Category: Auto

Scheduling Car Maintenance by Mileage

When it comes to taking care of cars, scheduling car maintenance by mileage is the simplest way to help ensure vehicles will run for years to come. Rather than wait for the engine light, planning for your car’s important milestones can prevent damage and prolong its lifespan. Pay attention to these mileage markers as queues for when to take action on aging or worn parts.

Maintenance every 5,000 miles

Get an oil change about every 5,000 miles and make sure to change the oil filter as well. Check the owner’s manual for the exact recommendation on type of oil to use and how often to change it, which can range from every 3,000 to 5,000 miles depending on age, make and model of the vehicle. 

Maintenance every 10,000 – 30,000 miles

Every 10,000 miles, rotate the tires on the car. If you continue this habit, you may get more use of your tires by prolonging the life of the tire tread. Around the 30,000 mile mark, change the filters in your vehicle. Replace both the air filter and the fuel filter as they can get clogged and cause harm to your engine. 

Maintenance every 40,000 – 50,000 miles

Most manufacturer’s warranties expire after 36,000 miles, so it’s important to take a look to ensure the systems typically covered under these warranties are working properly. This could include a checkup on heating and air conditioning systems, suspension and brakes around the 40,000 mile mark. 

Around 50,000 miles, it may be time to begin replacing any worn parts. The brakes may require a closer look at the pads, rotors and fluids to avoid faulty performance. Check in on how the battery in the vehicle is performing at 50,000 miles — it typically requires changing around this time as well. Closely monitor the transmission fluid near this mile marker as it will likely also need to be changed at this time. Low transmission fluid can cause problems with shifting gears and could burn up the transmission.

Maintenance every 60,000 miles

Once you reach the 60,000 mile mark, check in on various hoses, valves and belts for wear. It’s critical to replace these parts when worn, as they may cause trouble for the vehicle if left as is. Items such as power steering fluid, timing belts and the hoses that carry coolant through the car all fall into this category of maintenance. Additionally, it’s likely time to replace spark plugs and install new tires. 

Maintenance every 100,000+ miles

At 100,000 miles, it’s likely time to add high mileage coolants and spark plugs to match this high mileage milestone. Make sure to schedule a thorough inspection of major parts such as the transmission, water pump and other components. Again, replace any worn parts that may show up in this inspection. 

Whether you’re driving a new or used vehicle, scheduling maintenance ahead of these major milestones can help contribute to smooth operations for your vehicle. A good auto policy can also help ensure your car is covered through the years. We offer customizable policies to make sure you have the right coverage for your vehicle’s age and wear. Contact an agent today to find a policy that fits your lifestyle.

Assemble a Roadside Emergency Kit

From unpredictable weather to unexpected emergencies, there are many things that could leave you stuck on the side of the road when traveling from point A to point B. No matter how short the distance you’re traveling, keeping a roadside emergency kit in your vehicle can help give you peace of mind. Follow these steps to assemble one of your own, and make sure to take routine inventory. 

Emergency Kit Supplies

A first aid kit is essential to have in your vehicle in case of an injury while on the road. Consider assembling your own kit or buying a pre-made kit. Use the American Red Cross guidelines to ensure your kit includes all the essentials. Some other emergency kit supplies you may want to keep in your vehicle include:

  • Bottles of water
  • Nonperishable food items
  • Blanket or sleeping bag
  • Matches
  • Phone charger

Vehicle Tools

Your vehicle will need its own toolkit in case of a roadside incident, like a flat tire or dead battery. You may be able to buy a vehicle toolkit or you can compile one of your own with these necessary items: 

  • Jumper cables
  • Tire pressure gauge
  • Work gloves and rags 
  • Flashlight and batteries
  • Hazard triangles or warning lights 
  • WD-40
  • Tow rope
  • Fire extinguisher 

Severe Weather Supplies

Extreme weather events can happen suddenly and pose some serious risks if you’re unprepared. Should you find yourself facing freezing temperatures, ice or tornadoes while on the road, you’ll want to have these items stored and ready in your vehicle: 

  • Warm, waterproof boots
  • Hat, scarf and gloves
  • Antifreeze
  • Ice scraper
  • Shovel 
  • Road salt or sand

Keeping these items in your vehicle will help ensure you’re prepared for roadside emergencies, but you’ll also want to make sure you have auto insurance that offers you the protection you need. Contact your OKFB agent to discuss your auto policy and see if you may be eligible for our roadside assistance policy addition. 

New Year Annual Insurance Review

As you kick off the new year, one resolution should be to ensure you have the proper insurance protection for the year ahead. Policyholders often treat insurance as something to simply check off and forget about. However, your policies are more valuable than that.

Your policies are protecting you through miles on the road, unpredictable tornado seasons and all of life’s ups and downs. They require updates regularly to adapt to the changes in your life. What better time for this than at the beginning of the year? An annual insurance review will help ensure your policies are up-to-date and provide the protection you need. It can also uncover discounts that you may be eligible for. 

Check out this list of common changes that could require an adjustment to any one of your insurance policies. Talk to your agent to schedule your annual insurance review today: 

  1. You may need to update your Auto policy if you’re driving significantly more or less than you were in previous years, if your vehicle is aging or if you have passed it down to a child.
  2. Consider updating your Home policy if you added high dollar personal property to your home inventory, if you installed a pool, if you completed home improvements or added on to your home size.  
  3. You may need to update your Life policy if you added or lost members of your family recently, if you experienced changes in your health, if you changed jobs or your family’s cost of living increased or decreased. 
  4. Consider updating your Farm & Ranch policy if you expanded operations or added new equipment, if you’re using certain machinery or vehicles more often than usual or if you’ve increased your livestock inventory.

We’re here to help

If something has changed in your life over the past year that isn’t reflected in your current policies, talk to your OKFB agent today to schedule an annual insurance review. Life changes fast, this annual review will help make sure your insurance keeps up.

Don’t forget to follow us on social media! This kind of information and more is just a click away. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

Road Safety with Farm Equipment

Harvest season is here, which likely means an increase in farm equipment on the roads. Whether you’re driving a tractor or sharing the road with one, it’s important to know how to safely navigate with and around various farm equipment and vehicles. Follow these safety tips to help prevent accidents on the road this season. 

Safety for farmers and ranchers

  1. Make sure all your lights and flashers work properly before getting on the road. Doing so will allow you to use the necessary warning lights and slow-moving vehicle signs when driving your equipment. This is important because it helps other motorists see you down the road so they can slow down and use caution when approaching. 
  2. Be mindful of your equipment — ensure everything is strapped in and balanced, and know the height and width of your equipment to avoid disrupting low-hanging power lines and other hazards that may be near the road. 
  3. When possible, avoid well-traveled roads during high-traffic and don’t travel before dawn or after dusk. 
  4. Use your signals to communicate with other drivers, and always take precautions when traveling on gravel shoulders or narrow bridges. 
  5. Lastly, obey all the normal traffic laws. 

Safety for other drivers

  1. Be aware of slow-moving vehicles. Farm equipment must travel much slower than the average vehicle — between five and 15 miles per hour. 
  2. Watch for signals coming from operators of farm equipment. They may communicate with you about when it is safe to pass, so it’s important to pay attention to their signals. 
  3. Tractors and other farm vehicles need lots of room to operate. They take wider turns and might have to use both lanes to complete a proper turn. To help accommodate this equipment, make sure to give it plenty of room. 
  4. Don’t abruptly pull in front of farm equipment and then slow down suddenly. It’s much more difficult for the large, heavy equipment to slow down quickly. 
  5. Always pay close attention when sharing the road with farm equipment. Avoid any distractions and be attentive. 

Whatever you’re driving this season, OKFB can provide the right coverage for your vehicle. Check out our auto policy lineup to find customizable coverage that fits your lifestyle. And, while you’re at it, take a look at our farm and ranch line, too. 

If you’re not sure where to start, try out our new instant auto quote form. It’s a quick, easy process to get you on your way to the coverage you need.