Volkswagen hosted a fun and informative ladies night out offering car advice from the experts and the opportunity to get up close and personal with their stylish, roomy and comfortable vehicles, the Routan minivan and Tiguan SUV.

Volkswagen gave those in attendance a great lesson in automotive know-how with the help of America’s Favorite Auto Expert Barbara Terry.  Getting us to roll up our sleeves and learn the importance of taking care of our vehicles, for our safety and that of our loved ones.

Below are some helpful tips from Barbara Terry herself.

Checking your oil

• Be sure to check and change your oil on a regular basis
• Check your oil at least every 3000 miles
• When checking your oil, always turn the motor off and be sure to use the emergency brake (safety is key!)
• Pull the oil dipstick out, if you seem to be having a hard time locating this you might want to refer to the owner’s manual
• Wipe it clean with a cloth, stick it back in and when you pull it out you will be able to read the oil level on the dipstick. Some automobiles require 30 weight while others require 40 weight. If you are not sure which is best for your car, refer to your owner’s manual or check with your local mechanic
• Also, be sure to pay attention when checking your oil level to the color and consistency of your oil. The oil should always be pretty thin with a rich medium brown color. If it's too dark (more black than brown), it needs changing

Checking tire pressure

• To determine the proper air pressure that needs to be in your tires you will need to refer to the door jam on the driver’s door of the vehicle or your owner’s manual
• Unscrew the tire stem cover and place the tire gauge onto the tire stem
• Press down and hold it firmly until you have the reading
• Read the gauge and determine how much air is needed, if any
• If you are in need of air…add air then recheck until you are at the proper air pressure required in your tires
• Repeat this process for each tire
• Always remember to replace the tire stem cover
• Check the tire pressure when the tires are not too cold or too hot. Check them after you have run a couple of errands
• While checking the air in your tires make sure to check all four tires in use and check the condition of your spare tire.  You do not want to get out on a road trip and determine that you have a flat spare
• Check the air pressure of all 4 tires in the amount of time it would take you to fill your car up with gasoline
• To get the most life out of your tires and the smoothest ride possible, have your tires rotated and high-speed balanced every 5000 miles
• Most tires have a life of anywhere from 40 to 60 thousand miles

For these and more automotive information, check out In The Driver’s Seat with Barbara Terry and to learn more about Volkswagen vehicles, be sure to visit, Volkswagen.com