Keep your car costs down, eliminate breakdowns, and get more mileage for your money this summer – with advice and tips 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 21 at Mufflers and More’s free Car Care Fair.

This twice-yearly event invites local drivers to zoom in to the Walled Lake auto shop for a once-over – and a bite to eat while they wait. There will also be some impressive classic cars to view and chat with their aficionado owners while your car gets a good look from the auto pros at Mufflers and More. And, consumers are invited to tour the shop during this open house.

“We are big believers in the idea that regular maintenance, cleaning and attention to your automobile will make it work for you – rather than you working to keep your car,” says Kenny Walters, owner of the award-winning auto shop Mufflers and More. A car buff himself, Walters cares for his clients and their vehicles with the same attention to detail and compassion he reserves for friends and family.

“This event, which we hold twice a year, free and open to the public, is our gift to the community – we don’t want to waste your time or charge you just to see what’s going on under the hood,” says Walters. “If we have advice to offer that will help you get more miles for less money, we’re going to give it to you. We want everyone to be safe on the roads and keep their cars as long as they possibly can.”

Open to the public, free of charge – bring your car in for a glance and there even will be some secret giveaways, including coupons and other great deals. All visitors will receive a free driveway inspection with a detailed evaluation.

Walters grew up tinkering with vehicles, loving the grease and sweat generated by hours spent immersed in the inner workings of cars. He opened Mufflers and More 13 years ago and has a dream of servicing everyone’s car in the state of Michigan. He’s been known to give his own personal car to a customer whose vehicle conked out right before an important event.

The key, says Walters, is preventive maintenance.

“Just like we schedule annual doctor checkups to make sure everything is working right and we’re healthy, we need to do the same for our vehicles,” says Walters, a long-time racing devotee who will be hosting specialty car groups at his location later this year. (He is part of 3Balls Racing, a local group of racing enthusiasts.) Stay tuned for information, dates and details on Mufflers & More’s Teen Driver Car Classes, to be launched this summer.

According to recent research, Americans are too lax about car care – until something happens. A DriverSide study by Kelton Research shows that 9 out of 10 American car owners believe they do everything possible to maintain their cars but in reality, only 41 percent actually do. Walters advises clients to develop a long-term maintenance plan so they know when to check back in and make sure everything is working as it should.

“You want your car to last,” says Walters. “We help our customers achieve this goal beyond their wildest expectations – a cared-for car is a reliable car that runs well and it can last until 300,000 or 400,000 miles.”

Mufflers and More is a full service auto maintenance shop in Walled Lake, Michigan, located at 490 N. Pontiac Trail. Visit the website at www.mufflersandmore.net. The shop is AAA, ASE, BBB and ASA certified and endorsed.

Mufflers and More sponsors sports teams and bands in all the Walled Lake high schools. It is the go-to shop for Wolverine Lake law enforcement vehicles and the Walled Lake Post Office. Every car that comes through the shop gets a thorough inspection to prevent any potential problems down the road.