AUTONET TV

All Things Automotive & Diesel Service Guide to Using the Correct Fluids in Your Vehicle

Today's All Things Automotive & Diesel Service post focuses on using coolant. If you pour in the wrong kind, it won't protect the cooling system and may even void the warranty. Check your vehicle owner's manual. Of course, your All Things Automotive & Diesel Service service advisor will know the proper coolant for your vehicle.

Brake fluid is confusing for some Idaho Falls drivers. Back when we opened All Things Automotive & Diesel Service, most vehicles used Dot 3 brake fluid. Now we have Dot 4 and Dot 5. Some Idaho Falls residents mistakenly think the higher numbers are an upgrade. You know, if 3 is good then 4 must be better. That's not how it works. They are different formulations to meet the demands of differences in brake systems. Only one of them is designed for your vehicle.

Ditto for transmission fluid. For decades there were two basic types of tranny fluid used at All Things Automotive & Diesel Service: friction modified or not. With the tremendous engineering advances in vehicle automatic transmissions, there have been several new types of fluids developed to protect and lubricate them.

Nowhere are the advances in automotive fluids more evident to All Things Automotive & Diesel Service professionals than in motor oil. Many new weights and formulations have been created to meet the demands of today's high-tech vehicle engine design. Modern engines have more parts and much tighter tolerances.

That's where the new grades of engine oil come in. They have to be formulated to lubricate, protect and clean all of those vehicle engine parts, big and little. The oil has to be thin enough to get into little passages, yet resistant to vaporization.

At All Things Automotive & Diesel Service in Idaho Falls, we believe that in some ways modern automotive fluids are just as impressive as the new engines. Because weights of oil and types of coolant and transmission fluid are so carefully matched to the vehicle, make sure you always use the proper fluid if you are topping off at home.

All Things Automotive & Diesel Service
1997 Walton Ave #C
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
208-523-3903

Another Couple of Years: Making Your Vehicle Last At All Things Automotive & Diesel Service

A while back, the Cash for Clunkers program was all over the news. Idaho Falls people could trade in their old vehicle for a new one that got better fuel economy and receive a government rebate.

A lot of Idaho Falls motorists had so-called clunkers that they wanted to keep. They’re good commuters, grocery getters or toy haulers. They enjoy that fact that they’re paid off, or soon will be. They would gladly like to keep their family cars for 200,000 miles or more – as long as it’s economical to do so.

There are plenty of Idaho Falls drivers whose vehicles are running after 150,000 or 200,000 miles. We can learn from what they’re doing to keep our own family cars on the road in ID.

Idaho Falls drivers of high-mileage cars often report a common denominator of never skipping an oil change. That may sound a bit unsophisticated, but it’s really not. First off, oil is the life blood of your family car's engine and it needs to be clean to properly lubricate. Skipping oil changes leads to clogged oil filters and sludge that can damage your engine.

There’s another reason why the scheduled oil change is so important for Idaho Falls car owners. It’s simple – a All Things Automotive & Diesel Service professional is going to be looking at your car. All of your fluid levels will be inspected and topped off so they won’t get so low that damage can be done. If there is a significant fluid loss, let’s use brake fluid as an example, your All Things Automotive & Diesel Service technician can look for the cause of the loss and find the problem before it leads to an accident or costly repair.

Your All Things Automotive & Diesel Service advisor will also visually inspect your family car for worn belts and hoses, uneven tire wear, leaking shock absorbers and more. Problems get addressed before they lead to repairs that cost more than the car’s worth.

And your All Things Automotive & Diesel Service advisor will be able to remind you of other services that the factory recommends you get done. Just think of that oil change the same way as you do about going to your Idaho Falls dentist for your six month cleaning and checkup. Don’t skip it.

Realistically, things are going to wear out as your family car gets older. On the way to 200,000 miles you’ll go through several batteries, probably a couple of alternators and water pumps, a set of shocks and likely some brake rotors.

Of course, these things cost money, but they are far cheaper than new family car payments. With proper service at All Things Automotive & Diesel Service and regular inspections, you’ll keep surprise repairs to a minimum and more money in your wallet.

Gas Savings in Idaho Falls: Sharpen Your Pencil

High gas prices in Idaho Falls increase the cost of living for ID drivers. You've probably budgeted a certain amount for vehicle related expenses. Increased fuel costs now consume a larger portion of our incomes, causing some Idaho Falls vehicle owners to skimp in other areas – like scheduled maintenance.

According to ID news reports and automotive industry studies, this is becoming increasingly more common. In fact, nine out of ten personal vehicles on the road have at least one maintenance or repair item that hasn't been done. Some of these items pose serious safety risks. Others are just more likely to make it more expensive to drive.

In this area, we can take a lesson from professional Idaho Falls vehicle owners. I'm talking about fleet owners and operators. You know, Idaho Falls folks like the trucking companies and delivery services. Because their livelihood depends on it, they have gotten scheduled maintenance down to a science. And the last thing they skimp on is regular maintenance.

Why is that? Well, for one thing they know that routine maintenance prevents expensive repairs and costly breakdowns. They also know that a well-maintained vehicle uses less fuel. For them, even a small decrease in fuel efficiency may put their Idaho Falls business in the red.

So what does this mean to Idaho Falls drivers? Well, there's a 90 percent chance that you're missing some service that would improve your fuel economy. Here's a quick reminder list:

Fuel system cleaning, transmission service, differential service, engine air filter, wheel alignment, oil change, tune up.
Ring any bells? Can most Idaho Falls vehicle owners honestly say that there isn't at least one thing on the list that hasn't been done?

Let's suppose you chose to spend $150 and get caught up on some of these services at All Things Automotive & Diesel Service. Figure that they combine to improve your fuel efficiency by 15 percent. What would that mean to your pocketbook?

Well, the average personal vehicle in Idaho Falls is driven about 12,000 a year. If you get 20 miles per gallon in your vehicle, over the course of one year you would pay for the $150 worth of service and save an additional $165 dollars if gas is at t$3.50. If gas is $4.50, you would save $255. And you'd rack up savings of $345 dollars with gas at $5.50.

GAS PRICE
$3.50
$4.50
$5.50

20 MPG
$165
$255
$345

From this you can see that the more fuel costs, the more it pays to keep up on scheduled maintenance. Some of us drive trucks in Idaho Falls for work or recreation – or want a large SUV for family needs. A 15 percent improvement in fuel economy can generate huge savings – $650 a year if gas is $4.50 a gallon in Idaho Falls. Take a look at this table to see where your savings could lie.

GAS PRICE

A) $3.50, B) $4.50, C) $5.50

10 MPG: A) $480, B) $660, C) $840

20 MPG: A) $165, B) $255, C) $345

30 MPG: A) $60, B) $120, C) $180

So catch up on those services you've been neglecting at All Things Automotive & Diesel Service. Get a couple done now and a couple next time. Chances are you'll save a lot of money at Idaho Falls gas pumps this year – and a lot more on repairs in years to come.

All Things Automotive & Diesel Service
1997 Walton Ave #C
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
208-523-3903

Air Conditioning Maintenance at All Things Automotive & Diesel Service in Idaho Falls

Warm weather or cold, Idaho Falls drivers still need to think about their vehicle's air conditioning. Most Idaho Falls people don't service their air conditioning until after it fails. At All Things Automotive & Diesel Service, we can advise you on your vehicle manufacturers preventive maintenance schedules for air conditioning service, just as we do for transmission service, oil changes and so on.

Maintaining your air conditioning system means that you always have enough refrigerant to properly do the job. Small leaks in the vehicle's air conditioning system allow the refrigerant to escape and the system can't cool the air as well. We see that a lot at All Things Automotive & Diesel Service in Idaho Falls.

The refrigerant also contains oil that lubricates air conditioning components and keeps the seals resilient. Low refrigerant and lubricating oil means that the air conditioning parts will wear out prematurely, and all Idaho Falls vehicle owners know that air conditioning repairs can be costly. At All Things Automotive & Diesel Service, we recommended that the air conditioner be run regularly, even during winter months, to keep the parts and seals lubricated.

Idaho Falls drivers need to be aware that there's one more thing that isn't directly related to air conditioning service but does impact the quality of the air in your vehicle. And that's your cabin air filter. This filter cleans dust, pollen, pollution and other impurities in the air that come from the heater and air conditioner. The cabin air filter needs to be replaced when it's dirty. If you don't, it'll start to smell. Not all vehicles have one, so ask your All Things Automotive & Diesel Service service advisor to check your cabin air filter at the same time they're doing your air conditioning service.

All Things Automotive & Diesel Service
1997 Walton Ave #C
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
208-523-3903