Category: Blog

How Often Should I Check my Tire Pressure?

CC image Kids checking the tire pressure by notpierre on FlickrEveryone knows how to determine if their car is running low on gas, but how can you tell if your tires are running low on air? Tire pressure is often overlooked, but proper inflation is key to extending the life of your vehicle and your tires. In fact, not only will properly inflated tires extend the life of your tire tread, but it will also save you money on gas and keep your family safer on the road. Below, we discuss the in’s and out’s of proper tire pressure.

Why should I care about my tire pressure?

Some people believe as long as their tires pass the eye test, they are properly inflated (i.e. My tires don’t look flat, so they must be good to drive on). While it’s always a good idea to visually inspect your tires before you get behind the wheel, you could be compromising your safety and hard-earned money if your tires are over or underinflated.

  • Overinflated tires are problematic because it decreases the amount of tread that can touch the ground. This means you’ll have less stability and traction. Over-inflation can also make a tire more susceptible to blowout.
  • Underinflated tires will wear out faster than their properly inflated counterparts. Because your wheels are compensating for the added stress of low tire pressure, they will begin to overheat. Hot tires lose their tread much quicker than tires that are operating at the optimal temperature.
  • Properly inflated tires will save you money at the gas pump. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can improve your gas mileage by over 3% by keeping your tires at the proper pressure level. That’s roughly 12 cents a gallon. Assuming the average consumer fills up their 15-gallon tank once a week, properly inflated tires will save you $93.60 a year.

When should I check my tire pressure?

Regular tire pressure checks are the best way to ensure your tires are running at the optimal pressure level. Give your tires a visual check every time you approach your vehicle, and get in the habit of preforming another check when you’re at the pump. You can find a handheld pressure gauge at your local hardware store, and keeping the gauge in your vehicle makes checking your tires a breeze. If you check your pressure while you’re getting gas, you can usually always find a pressure pump close by if you’re running low. If you don’t want to check your tires that often, a good rule of thumb to follow is to check your tire pressure once a month.

How Long Can I Drive on a Spare Tire?

CC image Wikipedia.orgUnless you’ve only been driving for a few years, chances are you’ve had to deal with a spare tire at some point in your life. Whether you popped a tire on the middle of the highway, or you simply returned to your vehicle to find a deflated tire, you’ve probably had to throw the old donut on the car to provide a short-term fix for the problem.

Your spare tire can get you out of a sticky situation, but you don’t want to rely on the tire for too long. Because the spare tire is usually a smaller, different version than the four tires on your vehicle, it’s not built for extended travel. The job of the spare tire is to keep you safe until you can visit an auto repair shop to have a regular tire installed.

Although you should consult your owner’s manual for a specific answer, a good rule of thumb to follow is to limit your travel on the spare tire to no more than 50-70 miles.

The main reason why you shouldn’t drive too far on your spare tire is because you may be putting yourself and everyone else on the road in danger. The spare tire is a small tire with very little tread, meaning it doesn’t have a very good grip on the road. This is especially dangerous if you are driving in elements like snow or rain.

When you’re driving on your spare tire, you may notice your car has poor handling or braking. This is more evident if your spare is needed on the front axel, where braking occurs. You may also notice that your car slightly pulls in the direction of the spare tire. As you can imagine, this occurs because the spare is not as equipped to handle stress like your regular set of wheels.

If you have any questions about your spare tire, or if you need to have a regular tire installed on your vehicle, don’t hesitate to contact us!  We’re always happy to help.

Related source:  AOL Autos

How Often Should I Rotate My Tires?

CC image Wikipedia.orgAside from the brakes, your tires are arguably one of the most important parts of your car because they are tasked with keeping you safe while on the road.  Many people often overlook simple tire maintenance, opting for other routine fixes like oil changes, brake checks, etc.  While those steps are essential in prolonging the life of your vehicle, proper tire maintenance can increase your gas mileage, extend the life of your tires, and prevent flats.  Below, we’ll explain how often you should rotate your tires.

Why we rotate

This may be common knowledge to some, but did you know that tire rotation has nothing to do with rotating the tire around an axle?  Tire rotation means you take all four tires off the car and put them on a different axle.

Some tires will wear down quicker depending on your type of vehicle.  Because your car often bears the majority of the weight in the front, your front tires can wear down twice as quickly as your back tires.  In order to compensate for the uneven wear, mechanics will swap your rear tires with your front tires.  Your trusty mechanic may also swap tires from the left side to the right and vice versa because one side may be subjected to more stress.

What if I skip regular tire rotation?

You could be putting yourself in danger if you neglect to rotate your tires.  Your car could begin to pull to one direction if one tire is significantly more worn down than the others, and it can also increase your chances of popping a tire at high speeds.

Also, you may be hitting the gas pump more frequently if you fail to regularly rotate your tires.  The more evenly dispersed the tire wear is, the smoother the car will run.  The less friction or pull caused by a vehicle, the less work it takes to run, which in turn saves you gas.

When should I rotate?

Although it will depend on your specific vehicle, most owners’ manuals suggest that you should rotate your tires every 3,000-10,000 miles.  Since you should get your oil changed every 3,000-7,000 miles, a good rule of thumb is to get your tires rotated every other time you change your oil.

Some places may even offer the service as part of their oil change package.  Most auto shops will at least check your tires during an oil change and recommend a rotation if they notice a different in tread wear.  A standard tire rotation usually costs between $20-$30, making it a cheap tune-up that shouldn’t be skipped.

Related source:  AOL Autos

5 Ways To Keep Your Parked Car Cool When It’s Hot

car in shadeSummer is here and that means hot weather for us Minnesotans. And while it’s great to be able to drive with the windows down after so many cold months, the summer heat can also really heat up your car when it’s parked for a long period of time.

No one likes stepping into a heat soaked car when it’s extremely hot out. So here are a few quick and easy things you can do to keep your car cool in these hot summer months.

  • Park in the Shade. This is the most obvious solution but may not always be an option. Naturally, shade will keep the sun away from you car and keep it cool in the process. Try to find trees on the edges of parking lots that you can park under.
  • Use a Windshield Sunshade. If you can’t park in the shade, the next best option is to use a sunshade. A windshield sunshade is a device made out of varying materials that you use to cover your windshield while it’s parked. The sunshade will reflect sunlight and keep your car cool as it protects from interior fading.
  • Cover Seats with Blankets. This is especially beneficial if you have leather seats. The blankets will absorb the heat and prevent the leather from heating up.
  • Crack the Windows. This will increase air movement so that hot air isn’t sitting stagnant in the car.
  • Get your Windows Tinted. This is the effective and long lasting solution. Having your car’s windows tinted will constantly reduce the amount of sun rays that enter your vehicle – keeping it cool throughout the summer.

Use these above methods to keep your vehicle cool in the summer and avoid burning yourself on your leather seats or seatbelt buckles.

Why Does my Car Pull to the Right or Left?

Reasons your Car Pulls

Ever get the feeling that your car is dragging or “pulling” to the left or right? This could be the result of several different factors, including:

  • Vehicle alignment. Alignment keeps your tires parallel with one another and even with the ground. If the alignment is off, it can cause a car to pull.
  • Brake Hose. The brake hose distributes brake fluid to your tires. If it gets clogged, fluid is dispensed unevenly to the tires, causing a car to pull as a result.
  • Tires. Over time your tire tread will wear out. If you don’t help distribute the wear evenly by rotating your tires on a regular basis, one will inevitably wear out quicker than the others. Low tire pressure can also be a cause of pulling.

A car that pulls to the right or left is more difficult to control as it requires the driver to constantly correct the pull. This can put an increased burden on the driver and take their focus off of driving safely.

Cars designed for driving on the right side of the road are manufactured to pull slightly to the right. This is to prevent the car from drifting into oncoming traffic if the driver falls asleep at the wheel. That being said, this should only be a very slight pull to the right. If your car is pulling significantly, it’s a good idea to get it checked.

How to Correct the Pull

There are a few home remedies you can try to stop the pull, such as:

  • Switching your front tires is a good test to see if the problem lies in the tires. Only rotate your tires if you know exactly what you’re doing.
  • Check your tire pressure to make sure one tire isn’t significantly lower than another.

If none of these tests work or you’re uncomfortable rotating your tires, it’s best to bring your vehicle into an auto repair shop and have an auto technician take a look. An experienced mechanic can examine your vehicle, identify the cause of the pulling, and fix the issue.

Why Pay for Car Diagnostics?

Car Diagnostics - Wiki CCVehicle diagnostic checkups are often ignored by car owners, but are very important to the long life of your car.

What are Vehicle Diagnostics?

Back in the day, it was up to the individual mechanic to determine what was wrong with your vehicle. Now Electronic Control Units (ECUs), which are present in all modern cars, help mechanics figure out and fix vehicle issues quickly.

When the ECU in your vehicle detects a problem, it will turn on the “check engine” light. A mechanic can then plug into the vehicle and download the error report recorded by the ECU.

It’s true that anyone who knows what they’re doing can plug in and download the ECU error report. So why is it a good idea to bring your vehicle in when the check engine light pops up?

Why Bring your Car in?

Even if you know what’s wrong with your vehicle, fixing the problem is another thing entirely. An experienced mechanic can interpret the error report and determine the best solution for fixing the problem.

There are also certain issues that won’t cause the “check engine” light to go off. A mechanic can examine your vehicle inside and out and get you back on the road in no time!

When Should you Change your Oil?

There is a lot of confusion about how often you need to change the oil in your vehicle. Every 3,000 miles is a common benchmark that many people stand by. The truth is that the answer varies greatly based on several factors.

Why do you Need to Change your Oil at All?

Your engine requires oil to run smoothly. Since the engine is arguably the most important part of your vehicle (after all, the car won’t go anywhere without an engine), it’s important to keep the engine happy by changing the oil when necessary. This will keep the engine running smoothly and make it last longer.

Should you Trust the Windshield Sticker?

If you get your oil changed at an auto shop, the technicians will often place a small sticker on your windshield with the date of the oil change and when to come back in for another change. The most common interval recommended is 3,000 miles. While older vehicles may very well need to have their oil changed every 3,000 miles, newer models can generally last longer before an oil change is recommended.

Consult your Vehicle Owner’s Manual

The most important thing you can do when considering when to change your oil is to consult your vehicle owner’s manual. Every car is different and there is no universal answer to the question – “How often should I change my oil?” The owner’s manual will have instructions from the car’s manufacturer on when to change the oil.

Other Factors

In addition to the number of miles driven, there are several other factors that can impact when an oil change is necessary, such as:

  • Towing
  • Driving in off road conditions (gravel, dusty roads)
  • Driving in cold weather
  • Taking frequent short trips (less than 10 miles)

Top 4 Car Repairs you Shouldn’t Skip

It’s a fact of life that cars break down over time. But if you take good care of your vehicle and keep up with routine repairs and maintenance, you can extend the life of your vehicle. Most people don’t even think about vehicle maintenance until something goes wrong. Following repair procedures can also help avoid a vehicle breakdown. With that in mind, here are 4 car repairs that you shouldn’t skip.

1. Oil Change

There is a lot of confusion about how often you should change the oil in your car. Every 3,000 miles? Every 5,000 miles? The truth is there is no universal answer to this question since every car is different. When to get your oil change depends on numerous factors such as:

  • Driving conditions
  • Driving frequency
  • Vehicle age

But the bottom line is that your car’s engine needs oil to run smoothly. It’s absolutely essential to get your oil changed in order to keep your vehicle running at top performance levels.

2. Tire Check & Rotation

Since the weight of any vehicle is not distributed evenly across all 4 wheels, certain tires will wear out quicker than others. This is why it’s important to have your tires rotated. Your vehicle owner’s manual should have instructions on when and how exactly to rotate your tires. Or you can bring your car in and have your tires checked and rotated by an auto professional.

3. Brakes & Brake Pads

Brakes are one of the most essential elements of your vehicle. Checking your vehicle’s brakes is an obvious safety precaution. An auto technician can examine your brakes and brake pads and catch any flaws before they break down while you’re driving.

4. Fluids

This includes brake fluid, transmission fluid, and coolant – all important for keeping your vehicle running efficiently. These fluids can run low or deteriorate over time. Make sure you keep an eye on your fluid levels and ask an auto mechanic if you are unsure about anything.

What Causes my Car to Overheat?

CC image Wikipedia.orgMost of the dials on a person’s dashboard are easy to understand and interpret.  Everyone knows what makes your speedometer increase and your fuel gauge decrease, but what about your car’s temperature gauge?  What causes the dial to creep up towards the big “H”?

There are three main reasons why a car might overheat.  They are:

  • Loss of coolant
  • Inability of the coolant system to get rid of excess heat
  • Excess heat in the engine

We’ll examine common problems that cause all three of these issues.

Loss of coolant

Coolant helps regulate the heat in your car.  If your coolant is empty, certain parts will begin to “run hot”.  If your car’s internal systems begin to overheat, it can cause serious and expensive damage.  Leaks in your water pump, radiator, hoses, gaskets or plugs can lead to the loss of engine coolant.  Another simple reason why your car may be leaking coolant is because your radiator rap is loose, which allows coolant to spill out.  These are usually the first places a mechanic will check to identify the problem with your heating system.

Inability of the coolant system to get rid of excess heat

If the coolant system is unable to flush out the heat produced by the engine, your car will begin to overheat.  This usually occurs because there is a clog in the cooling system.  Deposits in your cooling system can develop over time, so it’s important to make sure you get routine diagnostics tests.  A mechanic will attempt to de-clog the system by doing what is called a “reverse flush”.  If your system is extremely clogged, it may be wiser to have the system replaced.

Excess heat in the engine

A working engine typically coverts about one third of the energy derived from the combustion of fuel into work that powers the vehicle.  That means about two thirds is converted into heat, which needs to be removed from the engine.  Half of the heat in the engine exits the vehicle through the exhaust pipe, while the other half is removed by the coolant.  If all the hoses and fluid levels are in working order and your engine is still overheating, you might want to check what type of coolant you are using.  Generally speaking, a 50/50 coolant-to-water ratio is recommended.  You should double check to make sure the coolant you use has the proper ratio as specified in your owner’s manual.

5 Tips to Prep Your Car for a Long Road Trip

tireCross country road trips can be a blast, but it can become a nightmare scenario if something happens to your car far from home.  You never know what type of terrain or weather you’ll encounter on your trip, so it’s best to be prepared of all sorts. Below, we’ve outlined some of the proper precautions you should take to ensure your car is in top driving shape before you take it on a road trip.

Check your Tires

Since you’ll be putting hundreds or thousands of miles on these puppies, you’ll want to make sure they still have a safe amount of tread on them.  The simplest way to test your tire tread wear is to use the penny trick.  Have the heads side of the penny facing you, and position Lincoln so his head goes in first (just like the image to the right).  If you can see any space between the edge of the penny and Lincoln’s head, you should have your tires replaced.  Also, make sure your tires are properly inflated by referencing the owner’s manual or by using a pressure gauge.  Properly inflated tires will help keep you safe and save money on gas.

Check your Fluid Levels

Whether you’re driving south for the warmth or north for the snow, be sure your car’s fluid levels are in order.  Most people can check their windshield wiper and coolant level by referencing the owner’s manual, but if you’re taking your car in for a diagnostics test, ask them to check the other fluids, like transmission, power steering and brake fluid.  Some service centers top off these fluids at no extra charge depending on the work you’re having done.

Address any Minor Issues

If you’re overdue for an oil change, or if you’ve been ignoring that rattling sound that happens when you hit the brakes, now is a time to get those issues fixed.  Many mechanics say regular oil changes are one of the best ways to extend the life of your vehicle, so don’t ignore the sticker in the upper-left hand corner of your windshield.  Also, if your car is making any funny sounds, or if any dashboard lights indicate that service is needed, bring your vehicle into the shop before you hit the highway.  If you have any major issues with your vehicle, you should consider a different form of transportation.

Prepare for an Emergency

Most people have some equipment in their vehicle to help them in the event of an emergency, but now is an important time to double-check your supplies.  Make sure your spare tire is properly inflated, and grab any other tools that may be necessary to help you change it (jack, wrench, AAA card).  Consider storing a disposable camera, flash light, pen, and paper in your glove compartment in case you need document an accident or to assist you in the dark.  Storing a first aid kit under your passenger seat can also help in the event of a minor emergency.

Clean out your Car

Not only will your passengers be happy that they’re not sitting on stale cracker crumbs, but cleaning your car can also save you money.  If you have sandbags or snow chains in your trunk to help during the winter months, now is the time to remove the extra weight (unless, or course, you’re heading on a winter retreat).  This will also make added room for any luggage you might be bringing along.  Vacuum the inside of your car in the days before your trip to make sure your passengers can ride clean and comfortably.