Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

What Every Car Owner Should Know About Motor Oil

by Leave a Comment

Whether you are a first-time car owner or you are on your fourth or fifth car, basic maintenance comes with owning a car. And one of the most routine items on your maintenance schedule is changing your motor oil on a regular basis.

Motor oil is essential to the operation of your vehicle. Without it, your car is not going to get very far before the motor locks up – and you are left without transportation. Understanding what motor oil does to protect your motor will help you ensure that you are never left on the side of the highway due to motor oil problems.

Motor oil is a lubricant for your engine. However, it does much more than simply keeping the parts lubricated. Motor oil creates a film on bearing surfaces that helps to separate the parts and keep them from rubbing on each other. This minimizes friction and reduces wear and tear on your engine. Motor oil also cushions the moving parts of your engine. It keeps certain parts of your motor cool and keeps rust and corrosion at a minimum. In short, motor oil serves many purposes within your engine – each one vital to the longevity of your motor. [Read more…]

Timing Belt Service

by Leave a Comment

We all want to do our best to maintain our cars and do everything that we can to keep them running smoothly.  And one of the parts that needs to be maintained is the timing belt. The timing belt has an extremely important part in making your engine run.  The timing belt controls the camshafts in the engine.  The camshaft is the shaft that opens and closes the intake and exhaust valves that let the air in that creates combustion and also vents the exhaust created by the combustion. This opening and closing of the valves has to be perfectly synchronized with the movement of the pistons.  The instant at which the valves open and close affects the engine performance, fuel economy and emissions.  This is why the timing belts function is so important.  The timing belt is the only part that keeps the camshaft and crankshaft in sync.  In some engine designs, the timing belt may also drive other engine parts like the water pump and oil pump.

Timing belts are typically made out of rubber that has been reinforced with strands of fiberglass, this makes them nearly unstretchable and extremely strong. But after rotating around the crankshaft and camshaft  millions of times, the strands become brittle and may begin to break.  The reinforced strands crack and give way, the belt snaps, and your engine stops.  This can happen without a lot of warning.  Sometimes there might be a rattling noise from the front of the engine but that isn’t always the case.  The best way to avoid being stranded is to check your  manufacturer’s recommendation for a timing belt service and have it replaced when they recommend it.  If you drive an older car or put a lot of miles on your car, it might be a good idea to have the timing belt service sooner rather than later.   Some manufacturers may also recommend replacing other parts, such as the water pump, at the same time as the timing belt because the additional cost to replace the water pump is small compared to the cost of having to access the timing belt twice.

If you would like more information or a coupon for a timing belt service, look at our When to Replace Your Timing Belt blog.  For all of your Denver Auto Repair needs, trust Express Car Care.  Call (303) 691-2760 or stop by our shop today.

 

What Your Mileage May Be Telling You

by Leave a Comment

Keeping track of your mileage is an easy way to determine how many miles you can get per gallon of fuel. But why should you track it for every tank of gas you fill you car with? Because your mileage can tell you more than your mileage.

When you notice changes in your mileage, it may signify a problem with your automobile’s system. And while a change in one tank may be from a variety of conditions, concurrent changes that continue from fill up to fill up should make you take notice.

There are several non-mechanical reasons why your mileage might change. It is normal for mileage to drop during cold weather. Your mileage may also change if a tank is consumed by several short trips over a time period as compared to predominately highway driving. And if your driving style has changed, your mileage may reflect the changes. If your driving pathways change (for instance, your commute to work), your mileage may change. While these are not the only reasons why your mileage might change, they provide you with a starting point to determine why your mileage might change. [Read more…]

What Motor Oil Should I Use?

by Leave a Comment

We all know, or at least we should know, that we need to put motor oil in our vehicles so they can run properly.  The main function of motor oil is to lubricate the moving parts of our cars, but it also cleans, prevents corrosion, and cools the engine by carrying heat away from the moving parts.  Although we might know we have to use motor oil, we don’t always know what motor oil we should use.  There has been an age long battle going on between synthetics, synthetic blends and conventional motor oil.  What motor oil should I use?  Which kind would work best for me and my car?  If you have ever asked these questions, we have some more information for you in Motor Oil Types-How to Choose the Right One for Your Car

Using motor oil is essential in keeping your car on the road but knowing what motor oil works best for your car can greatly extend the life of your car!

For all of your Denver Auto Repair needs, trust Express Car Care.  Call (303) 691-2760 or stop by our shop today.

 

What You Should Know About Servicing A Hybrid

by Leave a Comment

Hybrid automobiles are becoming more and more popular. With environmental concerns rising, consumers want a vehicle that reduces their carbon footprint – hence, hybrid automobiles.

Yet with this new line of automobiles comes the need for a new need for maintenance. Hybrids are still cars, yet they work in different ways from traditional makes and models.

Complicated repairs to hybrid autos are best left to the experts. However, if you are an expert or if the repair is something you are comfortable making, here are a few facts to remember when servicing a hybrid automobile.

  • Make sure the hybrid system is “off” – while this may seem obvious, it is easy to forget that a hybrid automobile is ready to turn on at any time [Read more…]

Fun Ideas for Summer

by Leave a Comment

Fuel system cleaning, radiator flush, clutch repairs or automatic transmission service, do these repairs sound like fun ideas for summer?  Not really.  But just because your car might be in need of some repairs, doesn’t mean you have to spend your summer trapped inside an auto repair shop.   Our shop is conveniently located across the street from the Colorado Light Rail Station, this allows you to drop your car off for repairs , catch the train, and enjoy yourself while we repair your car.  That sounds like it would be a little more fun than before, doesn’t it?  We also have provided a key drop system for you if you need to leave your car during our off hours.  What could be more convenient?!       

There are a lot of fun activities to do here in Denver this summer.  How about those Rockies!  You can drop your car off with us and then head out to watch them play and not miss a pitch!  Or if you’re not into baseball, there is always shopping and dining on the 16th Street Mall.  Some of you ladies may want to relax and have afternoon tea at the Brown Palace.

There are also fun summer ideas that you can do with your kids.  You can spend the day at the Children’s Museum, or take them on a tour of the State Capital and expand their minds and imaginations.  If you’re looking for ways to help them get rid of some excess energy, you could spend some time at Elitch Gardens.  They have over 40 rides plus the Minderaser and the Tower of Doom.  That should successfully wear them out!

We understand how difficult it can be to juggle the important along with the fun issues of life.  None of us want to sacrifice our fun activities all the time, so if you find yourself in a position where you think you can’t enjoy your day and have your car repaired too, check the Light Rail  schedule, give us a call at 303-691-2760,  and let’s see if we can’t make auto repair more  “fun”  this summer!

 

Auto Repair Safety Tips

by Leave a Comment

In order to save a few dollars, you may be tempted to set up and perform simple routine maintenance on your car at home in your garage. How difficult can it be?

And while some jobs may seem simple for the do it yourselfer, remember that cars can be dangerous for you and your family. While it is a feasible way to save money, if you are going to perform your own auto repairs, it is essential for you to be safe. The following auto repair safety tips will help you avoid accidental injury.

  • Never perform repairs that are beyond your scope of expertise. In other words, if you truly do not know how to make the repair, let a professional do it for you. [Read more…]

Changing Your Belts, Hoses, Fluids and Filters

by Leave a Comment

The best way to ensure that your auto stays in running condition is with proper maintenance. Preventing problems before they start will help you keep your car on the road, and will keep it in top shape to be reliable no matter what the conditions.

Oil – oil is the lifeblood of your automobile. If your oil is low, you need to add the additional fluid right away. Low levels can also be a sign of a possible problem, such as a leak. You should change the oil in your car every 3,000 miles. This will help keep your motor is tip-top shape for all of your driving needs. Make sure you change the oil filter each time you change the oil.
[Read more…]

Brake System Service

by Leave a Comment

The last thing we need in this fast-paced life we live in, is to have trouble ” putting on the brakes!”  We can all benefit from slowing down and enjoying the ride every now and then.  And just as we need to engage our “life brakes” we also need to be able to use the brakes on our vehicles.  Sometimes this can be a challenge if our brakes haven’t been taken care of properly.

If the brakes on your vehicle are not working properly, or if the brake pedal seems soft or spongy, it might be time you looked into having a brake system service.

The brake system is the most important safety system on your car.  The brake fluid used in your vehicle transmits pressure from the driver’s foot to the wheel cylinders, that pressure is then converted into a frictional braking force on the wheels.  The frictional braking creates heat that can get transferred to the brake fluid itself. In order to operate properly, it is important that the brake fluid isn’t allowed to boil, even when this heat is created.  To make sure it doesn’t boil, your brake fluid must be free of contaminants. Contaminants, including moisture can lead to early failure of brake components.  Moisture absorbed by the brake fluid also causes the brakes to feel soft, spongy or to lose your brakes altogether.   This is why we recommend a brake system service.  Regularly changing the fluid in your brake system can improve the performance of the braking system and reduce the chance of costly repairs due to the failure of brake components because of fluid contamination.

When we perform a brake system service, one of our technicians will remove all of the existing brake fluid in the master cylinder using a specialized brake fluid service system.  This brake fluid service system is connected to all four wheels and will completely flush and refill the entire brake system and master cylinder.

Give us a call at (303)691-2760 or come in and see us if you’re having a little trouble “putting on the brakes” or for any of your other auto repair needs.

 

 

Are Rebuilt Parts Okay For Your Auto Repair?

by Leave a Comment

When your car breaks down, its natural to assume you will need to purchase new parts to replace the broken ones. Yet that isn’t always the case. In some circumstances, your best choice may be rebuilt parts.

Always look to reputable mechanics before you make a decision. If you’re buying a part from a “shady” seller of a classified ad, it may be a case of you get what you pay for. But if your mechanic recommends a rebuilt part as the best choice for your situation, it truly may be your best choice. [Read more…]

Brakes Service

Oil Change

Suspension

Transmision Service

Engine Service

Auto Tips & Tricks