Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

How to Get Better Gas Mileage

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We are living in a challenging time.  As gas prices continue to rise, ( they are up 11 percent),  it is even more important that we know how to get better gas mileage.  There are several things that can help us increase our gas mileage and  off-set our rising fuel costs.

One of the most important things to remember is don’t be an aggressive driver.  Speeding, rapid acceleration and braking wastes gas.  You can increase your miles-per-gallon by 33% if you allow yourself more than enough time to reach your destinations.  By practicing sensible driving, we’d all be a lot safer and a little bit richer!

Another way to get better gas mileage is to adhere to the speed limit.  Every vehicle has a different range of speeds where their best fuel economy is reached.  But gas mileage can be quickly reduced at speeds above 60 miles per hour. Use your cruise control at speeds above 60 mph, if available, maintaining a steady speed saves gas.  By observing the speed limit you can save as much as 58 cents per gallon of gas.

Maintaining your car’s engine and keeping it tuned properly can increase your gas mileage as much as 4%, that’s a savings of 15 cents per gallon.  This may not seem like much, but every little bit helps.  So make sure your vehicle passes its emissions test and if it has any major problems, have them repaired.  Doing this can improve your gas mileage by as much as 40 percent.

Another simple task that can improve your gas mileage by 3% is to keep your tires inflated to the proper tire pressure.  When the tires are under-inflated, gas mileage is decreased.

Last but not least, you can get better gas mileage by making sure you are using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil for your vehicle.  If you are using a 5W-30 grade of motor oil in a vehicle that has been designed to use 10W-30 it can decrease your gas mileage.

Put all these tips into practice and you’ll be well on your way to getting better gas mileage from your vehicle.  We here at Express Care are here to help you maintain and repair your vehicles,  so give us a call at 303-691-2760 or come in and see us.

 

Simple Auto Repair and Maintenance Tips

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Have you decided to keep your old car instead of buying a new one? You are not alone. Many people today are looking for ways to save. If your automobile is in great shape and only a few years old, it makes sense to avoid the monthly payments and the increased insurance premiums, and invest in a little auto repair and maintenance items instead.

One of the most important words in your car’s maintenance schedule can be summed up in one word … routine! You brush your teeth every evening for bed. You get your hair trimmed on a regular basis. Your auto maintenance should be just as routine.

Until it becomes a routine, it may be beneficial to mark it on the calendar. Schedule days to fit in with your normal routine; days when you can devote time to bringing your car in to a trusted auto mechanic – or do some of it yourself. Here is a list of regular auto maintenance items.

Monthly

 

Every month, check your brake, power steering, transmission, antifreeze and windshield washer fluids. While not all of these need to be changed each month, putting it into your routine can allow you to find problems before they turn into something more.

You should also check your tire pressure, and see if your head and tail lights are in working order. [Read more…]

Is There Something Wrong With Your Automobile’s Fuel System?

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Your car’s fuel system is vital to the smooth operation of your vehicle. When you have fuel trouble, chances are that your car is not going anywhere. Fuel problems can include anything from bad gas to a clogged fuel filter … and worse. The first step in pinpointing a problem with your fuel system is to understand the basic components.

Your car has a fuel tank for storing the fuel. This is the area where you pump your gas every week. Your fuel gauge in the dashboard will tell you how much fuel you have stored.

Your car also has a fuel pump, which pumps the fuel from the tank to the motor. You can find fuel filters before and/or after the fuel pump. These filters ensure that the fuel is clean before it reaches your motor – dirty fuel can lead to many problems. [Read more…]

How To Choose An Auto Repair Shop

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When you own a car, it is important to have regular maintenance performed. It is also important to have a trusted, reliable mechanic to perform this maintenance, as well as to repair any other problems.

Choosing an auto repair shop can be a bit of a chore because they are not created equal. You want to choose an auto repair shop that will not gouge you with high prices and will give you quality repair work. The truth is that there are some repair shops that do not practice good business. The following tips will help you choose the right auto repair shop for your needs.

Choose your repair shop BEFORE you have any automobile problems. You want to make an informed choice, not one under the stress of a malfunctioning vehicle. If your car is not running, you are more likely to do business with the first repair shop you find – which could have disastrous effects, not only on your car but on your wallet. Do your research and find your repair shop before you experience car trouble. Try them out with small jobs, like an oil change. This way you can talk with the service department and begin developing a relationship before you need larger repairs. [Read more…]

Car Air Conditioning Repair

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Even though it has only been a few weeks since Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and so determined that we would have six more weeks of winter. This is the perfect time to bring your car in and have the air conditioning serviced or repaired. If you bring it in now it will save you the worry of whether or not the air conditioning will work when the weather gets warmer.  And it’s also a good idea to have your car air conditioning system checked out once a year just so you can avoid major or costly repairs.

We don’t “top off”  your air conditioning system when you bring in your vehicle because your technician has no way of knowing exactly how much Freon is left in your car’s system.  If he tops off the system, he is relying only on his experience to guess how much Freon is needed to charge the system, which may or may not be correct.  So in order to do what is best for your vehicle we will perform an evacuation and recharge service.   During an evacuation and recharge,  all the remaining Freon is extracted from the system, so then the technician can charge the system with the exact amount of Freon recommended by the vehicle’s manufacturer, then there is no guess work involved.  Another reason some technicians recommend an evacuation and recharge is because they believe it is better for the air conditioning system to have clean Freon running through it.

As well as checking the Freon level, your hoses and valves need to be checked to make sure there aren’t any leaks.  Even the smallest leak can cause a major problem.  So don’t wait around until you can’t live without your air conditioning before you get it in for repair!

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

 

Do I Need An Auto Repair Shop To Replace My Clutch?

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We had a great question come in this past week.

“The clutch on my manual car has been making all kinds of noises. Do I need an auto repair shop to replace my clutch, or is it something I can do myself?”

While many people enjoy driving a manual car, few actually understanding how they work.

In your automobile, your engine spins all the time, while your wheels do not. The clutch is the device to smoothly engage a spinning engine to the non-spinning transmission, controlling the slippage between them. Your clutch is used to regulate the power from the engine to the transfer of power to both the transmission and the wheels.

Regardless of whether you drive a manual or an automatic, the principle remains the same. Because your clutch is the vital component that allows your auto to run smoothly, replacing it at the proper time can literally be a lifesaver. Here are three warning signs:

Burning Smell
Your automobile might emit a burning smell, similar to the smell of burning rubber or an electrical fire. In some cases it may also generate smoke.

Sticking Clutch
As the hydraulic linkages fail, your clutch will come under more pressure. When you notice the pedals becoming harder to press or disengage, it may be an indication of clutch failure.

Slipping Out Of Gear
If the clutch is worn or there in an oil leak from the crankshaft to the clutch plate, your vehicle may slip out of gear for no apparent reason. You may also notice jerky movements as you operate your car.

While this is not a comprehensive list of the things that can go wrong, chances are if your clutch is in need of repair, you’ve noticed at least one of these items.

Replacing your own clutch can be difficult at best. On a rear wheel drive vehicle, the driveshaft, transmission and bellhousing have to be removed from underneath the vehicle to get to the clutch. For a front wheel drive, replacing the clutch is even more challenging because it involves pulling the engine or dropping the transaxle.

What may take an auto repair shop hours to accomplish may be a never-ending chore for you. If you have any questions about your clutch, let Express Car Care have your auto running again in no time.

Auto Repair-Brakes

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During the winter months when the weather is constantly changing here in Colorado and you never know for sure what the driving conditions will be for each day, it’s very important to stay current with our auto repair, especially when it comes to our brakes.  Existing brake problems can become worse in the winter when we are driving in conditions that cause traction to be reduced.  Bring your vehicle in and have the brakes inspected to make sure they will perform correctly and keep you safe while you are driving in winter weather.

The simplest way to keep your brakes from failing is to have your vehicle  regularly maintained.  It’s also important to listen carefully to your car.  Brakes will squeak, click or grind when there is a problem, its just a matter of listening and discovering when the noises change.  Take note of any changes.  As well as hearing squeaking or grinding noises when you apply the brakes, you might feel a pulse in your brake pedal, or a grabbing or pulling to one side or the other.  These are all indications that it might be time to stop in at the auto repair shop and have the brakes checked out.

Having your brakes inspected regularly is the best way to avoid brake failure.  But sometimes despite our best efforts, something happens and the brakes fail!   In case this happens to you, here are some tips that might help make the experience a little less frightening.

  1. Don’t panic.  The calmer you remain, the more likely you will be able to steer your vehicle to a safe stop.
  2. Turn on your turn signal and carefully try to get your vehicle to the right lane.  Watch your mirrors so you can avoid hitting another car.
  3.  When you reach the right lane, put on your hazard lights.  This will let other drivers know that you are having a problem and allow them to steer away from your car.
  4. Take your foot off the gas pedal, downshift to a lower gear and allow the car to slow down.  You can downshift even if your car doesn’t have a manual transmission, move the shifter from “Drive” or “D” to “Low” of “L”.
  5. Steer your car onto the right shoulder of the road, and then shift your vehicle into neutral.  Gradually apply the hand brake (emergency brake) until the vehicle comes to a stop.  Pull the hand brake slowly to keep control over the vehicle.

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

 

What Is So Important About A Clean Air Filter?

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I have been really surprised there have been so many people coming into our shop for an oil change, that have been told that their air filter really needed to be replaced, but have made the choice to leave with an extremely dirty air filter!  Their response is usually, “what is so important about a clean air filter?”  Apparently we haven’t done a very good job informing everyone how important it is to have a clean air filter on your vehicle.  

Every internal combustion engine requires a mixture of fuel and air to operate properly.  Without air (oxygen), the gasoline or diesel fuels can’t burn and provide the energy needed to power the engine.  The air that is used by the engine needs to be cleaned before it enters the engine, otherwise dirt, dust, and debris accumulates and can cause poor engine performance.  As dirt and dust are allowed in the engine, they rub on the essential metal parts of the engine causing them to wear away and eventually they will have to be replaced.  It costs a lot less to replace a dirty air filter regularly, than it does to replace  the parts of the engine it protects.

Also, modern engines depend on a precise air to fuel ratio in order to function properly.  When the engine is deprived of air, the ratio is compromised and that puts more stress on your engine.  A clean air filter allows just the right amount of air into our vehicles engine and also traps the dirt that can harm our engines.

Hopefully, this explains the importance of a clean air filter, but how often should they be replaced?  If you’re having the oil changed in your car and the technician says it needs to be replaced, don’t put it off.  Otherwise a good rule of thumb is to replace it every 8,000 miles.  This can vary depending on how hard the car is driven and under what conditions.  If your car is used mainly for stop and go, city driving, with a lot of construction going on, the air filter would need to be changed more frequently.  But if you hardly use your vehicle, than the air filter wouldn’t need to be replaced as often.  It’s always a good idea to check your owners manual to establish a good baseline.

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

Worst Car Break Down Stories

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It was the end of June and we were anticipating a relaxing but fun vacation.  We were on our way to small lake cottage in Michigan, near Indiana, to spend some time with family.  We had dreams of water skiing, sailing, swimming and just winding down from a stressful work environment.  Little did we know, we were about to embark on one of the worst car break down stories we had ever experienced.                                                   

We set out on our trip expecting that our vehicle  was running properly and that all would be well, but shortly after we passed the Kansas border the engine started to run a little hot.  We were feeling a bit hungry and decided it would be a good time to stop and get a bite to eat and give the engine and ourselves  a chance to cool off, since the outside temperature was about 90 degrees at the time.  We enjoyed our lunch and set out on the road again, not anticipating any problems.  And we didn’t have any,  until we had just driven through Joliet, Illinois.  It was late afternoon, traffic was extremely heavy, and it was beginning to get very hot!  Both under the hood and in the front seat!  Did I mention we were driving a truck with a camper?  Here we are, in the middle of rush hour traffic in unfamiliar territory, driving an overheating truck with a camper.   There weren’t any shoulders wide enough for us to pull over for any extended length of time and we didn’t have any water bottles.   So we emptied out our milk jugs, filled them with water to pour in the radiator, and attempted to get to the next exit ramp.  We continued this very slow and tiring process for several miles until we were finally able to reach an exit ramp, only to discover we were in one of the worst parts of the city! What a lousy place to break down!  This isn’t the end of the story, but we are interested to hear about YOUR worst car break down stories!  Write to us by clicking on the comments line and tell us your stories so we can post them for others to read.  We can’t wait to hear from you!

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

Transmission Troubleshooting

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Since we have gotten quite a few questions concerning transmissions in recent weeks, we thought we would reprint a prior blog that could supply some answers to those questions.

Your transmission is the one piece of equipment that is  multi faceted.  It controls everything from shifting your car from gear to gear, to controlling how fast your car goes.  While you may never change out a transmission or spend time learning how it works, there are some tips to help you with transmission troubleshooting, so you will know when its time to call in a mechanic.   

While there are many pieces that make up a standard automatic transmission system, all transmissions have a few basic parts.

  • The bell housing, or metal case that sits underneath your car
  • The gears
  • The transmission fluid
  • A filter to keep the transmission operating properly

You’ll usually notice a problem with your transmission in one of two ways.  Either your car will simply stop, or it starts to run roughly.  These two problems are generally caused by:

  • Low transmission fluid level, which causes your car to shift poorly and can eventually lead to transmission damage.
  • A leak within the system.  This is usually easy to spot as transmission fluid has a red tint.
  • A clogged filter, which limits the cars performance.

Because of the many parts associated with a transmission, and the specialized tools you’ll need for troubleshooting and fixing it,  its usually wise to leave it up to a professional.  A professional understands what can be causing the problem, and can usually spot the problem quickly.  They will test a variety of things before moving on to a rebuild or replacement.

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

Brakes Service

Oil Change

Suspension

Transmision Service

Engine Service

Auto Tips & Tricks