Over the years, our service department has received
many questions about car care. It is our belief that a well-informed
customer is a satisfied customer. With that in mind, we have
selected a few maintenance topics to cover to help educate
our customers on how to extend the life of their vehicles
and make their ownership experience a rewarding experience.
Please check back often, as these topics will change.
DoI
really need to change my oil every 3,000 miles or 3 months?
I only drive once in awhile to the store and back.
Just imagine a pot of boiling water. The steam
rises up and out. Your exhaust system acts the same way, the
steam and moisture come out of the tailpipe. Now this exhaust
moisture is just one by-product of your engine’s combustion
and not all of it makes out of the tailpipe! If your car rarely
gets driven far enough or long enough for the oil to get hot,
the moisture never takes the form of steam and therefore never
reaches the top of the engine to later be released out the
tailpipe. These by-products get by the moving parts in your
engine and into your engine oil contaminating it. Regular
oil changes ensure your engine optimum performance by cleaning
out the contaminated oil.
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I
bought a new convertible and plan on keeping it in the garage
for the winter and do not plan to drive it. What do I do to
ensure an easy start up come spring?
If you don’t drive the car, nothing bad
can happen to it. You should drain and replace the oil and
filter then crank the engine to make sure all the internal
parts get coated with clean oil. Remove the spark plugs and
squirt a little oil in the cylinders to keep them from rusting.
If you haven't owned to car for long, don't worry about changing
the coolant.
Wax your car thoroughly with
carnauba wax. Make sure the interior is clean and dry. Close
the windows almost all the way leaving a small gap for ventilation.
Put little blocks of wood under the wiper to lift the blades
off the glass. Jack up the car and lower back onto jack stands
(people used to use cinder blocks, hence the saying "putting
the car up on blocks").
Finally, cover the car with
a fabric cover – never plastic because it retains moisture
that leads to rust.
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Occasionally
I notice spots on my garage floor from fluid leaks. How can
I tell where the leaks are coming from?
Some leaks warn of potential engine problems,
while others simply soil your garage floor.
So how can you tell whether
you’re losing oil, transmission fluid, coolant or brake
fluid? Simple. Place an old sheet or a large piece of a white
cardboard box under your vehicle’s engine compartment
overnight. In the morning, you will have the answer. Since
each fluid is a different color, finding out the “leak
color” will help you determine whether your vehicle
needs to get in for service.
Bright green – This is
coolant or antifreeze, which is probably coming from either
your radiator or overflow tank. It is also slippery to the
touch.
Light or dark brown– The
brown spot can be either light or dark, depending on how often
you change your oil. If you change your oil every 3,000 miles,
it will be lighter; if you change it every 7,500 to 10,000,
it will be darker. Since there are several gaskets that serve
as seals between your engine’s metal parts, the leak
could originate from a variety of places, depending on where
the leak occurs.
Bright blue – This is
windshield washer fluid and could be caused by a leak in the
fluid’s container or a hose that’s not properly
connected to the spray nozzles.
Red fluid – This is automatic
transmission fluid.
Clear fluid – Fluid that
is clear and has a thicker-than-water consistency is power
steering fluid.
Light yellow – Brake fluid
is light yellow when new. But as the fluid absorbs water,
it becomes a dark, muddy brown. Brake fluid absorbs 2 percent
water over a one-year period under normal braking conditions.
This is an important fluid, and should be changed every other
year. On many cars with manual transmissions, brake fluid
is also used in the clutch reservoir.
In addition to color, location
of the leak can be a dead giveaway. Determining the type of
leak can help your mechanic efficiently address your problem
and possibly save costly repair bills if the leak goes unresolved.
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What
area of my vehicle should I focus on for winterization?
Even though today’s cars are mechanically
better than their counterparts of a generation ago, winter’s
rigors can still play havoc on your vehicle. Simply addressing
some of your vehicles components ahead of time could avert
costly repairs and aggravation.
Battery – Frigid temperatures
can reduce battery power by as much as half. A battery which
barely turns over an engine in the fall is likely to fail
during winter. If your battery is older than three years,
have it tested. Also, make sure the posts and connections
are free of corrosion.
Oil – Dirty oil makes
it harder for the engine to turn over, especially in cold
weather, and results in premature engine wear. Have your oil
changed at the manufactured recommended intervals and make
sure air filters are checked and replaced at the same time.
Wipers – Visibility is
key in winter, but it’s often compromised by precipitation,
salt buildup on the windshield and reduced daylight. The life
expectancy of a wiper blade is one year. If your car’s
blades are older, replace them. Also check and replace your
wiper fluid reservoir.
Tires – Tires are frequently
the most neglected vehicle component but are among the most
important. Check tire pressure at least twice monthly. Also
check your tires’ condition before winter sets in. Worn
tires will not provide sufficient traction – especially
in wet weather. Uneven wear can indicate alignment, suspension
or wheel balance problems.
Belts and Hoses – Modern
materials have made belts and hoses very durable with relatively
long lives. Fortunately, neither belts nor hoses suddenly
fail – they deteriorate slowly over time. Check these
two critical items regularly in combination with oil changes.
Antifreeze – Many new
vehicles come with antifreeze designed to last four or five
years, but the ordinary product found in most auto supply
stores is good for only 2 years. It’s important to know
what type of antifreeze you have so you can avoid spending
money unnecessarily to replace it. Have the cooling system
inspected annually.
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