Mufflers and More: Car Tips Blog

Neglected Fluids: Auto Repair West Bloomfield Tip

By: Kenny Walters

Fluids are the life blood of your car. The six fluids that require periodic replenishment or replacement in most vehicles are the engine oil, transmission fluid, anti-freeze/coolant, windshield washer solvent, power steering fluid and brake fluid. The last two are the most often neglected. You may top them off, but have you ever thought of flushing them? We all know that having an Oil Change Walled Lake allows your engine to run more smoothly, efficiently, and allows you to get the most miles out of your vehicle. But, your car’s driveability and lifetime also depend on clean essential fluids.

Brake fluid in a typical vehicle can become contaminated in two years or less. This is because the fluid absorbs moisture over time, degrading its quality and ability to apply stopping force. Under heavy braking conditions, like those encountered in mountainous or hilly driving, or when towing a trailer, moisture in the overheated fluid vaporizes, allowing it to compress, in turn reducing braking efficiency. Brake fluid must maintain a stable viscosity throughout its operating temperature range. If it’s too thick or too thin, braking action is impaired. Beyond the vaporization hazard, moisture creates an additional problem for owners of vehicles equipped with anti-lock braking (ABS) systems. Rusted and corroded ABS components are very expensive to replace.

Power steering fluid can become contaminated in about the same amount of time as brake fluid and can cause just as much — if not more — damage. Power steering fluid, like brake fluid, is used in a hydraulic system, meaning it transfers force from one place to another. When moisture and dirt break down these fluids, they don’t transfer the force as well as designed, not to mention that the components they travel through can be damaged. In the steering system, you risk damaging the power steering lines, the power steering pump and the rack and pinion (or simply, the rack). The rack is the most expensive component in the system, costing upwards of $800-900 or more on certain vehicles, with the lines and pump ranging from $300 and up, once again depending on the vehicle. Then you add in the cost of the labor to install these parts and you are looking at a pretty steep penalty for what could have been a $145 power steering fluid flush.

So have your trusted Auto Repair West Bloomfield facility inspect the conditions of your fluids and recommend to you which ones should be flushed. These are not time consuming services to have performed and could save you a lot of time, money and headaches in the future.

Find West Bloomfield Auto Repair before You Need One

By: Kenny Walters

Many don’t now until it is too late that their car needed a maintenance check. It must be understood that over time, any car’s mechanical capabilities will be reduced due to normal wear and tear on the road. That said, a regular check-up for a car at a professional auto repair shop in West Bloomfield is key to a long, healthy life for your car. Even the smallest defects can grow into the biggest of problems, causing major headaches down the road. Don’t let an emergency be the reason for your next visit to your West Bloomfield auto repair center! Major repairs can be expensive and irritating. Having regular maintenance done on your vehicle will not only save you money, but time and sanity down the road.

Let’s say you’re on your way to pick up your kids from school, or maybe heading to drop off a package before the post office closes. Perhaps your check-engine light has been on for quite some time, but your car still gets you from point A to point B, so you ignore it. Things seem to be running quite smoothly until suddenly, your car shuts off and smoke seeps out of the hood. With nothing to do but pull off to the side of the road, you are forced to spend hundreds of dollars and waste valuable time on a tow truck.

While bringing your car in to be looked at on a regular basis may seem a bit excessive, the reality is most breakdowns can be avoided by scheduling such appointments. Finding reliable auto repair in West Bloomfield could be the key to escaping aggravating and wallet-draining repairs.

While there are many options for car repair these days, finding a West Bloomfield auto repair center with mechanics you can trust is half the battle. You’ll want to find an ASE Certified technician that will take the time to get to know your car inside and out. Such a mechanic will know exactly what kind of maintenance to perform on your vehicle to prevent hefty repairs in the future. To remain certified, technicians are retested every 5 years to make sure they are on top of the latest and most efficient auto repair skills.

Have been postponing that oil change in West Bloomfield? Many auto repair shops employ big, flashy ads that offer huge deals that seem too good to be true. The problem with such deals is that they are often misleading and can actually be more expensive than the repair should actually cost. All the more reason to find a trustworthy auto repair shop that will take the time to properly assist you and your particular vehicle.

Is Your Car Ready for Winter Weather Driving?

By: Kenny Walters

There are some steps one can take to ensure that your car will be able to survive the harsh cold. It is a fact that vehicles suffer just as much from the cold as humans do. It is important to prepare your vehicle, just as it is important for you to prepare yourself with warmer clothes, gloves, boots, and so on.

To properly get the car set up for winter, it should have a “physical”, just as a person would do before doing something strenuous. Mechanical items, such as coolant level and condition, batteries, tires, exterior lights, and the like should all be inspected. The best way to make sure your car will be there when you need it is to have a reputable, certified West Bloomfield auto repair facility perform a full inspection to advise you of issues that should be addressed.

Once you have those concerns put behind you, during the winter season it is highly recommended that you frequently wash your vehicle. States that get snow use a chemical called magnesium chloride to help keep the roadways clear of ice. And although it does a good job of that, it causes damage to cars. It is a corrosive compound that can and will eat away at painted surfaces, not to mention cause premature rust on exposed metal.

To avoid any problems, whenever you can, generally every week or two, take your car to get it washed. Not only will this keep the paint shiny and the rust away, this chemical also loves to stick to windshields and headlights. So this will help improve your visibility during the season that it matters most.

You don’t want to be stranded out in the freezing cold, so it’s very important that you take the necessary preventative measures to maintain your safety. Stop by your trusted auto repair shop in West Bloomfield BEFORE you’re in an emergency situation. Drive with confidence this winter, and give your passengers peace of mind while they’re riding around with you.

Preventing Oil Loss

By: Kenny Walters

Many vehicles will experience oil loss at some point. Usually it is through small drips and minor leaks that can be prevented, but in some cases oil leaks require immediate attention from an ASE Certified Technician.

The most common leak is the result of an improperly sealed drain bolt. When you have your oil changed, your oil pan is first drained.  The drain is resealed, usually with a new washer around the drain bolt. Cheap oil change services may not include a new washer, which may result in new leaks after the change. If a leak appears after the change and continues after a day or two of normal driving, a new washer may be needed. When it’s time for your oil change in West Bloomfield find a West Bloomfield auto repair shops with ASE certified technicians.

Small oil leaks are also common in older cars. Often the seals wear or are misshapen due to the mechanical movements and drastic changes in temperature that are common with a combustion engine. While replacing the seals may not be economical, it is very important to check oil levels frequently. If the oil stains pavement, kitty litter or crushed drywall will absorb the oil.

In the worst scenario, oil loss may be sudden. Many vehicles have warning lights that indicate a loss of oil pressure. In this case, it is imperative that the vehicle is stopped and turned off immediately. Friction from oil loss will destroy internal engine components and may ruin the engine completely.

Abnormal oil loss without any indication such as oil stains or an oily engine may indicate a much deeper problem. It might be an indication that the vehicle is burning oil. Oil may seep past the pistons and into the combustion chamber or it may leak through a broken head gasket. These are both very serious problems that may result in a loss of power and reduced fuel efficiency.

If you think you might be losing oil…bring your vehicle to an ASE Certified Technician who will diagnose the problem and will offer solutions based on the nature and severity of the oil leak. A well-sealed oil system is crucial to keeping your vehicle on the road.

Passing on routine Maintenance

By: Kenny Walters

Do I really need new fluid? As my air filter really that dirty? Can’t it wait? These are questions that most people have when it comes to doing routine or preventative maintenance. The truth is, sure, it can wait and you most likely won’t see extreme damage immediately, but that doesn’t mean that damage is not being done every mile that the service is postponed.

The longer maintenance is pushed back and forgotten about, the more damage is being done to components within your vehicle and the higher costs you will incur down the road.

Filters are items that keep your car running strong and efficiently. Air, fuel, and transmission filters are the major ones on any given vehicle. These are not time consuming or expensive items to have replaced, yet still people will overlook staying on top of it. Not replacing these first two at the scheduled times will cause reduced fuel mileage, as well as making the engine work harder. Not replacing the transmission filter will cause reduced fluid flow leading to increased heat, as well as potentially allowing harmful deposits into the transmission. Either way you are losing money by waiting to perform these tasks.

Fluids are designed to protect many components within the engine, transmission, steering and brake systems. Keeping clean, fresh fluids within these systems will prolong the life of every component within that particular system.  Fluid flushes are inexpensive and not time consuming. Wouldn’t it be better to spend an hour or two getting fluids flushed instead of having a full day or two where you are without a vehicle? Not to mention the repair bill at the end of the procedures.

Oil changes are only $35-$60 and should be done every 3,000 miles on every single vehicle. The other flushes have varying intervals depending on the car, so consult your owner’s manual or ask your trusted repair facility to find out how often they should be done. These other fluid flushes range from about $100-$200 for any fluid, unless you drive an import or relatively new vehicle requiring a special fluid, which may bump that up no more than another hundred.  Not bad considering a water pump, power steering pump, or other minor component can cost about $500-$800 to replace, and an engine or transmission replacement which can cost $4000-$8000.

To put it in perspective, the National Car Care Council, through a recent survey of cars at malls, schools, and businesses around the country, found this information:

54% of vehicles had low tire tread

38% had low or dirty engine oil

28% had inadequate cooling/anti-freezing protection

19% had cracking belts

16% had dirty air filters

10% had low or dirty brake fluid

Stay on top of your maintenance and visit your reliable West Bloomfield auto repair shop with ASE certified technicians. Not only will your wallet stay fuller, but you and your family will stay safer.

What Happens When You Don?t Have Enough Oil?

By: Kenny Walters

July 2011

Do you feel like taking your car in for an oil change is always on your to-do list? There’s no real harm in skipping out on your oil change at that 3,000 mile marker, right? The truth is that you will cause permanent damage to your vehicle by passing on this necessary maintenance.

Oil is one of the most critical fluids in your automobile. Clean oil is crucial to engine life and the reason that it needs changing so frequently is because of the amount of work that it does.

There are dozens of moving metal parts in your engine, and oil provides a protective layer that significantly reduces friction and heat. When the oil level drops, more pieces are rubbing together without that barrier of protection, much more heat is produced, and the metal in the engine can warp, or even melt.

There are two main reasons that your oil level decreases and that you need to change it every 3000 miles. The first reason is because of leaks. Your engine is a complex collection of tubes and filters and ducts and sometimes the seals between them break down. You’ll sometimes notice that this is happening by the stains on your garage floor.

The other reason is that your oil breaks down over time. Just like when you heat up cooking oil in a deep fryer a few times it begins to smoke and smell and become rancid, engine oil can only be heated so many times before it begins to break down.

As your oil breaks down it starts to turn into a thick sludge, which means that the protection your oil once provided the parts in your engine is significantly diminished. When this happens, and your engine begins to break and warp and melt, you trade a 30-minute, inexpensive oil change with a possible week-long, $4000 engine repair/replacement.

The only real secret to preventing a frustrating, expensive replacement is to change your oil at regular intervals at a professional facility that employs ASE certified technicians. Getting your oil changed in West Bloomfield regularly ensures that you are one simple, inexpensive step towards prolonging the life of your car.

Staying Cool: Air Conditioning Tips

By: Kenny Walters

June 2011

Now that we are reaching hotter temperatures your AC system seems to be the most important part of your vehicle. Is your car blowing hot air? Have an ASE Certified technician inspect your air conditioning system to keep you cool and comfortable on your commute.

Refrigerant can be environmentally hazardous, so air conditioning leaks should be repaired immediately. Even the smallest of leaks can be detected when your mechanic runs a dye through the system. Your mechanic may also recommend maintenance on other parts of the air conditioning system, such as the compressor.

While it is possible to purchase recharge kits, these kits should not be used on a leaking system. The system should also not be regenerated if the original refrigerant type is not known, as mixing different kinds can be dangerous to you and your vehicle.

Your mechanic may need to flush the AC system to bring your vehicle up to spec with new refrigerant requirements.

Once your AC system is functioning properly, an annual inspection of all vehicle systems, including air conditioning, should prevent future failures. For all preventive maintenance, be sure to bring your vehicle in to a trusted automotive repair shop in Walled Lake  with ASE certified technicians.

The Benefit of Keeping Your Car

By: Kenny Walters

A new automobile, for most people, is their second largest investment (next to a home). A great way to save money and increase financial assets is to hang on to that vehicle, rather than purchase a new one every few years. With proper maintenance, it’s very common and inexpensive to get 150,000 miles from a vehicle, if not more.

The Car Care Council estimates that $60 billion in vehicle maintenance or repair is not performed every year. This is evidence that there is considerably more that consumers can be doing to protect the investment they made on their automobile.

“Whether it’s an oil change, replacing brakes or new belts and hoses, that periodic repair bill is a drop in the bucket compared to monthly payments on a car,” said Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council. “The bottom line is that a properly maintained vehicle is safe, more dependable, more fuel efficient, less polluting and more valuable.”

Figures from Runzheimer International, a management-consulting firm that measures travel and living costs, confirms the Car Care Council’s claims. Recent figures from a Runzheimer study show that trading a vehicle every eight years, as opposed to every four, can save more than $2450 per year. That includes repairs, maintenance, license, registration, taxes, and insurance.

Here is a list of tasks that can keep you on the road and save you money in the long term.

• Repair all issues as soon as they occur; never let anything go!
• Wash the car once every other week and/or as often as it snows.
• Don’t wait for things to break before you address them! Preventative maintenance is much less expensive than repairing and replacing parts.
• Check all your own fluids under the hood whenever you get gasoline!
• Keep gas tank over 1/2 full at all times!
• Avoid smoking in the car. If you must, use a sealed container for the ashes and butts so the vehicle will not reek of smoke.
• Change filters and fluids frequently.
• Pay it off as soon as youcan!

Before you start shopping for that next new car, think about how much money you can save by sticking it out a few more years with your current vehicle. To keep your car running a few extra years, find an ASE certified auto repair shop in Walled Lake to answer any questions and help develop a preventive maintenance plan to keep you safe on the road and safe you money.