Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

Getting Fresh Air Inside Your Car

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Getting Fresh Air Inside Your CarAir quality affects us wherever we are.  Decades ago, residents began to become aware of how air pollution negatively affects our health.  But what about the air inside your car?

Cabin air filters are now being put inside most new vehicles since the 2000 model year.  These filters clean the air in the passenger compartment.  They can filter particles down to three microns, so that’s good enough to clean out dust, pollen and most pollutants.  If you suffer from allergies, this is very good news.

You can look in your vehicle owner’s manual to see if you have a cabin air filter in your car.  If you do, there will be a recommendation for replacing it when it gets dirty.  If you live where there’s a lot of dust, pollen or pollution, you may need to change it more often.  You can also ask your helpful and knowledgeable service adviser at Express Car Care.

How hard it is to change a cabin air filter depends on your vehicle.  Some are quite accessible; while others take some doing to get to them.  They’re usually in the vehicle engine compartment or under the dashboard.

Because cabin air filters are fairly new on the scene, some motorists haven’t hear of them – even those that have them in their cars.  Express Car Care service advisers report customers complaining of an unpleasant odor in the car and it turned out to be a dirty cabin air filter.

An important note for hybrid car owners:  there is a special air filter that cleans the air that cools the hybrid battery pack.  This filter should be inspected every time the cabin air filter is inspected and replaced if it is dirty so that the battery pack doesn’t overheat.

The next time you’re in for an oil change make sure you’re getting fresh air inside your car by having the cabin air filter inspected or replaced.

 

Simple Answers About High Mileage Vehicles

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Simple Answers About High Mileage VehiclesQuestion:  What do I need to do for my high mileage vehicle?

Simple Answer:  Denver motorists ask this question at Express Car Care a lot more these days.  The median age for vehicles on Colorado expressways is now over 11 years.  Regardless of your reason for keeping your vehicle around, the good news for Denver auto owners is that it’s capable of going 150,000 to 200,000 miles or more with the proper care and professional automotive service at Express Car Care.

Here are some tips from Express Car Care on how to make your high mileage vehicle last:

  • First, Denver drivers should follow all of their regularly scheduled maintenance routines.  Things like oil changes, transmission and cooling systems service are critical for avoiding expensive damage.  This reduces your overall cost for keeping your vehicle for a long time.
  • Next, regular inspections are critical for Denver motorists.  Those parts are starting to get old and will become worn out over time.  Thorough inspections of various systems will uncover things that are nearing the end of their service life, like suspension, brake and steering components.  Replacing worn parts early not only prevents expensive breakdowns, but relieves stress on related costly components so they will last longer as well.
  • Another thing for Denver motorists to consider is the use of special high mileage fluid formulations.  For example, high mileage engine oil has special additives that condition those old seals and gaskets.  It also has extra detergents to help keep that older truck engine clean inside.  High mileage oil, transmission fluid, etc., costs a little more but can really head off some of the problems that are typical of older vehicles around Colorado.
  • One last thing for Denver drivers would be to consult with your Express Car Care service specialist about the overall condition of your vehicle and your driving routines.  It may be advisable to follow your vehicle manufacturer’s “severe service schedule”.

Even with the occasional unexpected repair associated with a high mileage  vehicle, you can still enjoy good, reliable transportation if you take good care of your ride.  Give us a call and let us know how we can help.

Express Car Care Automotive Tips: Serpentine Belt

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Express Car Care Automotive Tips: Serpentine BeltQuestion:

My Express Car Care service adviser said I need a new serpentine belt but I don’t see any cracks in it.  Does it really need to be replaced?

Express Car Care Answer:

I appreciate your concern.  Old style neoprene belts would crack with age, making it pretty obvious to Denver motorists when they needed to be replaced.  Nowadays, serpentine belts are made from a different material that doesn’t crack or glaze the way neoprene did.

Stepping back, the serpentine belt transfers power from the engine to various critical accessories like the alternator, power steering pump and air conditioning compressor, even the power brakes and water pump on some vehicles.  Modern serpentine belts have several grooves running their length.  These grooves mate with the pulleys on the accessories.  When the belt is within its useful life, it spins the accessories at the designed speed.

Over time, belt material is worn away.  When as little as 5% of the material is lost, the belt can slip and not properly spin the accessories leading to dangerous stress and expensive damage.

Using a special tool, your Express Car Care tech can measure the material lost in your serpentine belt.  He will know if it needs to be replaced.

It’s critical for Denver drivers to understand that the serpentine belt is part of the accessory belt drive system which also includes the serpentine belt tensioner and any idler pulleys.  The belt tensioner has the same service life as the belt itself, so if it is time to replace the belt, you should also replace the tensioner and idler pulleys as well.

A worn belt can cause belt slip and enough belt-slap to really hammer the accessory upstream from the tensioner.  Running too long with a worn belt, tensioner, or idler pulleys usually causes excessive heat at the accessory pulleys, resulting in inefficiency, expensive damage and premature replacement.

Express Car Care in Denver can perform a diagnostic examination to see if your belt or tensioner is worn and should be replaced.  Ask your service specialist if it’s time for a serpentine belt system replacement.

 

The Express Car Care Guide to Buying a Used Vehicle

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The Express Car Care Guide to Buying a Used VehicleUsed vehicles are certainly an economical choice for budget-conscious Denver car owners.  But how can we know we’re getting a good used vehicle and not just inheriting another person’s problems?

Cars are sold when families grow and need a larger car or when they downsize and want a smaller one, or even when someone just wants a new car.  So the used vehicle may be just fine.  But some used car owners sell vehicles because they don’t want to deal with developing or existing problems.

When you’re considering buying a used vehicle in Denver, or anywhere else, ask for service records.  Check to see if the recommended schedules for critical preventative maintenance have been followed.  If so, you probably have a great used vehicle on your hands.  If there aren’t any service records, then assume the worst.

Check the vehicle for obvious signs of problems.  Kick the tires if you want, but make sure you check them for uneven tread wear.  This can indicate alignment problems, worn shocks or suspension issues.  Listen to the engine for unusual sounds and pay attention to unexpected odors.  Take the vehicle for a test drive and make a list of any concerns you might have.

If the used vehicle you’re looking at is a late model vehicle with under 35,000 miles on it, take it to Express Car Care for a full-service oil change.  This vital inspection will reveal many basic or developing problems.  Talk to your helpful Express Car Care technician about the concerns brought to light by your test drive, so you can get ahead of needed repairs or important maintenance.

Previously leased vehicles are often tempting to used vehicle buyers because they are generally newer models with low mileage and have been factory cleaned.  Be cautious, however, many residents that lease vehicles don’t bother with preventive maintenance because they know they’ll be turning the vehicle back in.   Again, ask for vital maintenance records, take the vehicle in for a full-service oil change and consult with your service specialist about any possible problems.

Older used vehicles are even more problematic for used car buyers.  Older vehicles simply come with more maintenance and repair issues than newer ones.  Take these vehicles in for a used vehicle inspection at Express Car Care.  Usually a seller will let you do this before you purchase the vehicle.  These inspections are very thorough and will help you know what you’re getting into  and  enable you to make an informed decision about your purchase.  That peace of mind will make the cost of the inspection more than worth your while.  It’s always good advise for car owners to purchase a Carfax report on any used vehicle.  This report will let you know if the vehicle has been in a major accident and will give you a title history.  You’d be surprised what has been learned from those reports.

Once you purchase a used vehicle, keep regular preventative maintenance schedules, because a little TLC can help your used vehicle last a long time.

Fuel System Cleaning

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Fuel System CleaningHello Denver car owners, let’s talk about fuel.  Fuel, whether gasoline or diesel, is delivered to your engine to be burned in order to generate the power needed to keep your car moving.  This fuel leaves a residue as it moves through your fuel system.  This may not seem like much, but it can cause big problems.  Gum and varnish build up inside the fuel lines, the throttle body and injectors.  It’s like the plaque build-up you can get in your arteries, it restricts the free flow of fuel and can even clog your vehicles fuel injectors.

In addition, carbon from combustion starts to accumulate on your valves that are inside the combustion chamber and on your pistons.  This interferes with proper mixing of fuel and air and can prevent your valves from sealing properly.  This means less power, a rough running engine, wasted fuel and could even lead to pricey damage over time.

A fuel system cleaning at Express Car Care cleans out the gum and varnish from your fuel system and gets your injectors working properly, restoring power and improving miles-per-gallon (MPG).  Carbon deposits are dissolved and your engine starts running like new again.

If your engine seems sluggish and less responsive than it used to be, it might mean that you need a fuel system cleaning.  Ask your helpful Express Car Care technician if he recommends a fuel system cleaning for your car.

Give us a call or come in and see us, we’re here to help.

Simple Answers About Transfer Case Service

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Simple Answers About Transfer Case ServiceQuestion:  I was told I need to have my transfer case serviced.  What is that?

Express Car Care Answer:  On a four-wheel-drive vehicle, power needs to be transferred to both the front and rear axles.  The transfer case is the mechanism that makes that happen.  There are many drivetrain configurations out there, so we’ll just talk in general terms.

Trucks and larger SUV’s are often primarily rear-wheel-drive.  When the driver (or the vehicle’s computer) selects 4WD, the transfer case also sends power to the front axle.  The transfer case may also contain an additional gear set for off-roading.

The transfer case is lubricated and cooled by special gear oil.  Over time, the oil gets contaminated and needs to be changed, just like your engine oil and transmission fluid.  Your automobile manufacturer will have a schedule and your Express Car Care service adviser can help you as well.

Many vehicles around Denver have all-wheel-drive now and AWD vehicles are often based on a front-wheel-drive or rear-wheel-drive vehicle with an addition of a center differential that sends power to the rear wheels when needed.  This center differential, like the transfer case, has a critical service schedule for replacing contaminated lubricant.  The work of transfer cases and differentials is demanding and proper maintenance should not be neglected by Denver car owners.

Knowing the service schedule for your transfer case and differentials will help keep your truck running well and avoid premature wear.  This is especially critical during the winter months when the chances are higher that  you might need 4WD for driving in the ice and snow.

Give us a call or come in and see us.

 

Express Car Care Serpentine Belt Service

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Express Car Care Serpentine Belt ServiceYour serpentine belt drives your alternator and air conditioning compressor.  The power steering and power brake pumps are driven by the serpentine belt in many Denver vehicles.  In some trucks, the water pump is driven by the serpentine belt (in others it’s driven by the timing belt).  The radiator cooling fan on some vehicles are also driven by the serpentine belt.  Some have separate electric motors.

Serpentine belts do a lot of work, but they’re tough and  can last for thousands of miles.  But just how long will they last?  That will vary for each individual Denver car.  Your manufacturer or Express Car Care technician will have a recommendation for when it should be changed, but it could need to be changed  sooner.  The good news is that a visual inspection can reveal if a belt is worn.

It’s often recommended that the tensioner pulley that keeps the belt at the proper tension be replaced along with the serpentine belt.  This pulley is mounted to the engine block with a spring loaded arm.

What are the warning signs that there’s a problem with the serpentine belt?  You may hear a squealing sound from under the hood when accelerating.  A loose belt might give you a slow, slapping sound.  But sometimes you aren’t given any warning at all.

So if you suspect a serpentine belt problem, or if it’s just been a while since it was last checked, ask your helpful Express Car Care service adviser to have it looked over.  No one wants to go though the hassle of being stranded by a serpentine belt breaking, especially at this time of year, so give us a call or come in and see us.

How To Save Gas in Denver

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How to Save Gas in DenverHigh gas prices have hit most of our budgets in the Denver area.  If increased fuel costs are consuming a bigger portion of your budget, you may be tempted to skimp in some other areas – like scheduled maintenance at Express Car Care in Denver.

According to news reports and industry studies, you’re not alone.  Nine out of ten personal vehicles on the road have at least one maintenance or repair item that hasn’t been done.  Some of these items are serious safety concerns, others are just more likely to affect the cost of operating your vehicle.

In this area, we can take a lesson from professional vehicle owners:  fleet owners and operators like trucking companies and delivery services.  Because their livelihood depends on it, they have gotten scheduled maintenance down to a science, and the last thing they skimp on is regular maintenance.

Why is that?  Well, for one thing they know that routine maintenance prevents expensive repairs and costly breakdowns.  They also know that a well-maintained vehicle uses less fuel.  For them, even a small decrease in fuel economy may mean not being profitable.

Here are some Express Car Care services that could potentially save you some gas in Denver:  Fuel system cleaning, transmission service, differential service, oil change, tune-up.

Ring any bells?  Is there at least one thing on the list that hasn’t been done for your vehicle?  Let’s suppose you chose to spend a hundred and fifty dollars and get caught up on some of these services and that they combine to improve your fuel economy by fifteen percent.  What would that mean to your pocketbook?  Well, the average personal vehicle is driven about 12,000 miles a year.  If you get 20 miles per gallon of gas, over the course of one year you would pay for the hundred and fifty dollars’ worth of service and save an additional $165,  if gas is at $3.50 a gallon.  If gas is $4.50, you would save $255 and you’d rack up $345  with gas at $5.50.

From this you can see that the more fuel costs, the more it pays to take care of your vehicle.  Some of us drive trucks for work or recreation – or want a large SUV for family needs.  A fifteen percent improvement in fuel economy can generate huge savings – $660 a year if gas is $4.50 a gallon.  Take a look at this table to see where you could save.

Gas Price       $3.50           $4.50        $5.50

10 MPG              480                660             840

20 MPG             165                255              345

30 MPG              60                  120              180

So catch up on those services you’ve been neglecting.  Talk with your Express Car Care adviser about your vehicles needs.  Get a couple down now and a couple next time.  Chances are you’ll save a lot of money on fuel this year – and a lot more on repairs in the years to come.

Express Car Care: Question on Your Water Pump

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Question on your Water PumpExpress Car Care Tech Question:  I was driving on the freeway in Colorado and my truck engine started to get hot.  I turned off my air conditioner and was able to drive about 80 miles to my meeting and then found a shop in Denver.  It turns out that my water pump was leaking.  It cost me hundreds of dollars to get it fixed.  What could I have done to avoid this?

Express Car Care Answer:  This guys’ story really did have a happy ending.  When you continue driving when your engine is overheating,  you run the risk of a catastrophic engine failure.  It really is a good idea to pull over and let your vehicle’s engine cool down before you drive again.  If you add water or coolant, be sure your engine is cool or you risk getting serious burns.

Now there is no way for auto owners to predict when their water pump will fail – they just wear out.  This guy’s water pump replacement was more expensive because his truck’s water pump is driven by  his timing belt.  That requires a lot of labor hours to get to the water pump and then put everything back on the engine.

A money saving tip from Express Car Care in Denver is:  If your water pump is driven by your timing belt – replace the pump when you have your scheduled timing belt replacement.  That way most of the work is already done and you don’t have to pay for it twice.

Check with your helpful Express Car Care service specialist about when your timing belt should be replaced so you can stay on top of it and hopefully avoid it breaking when you’re on the road.

Vehicle Maintenance Tips: Disc Brakes

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Disc Brake MaintenanceQuestion:  What are the signs that I need a brake job?

Express Car Care Answer:  Signs of brake problems often fall into one of two categories for Denver motorist:  making noise or a pulsation in the brake pedal.  Let’s start with the noise.  Most brake pads have an audible brake wear indicator.  This is a small piece of metal that rubs on your brake rotor when the brake pads are worn to the point they should be replaced.  The noise is a chirp or soft squeal.  This noise gives Denver drivers enough essential warning to get their brakes serviced while there is still enough brake pad left to enable you to stop safely.

Motorists who ignore the chirp commonly find that the sound changes to a grinding noise.  That is more serious.  It means that the friction material on your brake pad is worn away and metal parts of the brake are grinding against the rotor when you press on the brakes.  Obviously, this harmful metal-on-metal means that your brakes aren’t stopping very well.  It also means that your rotor is being damaged.  It may need to be resurfaced or even replaced.

Pedal pulsation is another noticeable problem.  When your rotor is not in perfect alignment, it pushes against the brake pads unevenly as you apply the brakes.  There could be a number of reasons for this.  The rotor and wheel hub may not be mating well, causing the rotor to be spinning out of vertical alignment.  This harmful misalignment can be caused by either the rotor or the hub, or a combination of the two.  If this issue persists, the rotor may even start to wear unevenly to the point that its thickness varies, causing an even more noticeable pulsation.  This uneven mating of the brake pad and the rotor when braking means less contact and it will curtail braking power.

Your service center or the team at Express Car Care in Denver can determine the cause of the harmful misalignment and remedy the trouble.

Either unusual brake noise or pedal pulsation are signs for Denver car owners that there are brake problems.  Motorists should have a tech at Express Car Care survey their brakes thoroughly and recommend any critical steps necessary to correct the issue.  A regular brake inspection is on every vehicle’s recommended list.  Ask your helpful service professional if it’s time for an important brake inspection.

 

 

 

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