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How do I switch my Buick Verano to synthetic oil Does the latest statistics and conversation about synthetic oil have you scratching your head? What’s the difference? Why should I switch? How do I switch my Buick Verano to synthetic oil? These are all valuable questions that we hope to answer in this blog post. Read on to find out more about the benefits of synthetic oil. more There are lots of automotive people walking around talking about the benefits of switching to synthetic motor oil. Here are a few of them: It keeps your engine cleaner: Conventional oil can become a sludge as is gets dirtier which can decrease the efficiency of your engine. Synthetic oil is more pure and resists the formation of sludge. Increases engine life: Conventional oil loses it’s oily texture as it gets dirty and used. This means that the parts inside your engine are rubbing together and not protected. Synthetic oil retains it’s slippery abilities for much longer. Winter is no match for it: Cold weather makes oil much thicker and as a result, it doesn’t do it’s job very well until the engine is properly warmed up. Synthetic oil, on the other hand, works just as well in cold weather and keeps the engine running in top shape even in the midst of Wisconsin’s intense coldness. Less frequent oil changes: The synthetic oil stays cleaner, longer. This means that it can carry a car farther between oil changes. So, what is the problem and why don’t we all just use synthetic oil? Well here are a few reasons why it’s a big choice to make. Once you go synthetic, you can’t go back! It’s a one-time switch over, so you need to make the decision and stick with it! It’s more expensive than conventional motor oil. You get this oil changed less frequently, but when you DO change it, it costs a little more. It evens out, but with an engine that runs more smoothly and less frequent oil changes, it just about pays for itself! Synthetic oils cannot fix a vehicle that is worn out or running poorly. It works best on newer vehicles. Now, how do you make the switch? If you are considering switching to synthetic oil, bring in your vehicle to see the experts here at Palmen Buick GMC Cadillac. We will get your vehicle’s oil switched and make sure that everything else in your car looks good. Our team of highly experienced technicians are always prepared and will get the job done quickly and affordably.

how do you stop a dog from peeing while in the car There are some habits our furry friends pick up that drive us crazy. One of the worst ones is when they do their “business” in places they shouldn’t. So how do you stop a dog from peeing while in the car? We’ll give you some tips for the road! more What a mess! It can be a real pain when your dog pees in the car. Plus, the smell! We want to help you solve this issue, so we’ll give you some tips. Make sure, before starting to attempt behavior changing, that your dog doesn’t have urinary tract issues. This is a big reason why many dogs pee in the wrong places. However, if the problems only exist in the car, then it’s safe to assume it’s a behavioral issue. Scrub the spots in the car where the dog has previously had an “accident.” This is key because most dogs are willing to urinate in a place that they can smell. It’s best to remove any traces of urine. Remain calm during and before driving in the car. Often times, urination problems come from a dog feeling anxious, excited, or territorial. By calmly introducing the idea of a car ride, the dog has less reason to get all worked up and pee while you are driving. Another option is to get a snug crate for the car. Keeping your dog in a crate that is big enough for it to sit, stand, and lay down is important, but you don’t want to give them enough space to pee in a corner and sit comfortably away from it. As mentioned earlier, peeing can be a way of marking territory. A dog that can tell that other strange dogs were in their space is more likely to urinate to claim the area. Try to only let your dog in your car so there is no need to mark the territory. Finally, try and give your dog a distraction. What this means is to occupy them with something other than urinating or getting too excited. Giving them something to chew on is a great way to keep them busy. Just make sure that the distraction is a long-term one if you plan on driving for a long time! Well, that’s our list of tips! Have any you want to add? Feel free to leave them below in the comments! As always, the team at Palmen Buick GMC Cadillac wants to help you to have a safe and enjoyable driving experience. Happy travels!

can I put a car seat in a 2015 Buick Regal We have all been seeing the new Buick midsize sedan, the Regal, around lately. Scoring high with critics for its classy design and innovative 4-cylinder turbo engine, the Regal seems like the perfect combination of space and functionality. But we were left wondering, can I put a car seat in a 2015 Buick Regal? Cars.com did a test to help us find out! Read on to find out what they said. more The safety and security of children riding in a car seat is undeniable in today’s automotive world. Stories of parents who get into accidents with children who do not meet the qualifications to be in the car without a car seat or booster seat make it important to consider the safety of vehicles that will be the transportation of your family. We want to give you a little confidence in the 2015 Buick Regal’s safety features and car seat ability. There were a few distinct things that the testers at cars.com found were particularly helpful about the Regal. the leather seats are stiff, but the anchors for the car seats were positioned so they could be reached easily. the rear-facing infant and convertible seats both fit easily in the backseat. There was no extra effort necessary because there was plenty of space without having to move the front passenger seat forward. This one thing made it a little tricky: It can be difficult for young children to buckle themselves in because the buckles themselves sink into the seat when you are pushing the seat belt into the latch. Overall, the testing experts gave the latch system, infant-safety seat, rear and front facing convertible seats a grade of A. This means that they felt the seat and child had lots of space, and there was no problem connecting the latch and tether anchors. The Booster seats, however, was given a B for the difficulty a child would have buckling themselves in. Interested in taking an extremely safe and comfortable 2015 Buick Regal for a test drive in Kenosha WI? Give us a call or sign up for a test drive appointment online. We are always happy to answer any and all questions you have. Come in to see us today!

Luxury vehicles often seem made for their comfort and looks. Driving around in a speedy low-sitting convertible might be a great idea when it’s sunny and dry outside, but suddenly, winter arrives and brings with it a million weather conditions that would make a convertible anything but a luxurious experience. So, how does the Buick Encore handle in the snow? We’ll tell you what we found. more A more expensive car does not always mean a car that handles well in the snow. As we all know, many luxury vehicles are used as sparingly as our fine china. We don’t choose to wear our best clothes out to chop wood and we don’t drive our fancy cars in the winter slush. However, Buick has been working to make luxury an all-season option with their newest Regal and Encore models. Sitting on the inside of a new Buick, you might not be thinking to yourself that the car is made to handle the elements, but after test-driving the vehicles in the wintery conditions in Connecticut, there is no doubt that the Encore and Regal handle well in the snow. With the lighter weight and different setup, the Buick Regal rode well in the snow during any driving that was not taken to the extreme. High speed turns and drifting in the snow left the Regal with less stability and control, but the average driver would never be in such a trying situation. The Regal was described to handle excellently in the snow, thus making it an option for a luxury vehicle in all seasons. The other vehicle, the Buick Encore, handled extremely well in the snow. All-wheel-drive and a heavier weight was combined to give the compact SUV a more confident stance in the winter weather. It was impressively stable and snow-friendly. Are you interested in a luxury vehicle that can handle weather for all seasons and climates? If you are, there is definitely a few great reasons to choose a new Buick. Innovation and creativity has resulted in luxury that doesn’t force the driver to give up any of their winter freedom. Contact us or sign up online to come in and test drive a Regal or Encore at Joyce Buick GMC in Avon OH.

How Do I Fix a Vibrating Car? Have you ever sat behind the wheel of a car that shakes? It can be really frustrating to deal with the vibrating steering wheel. We all wish that our cars ran like when they were new, but after many miles our cars just start to show their age. So how do I fix a vibrating car? more First things first, a car that runs well is bound to be a safer car. Let's figure out why it's vibrating. That's half the battle! Do you feel the vibrating in your steering wheel when you are moving? If this is the case, your wheels might need to be balanced. A wheel that is off balance can make a lot of vibration. This is a cheap fix!  You might also want to try replacing your shocks or struts. If either of these things are worn, it can make for uneven driving and bouncing.  The vibration could also be hiding in your upper strut bearings. Most full-service tire shops can check and fix these (they are accessed from under the hood).  You should check and/or replace your ball joints, which allow the car to move up and down and side to side while also keeping your suspension tight. Shaking is unavoidable if these are worn out.  It might also do good to check and replace your tie rod ends. Since these are important in connecting your steering rack to the wheels, it can cause vibration if the wheels are even slightly going in different directions. Or Does your vehicle vibrate when you are sitting in idle? Check to see if you have a broken motor mount. A engine that isn’t mounted correctly will be moving around under the hood at low RPM.  You might also be having issues with the fuel system. Watch your RPM when you are idling again. If it seems erratic or drops very suddenly, this can cause shaking or vibration. Is it shaking when you are accelerating? Have your transmission fluid and filter checked. If you have low transmission fluid, it can cause your car to shake when you are speeding up. The same goes for the filter. Finally, you might have a worn universal joint. This is really obvious when you accelerate and should be fixed right away! Otherwise you might end up on the side of the road somewhere. Feeling your car shaking and don’t know what to do? Come in to see us at Palmen GM in Kenosha WI. We can service your car or help get you into a new or used vehicle right away!

New HD Video Streaming Rear-view Mirror An exciting development in the world of automobile technology gives the new Cadillac CT6 a big upgrade to the rear-view mirror. The full-size sedan that will be unveiled at the 2015 New York Auto Show will feature a new HD video streaming rear-view mirror that will change the act of checking your blind spot forever. more Cadillac CT6 drivers won’t be tasked with leaning over the back of their seat to see what is hiding in their blind spot. A switch at the base of their rear-view mirror will enable the mirror to become a streaming video of the rear of the car.  The benefits to this development include being able to see without passengers, headrests and the vehicle itself getting in the way. The new Cadillac would give the driver an estimated 300% increase in field of vision behind the car. To get rid of the chance that the upgraded mirror could be negatively impacted by weather conditions, there will be a water-shedding hydrophobic coating applied to the camera. This, along with the ability to reduce glare and see crisper images in low-light situations, makes the CT6’s mirror a real dream for any driver. While the mirror is being introduced on the Cadillac CT6 this year, the jump from mirrors to cameras for the more affordable vehicles cannot be far behind. For now, Cadillac will face regulatory hurdles in getting the system approved, but the technology is not foreign to the automotive industry. Cars in Europe are already being built with cameras in place instead of side-view mirrors. The US is catching up, and the CT6 is definitely a step in an exciting direction. The Cadilac CT6 will go on sale in the fall of 2015. If you have any questions or want to be one of the first to test-drive and own a Cadillac CT6, contact our friendly and professional staff at Palmen GM, in Kenosha WI.

You Need New Brakes Automobile technology shifts and changes from one day to the next. Despite all the recent advancements in the world of car safety, there are still a lot of people out there driving vehicles without the newest in brake technology. Read more here to find out why the NHTSA thinks you need new brakes. more The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has a list of recommended safety measures that all car designers must consider in the creation and testing of their vehicles. As of Thursday, the NHTSA took notice of the awesome advancements that have been made in the braking technology of newer cars and added crash imminent braking and dynamic brake support to their New Car Assessment Program. While these technologies have been available for a little while now, it is usually only a safety feature offered in the higher end vehicles. As the average person is not very often in the market to buy a high end vehicle, the NHTSA decided to recommend that these new brake technologies be included in all new cars, and not just the ones that cost an arm and a leg. This was done with the hope that safety features like this would be included in more affordable cars and would then encourage consumers to buy safer vehicles. Crash imminent braking, as its name suggests, uses sensors in the car to determine when a car is about to get into an accident. It then deploys the brakes if the driver has not already, to try and minimize the impact of the crash. Dynamic brake support steps in as a part of this system. Studies showed that often, when cars get into a crash, many drivers either didn’t have the chance to apply the brakes, or did not apply them fully. Brake support would collaborate with the crash imminent braking to make sure that if the brakes were fully, and not just partially, applied prior to a crash to minimize the impact. It won’t be long until the NHTSA makes these type of technologies more of a mandate than a recommendation, but for now we can be happy that someone is looking out for the everyday average joe.

When should you get your brakes checked? When it comes to vehicle systems that are most crucial for safety on the road, not enough can ever really be said about brakes. The problem is, it's one of those car problems we don't always detect in a timely fashion. Or maybe we sense that our brakes aren't as tip-top as they once were but we're putting off having them checked out at a service center because we think it's okay to ride it out a bit before things get bad. We strongly advise against waiting, as brake issues can be among the most dangerous to you and the other drivers with whom you share the road. When should you get your brakes checked? Here are some signs that it's time: more 1. You feel a pull toward one side while you're braking. 2. Your brake pedal needs to get pushed almost all the way to the floor in order to come to a stop, or you feel as though you're having to apply more pressure than usual when braking. 3. You hear any strange noises whatsoever when you step on the brakes. This might be a grinding, squeaking, screeching, clicking, or clunking. Whatever it sounds like, it means you need to have your brakes looked at. 4.  You feel a vibration or pulsating feeling when you apply the brakes. The key with all of these warning signs is to stay alert and have them looked at as soon as possible. If you ignore these issues, you run the risk of starting to get used to them and forgetting what healthy brakes feel like. That's not something we want you getting out of touch with! If you have any questions at all about whether your brakes are in need of replacement or repair, please schedule an appointment with the professionals here at Palmen Buick GMC Cadillac. We're here to help!

How to winterize your car It's that time of year again for us here in the Midwest when taking our vehicle out becomes less of a joy and more of a nerve-wracking necessity. That said, the Wisconsin and Illinois winter ahead of us doesn't need to be as dreadful as we may be making it out to be. Sure, it'll be cold and potentially unpleasant, but with a little planning you'll be able to make the most of your circumstances and feel like you're on top of your game. Today we're going to offer some of our top tips for how to winterize your car so that being out on the road is a safer and less stressful endeavor during the chilly months ahead. more 1. One thing that's easy to do here at Palmen Buick GMC Cadillac, if you'd like, is to have a winter check-up performed. What we'll do is go in and look at the various systems, in particular those fluids, belts, hoses, and battery, to make sure everything's running smoothly and ready to take on winter. Check out our coupons page for the most recent service deals. 2. Check your heating and defrosting systems. These are the types of things you don't want to get caught without while you're out and about, so test these systems early in the season. Have a friend help you check all of your lights as well to make sure everything's working properly for maximum visibility (a huge part of safe winter driving). 3. Tires, tires, tires. From tread to proper inflation, your tires play a major role in your winter driving safety. Whether or not you think you're due for a new set, definitely make sure your tires are in great working order before the major ice and snow is upon us. As far as pressure, make sure you're checking on that regularly, even if you have a tire pressure monitoring system built in to your vehicle. 4. Finally, make sure you've got an emergency kit in your vehicle that includes a charging method for your phone, extra warm clothes, rock salt or cat litter,  jumper cables, and flares.

When to move kids to seat belts General Motors, the company that makes our great cars, trucks, and SUVs here at Palmen Buick GMC Cadillac, has recently helped fund a study by the Safe Kids Worldwide organization that has helped to point out a pretty worrisome trend: that is, nine out of ten parents don't know the height a child should be before they ought to ride in a car without a booster seat. Do you? Today we'll talk about when to move kids to seat belts based on their height -- help spread the word! more The study, based on a national online survey of one thousand parents with children ranging from age 4 to 10, found that by and large, parents are taking their kids out of booster seats before they're tall enough. Maybe the kids get restless and start to ask to be taken out, maybe other parents are already starting to do so, or any number of factors could be contributing to the early shift to seat belts. In any case, it's important to make sure we have the correct information for optimal safety, and certainly any parent would agree. So what is the right height for moving your kids to a seat belt from a booster seat? According to guidelines, we know that seat belts aren't made to fit properly for a person who is less than 57 inches tall and between 80 and 100 pounds. If your child meets one of these standards but not the other, hold off on making the switch to seat belts. Safe Kids Worldwide is a nonprofit that aims to prevent unintentional child injury through a variety of accident and injury prevention measures, and education through studies like this one are a huge part of that effort. GM is proud to support Safe Kids Worldwide, and likewise we are proud to be a GM dealer. If you've got any questions about fitting your child safety seat, or whether it's time to move your child to a seat belt, please don't hesitate to stop in and ask us and one of our helpful associates will help you out!

Is the Cadillac CTS good in snow? Are you looking for a sedan that's got stamina as well as style, that can stand up to all sort of conditions while providing you with a smooth, reliable ride? Luxury shoppers will no doubt be looking at the Cadillac CTS, and with good reason. This gorgeous, technologically advanced model has been on the scene long enough to have developed a great reputation among high end car enthusiasts. But is the Cadillac CTS good in the snow? Drivers in the Kenosha area and throughout the Midwest won't want to commit to this car until they've found out how it handles in winter road conditions. more For your consideration, we think the following reasons are all part of what makes the Cadillac CTS a good pick for winter driving if you prefer to buy a car over an SUV or truck: Power and drive options: First of all, the CTS is available with all-wheel drive, which for many is a huge deciding factor in which sedan to opt for when they know they'll be taking on snow and ice. Delivering power to all four wheels gives many drivers and increased sense of control and confidence with improved traction. That said, even if you go for the rear-wheel drive, there are plenty of reasons the CTS is till a good pick. For example... Brembo brakes: One of the biggest challenges of winter driving is the ability to brake quickly and safely when it becomes necessary. The Brembo brakes with available Magnetic Ride Control make it easier to feel secure that you'll be able to stop when you need to. LED lighting: A big aspect of staying safe on snowy winter days is the ability to see -- and be seen. With crisp, smooth LED lights that benefit both your visibility and the ability of others to see you coming, everyone is that much safer on the road. To learn more about the Cadillac CTS models we have in stock or to find out why and how these are as winter road-ready as any sedan you'll encounter, get in touch with us today here at Palmen GM in Kenosha!

Taking a Car to College Aren’t you excited for what this upcoming year has in store for you? With a new college year coming soon, it is important that you plan ahead on how you are going to travel along day by day. Is it on a bus, with your parents or by yourself in your own car? If freedom is what you want, then check out what we have here for you at Palmen Buick GMC Cadillac, and learn about taking a car to college. more The more you know ... Well, first you need to know the rules of the game. Or better yet, the parking rules of your campus in order to avoid a ticket. Are you even allowed to bring a car to campus? Certain colleges only let upperclassmen bring automobiles as a matter of security so read up a little. Investigate and start your homework earlier. The more you'll enjoy this new school year. Now that you know whether or not you can bring your car, look for a map of your college and learn about the parking lot and space areas. This won’t be hard, we promise. You can easily obtain this information at the information desk or online, at the college website. This might be the most important of the steps, You have to sign up for a parking permit so that the campus security knows that your vehicle belongs to a student at their campus. Inform yourself on how much they can cost and where those permits will let you park your vehicle. All you need to do now is learn the areas around your campus. Know the routes! This is the best way to make sure that you will make it to class on time –  this and an alarm clock. If what you are looking for is to get a car for your upcoming year, don’t hesitate to give us a call! One of our expert sales representatives will be more than happy to assist you, talk to you about models, financing and even let you test drive some models! The fun doesn’t have to stop just because classes started - it has actually just begun.