If you’re like anyone else in this day and age, you’re interested in saving money and also in increasing your vehicle’s fuel economy. It’s okay, there’s no shame in that! The two definitely go hand in hand, as when you have better fuel economy, you don’t have to fill up your tank as often, which saves money! So, how can you manage this? We’re definitely not all electric vehicle drivers – but the secret is that you don’t have to be one to get better gas mileage. Keep reading for our tips!

• Don’t speed. It decreases your mileage tons based on your speed, because of acceleration and deceleration. Tons meaning that for every five mph over 50 you go, you’re paying about 10-20 cents more per gallon of gas. It adds up.

• Have patience and focus on safety, because when you are focused and attentive to the road, you tend to drive more safely. Try coasting to a stop when you see stopped cars ahead of you. It’s not only safer but also saves you gas!

• Rear racks are infinitely better than roof racks in terms of fuel economy. The latter really increases drag and decreases your aerodynamics, which affects your efficiency.

• Idling is worse than stopping. If you’re gonna be hanging out somewhere in your car that’s not a stoplight or stop sign, turn your car off fully. Idling is both bad for your fuel economy and for the environment!

• Cruise control is the best invention. Seriously, it fully eliminates the extra accelerations and decelerations that happen when we’re driving down the highway that can accumulate into poor fuel economy. It also keeps you going at a consistent rate of speed, which is excellent when everyone else is going either 80 or 20 and can’t choose between the two. You’re better than that, friend.

Do you ever enter the parking lot with a sense of dread? Do you hate being in the parking lot, whether you’re a driver or a pedestrian, because of the rude and seemingly incompetent drivers that you are forced to share space with? Well, good thing for you, we have put together a list of the most important elements of parking lot etiquette. Share this with everyone you know – maybe we’ll start a parking lot revolution and soon it will be a joyful place instead of a scary one!

First, you should make sure you park straight in the parking space. Make sure that your vehicle is not only straight in the parking space, but also centered in it. If your vehicle is crooked, it’s harder for not only you but the drivers on either side of your car to get in and out of their own vehicles. It also puts your vehicle at risk of dents, scrapes, or other minor injuries from people impatiently looking and saying “ever seen a straight line before?” before callously opening their doors into your car.

Don’t take up more than one space. If you have a newer car and don’t want to risk your crystal clean and ultra perfect new paint job, park further out where there are fewer cars. Don’t be selfish and keep someone else from a closer spot just because of your paint! If taking up two spaces is just the result of a poor parking job, just pull out and straighten out. Another thing to remember is that if you’re driving a larger vehicle (i.e. a truck), a lot of parking spaces are measured out for smaller vehicles that are narrower than yours. If you find this to be the case in a spot, your best bet is to park farther out so that you have the space you need.

You should really take turns waiting for a parking spot. Don’t The Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift into a spot in front of someone who has been waiting for it longer than you! That is just plain rude and can lead to angry driving which in turn can lead to accidents in the parking lot. You will find another open spot, and you’ll be safer for your patience. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson would NOT be proud of you for doing that, either, which honestly for me is enough of a reason to never, never do that thing ever again.

When you’re a pedestrian, make your intentions clear. Don’t walk down the middle of the aisle, and make sure you stay on one side of the aisle. Let the cars driving around the lot know where you are and what you plan on doing, so they have one less thing to worry about and so you don’t put yourself at risk of being hit. If someone is driving a super quiet car, you might not be able to hear them. So you should just assume that there are silent cars around you at all times and walk accordingly.

As winter approaches and the weather gets colder, we’re starting to drive with our windows closed more often. That means that we’re using our air vents more often as well, which in turn means that if there’s a stink, you’re gonna smell it. Here’s our tips for making sure your air vents are clean and stink-free so you can smell the freshness all winter long!

First of all, vacuum out the vents with the hose part of your vacuum. This will get dust and debris out of there, which will also decrease the allergens floating around your car. This means less sneezing while driving, yay! Don’t forget to do ALL the vents, especially the one up front next to your windshield. We tend to forget this one.

After vacuuming, use a cloth dampened with water or an all-purpose cleaning solution to clean the vents out. You can also use a Q-tip or cotton bud dampened with the same solution to really get in there and clean out all the cracks and crevices. Be prepared to go through a lot of these.

Run your air system on high with all the windows down (and the A/C off!) for a few minutes to dry everything out, both in your vents and in the A/C evaporator tank. You should also take a look at your cabin air filter. Your owner’s manual and dealer will know how to do this, and if it’s dirty and needs replacement, it’s an easy and inexpensive thing to do.

Finally, and this is only for that little bit of extra pizazz, find your favorite scent of air freshener, stick it somewhere (I prefer the ones that clip onto your vents) and there you go! A fresh-smelling, clean-vented car!

So, you know that your vehicle has a lot of fluids that need regular checking, right? RIGHT??? If you don’t, consider yourself schooled. Especially with winter coming, you’re going to want to be intimately familiar with everything under the hood of your vehicle, even if it means getting your hands a little dirty. For those of you who don’t know the ins and outs of every fluid that’s running through your engine, here’s a quick primer and guide for how to make sure everything is running well and copacetic.

1. Engine oil. This, if anything, is what your vehicle absolutely cannot do without. The engine oil keeps everything lubricated and moving easily, and it also removes residue and prevents buildup in your engine. If there is a lot of, well, gunk, in your engine, your car will not perform as well as it can. The way to check the engine oil is to locate the dipstick, which is usually a little yellow handle that’s labeled “engine oil” near the engine and to pull it out. Wipe it clean with a paper towel or clean rag, dip it in again, and then pull it out and look at it. Make sure that the oil is at the middle of the two markers on the end of the stick. If it’s low, you can top up the oil yourself. Make sure you’re using the right kind of oil by checking your owner’s manual or asking your dealer. If it’s a little high, that’s fine. Your dealer will tell you when you need to change your oil, but you should be checking your oil at least once a month to make sure everything is okay under the hood.

2. Coolant. Near the radiator is a clear overflow plastic container. The coolant level can be seen through the plastic, and there will be a line that indicates the level that the fluid should reach. Make sure it’s at this level – if it’s not, take your car into the dealer or garage and have them top it up for you with the correct coolant for your vehicle.

3. Power Steering Fluid. At the base of your windshield is a small tank that contains your power steering fluid. This makes it easier to steer your car, believe it or not. Without this fluid, the steering mechanism will not work properly. The level of this fluid should be between the minimum and maximum levels indicated on the tank.

4. Brake Fluid. This is located in a clear reservoir with minimum and maximum lines marked on it. Fill it up with clean, new brake fluid if the level is low, but if it is low you should watch it closely and have the system checked. Low brake fluid could mean that there is a leak in your system or that your brake pads are wearing down.

5. Windshield Washer Fluid. The most basic of them all. Make sure that your washer fluid tank is full at all times. In the winter, this can be useful for helping to defrost your windshield, and in the summer the fluid can reduce glare from the sun and clear off dust and pollen from your windshield, making it easier for you to see where you’re going!

Here at Younger Nissan, we have six awesome specials that are here for only the month of October! Sure, you might be thinking only about going apple picking, choosing the perfect pumpkin, and how best to Instagram the fall wreath you made from that Pinterest DIY – but you should also be thinking about how now is the perfect time to drive home a brand-new Nissan from Younger! Check out what our specials are:

• 2017 Nissan Sentra S – buy for $15,108 or an $89 a month lease

• 2017 Nissan Altima 2.5 S – buy for $19,147 or a $119 a month lease

• 2017 Nissan Frontier S – buy for $21,102

• 2017 Nissan Rogue S – buy for $20,252 or a $108 a month lease

• 2017 Nissan Murano S – buy for $25,884 or a $249 a month lease

• 2017 Nissan Maxima S – buy for $27,389 or a $215 a month lease

If you take a look at our specials by clicking the big red button below, you’ll see that we have vehicles ranging from compact coupes to roomy trucks that can haul even the biggest pumpkin in the patch. These deals are astonishing and will definitely not last forever, so be sure to come down and test drive one or two today. Once you’re behind the wheel, you’ll FALL in love! (Get it?)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAEiPMGJRUs

*All specials expire on 10/31/2017. See our specials page for details.

As of the writing of this blog, football season’s been going for three weeks. There’s still a lot more of the season to go, and what better way to celebrate with your friends and family than by tailgating in the parking lot before the big game? In this blog, we’ll give you our tips for things you should have with you when you are throwing your party, ways to pack a cooler, and tips for having fun no matter what the weather brings.

So, for things you should have with you, we have this list. You can store all of these things in a toolbox or a tackle box very easily, and this can live under your seats, in the trunk, or in the bed of your truck! The items are:

• Spatulas

• Tongs

• can opener

• Toothpicks

• wooden skewers

• basting brush

• mini flashlight

• trash bags

• paper towels

• wet wipes

• hand sanitizer

• sunscreen

• poncho

• plastic zip bags

• Sharpie

• Masking tape

• your favorite condiments, spices, and seasonings

Packing a cooler efficiently is a majorly good party trick that’ll be sure to keep everyone happy. When you have enough food and beverages for everyone, that’s pretty much a guarantee that the tailgate will be awesome. So, here’s how to do it! Put your pre-chilled cans of soda and bottles of water at the bottom of the cooler and put a layer of ice on top, making sure that ice gets between the cans and bottles. Then put your food items, packed in watertight ziplock bags, on top of that bottom layer. Make sure the cooler is packed tightly so that no warm air gets in!

If the weather is on the cold side, you can also turn your cooler into a warming oven! Check it out here. A good idea is to bring thermoses full of hot soup or cider to keep your guests warm if it’s a chilly day.

We hope these tailgate tips have been good, and if we knew any of the Ravens, we’re sure they’d agree with us. We don’t though… which is kind of a shame. Anyway, if any of you are on the Ravens or even the Redskins, tell us if you like our tips! (If you’re not on the Ravens, tell us too!)

Staying safe in a construction zone is always a gamble, but it’s one of the most important places to be concentrating on the road. I know that I’m always nervous when I am on the highway and I see that there’s a construction zone coming up. For me, that means that there will be unpredictable drivers, people going too fast or too slow, workers giving me dirty looks for not knowing what the heck I am doing, and the construction zone will seem to go on FOREVER. This is almost always my experience. But I am working on being better when it comes to construction zones, so I thought I would share my tips with you in case you also have this problem. Check them out!

You should always stay alert and try not to be distracted. Pay attention to the road – and I mean your FULL attention! Don’t listen to the radio (or at least don’t mess with your music), don’t use your cellphone, don’t eat… basically just don’t do anything that’s not driving. The road should be your priority at all times anyway, but when you are in a construction zone it’s even more important.

Keep your headlights on! Even if it’s broad daylight, make sure your lights are on. Just in case!

Make sure you’re in the right lane ahead of time. By right I mean “correct,” though the correct lane could be the right lane. Anyway! If the lanes are merging or closing, make sure you’re where you need to be so you don’t cut anyone off or get stuck behind traffic waiting to merge. The traffic patterns can change daily, so make sure you’re always paying attention to the signs.

Don’t tailgate other people! This ties into making sure you are obeying the speed limit. People can brake or accelerate in a split second, and you don’t want to be caught off guard. Besides, tailgating is illegal and also speeding in work zones can get you doubled fines in a lot of places. Be careful!

Always expect the unexpected. Things can change quick-as-anything in a work zone, and you don’t want to be caught off guard. Staying safe is the most proactive thing you can do in a work zone, so make sure you’re obeying the law and driving as carefully as possible.

It’s unbeLEAFable! The brand new 2018 Nissan LEAF finally premiered on September 5th! While they won’t be available at Younger Nissan of Frederick until early 2018, we can still ooo and ahhh at them from afar!! I have been waiting OHHH so patiently for any news of this awesome vehicle, so now that we’ve gotten our first look at the LEAF on September 5th, I have SO MANY details to share with you all. I know you’re impatient, so I won’t be cruel and withhold this info from you! ARE YOU READY?!

First and foremost, the 2018 Nissan LEAF is 100% electric and has ZERO Emissions. Seriously! That’s nuts! This vehicle is keeping the air as crisp and fresh as a perfect fall apple! It has 240V Fast Charging, for home and in public that, with 1 hour of charging provides a range of up to 22 miles! There is also and available 50KW public option, the fastest charging option, that with 30 minutes you get a range of up to 88 miles! When fully charged you have a range of 150 miles! You can also keep track of your vehicle’s charge on your smartphone through NissanConnect® EV App!

If technology is your thing, the LEAF has everything you’ll ever need! The LEAF is loaded with nifty features that are sure to impress!  Exhibit A: the ProPILOT™ Assist. This feature helps you take care of the little things, like following the car ahead at a preset distance or helping keep you centered in your lane. It can even bring your LEAF to a full stop based on the traffic flow, and hold you there.

I know, I know! That was barely a morsel of information about the 2018 Nissan LEAF! You only have to wait a little bit longer friends! Patience is going to be key here! Before you know it you’ll be taking a test drive at Younger Nissan of Frederick! If you’re really impatient, stop by and test drive the 2017 Nissan LEAF while you wait!