What car maintenance needs to be done?

Cold Weather Vehicle Maintenance

Keeping up with your car's maintenance will help you avoid costly repairs and reduce the chance of getting into an accident. Remember the importance of changing your vehicle's oil, understanding your tire tread, and having a basic understanding of car parts. Vehicles need to be maintained frequently to ensure they are ready for whatever you’re driving might throw at them. This information will enable you to understand the maintenance of your car better. Different components make up the maintenance of a car, each having an essential role in keeping your vehicle on the road; these include

Tires

Vehicle maintenance is an essential part of being a responsible driver. A tire comprises three layers: tread, casing, and steel belts. Tire treads make up your car's surface and provide traction in driving. Checking the tire tread will help you assess when your tires are too worn to be on the road. The track determines the type of surface you are driving on and changes over time depending on how much you drive in wet weather conditions or ice-covered roads. The steel belts give the tire flexibility, and the casing provides a barrier between the steel belts and tread. Tires may have tire pressure sensors that alert a driver when there is a low tire pressure or a slow leak within their car's tires.

What car maintenance needs to be done should generally depend on the type of car you have and its age. Maintenance is an integral part of being a responsible car owner. Many states require that a certified, registered mechanic inspect your vehicle bi-annually to ensure it is safe to be on the road and that it passes inspection. Have your car serviced on time by professionals to help you avoid mechanics who may not know how to service a particular make or model.

To keep your car safe and running, you must get all the necessary oil changes and checkups. Additionally, a car's air filters can also get dirty, meaning you need to make sure that they are replaced as needed. In total, it's recommended that both oil changes and air filter replacements be done every six months or 7500 miles. You can replace the air filter in your car by following this guide. You need to ensure that you get your car's fluids checked regularly. Many vehicles come with oil that needs to be topped off every 500 miles, while gasoline should be topped off every 10,000 miles. You must have your car's fluids checked every six months or 7,500 miles. Here's what you can do to check your car's fluids yourself.

Make sure that you keep your wipers in good working order too. It would help if you replaced your wipers when you see they are not working as well as when the car was new. You can find out what type of wiper is on your car by looking up the make and model online or checking under the windshield. Also, ensure that you stay on top of things like battery maintenance. Your car battery's health can be affected by the number of times that you drive your car. If you have a lot of mileage on your battery, likely, it will only last for a short time. Getting a new battery installed every one to three years or every 7,500 miles is best. You can find out how to change your car's battery here.

What car maintenance needs to be done is often a question that is asked by drivers who are still determining what they need to do to keep their cars running in good condition. Knowing what you need to have done and when you should have it done is essential. Above, you've read a list of tips that will help you stay on top. This way, you can continue driving your car quickly, knowing it's in good working order and safe too. Vehicle maintenance is vital when it comes to ensuring your safety while driving.

Want to know what car maintenance needs to be done? Contact our ASE Certified technicians at Expert Car Care today for more information about vehicle maintenance and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop proudly serves residents in the community of West Allis, WI, and the surrounding area.

How often should you get your car ac serviced?

How often should you get your car ac serviced? Regular maintenance of your car's air conditioning system is essential to ensure it functions optimally during the sweltering summer months. It is advisable to have your car's AC serviced at an ASE-certified car air conditioner shop at least once a year.

Though, the frequency of servicing may vary depending on factors such as the vehicle’s age, usage frequency, and operating environment. For instance, if you frequently drive in dusty or humid situations, you may want to service your car AC more often.

Periodic servicing of your car AC is crucial as it helps maintain the system, ensuring that it operates smoothly and efficiently. Over time, you want car ac repair because dirt and debris can accumulate in the system, negatively impacting its performance and leading to increased energy consumption. This, in turn, can cause higher fuel consumption and, eventually, more significant expenses.

When you take your car to a certified car air conditioner shop for servicing, a technician will inspect the system for leaks, clean or change the air filter, and verify the refrigerant levels. They will also conduct a comprehensive check of the system to ensure that it is working properly.

To summarize, to avoid experiencing overheating issues during the summer months, it is compulsory to have your car AC regularly serviced at a certified car air conditioner shop. However, the frequency of servicing may vary depending on various factors, and it is essential to consult with a mechanic to determine the appropriate schedule for your vehicle. Regular servicing of your car AC is crucial to ensuring its optimal performance, decreasing fuel consumption, and ultimately saving you money.

Need to know more about how often should you get your car AC serviced? Call our ASE Certified mechanics at Expert Car Care for more information about a car AC repair and service and to request an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves residents in the community of West Allis, WI, and the surrounding area.

How Do You Know If Your Car Needs An Oil Change?

Because of the technological advancements in today’s vehicles as well as in oil products, there is a lot of controversy about the oil change interval.  Some say that newer vehicles only require oil changes about every 10k miles, while others still adhere to the 3k mile interval.  The best advice is to follow the guidelines listed in your owner’s manual.  Or, your auto mechanic can also let you know when it’s time for the next oil change and what type of oil is best for your car.

How do you know if your car needs an oil change, you ask?  Here are some obvious signs of dirty oil or low oil level:

• Engine noises,
• Engine Overheating,
• hard starts and rough idling,
• low oil indicator light illuminates 
• misfiring and lack of power

Keeping fresh clean oil in your car helps prevent oil deposits from clogging the lines of the motor, which could result in damage to the engine. Just remember that the cost of an oil change service is much less than a major engine repair!  Check with your auto shop for oil change coupons to help with the cost.

Here are some oil change tips for the best engine health:

• Follow the manufacturer’s recommended intervals for oil changes listed in your owner’s manual.
• Schedule regular inspections of the engine—especially if you start to experience any of the engine issues listed above. 
• Use the type of oil recommended in your vehicle’s service manual unless you choose to use synthetic oil.
• Use a high-quality oil filter and change it at every oil change service.
• Additives could react chemically with your oil and cause harm so use them with caution.

Oil Change Tip:  Many auto repair shops offer discount oil change coupons to help customers keep their vehicles operating as efficiently and safely as possible. 

Have more questions about how do you know if your car needs an oil change?  Call our ASE Certified technicians at Expert Car Care to request an appointment and ask about our oil change coupons.  Our auto repair shop proudly serves residents in the community of West Allis, WI, and the surrounding area.

What Causes the Check Engine Light to Come On?

As the miles and years add up on your vehicle, you may start to experience engine issues even though you have been careful to take care of all the recommended engine services.  One of the first warning signs you may notice of engine issues is the “Check Engine” light illuminating on the instrument panel. You may not even feel any difference in the performance of your vehicle. But unknown to you, the damage could be occurring in the engine and a small issue could potentially turn into an expensive engine repair. 

Here are five common problems that cause the check engine light to come on: 

1. A loose, cracked, or faulty Gas Cap 
2. Faulty Oxygen Sensor 
3. Failing Catalytic Convertor 
4. Faulty Mass Airflow Sensor 
5. Dirty Spark Plugs and Wires

Generally, you can keep driving for a while with that little light on, but if it continues to stay on and you notice some of the issues listed below, head to your auto repair shop for a diagnostic test as soon as possible:

• Knocking Sound – Bad engine bearings
• Excessive Increase in Exhaust Smoke – Black smoke means too much gas is getting into the combustion chamber; blue smoke is a sign of burning too much oil; white or Grey smoke indicates that coolant is leaking in the engine.
• Decreased Power – You may have trouble getting your car up to speed, or you’re getting fewer miles per gallon of fuel.
• Rough Idling – If it feels like your car is going to die whenever you stop, the culprit could be a clogged fuel filter, dirty spark plugs, bad ignition coils, or a failing fuel pump.

A Word of Advice:  If you can drive your car, head to your auto repair shop and ask your auto mechanic to run a diagnostic test to pinpoint the cause of the check engine light.  A small issue can be taken care of before it turns into a major engine repair.

If you need to know more about what causes the check engine light to come on, call our ASE Certified technicians at Expert Car Care for information about engine repair services and to request an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves residents in the community of West Allis, WI, and the surrounding area.

Is Tire Rotation Necessary?

Some car drivers may not think about the condition of their tires until all of a sudden they have a flat on the side of the road, waiting for an emergency tire repair. Neglecting the tires on your car could be putting yourself and your passengers at risk. Thousands of auto accidents each year are caused by tire failure due to uneven tread wear. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration problems a statement several years ago encouraging tire rotation as a component of regular vehicle maintenance.

Here is a simple explanation for newer drivers—rotating tires simply means moving them to a different position so that the tread wears in an even pattern on all four tires.  For example, the front tires will be moved to the rear of the vehicle and the rear tires moved to the front.  

Is tire rotation necessary? It is definitely vital if you want your tires to last as long as possible.  Certain components of a tire come into contact with the road more heavily than others, receiving more stress, and wearing down faster. Rotating your tires equalizes the wear the tires receive so that you don’t have to purchase new tires as often. Front tires receive more stress than the back ones, so rotating the front ones to the back allows all four tires to wear at an even rate.

These are some of the issues you will face if you neglect to rotate your tires:

• Uneven tread wear. The front tires may wear faster than the rear ones, or there is an irregular wear pattern on one or more of the tires. 
• Vibration.  Excessive vibrations caused by uneven tread wear patterns can compromise the handling safety of your vehicle.
• Flat tires.  Too much pressure on tires causes them to lose air even faster. 
• Warranty invalid.  Tire rotations at specified mileage intervals (often free) help keep the manufacturer’s guarantee valid.

Is tire rotation necessary, you wonder?  Call our ASE Certified technicians at Expert Car Care for more information about tire repair services and to request an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves residents in the community of West Allis, WI, and the surrounding area.

How Often Do You Need To Replace A Muffler?

A key part of the exhaust system, the job of the muffler is to minimize the noise produced during the exhaust process and to direct the exhaust out of the vehicle.  In addition to a lot of noise, a defective muffler can cause issues for the driver and the passengers due to toxic fumes entering the cabin of the vehicle.  Thus, it is important that your exhaust system is checked frequently to inspect for issues.  

Replacing the muffler or other repairs to the exhaust system can be expensive depending on the make, model, and general condition of your vehicle. However, it is not wise to ignore the issue.  Not only will the problem get bigger and more expensive to fix, but it could also develop into more serious problems for the people inside the vehicle. 

But how often do mufflers need to be replaced?  Mufflers are like all other auto components—they wear out over time.  So be alert to some of the signs of a bad muffler: 

• Listen! The most noticeable sign of a bad muffler is noise. The car will sudden rattling noises could be the sound of a loose or broken muffler.
• Look! Ask your auto mechanic to raise your vehicle and visually check the muffler.  Any major problems, such as holes or rust are generally easily noticeable. Although condensation is normal, water leaking from several places on the muffler is definitely trouble.
• Temperature.  If the temperature rises unusually high while the motor is running, it can cause overheating of the engine.

Are you wondering how often do mufflers need to be replaced?  Call our ASE Certified technicians at Expert Car Care for more information about exhaust systems and to request an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves residents in the community of West Allis, WI, and the surrounding area.

When the Car Battery Should be Replaced?

You may be wondering how do you know when the car battery should be replaced?  Inappropriately, a car battery may take only 3 to 5 years to become worn out and becomes unreliable around the 4-year mark.  Just like a mobile phone battery, it becomes less efficient with each charge.  

How do you know when the car battery should be replaced?  Battery manufacturers deliver advice on the lifespan of each battery produced.  Although, there are some things that drivers can do to help your battery last as long as possible:  

1. Limit short trips.  Batteries are not able to fully charge during short tours.  But driving regularly and for longer periods of time help maintain the charge in your battery.  
2. Tighten battery connections. A loose battery can vibrate, causing damage to the engine and electrical circuits.  
3. Turn off accessories & lights—shut the door.  Leaving the headlights on, the door open with a light on, or accessories plugged in for extended periods of time can drain a battery’s charge.  
4. Clean off terminals.  Keep the battery terminals free of corrosion.  A DIY tip:  Scrub with a mixture of baking soda and water, rinse and dry thoroughly. 
5. Test output voltage.  Test the output voltage of your battery regularly so you know if it is holding a strong charge.
6. Avoid using electronic accessories while idling.  Turn off accessories when you’re idling.  Turn the motor off if you will be sitting for more than 5 or 10 minutes. 
7. Regular tune-ups.  Regular tune-ups to change spark plugs, clean wires, etc. will help avoid overcapacity of the battery.  
8. Storing your car.  Keeping your car warm and dry will help your battery last longer. 

Remember:  Inspect the condition of your battery frequently so you are not left stranded in your driveway or a dark parking lot.

Do you want to know more about when the car battery should be replaced?   Call our ASE Certified technicians at Expert Car Care for more information about a car battery replacement and to request an appointment. Our auto shop proudly serves residents in the community of West Allis, WI, and the surrounding area.