Month: August 2019

You hear the term “preventative maintenance” thrown around with machinery – especially vehicles – a lot. You’ve probably never questioned the validity of this idea, after all, it makes sense that regular maintenance to prevent problems before they can happen, would be wise.

But, has a mechanic or “gearhead” ever told you that your preventative maintenance is lacking, despite your being sure that you check all the boxes on that. You keep your tires inflated properly, you keep your oil and fluids topped off, you get regularly-scheduled diagnostics and tune ups done. What else is there, aside from general upkeep?

Well, on a microscopic level, that’s mostly what you need, if you follow it all within the right parameters. However, on a more macroscopic level, that’s only scratching the surface. Today, we’d like to go over some FAQs about preventative maintenance. Some of this you can do yourself easily, but a lot of it should be handled by trained professionals – you can’t take chances with your vehicle, now can you?

What’s Involved in Preventative Maintenance?

First, let’s go over the various things that should be done, and a brief look at why.

• Safety Inspection – Brakes can wear down, steering can break down, and airbags can sort of “expire” from disuse in some cases. Frequent checks to be sure these are all in working order is crucial. This includes brake lining, hydraulic lines, calipers and wheel cylinders.
• Fluid Flushing/Change – Fluids in your vehicle are something you’re probably somewhat used to having to tend to. Oil depletes and becomes dirty. Antifreeze breaks down and becomes dirty and viscous, and so on. But, you should also flush/top off power steering fluid, brake fluid and other hydraulic fluids as they break down/deplete as well.
• Other Oils – Motor oil isn’t the only oil your car has. You should also have differential gear oil changes, as well as trans-axle oil changes done.
• Filters – Your filters become dirty over time, and while some filter designs can be washed our hosed out, it’s better to just replace them. These include air filters, (cabin and engine), as well as oil filters.
• Belts and Gaskets – Belts become loose and worn out, and gaskets break down over time as well. These should be replaced or at least inspected regularly.
• Hoses – Hoses can wear out due to heat or contaminants building up, and these are critical for delivering fluids where they need to be, like veins in a body. They need checked and/or replaced often.
• Additional – Regular tune ups, windshield wiper service, spark plugs, electrical checks, and battery services should be done frequently – you probably already see to this kind of regular servicing, right?

When to Do These

So, now you know what goes into this, but when should these all be done?

• Via Owner’s Manual – The following should be done per owner’s manual specifications: Valves, oxygen sensors.
• Belts – Your drive and timing belts should be replaced every 4 years or 60,000mi.
• Oil /Filter – Your oil filter and a complete lube change should be done every 3,000-5,000mi.
• Air Conditioning – Every spring.
• Tire Rotation – Every 5,000mi.
• Yearly Services – These should be done yearly and/or as needed: Fuel filter, Battery Service, brake system and clutch system flushing, PCV valve inspection/replacement.
• Every 2 Years – These should be done every 2 years and/or as needed: Radiator coolant, engine oil flushing, automatic transmission flushing, power steering flushing, EGR system service, carbon cleaning, throttle-body service, radiator coolant.

These aren’t all of the services that should be handled, as an entire car diagnostic, computer code scan, and other systems can very widely, but should be tended to often. To learn more, fill out our contact form today or give us a call!

Let’s be honest with ourselves – our cars are like our home away from home. We’re in the things an awful lot, commuting to and from work, running errands, taking our family out on their business. We spend most of our lives anywhere but our actual homes, but it’s only our actual homes that we seem able to keep in pristine condition. Perhaps these go hand in hand and make sense really.

But we all hate it when our cars begin to smell unpleasant, seem worn down and dirty, and downright not in new condition. This is why when we have to travel, we actually don’t mind luxuriating in a rental car – they always smell and feel like new, just like good hotel rooms do.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could make our own cars feel like new? Well, of course, a good body shop and detailer can actually do this, albeit for a hefty price. Well, most of us can’t afford that sort of thing, not with the ongoing costs of living, regardless the economic climate of any given time.

Thankfully, there are various things that can be done to achieve a more like-new look, feel and experience for your vehicle. A lot of them are very affordable, though we’ll be looking at a range of cheap to costly solutions, all of which are still cheaper than having restoration services done, by a landslide.

Cheap Fixes

• Cleaning and Organizing – This is the most obvious solution, but you’d be amazed at the improvement simple cleaning and organizing can do. You’ll feel like your car is so much roomier, and in such better condition by simply getting all the trash, clutter and dirt out. Vacuum, dust, and of course, any leather-like surfaces should get a fresh coat of Armorall or something similar. Complete this with a nice air freshener – new car smell is an obvious but great choice to achieve the desired effect.
• New Floor Mats – Floor mats get worn out and cultivate stains over time, and a lot of smells tend to breed in them. New floor mats can go a long way towards a newer-feeling environment.
• New Windshield Wipers and Clean Windows – Your windshield is contributing to your car’s aged, worn down vibe, even if you don’t realize it. You can think you have pristine visibility until you actually experience the pristine visibility fresh blades and wipers can provide. Further this with properly-cleaned windows – inside and out – with good glass cleaner and a non-abrasive chamois.
• Dent and Scratch Repair – You can DIY some of this, but it’s best to have dents and scratches dealt with by a proper body shop. Dents, where the paint isn’t damaged, can be fixed with paintless dent removal, too.
• Maintenance – Maintain a newer feel and handling by regularly changing your oil, topping off your fluids, and having a skilled mechanic do regular tune-ups and conditioning!

Slightly Costlier

• Seat and Carpet Shampooing – Having your seats and carpets regularly shampooed can keep them feeling and looking new. It’s not that expensive, but it’s not cheap either.
• Upgrade Your Systems – Modernizing your car’s systems, such as adding dash displays and mobile interfaces, new sound systems and so on, while frills, do make for a modern, newer-feeling vehicle.

Expensive

• Replacing Beat Up Components – Replacing beat up panels, fenders, bumpers, hub caps and other components obviously makes for a newer feel.
• New Paint Job – A new paint job will make your car look new – there’s a reason classic cars, restored, look so cherry.
• New Wheels – A smoother ride, which is like visibility in you noticing it only when you get it back – can be achieved with new wheels.

To learn more ways to get more life and a better experience from your vehicle, call us or fill out our contact form today!

One of the most common “accidents” we encounter with our vehicles, aside from perhaps the errant shopping cart in parking lots, is the flat tire. Tires are, for better or worse, designed to have some give to them. There’s a reason for this – flexibility allows tires to actually last longer, and handle rougher surfaces and terrain, as well as provide smoother rides. Wheels aren’t solid masses for very good reason, in other words.

Well, this can result in unfortunate incidents like tires rupturing suddenly (which at high velocities can result in a scary moment or two), or simply develop leaks or be punctured by something hard to see, like nails or, well, you name it. On top of this, they do just wear out over time, and bald tires are actually more dangerous than flats due to the lack of control and traction that results.

This means that sooner or later, you’re going to find yourself in a situation where you need to change a tire, because you’re stuck on the road, and can’t get to a mechanic. It’s understandable that a lot of people don’t know how to handle automotive things, especially people who live in suburban or metropolitan areas where affordable mechanic service is easily accessed under nominal circumstances. But, take heart, changing a tire is easy, and a skill you’ll be glad to have.

What You Need

To physically change the tire, all you actually need is a jack and a tire iron or heavy-gauge socket wrench of appropriate size. However, for safety purposes, you should also have a flash light, safety flares and probably a rain coat or poncho.

Getting to Safety

First, if you have a flat on the road, which is often the case (it happens where it’s the least convenient nine out of ten times), first, pull safely off to the shoulder, or into a parking lot or driveway if no shoulder or level ground is accessible.

Put your hazard lights on immediately, and if it’s night, light your flares for ten to twenty feet in a row behind the vehicle. This ensures that other traffic has plenty of time to avoid being dangerously close.

If it’s raining, you’ll be glad you packed the poncho or raincoat.

Using the Jack

First thing’s first – you need to get the weight off the tire, and get clearance to remove it. There are a couple kinds of jacks, but most of them simply use a pump action to lift the top part. There will probably be a lip underneath your car on each side, but if not, simply find a good, wide flat surface under there to brace it against. Obviously, lift it on the side where your flat is, and try to get it at least six inches if not more like ten, off the ground.

Removing the Flat

Next, you’ll want to remove the flat tire. First, the hub cap needs to come off. With some wheel designs, this just pops off. If it’s bolted by the lug nuts, which occasionally is the case, it’ll come off with the tire. Simple elbow grease (remember, lefty loosey, righty tightey), the tire iron will remove the lug nuts. If the hub cap came off first, place them in the concave bowl of the cap. If not, put them on the car seat. Do not lie them on the ground.

The tire will slide off at this point with relative ease, but be aware it’ll be heavy.

Adding the Spare/New Tire

The new tire will slide back in the way the previous one went on. Replace the lug nuts, tightening them as much as they can possibly go. If the hub cap snaps on, simply place it back.

The jack will lower either by turning the pump handle, or by removing it. It should lower fairly gently, but make sure you’re clear of the car before doing so.

Make sure you extinguish any flares before leaving.

Congratulations, you’ve changed a tire, and aside from a little physical strength being involved, it’s really quite easy, isn’t it? Consider having your new tire rotated once you get to civilization.

To learn more tips and tricks to save a world of grief, fill out our contact form today!