‘Car repair’ Tagged Posts

How To Clean Your Vehicle’s Fuel Injectors

Your car's fuel injectors (FIs) spray gas into each cylinder's combustion chamber through the intake valve. The amount of gas sprayed through each n...

 

Your car’s fuel injectors (FIs) spray gas into each cylinder’s combustion chamber through the intake valve. The amount of gas sprayed through each nozzle is carefully calibrated by your vehicle’s computer based on data it receives from several sensors. The right blend of fuel and air ensures your engine operates efficiently for any given set of driving circumstances.

In order for this process to work, the nozzles of your FIs much be completely clear of restrictions. Any obstruction will prevent the calibrated amount of gas from being sprayed into the combustion chamber. This affects your engine’s efficiency and performance, and can cause problems with its emissions output. You may experience a misfire from a lean mix (i.e. too little gas), hesitation, and idling problems.

Below, we’ll start by taking a look at the factors that can cause obstructions in your fuel injectors; I’ll reveal one influence you may find surprising. I’ll then explain how to remove the clogs and help your engine operate at its peak level of performance.

How The Injectors Become Clogged

Obstructions are due to deposits, as opposed to debris that finds its way into the nozzles. Deposits form as the result of the hydrocarbons contained within the gas. These compounds come in varying densities with thicker – or heavier – densities generating more energy and heat during combustion than lighter ones. Olefins are a type of hydrocarbon, and are usually the cause of obstructions that form in the fuel injectors. The following is a brief explanation regarding how this occurs.

Residual gas is left behind on your vehicle’s FIs whenever you turn your engine off. Because there is a significant amount of heat surrounding the injectors, the residual gasoline immediately begins to evaporate. The problem is, when it does so, it leaves behind olefins. These hydrocarbons are waxy, which is the reason they do not evaporate. Instead, the surrounding heat cooks and hardens them. Over time, the olefin deposits accumulate in the nozzles and form obstructions.

The blockage does not need to be large to affect your engine’s performance. If the olefin deposits restrict even ten percent of a single nozzle, you might experience a misfire.

Inexpensive Fuel: A Surprising Catalyst

Millions of people choose cheap gasoline over name brands when filling their tanks. Even though doing so saves money at the pump, it’s a bad idea. It increases the chances your fuel injectors will become clogged. Here’s why:

Suppliers often lower the price of their gasoline by cutting certain corners. One of these corners is the detergents contained in the gas. Detergents are included in fuel to help prevent additives from accumulating on the valve stems, and to clean the nozzles of the FIs. Unfortunately, they’re costly. Thus, cheap gasoline usually contains fewer detergents – or lesser quality ones – which allows deposits to accumulate more quickly.

Removing The Obstructions

The simplest approach to cleaning your fuel injectors is to have your mechanic do the job. If you prefer to do it yourself, you’ll have two main options from which to choose: cleaning the FIs while they remain installed or doing so after removing them from your car. The former option involves disengaging your fuel pump and letting your engine idle while running a cleaning solution into the fuel rail. You’ll need to use special equipment that can pressurize the solution. The drawback with this approach is that large obstructions may not be cleared away properly.

Removing the FIs prior to cleaning is the method used by most mechanics. However, this is only feasible if you have access to the proper equipment. The advantage is that it can clear any blockages that exist in the nozzles, regardless of their size or obstinacy. The drawback is that the necessary equipment is cost-prohibitive for most people.

If your fuel injectors have become clogged, have them cleaned or replaced. Otherwise, your engine’s performance and efficiency will continue to suffer.

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Brake Repair Procedures To Remember

 

Often times you will need to bleed the brake system with brake repair. You should bleed and flush your brakes, every two years or 24,000 miles.

Over time, water can slowly enter your brake system. Your brake fluid will absorb moisture. This helps keep it from rusting and corroding the brakes. In time, moisture can build up and cause problems. It can cause brake parts to corrode and wear out. Brakes are too important to ignore. Your ability to stop is the most important feature of driving once you have had diesel emission testing.

It is not a particularly enjoyable experience to bleed brakes. However, it is sometimes necessary. If any parts like wheel cylinders or brake calipers are removed, air can get in the system. This is true if the master cylinder is removed. Did you know that air can slowly enter a brake system over time? Condensation and evaporation can be the cause.

When moisture enters the system, it can be replaced by air when it boils. It happens over an extended period of time. If enough water is replaced by air, it causes problems. This can cause the brakes to fail. Brake systems operate under very high pressure. Air will compress under pressure. This has a spring action.

Take the top off your brake master cylinder. The fluid may be cloudy or discolored. There may be rust and corrosion in it. You may need to flush out the old fluid and replace it with new. If you have help, you can do it without too much difficulty.

Before bleeding the brake system, make sure you get the right type of fluid. Most systems will take Dot 3. However, do not assume that it takes Dot 3. Consult your can manual. Check the master cylinder also. It may be printed on the lid.

When you bleed the brakes, start with the farthest away wheel. Usually the one furthest from the master cylinder will be the rear driver side. Next, work your way to the closest wheel. The other person should pump the brake pedal and leave it down. When you release the bleeder valve, the brake pedal will travel all of the way to the floor. Let the air and fluid out. Then close the bleeder valve. Make sure your helper does not release the brake pedal until you tighten the bleeder valve. Repeat this until no air or air bubbles come out of the bleeder valve. Try to catch the fluid in a container.

In closing

Many times, brake repair will involve bleeding air from the lines. You should flush and bleed your brakes every two years or 24,000 miles. Check your car manual for details. Bleeding is not usually complicated if you have help.

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Find Out All The Types of Different Paint System To Use On Your Car

 

If you have decided to paint your car, then you are in for a real adventure, and hopefully a positive one. Many people do paint their cars and they turn out great. There is no reason yours won?t, if you follow the rules and guidelines. One of the most crucial things you have to do is make sure you purchase the right car paints, and that you use them exactly as instructed. Like any technology the car paints have taken on a different character and changes over the years. Naturally they must stay consistent with what the car manufacturers are using or there would be no compatibility in the car paints at all.

You will see when you go to buy your paints that there is a variety, so you will have to make some choices. It is not a cheap commodity, so you want to be sure before you start that you are going to have the budget to buy your car paints in enough quantity to finish the job.

One of the things you will need to determine when you buy the car paints, is do you have the equipment that may be necessary to use that particular paint. For example, if it is a brand of paint that requires application with a spay gun, then do you have access to one. Unless you are inclined to do so, its unlikely you are going to want to buy a lot of additional equipment just for this one time project. Unless of course you are planning on painting other cars in the future and this would be a investment for you.

Its not just the color of the car paints that you have to decide upon, you are going to need to apply a primer as well. Once again you must consider how this is to be applied. The other alternative to buying paints that require a sprayer is to by the spray paint tins. Some individuals feel that it is more expensive to go that route, but if you don?t have to buy extra equipment, then the cost maybe very comparable.

You need to be sure that you are going to be able to purchase more of the paint should you run out. Can you imagine the disaster it would be if you got the car 3/4s finished and couldn?t get more car paints because they were end of the line and you bought them on sale?

In either the paints that you use a spray gun with or aerosol cans there are a variety of brands available. Make sure you purchase from a reputable dealer, and hopefully one that can give you some advice. No doubt everyone will have some favorite brands, but a little research on your part will help as well.

Don?t forget that you will also need to buy a top coat as well when you go to buy your paints. Don?t penny pinch when it comes to this one. You will have put a lot of hard work into painting your car and you want the effects to last. You can achieve this with a good product.

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Adaptive Cruise Control: The Evolution Of Cruising

 

Back in the’50s, Chrysler introduced a feature into their automobiles that allowed drivers to set the speed at which they were driving. Rather than having to actively watch their speedometer and make continuous adjustments, motorists could program the system to maintain a defined speed. There was one problem: the feature could not identify the distance between the driver’s vehicle and objects that lay in front of him. Placing too much trust in the system often resulted in rear-end traffic collisions.

Automakers have developed a new version of the traditional feature: adaptive cruise control (ACC). Below, you’ll discover how the technology works and the advantages it offers. We’ll also take a brief look at what the future holds for ACC.

How Does Adaptive Cruise Control Work?

The newer system not only allows drivers to set a defined speed, but it also keeps track of objects that lie in their path. That includes other cars, pedestrians, and stationary objects. The feature is programmed to maintain a specific “safe distance” between the driver’s vehicle and everything else. When it identifies a need, the ACC will moderate the throttle and apply the brakes.

There are a couple ways in which adaptive cruise control can monitor the landscape in front of the driver. The first is by using microwave radar. The second is to rely upon cameras that are positioned at the front of the vehicle. When either technology identifies a potential hazard, it will calculate the speed and distance required to maintain the motorist’s safety. Then, it will send that data to the car’s computer, which will make the necessary adjustments to the throttle and brakes.

The Advantages Of ACC

A large number of annual traffic accidents are rear-end collisions. In fact, according to data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 30% of the 6 million reported traffic accidents in 2005 were rear-ends. Because adaptive cruise control monitors the presence and speed of objects that lie in the driver’s path, it can help prevent rear-end collisions.

Another benefit of ACC is that it can bring a vehicle to a full stop, if necessary. Then, when vehicles ahead of the motorist begins to move forward, the system can instruct the car’s computer to accelerate. This can be especially useful in congested traffic.

Into The Future

Automakers are continuing to develop the technology that drives adaptive cruise control systems. They are integrating other safety features, such as air bags, seat belts, and lane change warning devices to improve overall safety. For example, the ACC sensors can send data to the car’s computer that will instruct it to prepare the air bags for deployment if a collision is imminent.

While adaptive cruise control systems are costly and therefore, more prevalent in high-end vehicles, that is likely to change over the next few years. The technology will become less expensive. Declining costs will encourage automakers to install ACC within a greater portion of their respective fleets. Within a decade, most drivers will enjoy the safety advantages these systems offer.

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categories: cars, autos, vehicles, car maintenance, car repair

Learning The Ropes Of Your Vehicle’s Tires

 

Given that a car’s tires are the only part that makes contact with the ground, it’s surprising that few motorists understand how they work. While it’s unnecessary to memorize the chemical compounds used to make the rubber last, it’s worth having a rudimentary appreciation for the factors that influence their life. The longer they last, the less often you’ll need to have them replaced. And that trickles down to your budget’s bottom line.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at your wheels and identify a few warning signs that suggest replacements may be in order. I’ll describe a few items to look for and what those items imply. I’ll also explain a few technical details that are helpful to keep in mind when it’s time to invest in a new set.

An Overview Of Wearing

If you’re not already doing so, get into the routine of checking the tread wear on your tires two or three times each month. If they begin wearing unevenly, they’ll eventually expose you and your passengers to safety issues. The key is to understand what different forms of wearing suggest.

If you notice excess wear in the center of the tread, that means your tires are overinflated. The excessive pressure causes the outer edges of your wheels to make less contact with the ground.

The opposite is often true if you notice excess wear on the sides. That means your wheels are under inflated. Keep in mind that driving aggressively (for example, taking turns quickly) can also lead to side tread wear.

If you see excess wearing on one edge, but not the other, the problem is likely due to misalignment or an issue with your suspension. Have a mechanic inspect your car to identify and fix the culprit.

A Few “Technical” Details

The wheels that are installed on your vehicle at the factory are designed with the proper aspect ratio, contact patch, and speed rating. The aspect ratio is a measurement between a tire’s width and sidewall height. You’ll see wheels on muscle cars that have a low aspect ratio. They grip the road better, but usually deliver a “harder” ride.

The contact patch represents how much of your tread actually touches the ground at any given time. Race cars usually have a wider patch, which means more of the tread is on the pavement.

Tire manufacturers put speed ratings on their wheels. These signify the top speed at which you can travel on the treads for an extended period without introducing safety issues. For example, a Honda Accord might come with wheels that have an “S” rating. That means its top sustained, safe speed is rated at 112 mph.

When it’s time to invest in a new set of tires, keep the above criteria in mind. It’s the best way to purchase a set that is well-suited for your vehicle while ensuring your safety on the road.

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categories: Cars, Auto Vehilces, Car Parts, Auto Parts, Car Maintenance, Car Repair

Finding Quality Dodge Ram Replacement Parts Online

 

The Dodge Ram has long been an icon of US motoring. Over the past 30 years it has progressed through four different generations of models, and no end to its popularity is yet in sight. This mighty car, that packs the presence of a full sized pickup truck, remains a firm favorite with the public.

The Ram is known for it robustness and durability, and few argue with it being called a mighty or powerful vehicle. It is not lacking in style either, and it is one of the most customizable cars on the road. With qualities such as these, it is easy to understand why it is a much loved car, and why those why buy them want to hold on to them for so long.

The fact that they are so well made means that you can still find many older models on the road today. Even the mighty Dodge Ram needs some parts replacing sometimes though. Fortunately, the widespread availability of genuine aftermarket Dodge Ram replacement parts makes this no major problem.

One method of getting hold of the best Dodge Ram parts is through online sellers. The reason to buy online rather than paying a visit to a local dealership is two fold – 1) They have more parts in stocks 2) They are cheaper. Plenty of online parts suppliers can be found by simply typing ‘Dodge Ram parts’ into a search engine.

Indeed, in these days of internet shopping buying Dodge Ram parts online is a very simple, quick and secure method of purchasing the Dodge Ram repair parts you require; whether it be engine parts, cooling fans, lights or mirrors, there are plenty of suppliers of Dodge Ram replacement parts with website catalogues for you to browse.

If you prefer to go down the dealership route then the choice of yours, but bear in mind that some of the best manufacturers supply OEM standard – that is parts designed to fit straight on as the original. Dodge Ram repair parts via online sources, and using a web based supplier not only guarantees you a quick delivery, but a cheaper price thanks to reduced overheads.

The availability of quality aftermarket Dodge Ram parts means that your pickup can be made to look exactly as you want it, and suppliers of online Dodge Ram parts understand the needs of the driver. A final point to bear in mind though, ensure that you use a supplier of reputable Dodge Ram repair parts, maybe one that has been recommended to you by a friend or is mentioned in an article on Dodge Ram parts. Do so, and you can confidently expect your Ram to be running smoothly for years to come.

If aftermarket parts are certified and meet OEM standards, you can relax in the knowledge that you have ordered the best Dodge Ram replacement parts available online. There are many quality sites that offer Dodge Ram Parts, but www.dodgeramreplacement.com/pickup is one of the best.

categories: dodge ram,car parts,auto parts,replacement parts,aftermarket parts,car repair,auto repair,cars

Basics Of Changing Your Vehicle’s Flat Tire

 

There are many potential causes of a flat tire. The most common is a nail or other sharp object lying in the road which punctures the tread as you drive over it. However, damage to the valve stem, vandalism, and even a traffic collision can also cause your wheel to lose most of its air. If your treads are severely worn, even relatively blunt objects can puncture them.

If you’re fortunate enough to have run-flat tires installed on your vehicle, you’ll be able to drive to an auto repair shop to have the damaged tire replaced. Otherwise, you may be forced to do the work yourself. Below, I’ll take you through the process of changing a flat tire.

First Step: The Jack

Your car should have a spare and a jack in the trunk. Many pick-up trucks and SUVs have them installed underneath the frame. Once you have retrieved them, make sure your vehicle is in “Park” and the emergency brake has been set. Before raising your car, loosen each of the lugs on the offending wheel (turn them counterclockwise). Don’t remove them; simply loosen them.

Next, place the jack under a sturdy portion of the frame and raise your car. If you’re not sure whether a particular area has enough strength, check your owner’s manual. One important note of caution: do not do this if you’re parked on an incline. Your automobile can easily move as you’re raising it.

Second Step: The Lugs

Once your car has been raised with sufficient room to take off the flat tire, you’ll need to remove the loosened lugs. Make sure that you place them in a secure area to avoid losing them. Even though each wheel has several lugs, it is unsafe to drive if even one of them is missing.

Third Step: The Replacement

Removing the offending wheel is easy with the lugs not holding it in place. Simply slide it off the supporting studs. The difficult part is aligning the replacement (the spare) on the studs. Wheels are heavy. You may find yourself struggling to lift the spare while trying to fit the studs through the right holes.

Once you have fit the studs through the holes in the spare, you’ll need to replace the lugs in order to secure the wheel. Turn each lug carefully to avoid threading issues. Also, consider replacing them in a star pattern. That is, replace the top lug first and then replace one of the bottom lugs.

After you have tightened the lugs by hand, lower your car and remove the jack. Then, tighten the lugs securely with your tire iron while your vehicle is resting on the ground. Again, follow a star pattern beginning with the topmost lug.

Keep in mind, most spares can only be driven for a limited number of miles at a reduced speed. But, even though they’re not true replacements, they’ll help you get your car back on the road to the nearest auto garage.

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categories: Cars, vehicles, autos, car maintenance, car repair

Auto Detailing Add-on

 

Have you thought of adding Headlight Repair to your auto detailing business? A new set of sealed beam headlights on a New Jeep Cherokee could run as high as $70, however your team can make money lightly sanding and coating these headlights with the Micro-Glass product in the Micro-Mesh Kit by Micro Surface Corporation. It is important for the detailing companies to constantly review such products, this innovation has propelled our team to come up with the solutions for our fleet customers and help us bundle services to compete against the other large vendors to these fleet companies. One company we compete with out of New Jersey does offer this service, but we do and we are able to use this to our advantage on bidding on fleet detailing work.

This is just one more way you can bundle services to provide a value added service to your customers. We have talked to managers of fleet wash companies and fleet detailing companies in their various markets. Some of these managers have told us they have been looking into doing headlight restoration, because their customers are now asking for the service. Many of the high-end to Auto detailing shops do offer headlight restoration using various methods. Recently with the floods that we’ve had in the United States, we have seen Auto auctions start to offer this service also. Generally the Auto auctions that we’ve seen do not know how to deal with sealed beams, instead they’re much better with none sealed beams, and by removing the lens and wiping down the inside and using glass wax they are able to make the lenses look transparent and therefore the car looks sellable as runs through the auto auctions.

Whereas this is a good idea for auto auctions it is not good enough for the fleet customers especially those that assign their cars to specific individuals. Companies like the Baby Bells, quest, Cox cable, AT&T, FedEx, United States Postal Service etc. have thousands and thousands of vehicles. Generally these vehicles are assigned for the most part with very few as a percentage of the total fleet being pool cars like at the GSA office. As the vehicles get back from Iraq and Kuwait and were ever they do next to wipe out terrorism from the face of the planet, they will have sand blasted headlights, from the very fine silica type sand of the Middle East. So how does one go about taking care of this problem? Well, it is much simpler than you think.

The first thing to do is to assess exactly how bad the damage it is this can be done in a number of ways; first, you would get the opaqueness or cloudiness of the lens. Second, you look to see if there’s any pit marks and hard water spots. This is how you assess which method you’ll use to either clean or restore the surface. Let’s face it if there’s too much damage, the time it will take to fix the lens will cost you more than to replace it. The micromesh is cool because you can use it either wet or dry when you’re sanding. How much do most detailers charge for this service? Well in depends the tupe of vehicles and locations of the fleets; vans such bread companies, wholesale companies, small package delivery companies, online grocery services, dry cleaners, flower shops, armored car services, limo services, school buses, garbage trucks any other fleets mentioned above, we have found that is not difficult to get 8 to $10 per lens, remember each of the service trucks or cars have between two and for lenses.

This can add up to quite a lot of money very quickly. We have also found that used car dealerships will go for it once you show them how it works. We also found it to be a nice add-on to keep our crews busy in inclement weather. As you know the Northeast United States has been slammed by snowstorms and Nor-Easters, these additional services provide an extra revenue generator when wash cars.

There is a great article in TSP magazine in the October — November 2003 edition about this product and ease of use. The micromesh soft touch pads are only three by four inches with a phone center but they were killer since they have micromesh upon both sides. When using them they bend with the lens as you’re working so you can go fast with even pressure. We found that we could clean, micromesh, white and buff a lens in about six to eight minutes. If you’re working indoors on a fleet of vehicles in the winter in the northern colder climates of the US or Canada you can make money no matter what the weather is in this is just one more way we are solving the problem of continuing sales with a mobile carwash or mobile detailing rig in the harsh winter weather climates. By using the micromesh can’t it cuts down the time to do the job significantly. The old way was to use different levels of fine grit sandpaper slowly working up.

You also may be encouraged to buy an auto service contract to help protect against unexpected, costly repairs

categories: automobile serivce,auto service,car repair,auto repair,auto,automobile

Using Fleet Management Software To Excel

 

Fleet management plays a crucial part in managing a large vehicle fleet, whether of cars, vans, trucks, or a company’s vehicle inventory. A few important examples include vehicle maintenance, invoicing customers for work done, fitting cars with new parts, systematic scheduling of regular servicing, and attending to repairs. These are just a few components of fleet management.

In running a large vehicle fleet, there is always maintenance to be done, and the hard part is making sure that it is done on time. This kind of need has given rise to easy to use fleet maintenance management software. It has then proved to be very practical when it comes to maintaining equipment, vehicles, tools, and facilities.

People take care of their vehicle in the hope of extending its life and maintaining its pristine condition as long as possible. Fleet maintenance management software helps in doing so. When you keep a vehicle in good condition, it will significantly reduce the need for the parts replacement and companies can price a higher value in disposing it.

Maintenance Software also helps manage fleet and equipment effectively by handling unlimited amount of preventive maintenance schedules for all of the vehicles in your fleet. Fleet maintenance management software does this by keeping track of your vehicles’ subsystems such engines, tires, hydraulics, etc.

The fleet maintenance management software can also provide a rigid monitoring of the vehicles’ performance based on fuel and oil’s consumption, fuel per mile/hr and oil per mile/hr. This in return will be able to aid you in detecting potential problems before they become serious that may need more money than the meager investment needed by the software.

If you own a business of managing fleet vehicles like transportation business of taxis, buses, rent-a-car, trucks and others, you need to have good fleet maintenance software. It will enable your company to be more productive. Maintenance software is a powerful tool yet affordable. Even if you don’t have deep computer knowledge, this software is user-friendly and can be easily understood.

One more thing to remember is that a good fleet maintenance management software will be able to provide work orders when there are scheduled dues and one that will also document activities so it will be easier to keep track and retract history when needed and this will also allow the company to detect recurring problems.

Other characteristics of good fleet maintenance management software will be having specifications such as scheduling, repair histories, fuel/oil tracking, tool tracking, work orders, tire trackings, sub assets, parts inventory, depreciation, warranty tracking, purchase orders and fuel tracking import. In ths fast paced world of business where time, management and organization contributes so much, having a good fleet maintenance management software should become one of your priorities.

Lucas Lindermann is a professional author passionate about fleet maintenance management software and maintenance software.

categories: fleet maintenance software,maintenance software,software,maintenance management,CMMS software,computers,cars,trucks,car repair

5 Costly Car Maintenance Mistakes – and How to Save a Fortune Caring for Your Car

 

People now-a-days are so busy with their day to day lives that they don’t take the time out they need to take better care of their cars. People could end up saving a bundle of time and money if they just took ten minutes out of their day-to-day and checked up on their cars. Everyone has stress in their lives including their relationships, their jobs, and much more. Wouldn’t it be nice not to include a long trip to the mechanic’s shop?

Here are a few common mistakes you should avoid:

1) Not keeping tires inflated – To do this, you’ll have to get a tire pressure gauge. At about $5, they’re pretty inexpensive. The next thing you’ll need to do is find the recommended tire pressure that’s listed on your tires. Finally, check the tire pressure to see if it matches.

Proper tire inflation can help in a number of ways. First is that a properly inflated tire can save gas, a precious commodity these days. Having tires with the right amount of pressure makes them last longer, and do their job better. Over or under inflated tires could blow out, causing an accident, or you have to replace or repair it. If you have to use a spare, don’t drive around on it like a normal tire, they aren’t designed to drive around on, just enough to get you to a repair shop.

2) Not checking fluid levels (or not checking them properly) – If your cat is an automatic, you should check fluids when they’re warm. Put the car in neutral, and make sure the parking brake is on. Your engive oil can be checked with the car warm, but make sure the car is turned off to do that. When it comes to radiator fluids, those should only be checked when the engine is cold. If you check them while the car is hot, pressure can build up in the radiator and cause severe burns.

3) Changing your own oil or not changing your oil regularly – Many people think they are doing themselves a favor by changing their own oil but changing your own oil can end up costing you way more in the long run. First raising your own car to change your oil in the first place can be dangerous. Plus, draining your oil causes a big mess, and then you have the responsibility of getting rid of the old oil.

That’s why taking your car to a lube shop is the best choice. They’ll check all fluids and top of everything, they’ll lubricate the chassis, and do a few other things, for a pretty low price. Using a lube shop is typically less expensive, and a whole lot faster too.

4) Not having regular brake inspections, or not changing the pads often enough – That incessant squeal every time you apply the brake is a warning that the pads have worn down to the studs, and are scraping against the drums and rotors. Taking the time to have the brakes changed, for under two hundred dollars in most cases, is a lot cheaper than having to replace the rotors and drums.

5) Not tightening the gas cap all the way – Sometimes people go to the shop thinking there is something wrong with their car because the check engine light is on. Then end up having to pay for a diagnosis, when the only thing that was wrong is the gas cap was loose. Always be sure your gas cap is on tight, so there is no air interfering with your fuel intake and causing the check engine light to come on.

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