Tuesday, November 29, 2011

What Are Fluid Flushes?

What Are Fluid Flushes?

By Ron Haugen




To make every component in the car run properly, it usually requires a fluid. The fluid can either help power the movement, lubricate the action of the parts or either help a part run safer. With repeated and heavy use of these fluids, how long can they last? Do they evaporate? Do they get dirty? How do you know when it is time for new fluid?

A mechanic at your shop will be able to answer your specific questions on fluids, but in general, you should at least know what types of fluids are in your car and when it is time for a fluid flush. Fluid flushes can happen with the transmission, the brakes and even with the radiator. A fluid flush cleans the old fluid out of the system and new fluid is replaced.

All the Types of Fluid

The fluid in your car systems includes windshield washer fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, anti-freeze and oil. Those are the big ones. The oil needs to be changed every 3,000 miles or so and that is pretty common knowledge. And you add more windshield wiper fluid when it runs low (or you go to use it and nothing comes out!) But what about the rest of the fluids in your car that you do not know how to check?

An ASE technician will be able to check out the fluids in your car. They have the correct gauges to see where the levels are at and they can take a sample out and see if it is dirty. Some fluids can last forever in the car, while others need to be checked and changed as part of the routine maintenance on your car. Dirty fluids should be changed so they don't leave a buildup of dirt in parts of the engine, which could make it run poorly.

Sometimes leaks happen in the car. A leak can be spotted during a routine tune up and corrected. The leak might be a slow one and not noticeable to you. But if all of the fluid were to drain out of the power steering unit, then it would be very hard to turn. It could also be hard to stop the car if the brake fluid had all drained out. Keeping the fluids at their optimal levels will ensure that the function they are supposed to do will happen.

If you are looking for honest advice, prioritized repairs, options on repairs, maximized fuel economy, and a good feeling with who you are doing business with go to http://www.westsideautopros.com




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When Is It Time for Tire Replacement?

When Is It Time for Tire Replacement?

By Ron Haugen




For people who don't know a lot about cars, it might be hard to determine when it is time to get things checked or changed. The sticker on the windshield lets you know when it is time to get an oil change, but there aren't usually stickers for other things, such as tire rotation, tire replacement, fluid flushes and so on.

How can you find out?

Have you noticed a bit of vibration when you go down the road lately? That vibration might mean you need the tires to get balanced or it might mean you need to replace all four of your tires. Tires come with a certain mileage life on them and if you don't know what it is, then you might not have realized when you passed it. It is also best to check all of your tires each time before you get in your car.

The number on the side of the tire tells you how many miles your tire is expected to last, but if you don't know at what point on the odometer they were installed, then you might not have any clue as to how many miles are on those tires. When you don't know how many miles are on a set of tires, then you have to eyeball it.

A certified technician can look at the tires and see where they are wore down and how much tread they have left on them. If they are low on tread or even showing bald spots, then you need to get new tires right away. Tires that have little or no tread are not safe to drive because they won't have any traction on the tires. In the rain or snow, that could make you have an accident even sooner.

Replacing tires should be done with all four at the same time. That way, you know exactly how many miles are on what tire, because they are all the same. The tires can be rotated evenly over the next months and the wear can be made more even on the tire. Spending money on all four tires when the tread is starting to wear rather than waiting until it is a lot lower or you find yourself in an accident.

There are many different tires to choose from, so you can find a set that fits in to your budget. The tires will have different tread levels and different mileage guarantees on them as well.

If you are looking for honest advice, prioritized repairs, options on repairs, maximized fuel economy, and a good feeling with who you are doing business with go to http://www.westsideautopros.com




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Why Tune Ups Are Important?

Why Tune Ups Are Important

By Ron Haugen




No matter how old - or even how new - your vehicle is, getting regular tune ups is very important. You might not think so, because if there isn't anything wrong, why fix it. But that couldn't be farther from the truth. A regular tune up might catch a problem before it becomes a problem and leaves you stranded on the side of the road. Taking your vehicle in for a scheduled tune up is also a lot more convenient than having to work around a breakdown, so why wait?

What Tune Ups Can Spot

How often do you actually open up your hood and check the components that are under it? Be honest, probably never. So you don't have the ability to spot when a belt has started to crack or looks aged. You don't know what pieces are running together more than they should be. You don't notice the fluid leaking from an engine component. Or do you?

Taking your car in to a specialist who is trained to look for any type of mishap will catch those little things you don't have time for. While they are under the hood changing the oil, they can also do a safety inspection. This inspection will look at all of the major elements under the hood and on the car. They may also check the life left on the brake pads, the tread left on the tires and how much fluid is where it is supposed to be. When all of these checks are made ahead of time, they can be corrected before they become a major problem.

A tune up might take an hour or so of your time and cost a few dollars. But just imagine how much more time and dollars could be involved if you have to wait on the side of the road, call a tow truck and then rent a car to get to work while yours gets fixed. Suddenly, a little tune up doesn't seem like it is such a put out, does it?
If you suspect something is wrong with the car, you can mention it to the mechanic when you take it in. That way they can pay extra attention to that detail when they are looking around. Spending your time wisely now will only help you to have more time in the future - NOT spent waiting around for your car to be repaired.

If you are looking for honest advice, prioritized repairs, options on repairs, maximized fuel economy, and a good feeling with who you are doing business with go to http://www.westsideautopros.com




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Who Needs Engine Tuning?

Who Needs Engine Tuning

By Ron Haugen




You have heard of having a tune up done on your car, but what is tuning? Is that just a different term for a tune up on the car? Not really. Tuning is a form of tune up, but it is not part of the regular maintenance program needed for your car. Tune ups happen at any car dealership or auto repair place when there are small problems on the car. They can also be for checks and prevention maintenance on items of the car. Tuning involves the engine specifically.

When you are trying to grasp what tuning is, think of race car drivers. Engine tuning is when you tweek the engine you have by adjusting air intakes, fixing the idle speed and then working on the different components of the engine. What tuning sets out to do is make an engine run more efficiently, faster and to give a better overall performance.

Engine tuning does not really need to be done on regular cars. They have the engine worked on, the fluids checked and changed when needed and they run fine. Engine tuning is for people who know a little bit more about engines and want their own car to perform better. These cars might race in amateur races on the speedway nearby or they might be pulling heavy loads on a farm. All professional race car drivers spend hours a day on engine tuning, so you can see who it is most important to.

If you have an older car, you can consider engine tuning for it. There might be locations within the engine that could be updated with a different part or something new that makes it more efficient. Unless you know how to fix engines yourself, don't attempt to get under the hood and make the adjustments yourself. Hire a mechanic or an ASE technician who knows about engine modification and engine tuning specifically.

For people who take their car in for routine maintenance and the mechanic comes back and suggests engine tuning for it, you might want a second opinion before you proceed. What do you use this car or truck for? Obviously, if you haul a lot of things in your vehicle, then may want to get it checked out more often. If it is not for racing or a lot of highway driving, then you probably don't need it. Only have your engine tuned if you need to get a better performance out of it and know it is possible with a few new parts.

If you are looking for honest advice, prioritized repairs, options on repairs, maximized fuel economy, and a good feeling with who you are doing business with go to http://www.westsideautopros.com




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