Print

Blog Post List

You are viewing all posts for categories: service

Fall Car Care Month: Is Your Car Trying to Tell You Something?

Published Tuesday, 09 October, 2012 by Blake Arbogast. Categories: Service.

Car owners don't necessarily have to be certified mechanics to know when something is wrong with a vehicle. Cars make a variety of noises, including thumps, squeals and hisses, that let drivers know when something is wrong.

Staying tuned in to vehicle noise is important for drivers who want to keep their cars in good shape. Essentially, owners can listen to the sounds made by their cars and possibly invest in early care to avoid total breakdown and more costly vehicle repairs down the road.

Most drivers know the types of noises made by their vehicles during normal operation. If and when these noises change, drivers should be careful to note any oddities in the new sounds, which could be signs that problems are developing. Many noises represent specific issues in a vehicle's operation, such as high-pitched squealing that stops when the driver hits the brakes; this is often a sign that brake inspection is due. When grinding sounds are heard each time the brakes are applied, it might mean that brake pads are worn and in need of replacement...
read more

Tire Rotations - A Necessity?

Published Friday, 05 October, 2012 by Blake Arbogast. Categories: Service.

People make it a point get their oil changed regularly and maintain proper fluid levels, but oddly enough one of the most used parts of the car is also the most neglected. Tires are one of the least thought about aspects of car maintenance. Rotating your tires every 5,000 miles should be an important part of everyone's maintenance scheduled. But why is it so important?

Tires are expensive! Make them last! This pictures show the difference between rear wheel and front wheel drive vehicles. It's important to rotate your tires from front to back and from side to side. You can also check your owner's manual or call the Arbogast Service Department for the best patter rotation for your specific vehicle. 

On front wheel drive vehicles the rear tires last much longer. The front tires are responsible for the steering, braking and carry the bulk of the car's weight. Because of this, they experience more wear and tear. Rotating the tires helps to evenly distribute the effects of driving on the tires. Failure to have the tires rotated causes the front tires to wear out quickly and means spending money on tires much sooner than necessary.

Front tires lean during a turn and the outside edges can feather or scallop. When the tire's treads begin to scallop the structure becomes compromised. A compromised tire structure can cause flat tires and other forms of tire failure. While there are other factors to consider when the tires begin to scallop, the majority of cases are the result of not rotating the tires...
read more

Synthetic vs. Conventional Oil - What's the Difference?

Published Thursday, 04 October, 2012 by Blake Arbogast. Categories: Service.

Go into any service center for an oil change and ask the attendant what the difference is between synthetic oil and conventional oil. Chances are he will tell you that synthetic oil is more expensive. While this is true, it is not the whole story. You had better think twice before basing your purchase decision solely on price. Here is some information to help you decide which type of oil is best for your car and the type of driving you do.
Conventional Oil

Conventional oil is the most common form of automotive oil you will find. It is a natural petroleum-based product that is made up carbon and hydrogen atoms arranged in both short and long chains. The extreme heat of a running engine can cause the short chain molecules to break down. When they do, the oil becomes much less efficient at lubrication than when it was new. Even when it is fresh, conventional oil has the tendency to become more viscous at cold temperature and less viscous at high temperature. The high viscosity of cold oil makes it flow much slower to critical engine parts that need lubrication. High-viscosity oil forces the engine to run without the lubrication it needs to reduce friction and wear until it warms enough to flow. Hot oil tends to have low viscosity. Because it is too thin, it has reduced friction fighting abilities and subjects engine parts to wear.

Synthetic Oil

Synthetic oil is a relatively new creation, but can be found in many automotive centers and stores. It is a laboratory creation that consists of a base stock call polyalphaolefin, a hydrocarbon compound that consists of a 30 molecule chain...
read more
BLOG_POST_LIST