Cool Tips for Maintaining Your Car Air Conditioning System

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Even if summer is a bit far, we can still feel the heat inside our car at one time or another, especially when we go on long trips. While opening windows is an option, it might not be too safe because when insects or allergens find their way into your vehicle, your health could be compromised. With that said, it would be prudent to keep your car’s air conditioning system up and running at all times.

To ensure that the car’s A/C unit is in top shape, here are some practical maintenance tips for you to consider:

1. Run your car air conditioner regularly.

The cooling agent (Freon) of your car’s air conditioning unit needs sufficient pressure to keep your car’s temperature low. You should maintain this pressure by running the air conditioner for a few minutes at least once a week. This also helps to prevent compression seals and hoses from hardening, which can lead to Freon leakage.

2. Close all windows of your car when the air conditioner is running. 

This keeps the temperature low and works to prevent your car from wasting fuel and coolant.

3. Keep your air conditioning system clean at all times.

Dirty A/C systems allow dirt and liquid to accumulate in the unit where bacteria will settle, multiply, and produce a foul smell.

4. Check hoses for cracks, which can cause leaks.

Leaking hoses can cause your entire air conditioning system to fail. If cracks are present on your hoses, bring your car to a reputable car repair shop like the New Way Auto Repair to have those hoses replaced and your cooling agent recharged.   

5. Recharge your cooling agent regularly.

Like oil and other automotive fluids, your car’s cooling agent needs to be topped up regularly to prevent it from running out and cause your A/C system to fail. The recommended recharging interval is once every two years, but since not all vehicles are the same, you should check your owner’s manual to make sure that what you’re doing conforms to the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you suspect that the level of your cooling agent is receding too fast, you should check the system for leaks before the problem gets worse.

6. Have your car air conditioning system checked every two years.

It is called preventive maintenance service. It is the best thing you can do to keep your car air conditioning system working normally without fail.

Your car, no matter how good its engine and interiors are, is still not complete without a working air conditioning system. In the absence of regular maintenance service, your car might not be able to provide you with the comfort and convenience you once enjoyed. Give your car the maintenance it needs and it will serve you well.

Practical Ways to Find a Good German Car Repair Shop

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Owning a German car such as Audi, BMW, Volkswagen, or Mercedes-Benz has its own benefits and challenges. They are great cars that depict luxury better than most cars we see on the road. But despite their quality for which Germans are known, these cars, like any other vehicle, require regular care. They need to be maintained well, and they sometimes need repair. This being said, as an owner, you should find an excellent auto repair shop whose knowledge and expertise in German cars is unquestionable.

Here are a few tips to help you find the German car specialist your car needs:

Ask for Referrals

Whether you’re looking for a good doctor, architect, lawyer, plumber, or auto repair shop, one of your best bets to find one is to ask your friends and associates for recommendations. Seeking referrals from someone you trust would be the most valuable advice you will ever hear. Aside from getting a name, your source may also tell you of good reasons why he/she is making that recommendation.

Look for Online Reviews

Using good search terms such as “German auto repair Englewood Co”, look for online reviews of German car repair shops in your locality. There are probably a lot of auto repair shops in your state that claim they can repair any type and brand of vehicle, but you should read through reviews to see how customers rate their attitude, performance, and auto repair skills. Make a list of shops you think have the capability to deliver your expectations.

Call Around

Make a call to the shops you have on your list in order to know a lot more about them. Ask them if their mechanics are certified or if they use factory diagnostic equipment in their operation. Even if you don’t see the person talking to you, you can at least tell if he/she speaks to you with enthusiasm. If you think he/she doesn’t seem to care, call your next prospect.

Visit Their Shop

Once you have made up your mind about one or two shops, visit them to to make sure that you’re dealing with the right service provider. Look around the shop to see if it’s clean, organized and how it is ran. You may also look for mechanics’ certificates just to confirm what they tell you over the phone. If you see that everything falls within your expectations, you may go ahead and make an appointment.

These tips are very simple. Yet they are practical and able to deliver excellent results.

How to Determine the Right Motor Oil for Your Car

The car is probably the most important equipment modern American families need. It is no longer considered a luxury commodity today but a necessity. In fact, 95% of  American households own a car. As a car owner, you should take good care of your vehicle to allow it to deliver its best at the least possible cost.

When you’re buying motor oil for your car, you can be confronted with lots of choices. Aside from the different types, which include organic, synthetic, and semi-synthetic, motor oils are endorsed by different brands, with each one having different specifications. The task can really get overwhelming, even if you ask for opinions from car enthusiasts, simply because they have differing outlooks about this matter.

So how would you simplify this? To be able to pick the right motor oil for your car, here are practical tips you can consider:

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There’s a Recommended Oil for Your Car

Each car brand and model has a recommended type of motor oil. It is the one recommended by the manufacturer in your owner’s manual. This should be the type you should buy. The manual will most probably describe a lot of specs, like the winter and summer weight of the oil, its viscosity, and other important things, like organic or synthetic.

Proper operation and maintenance are actually the most important reasons why you need to have an owner’s manual for your car. So if you don’t have one now, you should buy either from your dealership or from Amazon or eBay.

In Emergency Cases, Any Type of Oil Will Actually Do

If you just realize that your car is running low on oil, you have this tendency to get panicky, yet confused about what type of oil to use. Well, if your engine oil is on a critical level, you can actually use any type as a filler until your dipstick tells you that your oil level is within the normal range. In emergency situations, having the right amount of oil is more important than getting the right type of oil. This is the principle accepted by any prominent professional car shop like the Subaru shop near me.

Once you have bailed your car out of the emergency situation, find time to figure out why you’re losing oil and get an oil change; the sooner the better.

Understand the Numbers on the Label

 Oil is normally measured by weight. This is the number reflected on the container. It is usually expressed as a number followed by a letter (“W”), a dash (-), and another number. The first number indicates the viscosity of the oil during cold starts, the “W” means winter, and the second number is the viscosity of the oil at 100°C. In most cases, it is also the car’s normal operating temperature.

Most manufacturers recommend thicker oils during extremely hot summers and thinner oils when the temperature is exceptionally low. But for what it's worth, you should heed the recommendation of your car’s manufacturer. They are your best reference as far as your car is concerned.

There are car owners who prefer thicker oils when their vehicle produces unusual noise. This can mask the sound, but it doesn’t really solve the problem. When this happens to your car, you must address the problem before it gets worse. Any unusual noise produced by a running car motor is a manifestation of a serious problem that needs immediate attention.

Synthetic vs. Organic

The use of synthetic vs. organic motor oil has sparked a debate that’s been going on for decades. While plenty of car professionals assert that synthetic oil offers better engine protection and longer oil life, it also comes at a higher cost. Cost-conscious car enthusiasts, on the other hand, say that organic oils can offer the same level of engine protection, only their useful life is shorter, and they are a bit cheaper.

The use of synthetic or organic motor oil can actually depend on the conditions your vehicle may be exposed to. If your car is exposed to extreme conditions like heavy towing or frequent starts in extremely cold weather conditions, synthetic oils are certainly better, but if your car is operating under normal conditions, organic oil can still deliver similar results.

If you use synthetic oil under normal conditions, your need for oil changes will be reduced because it breaks down more slowly than organic oils. If your manufacturer recommends synthetic, then use it. If it doesn’t, you may use organic oil, get similar results, and save a few bucks in the process.

Changing Oil

All car owners are duty-bound to change the motor oil of their cars. The question is, how often should you do it? The answer is: Change oil according to your manufacturer’s recommendations, the most common of which is an oil change for every 5,000 miles.

Getting the Most from Your Oil

If you want to measure the extent to which your oil can be useful, send your used engine oil to a reputable oil analysis laboratory. Their report will tell you if it still contains the lubricants needed to keep your motor running safely and for how long. This can also help you to make informed decisions about maximizing your oil.

The lab analysis report will also tell you of the presence of any foreign substances or particles that can signify possible engine failure.

These are the most important factors you need to look into when determining motor oil for your car. Brands don’t really matter. Just be sure to to get the right specs recommended by your manufacturer and you’re good to go.

5 Common Transmission Problems

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The principle involved in the transmission system of your car is not rocket science, but it is a mechanical system that isn’t easy either. It works to distribute power from your engine to the driveshaft. A small problem with your transmission can result in major issues that can affect the performance of your vehicle.

In order to avoid confrontations with problems emanating from your transmission, you must maintain it well and pay close attention to its performance. You also need to identify common indicators of transmission problems. Knowing them can help you to act proactively and have your vehicle thoroughly checked. An excellent check, like the Volkswagen transmission service will help to prevent issues from getting worse.

The common transmission problems include:

1. Lack of Response

If you notice that it is getting difficult for you to get into a gear while driving, you for sure have a problem with your transmission. In manual transmissions, this is a manifestation of a bad clutch that needs checking and possible clutch lining replacement. This can also be an indication of a more serious problem. When this happens, you should have your transmission checked by a proficient mechanic.

2. Strange Sounds

If you hear a humming, clunking, or whining sound while shifting gears, your transmission is telling you that it needs to be checked.   

3. Leaking Transmission Fluid

When your transmission fluid leaks, you really have a problem that should be acted upon as soon as possible. A leaking transmission that goes unchecked will certainly lead to transmission breakdown. The transmission fluid plays a vital role in keeping your transmission performing efficiently. Don’t let it run out to prevent serious damage to your transmission unit.

4. Dragging Clutch

This is a typical indicator of a manual transmission problem. This happens when your clutch disc fails to disengage the flywheel when you press the clutch. It is characterized by a grinding noise and difficulty in changing gears. This problem is quite easy to fix. It is usually caused by an excessive slack in the clutch pedal.

5. Noisy Neutral State

A transmission that is noisy while in the neutral state indicates low level transmission fluid or worn out bearings or gears. To solve the problem, you should first tap up your transmission fluid and check your transmission for leaks. It leaks are not present and the noise prevails, you should check your bearings and gears for wear and tear. Have these replaced if necessary.

Running into transmission problems can really happen in a car’s life. But years of proper maintenance and care can help to prevent breakdowns from happening. If your transmission happens to display any of the above manifestations, you should have it checked at once by a competent auto repair technician.

Do You Know the Real Meaning of Factory Car Maintenance?

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As a car owner, you might already be aware of the term Factory Auto or Car Maintenance. But do you know what that means? Well, to make things clearer, your car needs factory-scheduled maintenance to make sure that it can continually serve as a reliable means of transportation for you. Numerous types of car maintenance procedures are required for a predetermined mileage, depending on the car manufacturer. Just be sure to read your owner’s manual to know your car’s maintenance schedules. But just in case you don’t have the owner’s manual, here are the most common factory car maintenance procedures you can consider:

30/60/90K Maintenance

The maintenance procedures that fall under the 30/60/90K category ask owners to service their cars every 30,000 miles. This procedure includes engine diagnostics, replacement of air and fuel filter, spark plugs, and spark plug wires replacement, and safety inspections.

Oil Change

Most manufacturers recommend an oil change for their vehicles every 3,000 to 5,000 miles to maintain proper lubrication, regulate engine operating temperature, and flush out unwanted contaminants.

Transmission Service

Regardless of whether your car’s transmission is manual or automatic, you need to have it inspected through a transmission service. The job includes transmission fluid replacement, installation of a new transmission pan gasket, and replacement of a new transmission filter if necessary. A transmission service may be required every 100,000 miles. You may also refer to your car manufacturer’s service schedule for specific instructions. Note that this is not a DIY job. When you perform this procedure, you should seek the help of a reliable auto repair facility, such as the specialized preferred auto Denver Co experts, to make sure that the job is done proficiently.

Timing Belt

If your mechanic sees that your car’s timing belt needs replacement, you should do it without delay, or it will snap and cause great damage to your engine.

Fluid Flush Services

All motor vehicles use different types of fluids to keep their systems running. Fluids like power steering, coolant and brake fluid need to be drained and refilled from time to time to keep them clear from contaminants that can affect their performance.

These are the common factory car maintenance procedures your car needs for optimum performance and long useful life. Do it on the appointed time with the help of a competent auto mechanic.

When to Look for an Auto Mechanic

When buying a car, you must know the basics of fixing it. This is so you can avoid the rip-off in car maintenance and repair, and only go to the legit source for car maintenance, where you could actually get your money’s worth.

First things first, before owning a car, is knowing a car’s mechanics. You can do your research beforehand while you are still shopping for a car. If you understand how your vehicle works and are able to identify common car problems, it will be easier for you to go forward with other car maintenance matters. This way, when you get to see a mechanic, you will know what kind of questions to ask and your rights to keep you sane and keep your vehicle well-maintained.

Shop around for a car repair shop. You can do it online. Online is where most people go these days, thanks to the internet for providing such data. Then secure their phone number and call them up. This way, you can get acquainted with the manager and whoever else will be working on your car.

Here are some basic things you need to take note of before heading to a car repair shop:

1.       Misaligned steering.

2.       If your cars breaks are giving you a hard time.

3.       If your engine has poor acceleration.

4.       When your transmission is failing you, like it’s hard to switch gears.

First off you will need to try and trouble shoot you car. That is if you know some mechanic fix you can try to do with it. However, if you have no idea how to go about it, get a referral for a good car repair shop like the New Way Auto Repair. This way you can rest assured that your car will be in good hands while being repaired. 

7 Busted Car Myths You Need to Know

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To satisfy our desire to maximize the performance of automotive vehicles per gallon of fuel, many people resort to techniques that seem believable at the time they were made.

But with the advent of technology and statistics, many of these supposed solutions were proven false. It is always good to know what is real and what are myths, this can help you make an informed decision whether it’s time to seek help from pros like the Toyota service appointment in order to resolve your car problems.

Here are some myths about cars and gases that were once believed to be true:

1. Cheap Gas Stations Sell Cheap Gas

For years, many people, especially drivers and car owners, believed that gas sold at unpopular gas stations doesn’t have the same quality as gas from branded gas stations.

This isn’t true, according to Consumer Reports.

All gas stations, regardless of size and popularity, are regulated by strict laws. They need to comply with government standards with regard to storage, pumping, and distribution in order to sustain operations. Besides, both large and small fuel distribution companies buy fuel from big oil companies.

The difference could actually come from additives that larger fuel gas distributors put into their product. Additives contain chemicals that are designed to clean older engines to enhance their performance. This may have created a slight difference then, but it should no longer matter nowadays with efficient fuel injection systems of modern engines.

2. Premium Gas = Better Mileage

Premium gas is designed for cars with powerful engines. Arguably, it creates a slight difference in power because of its higher octane rating. But it cannot create a significant difference in terms of distance covered per liter. The ability of premium gas to boost performance and economy is just a myth. Use premium gas only if it is recommended in your car owner’s manual.

3. Open Windows = More Fuel

In the not-so-distant past, many car owners believed that winding windows down to let fresh air in create an extra drag that could reduce mileage for the same amount of gas, to the extent that it would be cheaper to close the windows and run the car with air conditioning on.

This is a myth, Consumer Reports says. Tests showed that using air conditioning to keep the car cool at 65 mph impacted gas mileage by 3 mpg. On the other hand, using the same car at the same speed with the windows open has an unnoticeable effect on gas mileage.

4. Use Low Rolling Resistance Tires to Save Gas

The capability of low-resistance tires to reduce gas expenses is not entirely untrue, especially if they are properly inflated, but the amount you may save from them is so small that it may not matter to you. What really matters, Consumer Reports says, is the degree of tire maintenance and your driving habits. These can make a difference in your gas mileage regardless of whether your tires are energy-saving or not.

5. Warming up the Engine before Driving Makes the Car Perform at its Best

It’s a common practice, not too long ago. People had to start the car and let it run on idle for a while before driving it to allow the engine to reach a certain temperature. There might be some truth to it, considering the type and quality of oil, fuel, and temperature control methods they had at that time.

Running the engine before driving is no longer necessary nowadays. Modern cars are fitted with electronically controlled features that make a car ready for use the instant you turn it on.

6. Dirty Air Filters Reduce Gas Mileage

Dirty air filters did affect gas mileage a few years back. This, however, is no longer a thing to worry about these days. Modern cars are equipped with air flow sensors along with computer software that regulates the air/fuel mix, ensuring maximum fuel economy without regard to the quality of air.

Dirty air filter however do affect vehicle performance. Dirt or dust reduces the amount of air getting into the engine. This reduces to vehicle’s ability to pick up speed.

7. Filling Up during Cold Temperature Gets You More Gas

Gasoline becomes denser during cold weather. Relatively, you will need more gas to fill up your car when the temperature is cold. This is a principle many car owners believed but Consumer Report refutes, stating that because gas station tanks are placed underground, it is not quite affected by cold outside temperature. Therefore, you will still be able to get the same volume of gas whether you buy it on hot or cold days.