Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

What’s So Important About An Oil Filter?

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In the course of our business, we are often confronted with customers who don’t understand the importance of their oil filter.  They are usually focused on the quality of the oil and the cost of the oil change and don’t really see what’s so important about an oil filter?

Oil filters have a very important function and if your oil filter is poor quality, it can shorten the life of your engine and cause other parts to fail.  This small part of your vehicle’s lubrication system plays an important role in protecting your engine from premature wear.  All the moving parts in the engine need clean oil to properly lubricate them.Tiny bits of metal chip off of various engine parts while it’s running.  If these bits of metal are allowed to recirculate through the oil, they could break off other bits of metal, which eventually causes erosion.  A quality oil filter helps prevent erosion from taking place.  The oil filter cleans the oil as it passes through the filter and prevents abrasive contaminants from damaging the engine parts.

It is very important to choose a high quality oil filter because the internal construction and quality of the filter has a huge effect on the life of your car’s engine.  Here at Express Care, we use a Wix oil filter.  Wix was patented in 1954 and has been at the forefront of oil filter technology and performance for passenger cars, trucks, buses and off-road vehicles ever since.

Filtration efficiency or particle size retention is one of the standards used to determine the quality of an oil filter.  Particle size retention is the measure of how well a filter can retain particles of various sizes.  Wix has developed optimum filtration efficiency in their filters.  They are able to trap and hold essentially all the particles larger than 25 microns.  (A human hair measures about 70 microns in diameter.)  These filters can also capture a high percentage of even smaller particles.

Another standard that a quality filter must meet is dirt-holding capacity.  This is the amount of contaminants that can be removed and held by the filter until the filter ceases to function.  The capacity of Wix filters is significantly larger than the minimum requirements specified by vehicle manufacturers to efficiently filter all the oil used during a regular oil change interval.

As you can see, it is just as important to use a quality oil filter as it is to use quality motor oil in our vehicles.  They work together to help our cars run efficiently.

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

 

Conventional Oil vs. Synthetic Oil

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We are often asked, “which oil should I use, conventional or synthetic?”  This seems to be an unending debate, conventional oil vs. synthetic oil, but we will try to give you some facts that might make your decision a bit easier.

Conventional oil comes from crude oil that is pumped out of the ground.  The crude oil is refined at an oil refinery and becomes the base stock for conventional oil.   Even though is goes through a refining process  conventional oil still contains small amounts of contaminants that can’t be removed.  Unlike conventional oil, synthetic oil base stock is created artificially or synthesized.  These oils are purer and are custom designed to provide the “ideal” lubrication.

Both conventional oil and synthetic oil have additives to help prevent sludge and deposit build-up, but synthetic oil also has performance additives that provide superior protection for the life of your engine and in extreme driving conditions such as extremely cold or hot temperatures.

Because of the higher purity properties of synthetic oil, it can stand up to heat and withstand colder temperatures much better than conventional oil.  This is a huge advantage when you first start your car in the cold weather.

There are a few more advantages you get by using synthetic oil.  It flows easier in cold weather, so if you live where it gets really cold in the winter, you might want to use synthetic.

Also because synthetic oil doesn’t break down as quickly as conventional oil, there are longer intervals between oil changes.  Although some have thought that synthetics last forever, this is not the case.  Eventually the additives in the synthetic oil will break down like conventional oil and the oil will need to be changed.

The higher cost of synthetic oil has been a major deterrent for some people, but the fact that they extend drain intervals, provide better fuel economy and reduce engine wear, make them more economical than you might think.

Just as we need to do with all the information we receive, we need to decide what works best for us and our vehicle,  so look over  your owner’s manual, see what they recommend and then make your decision.

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

Oil Change Special

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Regular maintenance is a part of the life of your car.  If you do just a few things on a regular schedule, you can avoid larger problems down the road.

Regular Scheduled Oil Change

At the top of this important list of  regular maintenance services  is the oil change.

Changing your oil regularly prevents the formation of sludge.  Fresh oil is used within the engine to clean away dirt particles, keeping them from settling onto the engine.  With regular changes, the particles are removed before they can begin to cause a problem.

In the same manner you visit your doctor for a routine checkup once a year, the auto industry has recommended that once every 3,000 miles your car has an oil change.  These guidelines provide you with a regular interval, and helps extend the life of your engine.

Different dealers and auto repair shops offer different services when you purchase an oil change.  Here at Express Care, we offer our Express Care Full Service oil change.  This includes:

  • Draining used oil and refilling with motor oil.
  • Installing a new oil filter

Plus we check and fill the following:

  • Lubricate your vehicle
  • Transmission fluid
  • Power steering fluid
  • Battery water
  • Windshield washer fluid
  • Antifreeze/coolant
  • Differential fluid
  • Transfer case fluid
  • Tire pressure

In these tough economic times, it’s so important that we take care of our vehicles properly so we don’t have to spend a lot of money to repair or replace them.

Right now we’re offering an oil change special to help you do just that!  Go to our home page and click on Shop Specials for an online coupon that offers savings on a full service oil change.

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

Quick Lube

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Today I’m attempting to refute a myth that has been circulating about Quick Lubes and how we do business.  We quick lube owners and employees have been accused of recommending “unneeded”  oil changes just to make more money.  That may be true at some quick lubes, but when we service your car, we only suggest services that we believe are necessary to keep your car running at its best.  Let me explain why we recommend an oil change every 3,000 miles or every three months.

In recent years, many vehicle manufacturers have extended their recommended oil change intervals to try to help reduce the cost of maintenance for car owners, but have run into trouble.  The Center for Auto Safety  has gotten thousands of complaints from motorists who thought they were following the correct service intervals in their owners manuals but ended up with a crankcase full of sludge.   Motor oil does more than lubricate the engine.  It also forms a film on surfaces  that separates moving parts so they don’t rub against one another so friction and wear is reduced.  Oil also serves as a coolant for critical engine parts like the crankshaft and valve train.  It also helps to prevent rust and corrosion inside the engine, and keeps surfaces clean by dissolving and carrying away dirt and deposits.  Oil life depends on many factors; driving conditions, temperature, humidity, airborne dirt, and engine wear.

Extended oil change intervals of 7,500 or 10,000 miles are based on ideal operating conditions, not stop and go driving, or driving our cars for  several short trips, like most drivers do each day.  So most drivers should follow a “severe” service schedule rather than a “normal” schedule to protect their engines.  Most experts still consider a 3,000 miles or six month oil change for “severe” drivers.

We have also heard the argument at our quick lube that since motor oils are of higher quality than they once were, we don’t need to change our oil as often.  Yes, motor oils are better than they once were, but oil filters have not kept up.  An engines main line of defense against abrasion and the wear it causes is the oil filter.  The oil filter’s job is to remove solid contaminants like dirt, carbon, and metal particles from the oil before they can damage surfaces in the engine.  If your oil filter is clogged, it can’t do its job and unfiltered oil is allowed to enter the engine.  Contaminants that find their way into the crankcase will be pumped through the engine and accelerate wear.

Although motor oils have been improved and are continuing to be improved, there has been little done to improve oil filters.   The majority of oil filters still need to be replaced every 3,000 miles.   So until the oil filters are equal in their quality to the  motor oils, we will continue to recommend a 3,000 mile or three month oil change at our quick lube.

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

Quick Oil Changes

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At this time in history it seems that we are moving faster than ever and everything we want, we want it quick!  We even want quick oil changes!  Is there anything wrong with that?  I don’t think so.  There are certain advantages to visiting a quick lube for an oil change.  Of course the most obvious advantage is time.  The average quick lube shop takes 14 minutes to perform a full-service lube, oil and filter change and multipoint inspection.  Fourteen minutes every few months isn’t much time to spend on maintaining your vehicle.Quick Oil Changes

Another advantage of the quick lube is convenience.  It isn’t difficult to find a quick oil change shop, they seem to be on every corner.  That doesn’t mean it’s recommended to pop into just any quick lube.  It’s important that you do some research on the shop that you want to visit.  Find out if they use quality oil and if their service techs are properly trained.  Also make sure they are held accountable to perform quality work on your vehicle.  Most quick oil changes are accompanied by a multipoint inspection.  These inspections can catch things such as headlights or other small bulbs that need to be replaced as well as air filters and cabin air filters(the filter that works for your heat and AC inside the car, although not every car has one.)  An inspection can also alert you to a major repair that might be necessary soon.  (This is the time you want to make sure that the shop you are dealing with is reputable and trustworthy so they aren’t trying to sell you repairs you don’t really need.)  If your quick lube also has an auto repair shop, (like ours) you can set up an appointment to have your car repaired.  One stop shopping!  Getting a quick oil change in a shop like ours is even more convenient because we can also perform major services like a transmission flush or a coolant flush at the same time we’re changing the oil.  So if saving time while maintaining your car is important to you than quick oil changes is the answer you’re looking for!  What do you think?

Motor Oil Types-How to Choose the Right One for Your Car

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When you walk into a quick-lube and ask for an oil change today, you will usually be asked what type of motor oil you want to use.  Because cars have changed, the motor oil we put in them has changed too.  Here are the motor oil types available and a brief description of the difference between them.  This information should help you choose the right motor oil for your car.

Conventional Oil-This is the standard car motor oil.  All leading brands carry a motor oil for service level “SL”.  “SL” refers to a group of lab and engine tests that the oil is put through in order to meet the standards of the American Petroleum Institute (API).  This oil works well in just about every light-duty car on the road.  When you choose this oil it is important to change your oil and filter regularly.Motor Oil Types-How to Choose the Right One for Your Car

Full Synthetic Oil-This motor oil is made for high-tech engines like BMW, Lexus, Corvette, or Mercedes-Benz.  It has superior sludge and varnish protection which keeps the engine cleaner.  It protects your engine from becoming to hot under severe driving conditions and also protects it in cold temperatures because the oil flows faster when the engine is started.

Synthetic Blend Oil-These have a mixture of synthetic oil and organic oil and are formulated to give engine protection for somewhat heavier loads and higher temperatures.  They evaporate less which increases fuel economy.  This type of motor oil is popular with people who drive SUV’s and pickup trucks with heavy loads.  Synthetic blend oil costs less than full synthetic and just slightly more than conventional oil.

Higher Mileage Oil-We are driving our cars longer now and if your cars odometer reads more than 75,000 miles, this type of motor oil would be a wise choice.  This oil is formulated with seal conditioners that restore their shape and increase their flexibility.  Rubber seals are designed to swell enough to stop leaks, this oil helps them do that.  Higher mileage engines can perform differently than new ones, causing oil consumption, decreased engine performance and more rapid oil breakdown.  By choosing higher mileage oil you can reduce oil consumption, improve horsepower and prolong the life of the engine by cleaning buildup and sludge from your older engine.

When you’re trying to determine which type of motor oil to choose for your car, don’t forget to check your owner’s manual and talk to your service technician.  They can give you the best advice for your particular situation!

Cheap Oil Changes, Are They Worth It?

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During this economic crunch, we are all looking for ways to save money.  But when it comes to the condition of our cars, those valued objects that get us to our jobs, the grocery store, school and social events do we want to risk getting a cheap oil change?  Saving a little money now by using cheap oil can cost you a lot in the future when the oil fails to do its job.

There are two important things that oil does for your engine.  First it provides lubrication.  Inside your car’s engine there are many moving parts that would rub against one another, creating extreme levels of friction and wear. If these parts come into contact with one another without oil between them to create a cushion, there would be severe damage to your engine.  Without quality oil your engine’s performance is greatly  affected.  Your car won’t run smoothly and your gas  mileage will be much lower.    Secondly motor oil cleans the engine and prevents contaminates or “sludge” from building up.  Quality oil will contain detergents that help clean the engine and additives that help inhibit corrosion.Cheap Oil Change, Are They Worth It?

You might think that you are saving money by going to a shop that advertises a $19.99 oil change.  But in order to give you that price they have to sell you cheap oil and a low quality oil filter that doesn’t meet with manufacturer’s specifications.  When the cost of an average oil change is $35-$45 at a reputable shop that uses high quality oil and high quality oil filters and it’s recommended that you change your oil every 3 months or 3,000 miles, if you do the math that comes to 50 cents a day to change the oil in your car.  Most of us can afford 50 cents a day!  We spend more than that on our morning coffee!  If we skip one coffee trip a week and put that money toward our oil change, our wallets wouldn’t even notice! Considering all the benefits our cars provide when they run well, don’t you think it’s worth it?

Oil Change Specials

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Regular maintenance is a part of the life of your car. If you do just a few things on a regular schedule, you can avoid larger problems down the road.

And at the top of the list of the regular maintenance schedule is the oil change.

Changing your oil regularly prevents the formation of sludge. Fresh oil is used within the engine to clean away dirt particles, keeping them from settling onto the engine. With regular changes, the particles are removed before they begin to cause a problem.

In the same manner you visit your doctor for a routine checkup once per year, the auto industry has established the once every 3,000 miles oil change guidelines. This provides you with a regular interval, and helps extend the life of your engine.

Different dealers and auto repair shops offer different services when you purchase an oil change. Here at Express Care, we offer our Express Care Full Service oil change, and include:

  • Drain and refill with Conventional oil, High Mileage oil, or Synthetic oil.
  • Install a new oil filter

Plus we check and fill the following:

  • Lubricate your vehicle
  • Transmission fluid
  • Power steering fluid
  • Battery water
  • Windshield washer fluid
  • Antifreeze/coolant
  • Differential fluid
  • Transfer case fluid
  • Tire pressure

Right now we’re offering oil change specials – to help you save even more.

Brakes Service

Oil Change

Suspension

Transmision Service

Engine Service

Auto Tips & Tricks