Spielberg’s Duel and Roger Corman’s Death Race 2000, the James Brolin-led film was panned by critics at the time, but has amassed somewhat of a cult following. More importantly, its villainous vehicle helped bring Lincoln into the mainstream.
The Long Goodbye (1973)
Robert Altman’s satirical neo-noir The Long Goodbye is based on Raymond Chandler’s 1953 novel of the same name. Iconic private investigator Philip Marlowe – portrayed here by Elliot Gould – is investigating his wife’s murder, as neo-noir private investigators are wont to do. To crack the case, Marlowe makes several trips to and from Mexico in a 1948 Lincoln Continental Convertible Cabriolet. Interestingly, Altman moved his adaptation from the book’s 1940’s Hollywood setting to the 1970’s, but kept the 1948 Continental – perhaps as an homage to the classic noir aesthetic.
The Matrix (1999)
After would-be chosen one Neo opts for the red pill in 1999’s groundbreaking sci-fi hit The Matrix, things get pretty dark pretty fast. What better vehicle to convey Neo’s troubled mental state (and future wardrobe) than an imposingly black 1965 Lincoln Continental? The fourth-generation Continental features prominently as Neo’s pre-flight mode of transport, using it throughout the second half of the film to evade Agent Smith and his viral cohorts. It’s also where he and Trinity make their proper introductions. Earlier this year, The Matrix celebrated its 25th anniversary, giving you the perfect excuse to watch a movie you should be rewatching every year anyway. (Whether or not you need to give the sequels another shot is more debatable.)
Write Your Own Script at Casa Lincoln
Though we’ve given you a broad range of films, we’ve barely touched upon the Lincoln’s full filmography. Lincolns play main or supporting roles in the Sean Connery-starring 1964 Bond flick Goldfinger, 1978 cult classic National Lampoon’s Animal House, and 2012 Dax Shepard comedy Hit and Run. Lincoln’s ubiquity has also carried into the world of television, where Lincoln has turned up in everything from the 1960’s Batman series to more modern fare like HBO’s Entourage.
At Casa Lincoln, we’ll pair you with the perfect scene partner with our award-winning collection of new and pre-owned vehicles. Schedule your test drive today and explore the 2024 Lincoln Corsair, a versatile SUV designed for modern convenience. Or shop the all-new 2024 Lincoln Navigator, the powerful SUV enjoying its most expansive list of features yet. Whether you’re driving around the city or taking a trip up I-25 towards Albuquerque, Casa Lincoln will help you script your next epic automotive adventure today.
