Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

The Express Car Care Guide to Synthetic Oil

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The Express Car Care Guide to Synthetic OilSynthetic motor oil has been around for a long time in Denver and more and more new cars are leaving the auto manufacturers factories with synthetic oil in their engines.  But a lot of car owners still don’t really know much about it.

Let’s start with conventional oil – the kind Denver folks are familiar with using in their engines.  Conventional oil is made up of naturally occurring hydrocarbon chains, which means its molecules are long and have various lengths, ( like a pile of pencils ), some of them are new and some of them are used.

Synthetic oil is man-made.  Its molecules are more uniform and regular in shape -more similar to marbles than pencils.  Some synthetic oil starts with a petroleum base that’s modified and others are entirely synthesized from other materials.

Synthetic motor oil works best in both hot and cold Denver temperatures.  It’s more chemically stable so it doesn’t readily evaporate or breakdown in the high heat produced inside your vehicles engine.  This means it resists turning to sludge, which is a real engine killer.

Remember the marbles and pencils thing we were talking about?  Well, that makes synthetic oil more slippery than conventional oil which means less friction in your engine when you use synthetic oil.  Your vehicle’s engine runs cooler, wears less and lasts longer.  You also get a boost in power and maybe even an improvement in fuel efficiency.   Synthetic oil also lasts longer so you change it less often – which is great for the environment.  With longer oil change intervals, you will need to use an oil filter specifically built for the longer service life of synthetic oil.  Talk with your cheerful Express Car Care service professional about synthetic oil and synthetic blends -they might be just what you need to improve engine performance and extend the life of your vehicle.

Give us a call at 303-691-2760 or stop by and see us.

On-Board Diagnostics in Denver

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On-Board Diagnostics in DenverSome people in Denver are confused by charges for diagnostic services for a vehicle repair, even though many other services in life include diagnostic fees- things like computer service and appliance repair in Denver.  Even when we go into the doctor for a medical problem, we’re paying them to diagnose our ailment and of course for the tests that go along with it.  So receiving a diagnostic charge for a tricky automotive problem shouldn’t be a surprise.

Automotive diagnostics can cover quite a range.  If you hear a noise in your brakes, a quick visual check is usually enough to know what needs to be done.  If you’re having an intermittent problem with your engine, diagnosis may be much more involved.

Some think that when the check engine light comes on, the engine computer tells the technician exactly what the problem is.  The reality is much different.  The trouble code just tells your Denver technician what engine parameter is out of range, not what’s causing it.  Your Denver technician at Express Car Care needs to determine the underlying problem that’s causing the symptom.

As you can imagine, some automotive diagnoses are quick and easy.  Other are more involved and difficult.  Of course, we at Express Car Care want to figure out what’s wrong with your vehicle and get you back on the road as quickly as possible.

At Express Car Care in Denver we install quality NAPA replacement parts.  Give use a call at 303-691-2760.  To learn more about NAPA parts, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com

Extend the Life of Your Cooling System in Denver

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Extend the Life of Your Cooling System in DenverOur vehicles  need to operate in a wide range of temperatures.  That’s why vehicle manufacturers use testing grounds from the frozen tundra to the blistering desert.  The engine antifreeze/coolant in your cooling system must be able to perform in these extreme temperatures.

Antifreeze/coolant has to move heat away from the engine to prevent costly damage.  Water does a very good job of holding heat, but it freezes at thirty two degrees.

That’s why we mix anti-freeze with water – it lowers the freezing point of the coolant, and raises the boiling point as well.  A fifty/fifty blend of water and antifreeze/coolant is the usual recommendation for Colorado motorists.

And on top of that, antifreeze/coolant has the job of  protecting the components of your vehicles cooling system from corrosion.  Your manufacturers owners’ manual will tell you what kind of antifreeze/coolant you should be using in your car.  Of course, at Express Car Care, we can advise you on what coolant to put in your vehicle.

Cooling system failure is one of the most common mechanical problems for Denver motorists.  Much of that can be avoided by following factory scheduled service intervals.  Check your owner’s manual or with your Express Car Care service adviser for recommendations.  He can also conduct a cooling system inspection to look for leaks, weak hoses or bad connections.

Give us a call

Express Car Care   303-691-2760

 

How to Avoid Flood-damaged Cars

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Weather has been changing all over our nation and unfortunately Colorado residents got a bitter reminder of that with the recent floods.  High water from overflowing rivers and streams ruined homes and businesses.  Sadly, pictures like these are all too common right now.  Cars that are buried in mud and water.  When exposed to deep flood levels, soaked cars are often classified as totaled and then demolished.  It is too bad that sometimes unethical and dishonest people take advantage of the situation and flood-damaged cars end up on used car lots.  Here are some steps you can take to avoid buying  flood-damaged cars.

  1. Be a smart shopper.  Always shop at a reputable dealership.  Dealerships with good reputations won’t risk losing them by cheating their customers.  Always ask if the car you’re interested in has been damaged by floods, and get the answer in writing.  If there is any hesitation, you should be concerned.  Also ask to see the title, some states are required by law to  stamp the title of a damaged car that reads “Flood” or “Salvage” .
  2. The Sniff Test.  The quickest way to tell if a car has had flood-damage is to smell it.  If the car smells musty or moldy, it probably has had some type of water damage.  It is very difficult to get rid of a moldy aroma and if there is any mildew formation, you should walk away.
  3. Corrosion Clues.  Corrosion is common in flood-damaged cars and continues to eat away at materials long after the car is dry.  Look for signs of corrosion on metals both inside and out.  Concentrating on door hinges, trunk latches, and hood springs.
  4. Take a test drive.  A compromised electrical system is a serious and potentially life-threatening hazard that is natural in cars exposed to high waters for extended periods of time.  You want to make sure all the electrical components are operational.  Take the car on a test drive and try out all the electronics, dashboard lights, headlights, turn signals, emergency blinkers, air conditioning, heater, wipers, cigarette lighter, and radio.
  5. Check the oil.  Oil in a flood-damaged car will have changes in the color and thickness.  The oil may be pale when it should be dark or runny when it should be thick.  Also take a look at the air filter and check for water stains, that’s another sign that water might have been where it shouldn’t be.

Even if you have completed each of these steps and feel good about the car, you should still take it to a good mechanic so he can fully inspect the parts of the car that aren’t clearly visible, like the brakes and wheel components, wiring mechanisms and the alternator.  All these steps can help you avoid flood-damaged cars.

 

The 411 on Cabin Air Filters

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The 411 on Cabin Air FiltersThe cabin air filter is a filter that is placed in the vehicles ventilation system to remove pollutants from the air before they enter the passenger compartment.  Cabin air filters can also be called pollen or dust filters, interior ventilation filters, ACC filters, or passenger compartment filters.  Since cabin air filters are a fairly recent addition to automobile equipment, this filter can often be overlooked.  The cabin air filter purifies the air as well as protecting the heater and air conditioning components.  If your filter becomes dirty or clogged it can greatly reduce the effectiveness of the vehicle’s air conditioning and heating performance and significantly reduce air flow from the cabin vents.  You might also notice unpleasant odors coming from the cabin vents.  The recommendations for replacing this filter are at least once a year or every 12,000 to 15,000 miles.  It should be replaced more often if your car is driven in areas with heavy pollution or dusty conditions.

There are two types of filters that are offered for replacement, a single stage filter and a multi-stage filter.  Single stage filters trap dust, large soot, and allergens.  Multi-stage filters use activated carbon that reduces toxic gases and odors as well as dust and allergens.  Multi-stage filters are usually recommended more often because of their higher quality.

Since this filter is a relatively new feature, not all vehicles have them.  If your car is a 2000 or newer, it probably has a cabin air filter.  Cars and trucks in the U.S. started using cabin air filters around 1995, so if you aren’t sure whether you have one or not, check your owner’s manual or talk to your repair technician.  Most repair technicians should be able to tell you whether or not your car has one.   The ease or difficulty of replacing the filter depends on the make and model of your vehicle.  There might be some models that would be a lot less trouble to have an auto repair technician replace it , rather than trying to replace the filter on your own.

Seasonal Car Care Tips – What Colorado Weather Does To Your Car

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Here at Denver Express Car Care, we believe that following a good maintenance schedule is the key to getting exceptional performance year round from your car.

By sticking with a seasonal maintenance schedule, it will ensure your car, truck or SUV runs smooth no matter what the extremes are here in Colorado. From cold winter mornings to hot summer afternoons, here are just a few tips that can help keep your car reliable year round.

Spring

The next time you stop by for an oil change, change out your air filter as well. People rarely think about a car’s air filter, but it can help protect those with allergies from airborne particles that make it into your car through the ventilation system. Dust, pollen and other contaminants are high this time of year – do everything you can to protect the one’s you love.

Spring means slushy snow falls and the beginning of rain. Are your wipers in top shape after the cold winter months?

Your heating system has been running all season; now you may be switching back and forth between air and heat as the Colorado days can fluctuate 30, 40, even 50 degrees or more within a 24 hour period. Are the liquids in you cooling system clear and topped up to full capacity? If its been a while since you’ve had your air conditioning system, now is the perfect time for a check up.

Summer

Summer means road trips. And as you’re traveling throughout Colorado and beyond, your tires will face many conditions, from slick wet roads, to some of the highest temperatures on earth. Do your tires have proper tread depth? Is the tire pressure at the recommended levels?

With more traveling means more risk. With your car filled up with family and friends, don’t take a chance by putting them at risk – check your brakes to make sure they are working properly. With a quick brake and fluid check, you’ll know your family will be safe in the coming months.

One of the top reasons motorists are stranded is because of a dead battery. Hot weather is harder on your car than the cold months. Come in for a battery test and we’ll check your battery posts and cables to ensure you’ll have no starting problems in the coming months.

Fall

Your radiator won’t last forever. Over time, it can break down and start corroding. Which leads to cooling problems and a radiator repair. A radiator flush is a quick and easy fix to avoid bigger problems down the road.

Seasonal Car Care Tips - What Colorado Weather Does To Your CarAre your headlights working? Every day brings darkness to us a bit earlier – and good working headlights will light your path and keep you safe. A simple headlight bulb may be the solution.

Belts and hoses won’t last forever. Now is the perfect time to check and ensure that they are not work or cracked, and the fittings are tight and in place.

Winter

When was the last time you topped off your car with antifreeze? This is an essential part of your car’s winter protection system.

Colorado winters can be brutal. Our norm is to have cold, wet periods followed by quick warming trends. All of which mean more melting on the roads, and more “stuff” on your windshield. Washer fluid is in great demand during these few months of the year. You do have an extra gallon or two in your garage, don’t you?

Check your spark plugs. A cracked plug wire will affect performance and gas mileage, and greatly decrease the reliabity of your car. Be sure your are in great shape.

Top Maintenance Mistakes Denver Drivers Are Making – Are You?

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How old is your car? Is it brand new? Five years old? Ten years old? Twenty years old?

Top Maintenance Mistakes Denver Drivers Are Making – Are You?Cars of today are capable of making it a lot further than they were even just a few short years ago. To keep cars in top running order, regular maintenance is needed. But just like cars have changed and improved over the years, so to has the way we should regularly maintain our cars.

People still think of regular car maintenance in much the same way as we did decades before. Yet that may be where your maintenance mistakes begin. Every car has a supplied maintenance schedule – in the owners manual that came with your car, or in a a separate maintenance log book. A few minutes looking through this guidebook and assessing the requirements needed with your make and model can help you avoid maintenance mistakes that do little to help maintain your car.

Proper tire maintenance

Tires leak – it’s a fact of life. Therefore they need occasional checking to make sure they are still in good working order. Under or overinflated tires wear out sooner and can put you at risk under emergency maneuver situations, so it is important to check. Furthermore tires on the front of your car wear differently than on the back of your car – making tire rotation necessary on a periodic basis. How often? At least twice a year – winter and summer extremes can and do cause havoc on your tires.

Wipers

Colorado gives you all the extremes. Hot dry summers. Cold wet winters. The only way to avoid hitting things is if you can see them – something that can be difficult if your wipers aren’t working properly. And under extremes, wipers dry out and fossilize into noisy and useless tools. To avoid a common maintenance mistake – and give yourself the edge on keeping your car up to date – replace wipers at least once per year.

Tune ups

Remember when tune ups were necessary on every make and model? Well no more. Today’s cars don’t have valves that need adjusting or carburetors to fiddle with. Instead, everything inside your car is controlled and monitored by computer. Sure, belts and other parts will need the occasional adjustment or replacement. But overall, your car will happily carry you from place to place in a much more reliable way.

Oil changes

As long as a car runs on oil, you will need to replace it on occasion. But the old rule of every 3,000 miles may not be true anymore. Today, engine design and lubricants make oil changes something that needs to be performed when the schedule calls for it. Check with your owners manual – some cars can go 10,000 or even 15,000 miles between oil changes.

Brakes

One of the most important parts of your car are your brakes. When they squeak, make noises, sound or feel funny in response, its time to talk to your mechanic. Its never worth putting you or your family at risk to try and squeeze a few more miles out of your brakes.

High Altitude and Your Tire Pressure

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High Altitude and Your Tire Pressure

Want to know the two biggest factors that can affect your tire pressure here in Denver? Temperature and altitude.

While there are many things we all love about living in the Mile High City, when it comes to your tires, they aren’t nearly as excited. We can go from 90 to 30 degrees in days. You can go up and down thousands of feet in altitude in a matter of hours. And one of the biggest things that keeps you safe as you head out on your journeys is your tires. Which means your auto maintenance routine should begin at the bottom.

Standard tire pressure depends on the size of your tire and the weight of your car. The best way to determine what your tires’ correct pressure should be is to look in your vehicles manual. Keep this number in mind as our temperature varies greatly, or you travel thousands of feet in direction over a short period of time. Tire pressure is measured in pounds per  square inch (psi) and can be measured easily at your local gas station or with a gauge you can buy at any auto supply center. As a guide, air pressure at sea level stands at 14.7 psi.

An increase in temperature causes the air in tires to expand. Likewise, cold temperatures have the opposite effect, reducing air pressure and causing tire to flatten. As a result, tires filled at one temperature could no longer be correct as the temperature changes. And here in Colorado, temperature change is something that can happen quite rapidly, going from winter to summer temperatures in a matter of days. Meaning your tires can quickly be over or under inflated – impacting the way your tires will wear.

When a car changes altitude, the external air pressure around it changes. The level of pressure in a tire is created from the relationship between the air in the environment and the air inside the tire. Climbing higher in altitude means the air offer less resistance, which creates a higher level of pressure within the tire itself. To keep your tires perfectly balanced, pressure should be adjusted while you are at higher altitudes and again when you make your descent.

A tire without the correct tire pressure is harder to control and creates unnecessary wear and tear on the vehicle. Whether they are over or under inflated, the tires will not be able to properly grip the road, which results in longer stopping distances. Not only does your car have to work harder, your tires do too.

To ensure your tires are at their optimal level, stop by today.

Keeping Your Car Safe With Routine Auto Maintenance

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Are you the type that spends every weekend washing, waxing, and working on your car?  If you are reading this article, you probably aren’t.  If you’re anything like me, your car is simply a means to an end; a way to get quickly from point A to point B.

Keeping Your Car Safe With Routine Auto MaintenanceHowever, I am coming to discover that this tool for transportation has needs too.  So, if I want my car to continue shuttling me safely from one place to another, I need to show it a little love back.

Regularly scheduled maintenance – If the car is running smoothly, this may seem like a waste of time and money.  But, there is actually a good purpose for the regular maintenance they recommend for your car.  At these little checkups, the mechanic can see how well the parts are working and what needs to be attended to.  Replacing parts before they break down tends to be much cheaper than fixing the mess they make when they go.

Tune-Ups – Consider these brief check-ups between your regularly scheduled maintenance.  The mechanic wants to make sure the little pieces are working well together to keep your engine (and your car) working at peak efficiency.

Oil Changes – Without oil, your engine will burn up.  Oil provides the lubrication that keeps your car from overheating as a result of natural friction.  In order for your car to continue running well, this oil needs to be changed periodically.  Clean oil keeps gunk from building up in the working mechanisms of your engine.

Fluid Flushes – If you look under the hood of your car, you will notice several different reservoirs.  These containers hold the different fluids needed to keep your car running.  Every now and then, your car would appreciate a top off or a fresh supply on each of these.

If you give your car a little love along the way, it will serve you much better.  A little TLC will keep you safe and moving in the foreseeable future.

Avoid These Used Cars – They Signal Endless Car Repair Problems

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Wouldn’t it be great to drive away in a brand new car?

Avoid These Used Cars - They Signal Endless Car Repair ProblemsUnfortunately, for many of us, a new car isn’t in our immediate future.

But that doesn’t mean we still don’t need a quality vehicle we can rely on for our day to day needs.

This need leads you to the used car market. While there are millions of used cars available, they are not all created equal. Just because a used car seems like a great deal does not make it the right choice.

When shopping used cars, it is essential that you take your time and use caution to ensure that you buy a quality vehicle that still has plenty of life left in it. Here are some used cars that you should avoid.

  • Cars with salvage titles – these cars were considered a total loss by insurance companies. Just because someone managed to make them look pretty again does not mean they are sound investments.
  • Cars that lack service records – you need to know that the used car you buy was taken care of by the previous owner. This reassurance comes from physical records of oil changes and other maintenance tasks, not from the mere word of the previous owner.
  • Cars with funky paint jobs and mismatched tires – if you can see brushstrokes in the paint, there is a good chance that someone tried to fix the paint themselves. If the tires do not match, this is an indicator that the tires may be wearing out at different rates, which could be a sign of a larger problem.
  • Cars with visible oil stains on the pavement – when you take a used car for a spin, if you notice oil stains underneath as you pull out, pull right back in. The last thing you need are engine problems, such as leaking oil.
  • Cars that were previously rented – no, not all rentals are bad cars, but there is always a chance that various drivers were harder on the car than necessary. After all, it wasn’t their car in the first place, so they didn’t have anything invested in it.

Brakes Service

Oil Change

Suspension

Transmision Service

Engine Service

Auto Tips & Tricks