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Preventive Maintenance
Preventive Maintenance
Preventive maintenance is the care and protection of your vehicle against potential major auto repairs. Negligence is the most common and costly way to see money wasted on repairs that could have easily been prevented through regular service intervals. Depending on your vehicle’s manufacturer, avoiding preventive maintenance on certain parts and components has the potential to void warranty coverage. Car maintenance intervals have been designed to improve the reliability, durability, and resale value of your vehicle. Based upon your driving conditions, these service intervals may arrive sooner than you expect. For example, short commutes can actually hurt a vehicle because most engines thrive during long drives. Driving short commutes, experiencing stop-and-go traffic, and carrying heavy cargo are all aspects of severe driving. However, severe driving can also be reinforced by your environment. Hot or cold weather, mountainous or rough roads, and dusty or salty environments can all affect your vehicle. Because of these innumerable factors, adhering to a rigid service schedule can keep your vehicle operating at maximum efficiency for years to come.
Benefits of Preventive Maintenance
Vehicle components and parts naturally wear out over time, and road hazards can negatively impact critical components. By adhering to the preventive maintenance schedule in your vehicle owner’s manual, you will help ensure that your vehicle always runs at optimal conditions. Depending upon the vehicle’s service interval mileage, our staff may inspect the function of your steering and suspension components, fluid filters, belts and hoses, brakes and axles, and more to help ensure that your vehicle functions efficiently. Our staff can look at the level of vital vehicle fluids. We are also able to review exterior and interior lights, examine windshield wiper blades, check batteries, inspect hinges and locks, determine the level of ball joint wear, check transmission components, fix exhaust system components, and conduct both tire wear inspection and inflation checks. It is important to schedule preventive maintenance for these and other components to ensure they continue to work as intended. Remember that environmental conditions may affect your ideal preventive maintenance schedule. Depending upon your environment, you may need to seek more frequent inspections and replacements. Contact us today to learn more about recommended car maintenance service intervals for your vehicle.
Air Filter Replacement
Basics Behind Air Filter Replacement Services
at Friendly City Tire
An air filter allows outside air into an engine’s intake manifold, where the air mixes with fuel to power a vehicle. Playing a defensive role, air filters prevent dirt particles, bugs, and other contaminants from entering the engine and causing destruction. Unfortunately, engine air filters lose effectiveness over time and require replacements. Drivers looking to replace an air filter can choose from three common types: paper, foam, and cotton. Paper air filters are usually cheap, but they generally wear out faster than their counterparts. Foam filters are a popular choice for off-road vehicles because they have strong filtering capabilities. However, they also tend to clog engines if used and left unchecked. Cotton filters are commonly found on race cars but can be also used as aftermarket upgrades on everyday vehicles. No matter the type of air filter in your vehicle, it is important to replace the air filter as needed. A dirty air filter can negatively affect gas mileage and make an engine run roughly.
Why Should You Have Air Filter Replacement Services Performed at Friendly City Tire?
To keep your vehicle at its best, it is recommended that you replace your air filter whenever you get your oil changed. However, your environment should also be considered when determining the right time to have your air filter replaced. Dirt roads can cause your air filter to wear more quickly than paved roads. The next time you get an oil change or notice your air filter performing poorly, give us a visit so our service staff can remove your old air filter and install a new one. Our staff understands that a dirty air filter can prevent clean air and fuel from mixing correctly. Let us help you find the right air filter so your vehicle can continue to perform well. We have the right tools to install your new air filter and will work hard to get you back on the road again.
Fuel Injection
Basics Behind Fuel Injection Services
at Friendly City Tire
During a fuel injection, your vehicle’s fuel injectors are checked. Located in the intake manifold of the engine, fuel injectors use small nozzles to spray a mist of fuel that your engine can burn. Fuel injectors work with your throttle valve, which lets air into the engine whenever you use the gas pedal. When the valve opens, fuel injectors release the fuel mist so it mixes with the air. This fuel and air combination then enters the combustion chamber and helps your vehicle run. Over time, fuel injectors can become dirty. Clogged injectors can negatively affect your vehicle’s performance, leading to poor gas mileage and dirty exhaust emissions. Short trips make it especially easy for dirt and grime to build up inside the fuel injector nozzles. Because a healthy fuel injection system is important for overall vehicle maintenance, we advise you to keep watch over your fuel injectors and have them serviced as needed.
Why Should You Have Fuel Injection Services Performed at Friendly City Tire?
Are you ready for a fuel injection service? If you are experiencing lean misfire, poor acceleration, or rough idling, your fuel injection system may be to blame. When you encounter any of these issues or notice that your fuel injectors are clogged with dirt and grime, give us a visit. Our staff understands that dirty injectors can bring various problems to your vehicle, and we are equipped with the right tools for cleaning them. We will work hard to remove any build up in the nozzles of your injectors. In addition, we can check the pressure and volume of your fuel pump and pressure regulator. While inspecting your vehicle’s fuel injection system, we can also inspect fuel lines, fuel rails, throttle components, and fuel filters. We will also check to see if your vehicle’s sensors are performing correctly. When your vehicle is ready for a fuel injection service, don’t delay.
Oil and Filter Change
Basics Behind Oil and Filter Change Services
at Friendly City Tire
Oil is a lubricant that keeps your vehicle functioning properly. Oil plays an essential role in the engine of your vehicle, where it helps alleviate friction between various moving components. Without the protective layer that oil provides, the heat created from friction would melt an engine’s parts together. As oil runs through your vehicle’s system, it also collects sludge, grime, and other contaminants that can harm the engine. In turn, the oil filter catches these contaminants and helps to prevent them from mixing with the oil. However, the filter can only hold so much. Over time, the small bits and miscellaneous muck will break down the filter’s defenses. When this happens, the result is dirty oil. In addition to being less effective overall, dirty oil can cause permanent damage to some parts of your vehicle. As such, oil and filter changes are considered an important part of vehicle maintenance.
Why Should You Have Oil and Filter Change Services Performed at Friendly City Tire?
Are you in need of an oil and filter change or uncertain about the last time you had this service done? Allow us to help. Our expert staff can tend to your vehicle and assist you with any questions you may have in regard to our oil change and filter change process. If you are uncertain about what grade of oil is best for your vehicle, or if you are curious about the differences between synthetic, semi-synthetic, and conventional oil, we are happy to share our knowledge. Similarly, we can go over the micron ratings of different oil filters to help match you with the best possible oil filter. Simply contact us online or give us a call when you are ready to change your oil and filter.
Spring Checkup
Basics Behind Spring Checkup Services
at Friendly City Tire
A spring checkup helps prepare your vehicle for the hot months of summer. During a checkup, multiple components may be reviewed for efficiency. The battery, an essential component that works particularly hard during the winter months, may be tested and its age considered. If snow tires are equipped on your vehicle, a spring checkup is a good time to replace them with summer tires. In addition, the tread depth and tire pressure of summer tires may be looked at because they can affect gas mileage. Belts and hoses may also be checked to make sure they are intact and sturdy. Potholes usually become more pronounced after winter, so it is important to see if the shocks and struts are in healthy condition as well. From the starting and charging system to the transmission fluid and antifreeze levels, there is much to review during a spring inspection. However, a checkup can ultimately help keep your vehicle safe and save you money in the long run.
Why Should You Have Spring Checkup Services Performed at Friendly City Tire?
Before summer begins, it is advisable that you seek a spring maintenance service for your vehicle prior to the summer months. Our knowledgeable staff is equipped with the right tools for testing various components in your vehicle. From your wiper blades to your tires, we are ready to look over the various parts and components that make up your vehicle and help make sure they perform well, and continue to perform well for you. If you are curious about what we check, why we check it, or how we test it, just ask. We are happy to help you learn more about our spring maintenance checklist.
Winterization Checkup
Basics Behind Winterization Checkup Services
at Friendly City Tire
When winter is near, many motorists begin winterizing their vehicles to prepare them for the cold, ice, and snow. Winterization involves checking and changing many different components. Coolant should be changed to help ensure that liquids do not freeze and prevent the engine from starting. Likewise, the starting and charging system should be checked. It is important to keep in mind that an old battery is especially prone to failure in winter, because cold weather can slow the chemical reaction required to generate electricity. Other items that may be checked include the windshield wiper blades and tires. During winter, increased precipitation can hinder visibility. As such, it is good to have working blades. Under winter driving conditions, underperforming tires can be especially dangerous. Many motorists switch their regular tires to snow tires, which tend to handle winter conditions better than regular tires. Ultimately, during pre-winter maintenance, our service staff will make sure that your vehicle is equipped to handle the tough winter conditions.
Why Should You Have Winterization Checkup Services Performed at Friendly City Tire?
Is your vehicle ready for winter? If not, we invite you to come in for our winterization service. Our knowledgeable staff can aid you in preparing your vehicle for harsh winter weather conditions. We can look over your brakes, belts, hoses, and other components. In addition, we can test your wiper blades and change your oil. If you feel it is time to swap your regular tires with a set of winter tires, just give us a call. Similarly, if you are uncertain about why a particular component is important to check or do not know what replacement will work best for your vehicle, we are happy to lend you our support and knowledge. When winter is coming, don’t delay. Contact us online or by phone and we will help you properly prepare it for the wintery weather.