Fuel Injection Cleaning
The truth is, ANY injector can clog & they do need cleaning or even replacement, because even the slightest build up will cause problems. Injectors are usually clogged or restricted by a buildup of fuel varnish deposits. This reduces the amount of fuel that the injector sprays, which in turn may cause the engine to run lean and misfire, hesitate or stall. Fuel tank additives claim to clean clogged injectors, but the cleaning such products do is usually minimal. So save your money and put it towards a professional cleaning with a pressurized solvent. The best way to minimize or eliminate the need for injector cleaning is to use a quality brand of gasoline that contains sufficient detergent to prevent varnish buildup. Most brand name gasolines today have enough detergent to do this. As a rule, premium grades usually contain a somewhat higher concentration of cleaners. So before you leave here, fill up with our quality gasoline, and come back often!
Oil Changes
Regular oil & oil filter changes are cheap insurance against engine wear and failure, and will always save you money in the long. It’s very uncommon to see an engine that has been well maintained with regular oil changes develop major bearing, ring, cam or valve problems under 100,000 miles. Make sure you have your oil & oil filter changed every 3 months or 3,000 miles-whichever comes first, regardless of what type of driving you do.
Radiator Flush
Reverse flushing is the best way to change the coolant because draining alone can leave as much as 30 to 50% of the old coolant in the engine block. Reverse flushing also helps dislodge deposits and scale which can interfere with good heat transfer. The life of the antifreeze depends on it’s ability to inhibit corrosion. Silicates, phosphates and/or borates are used as corrosion inhibitors to keep the solution alkaline. As the corrosion inhibiting chemicals are used up over time, electrolytic corrosion starts to eat away at the metal inside the engine and radiator. Aluminum is especially vulnerable to corrosion and can turn to Swiss cheese rather quickly when conditions are right. Solder bloom can also form in copperbrass radiators causing leaks and restrictions. So changing the coolant periodically as preventative maintenance is a good way to prevent costly repairs.
State Safety Inspection
We are a Recognized State Inspection Facility, utilizing the OBDII system test to determine whether there is a malfunction and/or deterioration of the components that control the vehicle exhaust-emissions levels. If this occurs, a DTC, or Diagnostic Trouble Code, is set in the PCM. A failure occurs when there is a malfunction with the OBDII equipment including the on board computer and related wiring, or when an emissions related component has failed, causing the vehicle’s exhaust emissions to exceed what is allowed for the vehicle, as determined by the manufacturer. Reasons Your Vehicle May Have Failed The OBDII Test include:
- Catalytic Converter failure,
- Faulty Gas Cap,
- Fuel Metering Out of Specification,
- Incorrect Ignition Timing,
- Inoperative Injection System and/or Thermostatic Air Cleaner,
- Mis-Routed Vacuum Lines
- Faulty Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) System or Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) System.
Tire Rotation
Tires may wear differently depending on their position on the vehicle, your driving style and the condition of your suspension. Regularly rotating your tires according to your vehicle and tire manufacturers’ recommended rotation pattern can evenly distribute their wear—helping you get the most miles out of your tires while maximizing traction on all four wheels. We recommend that tires be rotated every 3,000 to 5,000 miles even if they don’t show signs of wear. This is also a good time to have your tires rebalanced & inspect the tires for any damage, remove stones or debris from the tire treads, check for uneven wear by checking the tire tread depth and of course, checking your tire pressure.
Transmission Flushes
For optimum protection, we recommend changing the fluid and filter every 30,000 – 50,000 miles for most vehicles. An automatic transmission creates a lot of internal heat through friction: the friction of the fluid churning inside the torque converter, friction created when the clutch plates engage, and the normal friction created by gears and bearings carrying their loads. At elevated operating temperatures, ATF oxidizes, turns brown and takes on a smell like burnt toast. As heat destroys the fluid’s lubricating qualities and friction characteristics, varnish begins to form on internal parts (such as the valve body) which interferes with the operation of the transmission.
