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Top 5 Summer Auto Maintenance Tips

  1. Oil Changes
    Oil changes are crucial to your vehicles long-term performance. Engine oil helps to keep your engine components lubricated, reduce wear, and dissipate heat. Your oil should be changed around every 3,000 miles to ensure it doesn't have contaminants that can hurt your engine.
  2. Brakes
    Brakes are one of the most important parts of your automobile and your first line of defense in avoiding collisions. Be sure to have your brakes inspected by a service professional if you experience pulsating, noises, longer stopping distances, or grabbing while braking.
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What is a Gasket's Purpose?

Who would ever think such a small car part could be so important? A gasket is a mechanical piece that seals up two surfaces that aren't twin copies one of another, like a head gasket that works to seal up the space between an engine block and a cylinder head.

The purpose of a gasket is to create a fine seal so that no chemicals or any other substance can leak out. The most common type of gaskets are made out of multi-layer steel, but they can also come in copper or rubber. Copper helps maintain longevity while rubber…

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Easy Steps to Changing a Flat Tire

It is unlikely that you can drive on a flat tire without causing more damage to your vehicle. To change a flat, you will need a jack, lug wrench and a flat surface to put the car on. The first step is to elevate the vehicle to make it possible to remove the tire.

For best results, be sure to loosen the lug nuts before elevating the vehicle. However, don't take them all the way off until the car is off the ground. Once the lug nuts are off, take the tire off and place the new one. The…

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What is a Timing Belt?

The timing belt is set off by itself in its own compartment, but it serves a critical role in the overall functioning of the engine and its components. It connects to and operates both the camshaft and the crankshaft through the power it receives from the engine.

By connecting to the crankshaft, the timing belt provides the crankshaft with the power it needs to supply other parts, such as the clutch, with the force they need to function. The camshaft, by comparison, receives the power it receives from the engine through the help of the timing belt. 

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Brake Pads are Essential to Stopping Your Vehicle

Your brake pads are absolutely essential to the overall functionality of your brake system. They are what give your vehicle the stopping power that it needs, and as such, will naturally suffer from some of the worst wear and tear. With that in mind, it is a good idea to have a basic understanding of how the system works for when it comes time to replace your brake pads.

Your brake pads stop your vehicle by making contact with the rotors while they turn, squeezing them to a stop. 

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What is the Difference Between a Front-Wheel and Rear-Wheel-Drive Vehicle?

Deciding on a new vehicle can be a stressful occasion. There are so many makes and models. Another factor affecting your decision is the choice between a front-wheel-drive (FWD) and rear-wheel-drive (RWD) vehicle. One way to narrow down the field is to determine of few things about your driving situation. Think about the road conditions you’ll be traveling in most of the time, the mileage you plan to travel, and your expectations of the vehicle in general.

A FWD will initially appeal to you as the economical choice. Its engine and drivetrain assembly at the front of the vehicle…

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What Happens to Car Batteries at Extreme Temperatures?

Both hot and cold weather cause excessive wear and tear on your car's battery. When the air temperature reaches 77 degrees Fahrenheit, the battery's capacity maxes out. For every additional 15 degrees in air temperature, the battery's ability to deliver amps decreases by 50 percent.

Cold weather also decreases battery capacity. For most lead-acid batteries, capacity decreases by 20 percent when temperatures drop to freezing. For every 15 degrees below freezing, the battery's ability to deliver cold cranking amps decreases by another 10 percent.

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What's the Best Oil for Your Car?

Most manufacturers recommended certain intervals when it comes to an oil change. It is for this reason that they equip each car with an oil monitoring system to keep things in check just in case your mind is not focused on the condition of your motor oil.

These manufacturers usually recommend oil change after certain mileage intervals. These intervals are also determined by driving habits. For instance, if you are prone to driving in severe weather conditions, such as extreme temperatures and with rough terrain, you would probably have to change your oil more often.

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Brake Fluid: What Does It Do?

Brake fluid is one of those fluids that a car owner can easily overlook because it rarely needs to be refilled, but there does come a time when it should be replaced in a car's life.

That's because brake fluid is a critical part of how a vehicle's brakes function. The brakes can be in perfect working order mechanically but weaken or fail because of the brake fluid. Auto brakes are powered pneumatically by fluid moving into cylinders. This fluid action happens when you press down on the brake pedal to multiply the force of your foot…

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Investing in Winter Wiper Blades is a Smart Choice

Chances are good that you can recall a time you had trouble seeing the road during a bad winter storm. The trouble was a result of snow or ice getting into the working parts of the wipers and not allowing them to clean the glass properly. Here is why it would be wise to invest in winter wiper blades today.

The winter wiper blades have been designed to be able to work effectively in sleet, snow, or icy conditions. These blades come with a protective cover that will keep out the elements and allow the blades to flex normally so…

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