Archive for April, 2010
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010
Last month we talked about how disc brakes work and explained that the majority of modern vehicles use this braking system. Unless your car classifies as a classic, chances are that it’s using disc brakes.
But what about race cars? Surely the speedy vehicles of Formula One and NASCAR don’t use the same braking system as an everyday driver.
The answer is that race cars do actually use disc brakes, but never the ones you will see during your average Las Cruces brake repair. Modern race cars use a reinforced carbon disc brake instead of the usual cast iron.
Inspired by airplane braking systems, carbon is much more heat resistant than iron and so it maintains its form at the high speeds necessary for racing. This makes the brakes more efficient and better able to handle the pressures of racing.
Don’t bother asking about getting carbon brakes at your next Las Cruces brake check because they are only more efficient at speeds much too fast for your daily commute.
Tags: How Disc Brakes Work, Las Cruces Brake Check, Las Cruces Brake Repair
Posted in Brake Repair Tips | 1 Comment »
Friday, April 23rd, 2010
With higher octane “premium” fuels costing ten to twenty cents more per gallon, many people wonder whether they really get any value out of shelling out the extra money for gas.
The answer: it depends on your car.
First of all, higher octane simply means that there will be less pre-detonation of fuel when an engine’s pistons are firing. The higher the octane, the less pre-detonation occurs, and so the less chance there is of damage to your engine.
However, before you run off to pay the extra for premium gas, know that most cars on the road today were designed to run perfectly with just 87 octane. That means that going for the higher octane really won’t make a difference in your car’s performance.
In general, you should be able to use regular gas unless you’re driving a sports car or another premium vehicle. Most people would be better off spending that money on getting a regular Phoenix car tune up and staying consistent with getting a Phoenix oil change every 3,000 miles.
For specifics about which gas you should use, check your vehicles owner’s manual and follow its recommendation.
Tags: Phoenix Car Tune Up, Phoenix Oil Change, Premium Fuel
Posted in Automotive Maintenance | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
Engine coolant is an important yet often overlooked liquid that keeps your vehicle from overheating and causing a great deal of damage. It is a part of a standard Santa Fe car tune up but most people pay much less attention to it than their Santa Fe oil change. To prevent that from happening, it is important that you check your coolant levels regularly and immediately address any problems.
Remember that before doing any work around your engine, you need to turn off your vehicle and wait for the engine to cool.
Once you have opened the hood and located coolant overflow tank, locate the “full” and “low” marks on the tank. The blue liquid in the tank is the coolant should be as close to the full line as possible.
If the tank is well below the full line, refill it with new coolant to full and also take note of how low it is. If you are finding that you are constantly having to replace your coolant, or if there is nearly no coolant in the tank, you may have a leak.
If this happens, it’s important that you head to a mechanic to get the problem addresses right away.
Tags: Engine Coolant, Santa Fe Car Tune Up, Santa Fe oil change
Posted in Car Fluids Info | 2 Comments »
Friday, April 16th, 2010
When it comes to car repair and maintenance, there is a lot of bad information out there. Wrong or misleading advice often comes from well meaning but misinformed people and it could be costing you a lot of money.
1. You should top off your brake fluid if it’s running low.
This is false, it would be nice to think that this is all you need to do but low brake fluid is often a symptom of a larger problem. Have your Tucson brake check right away if you notice low fluid levels.
2. Dishwashing liquid is a good alternative to car wash soap.
Soap made specifically for washing cars isn’t just repackaged dish soap. It is specifically designed not to damage your paint’s finish and to leave your car looking great. Dishwashing liquid can actually cause damage to your car.
3. A car battery quickly recharges after a jumpstart.
After a jumpstart, your car’s batter can take multiple hours of driving to fully recharge. Additionally, a battery that needs to be jumpstarted may be faulty and need replacement.
Never take car advice at face value. Rely on experts and tested advice and ask for details during your next Tucson car tune up instead of just trying something because it sounds good.
Tags: Tucson Brake Check, Tucson Car Tune Up
Posted in Automotive Maintenance | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
Checking your vehicle’s oil is a quick and easy process that is important to keeping your vehicle well maintained. Running low on oil or simply driving on old oil can be devastating to your engine and lead to some major repair bills later down the line.
Oil is one of the things that is checked during a El Paso car tune up, but here’s how to quickly check your oil on your own. Note that you will need to have your car turned off and wait till the engine is cool before you begin.
- Pop open the hood and look for the brightly colored handle labeled “engine oil” or something similar.
- Pull on the handle to remove the metal rod (called a dipstick) and thoroughly clean it with a rag or towel.
- Now re-insert the dipstick and then remove it once again to check the oil level.
- You should see how far up the oil was on the dipstick when fully inserted. There should be a line on the dipstick marked full and you want the oil to be as close to that line as possible. If it’s too far below that you will need to top off your oil.
- You will also want to look at the color of the oil. If it appears really dark brown or black, it’s time for a El Paso oil change. If it’s light brown it should be okay for awhile.
Tags: El Paso Car Tune Up, El Paso oil change
Posted in Oil Change Tips | No Comments »
Thursday, April 8th, 2010
With ever increasing gas prices, everybody could stand to save a few dollars at the pump. Unfortunately, there are a lot of rumors and myths about how to increase your gas mileage that may actually end up costing you more. Here are some of the most popular ones.
1. Gas is denser when cold so you should always buy it first thing in the morning.
While gas is actually denser when cold, gas stations keep their fuel in underground reservoirs that remain at a stable temperature. You’ll be getting about the same amount of gas no matter when you fill your tank.
2. You should roll down the windows instead of using air conditioning to get better gas mileage.
While using A/C can lower you gas mileage (only a tiny bit on newer vehicles), the wind resistance created by rolled down windows is actually more damaging to your vehicle’s gas mileage. You do need to make sure to get Albuquerque auto air conditioning repair if you start noticing any problems.
3. Starting your car takes a lot of gas so it’s better to leave it idling for short stops.
Starting your car actually uses very little gas and in the long run turning your car off is much better for your car then leaving it idle. Your mechanic at your next Albuquerque car tune up will thank you for this.
Tags: Albuquerque Auto Air Conditioning Repair, Albuquerque Car Tune Up
Posted in Automotive Maintenance | No Comments »
Monday, April 5th, 2010
When people have electrical issues with their car, their first thought is to blame the battery and rush to get a new one. This means that many times the alternator, another essential part of a vehicle’s electrical system, goes entirely overlooked. If you’re unfamiliar with what an alternator is, it’s a handy little part that recharges your battery as you drive. Without it a perfectly good battery will quickly drain and appear to stop working.
So before you rush out to buy a new battery, here is how you can find out if your alternator is the real problem without having to wait for your next Phoenix car tune up.
- To start out, you’ll need a $10 voltage meter than can be bought at any auto parts store. This handy little device will tell you exactly how much charge is running through your battery.
- Next you’ll need to turn off the engine (and anything else running in your car), pop the hood, and locate the battery. Attach the positive lead on the meter to the positive battery terminal. Do the same with the negative side. (Note: positive has a + sign and negative has a – sign)
- Now take a look at the reading on your meter. A working battery should show a charge around 12.5 volts.
- Next you need to unplug the meter, turn on your engine (but not your lights, A/C, etc.) and then plug the voltage meter back into your battery.
- Check your meter again. If the accelerator is working properly, your battery should show an increase to at least 13.6 volts.
If the meter shows that you still have the same voltage as before it’s a pretty safe bet that the accelerator, not the battery is to blame.
Note: There is a possibility that the accelerator is not working because the belt that powers it is broken. You can get this fixed with a Phoenix timing belt replacement.
Tags: Alternator Repair, Phoenix Car Tune Up, Phoenix Timing Belt Replacement
Posted in Car Repair | 2 Comments »
