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Tips To Keep Your Car Cool

It's getting HOT out there so make sure your cabin air filter is clean so you can keep cool!  Not sure? We can help.

Why did this happen on my vacation?

What we'd like to see happen on your vacation is that you pack up the car, drive a few hours to your destination, check-in to your hotel and then find yourself relaxing poolside.


What we DON'T want to see happen is half-way through your road trip that you find yourself calling a tow truck in the middle of nowhere.  Then you find yourself in front of a mechanic that you don't know and be forced to purchase something you weren't expecting all for the sake of getting back on the road to fun times.





5 simple steps you should take before a vacation

1. Check Up: Stop by your trusted mechanic and have them give your vehicle a check-up.  A basic, non-diagnostic, check-up should NOT cost anything.  If it's a good mechanic, they will tell you to:

         A. Continue happily on your vacation
         B. Fix 1, 2 & 3; come back after your vacation for the rest
         C. For the love of humanity, please get a rental car

2. Tires: If your trusted mechanic says, your tires are DANGEROUS and you need new ones before your vacation - please listen to them.

Have you heard of tire tread separation?

Basically the tread part of the tire splits and the tire explodes.  It is more common than you think and can be a major danger on the road for yourself and others.

3. Air: Stop at a gas station and check the air pressure in your tires.  It's always a good idea to keep in your glove compartment box a tire gauge (this measures the air in your tires) but worry not, most air stations have it built into the hose.  Your mechanic shop should and can fill the air in your tires for FREE.

4. Oil Change: If your car is due for an oil change, please take care of it BEFORE your trip.  With all the mileage you'll put on your vehicle, your engine will want and need nice clean oil.

5. Rental Cars:  Rental cars at times may be a better way to go especially if you have an older car.  The cost of renting a car might be worth the headache of taking your own.

If you are in the Orlando area stop by Universal Tire & Auto before your next road trip and we'll help you stay safe.

Why Are Oil Changes Important?

It's No Toy Car

When we got toy cars as a child we got to throw them, hit them and race them.  No maintenance required. The only repercussion was that it either got scratched, lost or broken.  And then our parents probably bought us a new one.  If only cars functioned the same.  You’ve been told oil changes are important from the moment you got your first car back in your teens.  Ya da, ya da, ya da.  But seriously, is it really that important?

YES!!!!!

1. Oil is what keeps your car alive

Think of it like your car’s blood. It is an essential part of keeping the engine working. Oil helps pull heat away from the combustion chamber of the engine and it prevents build-up of carbon and varnish. If you run out of gas, you get more gas. If you run out of oil, you don’t just get more oil.

2. It saves you money

Little expenses now save you from having large expenses later. Getting your oil changed is a fairly cheap procedure. Foregoing regular oil changes will lead to more serious car issues than just having low or old oil. Eventually, your car will suffer and it will cost you a lot more than a few oil changes would have.

3. Oil helps your gas mileage

This is a fringe benefit you can enjoy with a regular oil change. As oil gets older and is used more, it becomes darker and gummier. New oil is slick and doesn’t make the engine work as hard as older oil does, meaning it’s more efficient and your mileage will be better.

We want to stress that oil changes are not just nice for your car—they’re necessary. Waiting too long can cost you so much more than an oil change would have.

If you’d like to learn more or schedule an appointment to get an oil change, give Universal Tire & Auto a call at (407) 636-4033.

What is Tire Rotation?

Clearing Up The Confusion On Tire Rotation

To rotate your tires or not, that is the question!  Imagine yourself sitting on a hard chair listening to a very long and boring lecture.  You shift your body, do you not?  Why?  If we don’t it becomes very uncomfortable and can hurt us.  So goes the same for your vehicle.  If you continue to drive your car with the tires in the same spot – be it the front or the rear, the pressure your car exerts on that ONE spot will wear your tires out prematurely.  Guess what happens next?  New tires.

The rule of thumb is to rotate your tires EVERY OTHER oil change. 

TIRE ROTATION

Do tell, what is the technician doing out there?  When you request your tires to be rotated, or if the auto repair shop asks you, the technician will shift the tires.

So for example, the tires in the back will go to the front.  It’s like the tires are playing musical chairs.  This allows the tires to have a break and wear evenly.

BALANCING TIRES

This is where it gets tricky.   A best practice for auto repair shops is to check if the tires are balanced (on a balancer) once they’ve removed them from the vehicle and are in the process of rotating the tires.   Checking the balance means the technician is checking to see if the tire’s weight is evenly distributed.  Even distribution of weight = even wear n’ tear on your tire AND smooth driving. 

Think of Tire Rotation as an island.  Sometimes you can stay on the island and be happy.  Sometimes when a vehicle’s tires are rotated they are perfectly balanced in their own right and all is well with the world.  Sometimes the island is no longer fun and you have to leave on a boat.  Sometimes when a vehicle’s tires are rotated the tires are NOT in balance they NEED to be balanced. 

What is the big deal?  If you need the tires balanced but don’t do it, there is a high chance you’ll feel vibration when you start driving.  You may say but the car never drove like that when I came in for the tire rotation….

ANSWER

Before getting your tires rotated, you had a completely smooth drive.  The rear tires were unbalanced, but you’d never know it.  It’s not detectable when you drove.  So when you got your tires rotated they moved the rear tires (unbalanced) to the front.  Now those rear tires are in the front.  You’ll feel it now if you drove the car and didn’t get them balanced.  The steering wheel would vibrate and you’d think the Earth is shaking.  You feel it because the steering wheel is connected to the front tires.  Those front tires were the unbalanced tires they moved from the rear.

ALIGNMENT

I could write a whole blog on alignments so this will be a very brief explanation.  An alignment check while you are getting your tires rotated and balanced is not a bad idea.  Alignment is about how the tire sits on the ground and which direction it faces.  If the tires are facing slightly off the correct direction, you will get side wear – or the fancy term is “feather wear” on the tire.  If the tire is not sitting flat and sitting on an angle, it will wear that tire more at the angle it is sitting at.

If you’re not on a schedule for tire rotation, start one.  At your next oil change, ask for it.  Then remember, from then on get this done every other oil change.  If they say your tires need to be balanced, it’s probably a good idea.  If you can’t remember the last time you had an alignment, it’s probably been too long and you should get that done pretty soon too (perfect time is during your tire rotation). 

There you have it folks –

Tire Rotation + Balancing Tires + Alignments = Happy Vehicle

Give your friends a call at Universal Tire & Auto at 407-636-4033 for all your tire needs.

The Facts About Scheduled Maintenance

What is Scheduled Maintenance?

Just the same way we need to go to yearly physicals and take our vitamins; our vehicles need check-ups and the fluids changed.  We need to make sure all is well and that the vehicles have the proper fluids to function.  This is a HUGE preventative step to help avoid costly repairs down the road.

What are the main fluids I need to replace?

1. Transmission Fluid

2. Power Steering

3. Brake Fluid

4. Coolant

How often?

This will depend on what the owner’s manual says for your vehicle.

Why is it necessary to have scheduled maintenance? 

The fluids much like oil are only good for a certain period and that affects the performance of the vehicle.

Basic Examples

If you don’t replace the transmission fluid (also known as “automatic” transmission fluid) frequently, you could end up with a $3000 transmission replacement or repair, on average. 

After awhile, if Coolant is not changed, it can corrode the inside of the engine and destroy other parts like water pumps, hoses, and radiators.

Brake fluid absorbs water from the air, after a certain percentage of water is absorbed, the brake fluid becomes ineffective.  For your brakes to work properly, you have to replace the brake fluid (also known as “hydraulic” brake fluid) typically every 30,000 miles.

I can’t stress enough the importance of the owner’s manual for your vehicle.  It is the guide for how often your vehicle will need these fluids changed.  If you don’t have your manual or want help determining the right schedule for your vehicle, give Universal Tire & Auto a call at (407) 636-4033 and we’ll help you through the process. 

Talk to you soon, Mike

What is that whining noise?

BART FROM CASSELBERRY, FL WANTS TO KNOW:

I'm hearing a whining road noise while driving my vehicle, what could it be?

DEAR BART:

This is a very common question, I get asked this a lot.  It is important when you hear noises in your vehicle to get it looked at as soon as possible.  The most common reasons for road noises come from tires, wheel bearings, brakes and suspension parts.  Tire noises could be caused by the wrong type of tire for your vehicle, dry rotting or odd wear patterns.  If the noise changes as you change the speed, it could be tires or wheel bearings.  In Bart's case, a vehicle inspection revealed that he needed a left front wheel bearing.  This was pretty serious because the wheel could have locked up on Bart while he was driving.  If you hear any noises from your vehicle, the best option is to get a professional to look at it.  If you have any questions or need your vehicle inspected, stop by Universal Tire and Auto and we'll check it out. 

Want your question answered?  Visit the Mechanic Minute and email us your question.

Thanks! Mike

TOP 5 THINGS YOUR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MIGHT BE TELLING YOU

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT

You're driving along when the Check Engine light on your dashboard comes on. Don't panic. There are five common reasons the light might be on (there are more!), and a certified technician can check out the issue and make sure to treat it and turn the light off.

Take a look at the following list so that the next time that light comes on, you’ll have an idea of what to look for.  

1. A Gas Cap Problem

If your car isn't acting strangely, check your gas cap. Perhaps it isn’t on tightly or maybe it's cracked. A new gas cap costs about $5.

2. Oxygen Sensor isn't Sensing

The car’s oxygen sensor gauges the oxygen level in the exhaust. This is repaired easily, usually for less than $300.

3. Your Spark Plugs Aren’t Sparkin​g

If your spark plugs are misfiring, your car will accelerate jerkily. Replacing the plugs is inexpensive regular maintenance. Nothing scary here!

4. The Airflow Sensor is Choked Up

This sensor tells the car's computer how to regulate the fuel-to-air ratio. A broken sensor can cause the vehicle to fail its emissions test or cause the car to stall. A new air filter could be an easy fix.​

5. The Catalytic Converter is Sick

The scariest but rarest issue is the catalytic converter, which takes harmful gases (such as carbon monoxide) and converts them to something less harmful. Usually, they break due to lack of proper maintenance.

Proper car maintenance is an exceptionally easy way to avoid many, many car issues. When your car starts signaling that there’s a problem, don’t delay in taking care of it. That can be the difference between a $50 repair and a $3,000 one.

If you think your car is trying to tell you something, give Universal Tire & Auto a call today at 407-636-4033, and have a certified technician check the engine light for you.

How To Check The Oil Levels In Your Car

HOW TO CHECK THE OIL LEVELS IN YOUR CAR