Tri-County Mustang Club
"Where fun is not an option!"
The below tips will help you insure that you aren't
in for any unnecessary repair's. keep in mind that regular
maintenance and services are still required.
Fuel- gasoline is very important to the way your car runs, actually it makes your car run.most people just gas and go. Well this is not always a good thing. One thing to help keep
your car going longer is the amount of gasoline in the fuel tank, you see inside the fuel tank
on most fuel injected cars is the fuel pump. which is cooled by the fuel, so in this respect it
is a good idea to keep enough fuel in the tank to achieve this. Putting in $5 a time will
get you where your going but won't cool your fuel pump.
Another important thing is the fuel you use when you fill up. Octane ratings can effect
how your car runs. To find the correct octane rating for your car you can see your
owners manual or call the nearest repair shop or car dealer, they will be more than
willing to help you. Octane rating won't give you more horse power, the octane rating
on fuel is the stability rating on it(how much it resists burning. on some cars this is
necessary to prevent engine knocks and pings which can cause engine damage.
Another important thing when you put gas in your car is the time of day. if you do it
in the morning when the fuel is cold then you will get less vapor and more fuel.
fuel is like any other liquid it expands when warm. Also you want to be sure that
the supply truck didn't just fill up the in ground tank, as this will stir up any
sediment on the floor of the tank and intern be sucked up and pushed into your
cars gas tank and fuel filter.
Oil- All engine oil is not the same besides the weight of oil you have api service
ratings the most current service rating is SL you can find the service rating by
looking at the back side of the bottle. The API service rating for your vehicle
should be found on the oil cap of dipstick, it can also be found in the owners
manual. The weight or viscosity of oil your vehicle takes can also be found
in those places. Most new car manufactures recommend a oil rating of
5W-30 which is a multi viscosity oil which has a viscosity rating of 5 when the
engine is cold and 30 when the engine is warm. The "W" stands for winter.
So the next time your in to buy oil for your car pay attention to the
SAE/API service rating and the weight of oil your buying. Remember it is
okay to mix oil manufactures but not weights or rating's.
Cleaning- Keeping the engine clean is as important as keeping the rest of the
vehicle clean. If when your adding fluids under the hood and some is spilt
you can use some warm water and a little dish soap to wash it down after
you wipe it up. This is important so if you do get a oil leak it is easier to tell
where it is coming from, also to prevent fires. Keeping the outside of your
vehicle clean is also good maintenance, dirty head or tail lights can be difficult
to see. Dirt on the under carriage can get in between joints and cause them
to wear and fail. Be sure to keep the windows and mirrors clean so they
don't obstruct your view. When cleaning the inside of the vehicle be sure
to use non-glossy finish on the dash board. This will prevent glare from
the dash reflecting up into your windshield, and obstructing your vision.
in for any unnecessary repair's. keep in mind that regular
maintenance and services are still required.
your car going longer is the amount of gasoline in the fuel tank, you see inside the fuel tank
on most fuel injected cars is the fuel pump. which is cooled by the fuel, so in this respect it
is a good idea to keep enough fuel in the tank to achieve this. Putting in $5 a time will
get you where your going but won't cool your fuel pump.
Another important thing is the fuel you use when you fill up. Octane ratings can effect
how your car runs. To find the correct octane rating for your car you can see your
owners manual or call the nearest repair shop or car dealer, they will be more than
willing to help you. Octane rating won't give you more horse power, the octane rating
on fuel is the stability rating on it(how much it resists burning. on some cars this is
necessary to prevent engine knocks and pings which can cause engine damage.
Another important thing when you put gas in your car is the time of day. if you do it
in the morning when the fuel is cold then you will get less vapor and more fuel.
fuel is like any other liquid it expands when warm. Also you want to be sure that
the supply truck didn't just fill up the in ground tank, as this will stir up any
sediment on the floor of the tank and intern be sucked up and pushed into your
cars gas tank and fuel filter.
ratings the most current service rating is SL you can find the service rating by
looking at the back side of the bottle. The API service rating for your vehicle
should be found on the oil cap of dipstick, it can also be found in the owners
manual. The weight or viscosity of oil your vehicle takes can also be found
in those places. Most new car manufactures recommend a oil rating of
5W-30 which is a multi viscosity oil which has a viscosity rating of 5 when the
engine is cold and 30 when the engine is warm. The "W" stands for winter.
So the next time your in to buy oil for your car pay attention to the
SAE/API service rating and the weight of oil your buying. Remember it is
okay to mix oil manufactures but not weights or rating's.
vehicle clean. If when your adding fluids under the hood and some is spilt
you can use some warm water and a little dish soap to wash it down after
you wipe it up. This is important so if you do get a oil leak it is easier to tell
where it is coming from, also to prevent fires. Keeping the outside of your
vehicle clean is also good maintenance, dirty head or tail lights can be difficult
to see. Dirt on the under carriage can get in between joints and cause them
to wear and fail. Be sure to keep the windows and mirrors clean so they
don't obstruct your view. When cleaning the inside of the vehicle be sure
to use non-glossy finish on the dash board. This will prevent glare from
the dash reflecting up into your windshield, and obstructing your vision.
About Auto Shops
Most people enter a mechanic thinking they are going to get ripped off. that
is not true, auto shops are highly regulated and licensed facility's. They are
governed by the Bureau of Automotive Repair, a department of the Department
of Consumer Affairs. They investigate and prosecute shops that don't follow
auto repair laws. Here is the link to their web site- http://smogcheck.ca.gov/stdhome.asp
Auto shops often pay mechanics per job or on a flat rate scale. Meaning
that they have a manual set forth by a independent company that lists
the different jobs and/or parts on your car. From this manual it lists
the time it should take to complete a particular service. For example
if you take your car in and the hourly shop rate is $50, and the Tune-up
calls for .5 hours to do. Then your cost on the labor is going to be $25,
of that $25 that the shop charged you. If the mechanic makes $15 per flat
rate hour, he will receive $12.50.
Auto shops are like any other business they provide a service to the consumer.
They are a very technology involved field where constant changes and
evolving technology cause them to constantly under go training. It was once
said that to be a true automotive technician is harder then becoming a Dr.
This is partly true do to the fact that the human body hasn't changed in thousand
of years. To be a automotive technician you must know mechanics, fluid dynamics,
metric and english conversions, be good with math, and physics, just to name
a few.
If you are looking for a good auto shop and a qualified technician to work
on your vehicle with out going to the dealer. There are a few things you should
look for.
- ASE certified technicians
- Clean well organized work area
- Well presented estimates
- Check to see if they have any complaint filed with
the Bureau of Automotive Repair Click Here.
