Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

Express Car Care: Use the Correct Fluids in Your Vehicle

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Car Maintenance To Make Your Old Car Like New AgainBig advances in automotive technology have led to the development of high-tech fluids to keep pace.  A simple example of this is the cooling system.  For decades it was primarily made out of iron, steel and rubber hoses.  There was one kind of coolant that protected these components from corrosion.

Now cooling system components are made with various metal alloys and plastics.  These materials require different additives to protect them from corrosion.  Since the materials used vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, we now have a number of different kinds of coolant at Express Car Care in Denver.  And it’s important to use the right coolant for your vehicle.  If you pour in the wrong kind, it wont’ protect the cooling system and may even void the warranty.  Your helpful Express Car Care adviser will know the proper coolant to use.  If you’re concerned you may have used the wrong one, be safe and have your Express Car Care technician flush the system and start fresh with the correct fluid.

Brake fluid is confusing for some people.  For a very long time, most vehicles used Dot 3 brake fluid.  Now we have Dot 4 & 5.  Some people mistakenly think the higher numbers are an upgrade.  You know, if 3 is good then 4 must be better.  That’s not how it works.  They have different formulations to meet the requirements of differences in brake systems.  Only one of them is recommended for your vehicle.

Transmission fluid is the same thing.  With the tremendous engineering advances in automatic transmissions, there have been several new types of fluids developed to protect and lubricate them.  Nowhere are the advances in automotive fluids more evident than in motor oil.  Many new weights and formulations have been created to meet the demands of today’s modern engine design.

Modern engines have more parts and much tighter tolerances.  Every year, engines make more power and get better fuel economy.  And even with all the complexities and sophistication, they still have to be durable.  That’s where the new grades of engine oil come in.  They have to be formulated to lubricate, protect and clean all of those engine parts, big and small.  The oil has to be thin enough to get into small passages, yet resistant to vaporization.

Your vehicle may have come from the factory with synthetic oil and/or transmission, brake, differential fluid, etc.  If so, your recommended service intervals will be based on synthetic-type fluids and you should use the same type when your vehicle is serviced at Express Car Care.

Because grades of oil and types of coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, etc. are so carefully matched to the vehicle, take care to always use the proper fluid if you are topping off at home.  Check your vehicle owners manual or ask your Express Car Care service adviser.  The wrong fluid can cause damage.

Tire Rotation and Balancing

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Tire Rotation and BalancingYou can make the tires on your vehicle last longer with regular tire rotation and wheel balancing.

Let’s start with tire rotation.  In normal driving around Denver, your front tires wear more on the shoulders because they handle much of the cornering forces in turns.  Front-wheel drive vehicles have even more force on the front tires.

We rotate the tires so that all of the tires do some duty on the front end as well as getting a little break on the back end.  That way, all four tires wear more evenly over their life and should last longer.

For most vehicles, tires are rotated front to back.  Some manufacturers recommend a cross rotational pattern that includes the spare tire.  And some high-performance vehicles have different size tires on the front and rear and may even have uni-directional tires that can only be on the left or the right side of the vehicle.  Your service adviser at Express Car Care can help you sort that out and will perform the right tire rotation for your vehicle.

Your tire manufacturer will have a recommendation for how often you should rotate your tires.  It’s usually somewhere around 5,000 to 8,000 miles.

Let’s move on to wheel balancing.  That’s when there are heavy spots on the tire and wheel that cause it to wobble.  Balancing adds weights to the wheel to balance it out.  Now, we are talking about very small weight differences.  Variations in the tire and wheel manufacture can cause a slight imbalance.  The valve stem, and now the tire pressure monitoring sensors in the tire, also play into the equation.

Even small differences can cause annoying vibrations at speed:  the wheel is essentially bouncing a bit as it goes down the road.  For example, at freeway speeds, an out of balance wheel can be slamming into the road 14 times a second.  That’s annoying and can also cause your tires to wear out more quickly.

If a front wheel’s out of balance you’ll feel the vibration through the steering wheel.  When it’s a rear tire, you’ll feel the vibration through your seat.  If you’re getting bad vibes from your vehicle, bring it in to see if it’s a balance issue or something else.  You should balance your wheels whenever you get a new tire or remount a tire, like when it has been removed for a flat tire repair.

At Express Car Care in Denver, we install quality NAPA replacement parts.  To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com

Shocks and Struts

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Shock and StrutsLet’s talk shocks and struts.

Shock absorbers and struts last a long time and wear out pretty slowly for most cars and trucks in the Denver area.  They’re easy to take for granted, but your shocks and struts do a very important job so you need to pay attention to them.  They keep your tires on the road; and your tires are what connect your vehicle to the road and allow you to safely handle your car through turns, over bumps and even stop in time.

When your shocks and struts are worn, your tires bounce excessively over bumps in our city streets.  Your vehicle will wallow through corners; your front-end will dive when you stop; and your rear-end will squat when you accelerate.  All this hurts your ability to control your vehicle.  And your ride just isn’t as comfortable.

Worn shocks or struts cause excessive tire wear so you’ll have to replace your tires sooner than you should.  Worn shocks and struts also stresses other suspension and steering parts causing them to wear prematurely.  Struts are actually a major structural component of the suspension system; there’s a lot riding on them.

Replacing worn shocks and struts saves money in the long run for our local drivers – and of course you can’t really put a price on your safety and that of your passengers.  We generally recommend replacing shocks and struts at 50,000 miles.

When it is time for new shocks or struts, we’ve got you covered.  We can give you back the ride and handling of a new vehicle.  And if you have special needs we can help you there too.  We have premium shocks and struts that will improve your performance.  We can even help you with upgraded, heavy-duty shocks that will give you the confidence you need to handle those big towing or hauling jobs.

Experts recommend replacing all four shocks at the same time so that handling is even at each wheel.  If you need new shocks or struts, let us help you take care of this important safety service.  You’ll feel better, and you’ll save money on tires and other suspension repairs down the road.

Disc Brake Maintenance

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Disc Brake MaintenanceYour brakes are extremely important as you drive around Denver.  Having good brakes just keeps you out of trouble.  You’ll want to carefully maintain your brakes.  With disc brakes, brake pads rub on a disc – or rotor – to slow the wheels.  The brake pads are attached to a caliper that squeezes the pads against the rotor.  It’s kind of like how squeezing the handbrake on a bicycle pushes the brake pads against the wheel of the bike.

Now brake pads just wear away with use – like a pencil eraser wears out.  The good news is that replacing brake pads is a straight-forward repair.

If you hear squealing or grinding when you use the brakes, have your Express Car Care service adviser check them out.  He’ll have a technician perform a thorough brake inspection to see what needs to be done.  He’ll check for signs of brake problems and go over other brake components to see that they’re working properly.  He can tell you if it’s time to replace the pads or if there are other issues with your brakes that should be addressed.  Some people make the mistake of ignoring the warning signs and keep on driving long after the pads are completely worn out.  When that happens, metal brake components will grind on the rotor, damaging it enough that it needs to be resurfaced or replaced.

Rotors can also warp or crack, in which case they’ll need to be replaced.  Brake calipers also wear out over time.  They can develop leaks or the caliper pistons can freeze open or closed – either way it’s not good.  When this happens it’s time to replace the calipers.  A thorough brake inspection will reveal worn bearings or seals as well.

The new brake pads we put on your vehicle will restore your brakes to manufacturers’ specifications.  Or, we can install upgraded parts to increase your stopping power and reduce brake noise and brake dust.  We have several options to meet your braking requirements and your budget.

Taking care of your brakes keeps them working safely – and you could prevent premature brake repairs down the road.  At Express Car Care in Denver, we install quality NAPA replacement parts.

Deciphering the Menu Board at Express Car Care

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Deciphering the Menu BoardYou may not be familiar with all of the items on Express Car Care’s menu board so here is a quick description of some of the typical services that might be listed.  Remember, the board is there for reference; speak to your Express Car Care Service Adviser about other possible needs or services.

Express Car Care Fuel System Cleaning:  Over time, the fuel system gets gum and varnish built up.  A fuel system cleaning at Express Car Care gets rid of that and cleans out the fuel injectors.  This saves you gas as you drive around Denver and on the freeways.

Express Car Care Headlamp Replacement:  Halogen and standard headlamps gradually fade.  When one burns out, replace both so they’ll have the same brightness.  Also, if your headlamp lenses are yellowed or cloudy, you can have them professionally restored to an almost new-condition.  Ask your friendly Express Car Care adviser for information.

Express Car Care Inspections:  Denver drivers get inspections for many reasons.  Maybe they’re going on a trip or just want to make sure their vehicle’s ready for summer or winter in Denver.  Maybe they just bought a used car and want to give it the once over.  An inspection at Express Car Care may reveal some things that are broken or are getting close to having a problem.

Express Car Care Oil Change Service:  There are several options, some Denver auto service centers offer just an oil change and new filter as an option.  We will also check and top off all of your other fluids and do a quick visual inspection with a full service oil change.  We also have options for higher mileage fluids or an upgrade to synthetic oil.

Express Car Care PCV Valve Service:  PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve.  It’s a little part that releases pressure from the engine.  It can get gummed up and that can lead to engine damage. It just needs to be changed now and then.

Express Car Care Power Steering Service:  Often overlooked.  Your Express Car Care technician will evacuate the old fluid, clean out the system and replace it with clean fluid.  Keeps the system running well for a long time.

Express Car Care Serpentine Belt Replacement:  This starts with an inspection of the suspension components.  Shocks last a long time and wear out slowly, so many Denver motorists don’t notice when it’s time to change them.  If they’re worn or leaking, they need to be replaced.

Express Car Care Transmission Service:  This involves removing the transmission fluid and replacing it with clean fluid.  It’s like an oil change for your transmission.

Express Car Care Tire Rotation and Wheel Balancing:  The tires are rotated from front to back using the recommended rotation pattern.  This helps tires wear more evenly.  Wheels need to be balanced from time to time to keep them turning without any wobble or bounce.  Helps the ride and saves tire wear as you drive around Denver.

Give us a call at 303-691-2760 and let us help.

 

 

A Long Lasting Cooling System for Denver Driving

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A Long Lasting Cooling System for Denver Driving e PadsOur vehicles operate in a wide range of outside temperatures in Colorado.  That’s why vehicle manufacturers use testing grounds from the frozen tundra to the blistering desert.  Your engine coolant must be able to perform in these extreme temperatures, even if we don’t always get the extremes in Denver.

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 (Fahrenheit).  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 anti-freeze is the usual recommendation from Express Car Care.

And on top of that, coolant has to protect the components of the cooling system from corrosion.  Your owner’s manual will tell you what kind of coolant you should use.  Of course, your Express Car Care service representative in Denver will know what you should put in your car.

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

Give us a call at 303-691-2760, or stop by Express Car Care at 4200 E. Evans Ave. Denver, 80222.

 

Need A Suspension Inspection at Express Car Care in Denver?

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Need a Suspension InspectionYour suspension system keeps your car up off the road.  From there, it’s responsible for a smooth and comfortable ride around Denver.  It also keeps your car wheels firmly planted over bumps and through curves on roads and highways.

Your suspension system has many important parts that do a big job.  They should be inspected routinely for damage and excessive wear at least once a year.  A good time would be when you get an alignment check in Denver.

Here are some warning signs of suspension problems:  the vehicle pulls to one side, wandering, erratic steering, uneven tire wear, leaning, shocks bottom out, poor ride or handling, oil leaking from shocks, and excessive bouncing.

All of your vehicle’s suspension parts wear out over time.  Shocks and struts eventually lose their ability to control your ride.  If you’re in an accident, your suspension can be damaged or knocked out of alignment.  Even a minor accident, like hitting a curb, pothole or large rock can mess things up.

If you suspect you might have suspension problems, ask for an automotive analysis and let the cheerful service professional at Express Car Care in Denver set things right.

Give us a call at 303-691-2760 or come in and see us.

At Express Car Care in Denver we install quality NAPA replacement parts.  To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com

Replace Your Engine Air Filter

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Replace Your Engine Air FilterWhen you are driving around town, your car engine needs clean air to burn the fuel – and it needs a lot.  In fact, a typical vehicle needs about 216,000 gallons of air for every tank of gas.

All that air passes through a filter that catches the dust and dirt.  Eventually the filter will get completely full.  Because the filter can only hold so much, the dirt starts getting through.  This dirty air passes through the mass airflow sensor and starts to accumulate on the delicate sensor element.  The mass airflow sensor measures how much air is getting into your engine.  When the airflow reading is incorrect, your car engine doesn’t get the proper amount of fuel.  The engine runs rough and doesn’t perform as well as it should.

Eventually, the sensor is so damaged it needs to be replaced – which is expensive.  In fact you could buy a case or two of air filters for the price of a sensor replacement.

Of course, that dirty air keeps on going through to your engine where it is burned along with the fuel, which gets your combustion chamber dirty and increases harmful exhaust emissions – not a good thing for Denver air quality, not to mention our lungs.

When your Express Car Care service adviser brings out your dirty air filter and recommends a replacement, remember the cost and poor performance that can be waiting for you down the road if you neglect this simple Express Car Care service.  Ask your friendly service tech if it’s time to replace your engine air filter.

Express Car Care in Denver has been providing quality auto repair services for auto owners for eleven years.  Our specialties include brake and transmission service, windshield wipers, and tire rotation.

Come by and see us at 4200 E. Evans Ave. or give us a call @ 303-691-2760

Fuel Injector Cleaning At Express Car Care in Denver

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Fuel Injector CleaningSomething we hear quite frequently from Denver drivers is that their fuel efficiency is down and their vehicle just doesn’t have the pep that it had before.  When that happens, one of the things we look for is clogged fuel injectors.

The engine management computer tells your fuel injectors exactly when to squirt fuel into your engine.  It is vital that clean fuel injectors spray the right amount of gasoline or diesel fuel in an even, specific spray pattern.  A dirty or clogged injector can’t spray enough fuel and it comes out in an uneven, weak pattern.

When Denver drivers’ fuel injectors are dirty or clogged, the fuel just can’t burn as efficiently, which causes gas mileage to drop and your vehicles engine can’t produce as much power.

Fuel injectors just get dirty over time.  Gas and diesel fuel cause varnish and gum to build up in your fuel injectors, especially if you buy bargain gasoline.  If your fuel injectors get too dirty, they can be damaged and will need to be replaced – which can be pretty costly.

The good news is that a professional fuel injector cleaning at Express Car Care in Denver can get all of that gunk out of your injectors.  They’ll be able to spray the right amount of fuel, at exactly the right time, and in the right spray pattern.  Your gas mileage will be restored along with your engine performance.  Fuel injectors are cleaned as a part of a comprehensive fuel system cleaning service that includes the induction system ( throttle plates, intake manifold, idle air by-pass passages and – if applicable – the mass airflow sensor).

So ask your friendly service tech about a fuel injector cleaning at Express Car Care in Denver to get your engine running like new.  Give us a call @ 303-691-2760 or come in and see us.

What’s A Serpentine Belt?

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What's A Serpentine Belt?All of us in Denver have those days when we’ve got a bunch of errands to run all over town.  Suppose on your day off you need to get gas, pick up some groceries, swing by your local ATM and pick the kids up from school.  Now you could make four separate trips, but that would be a waste of time and money and totally inefficient.  Instead you get organized and hit the ATM first and get some gas next.  Then you go to your Denver supermarket and pick up the kids on your way home.  That’s a much better use of your time.

Now you may wonder what this has to do with a serpentine belt.  Well, back in the day, each of your engine’s accessories, such as the alternator and air conditioner, were powered by separate belts.  A vehicle might have five or six belts.  These days, vehicles have a single belt to run all the accessories.  It’s called the serpentine belt because it snakes around everything, efficiently connecting each accessory.  Just like bundling your errands.

A pulley attached to the engine’s crank provides the power to turn the serpentine belt.  The belt  provides the power for the power steering pump, which makes it easier to steer your vehicle.  Next comes the alternator which generates electricity to run the vehicle’s electrical system and charge the battery.  On to the air conditioning compressor.  This helps make the cold air to keep you comfortable all during the summer here in Denver.

On some vehicles – the water pump, radiator fan and the power brakes are also run by the serpentine belt.  Some even have two serpentine belts.  No matter how your engine is arranged, you won’t get very far without a serpentine belt.  Your auto manufacturer has a recommended interval for inspecting your belt and your Denver service adviser can inspect it for any damage or wear.

Finally, there is the belt tensioner.  Its job is to apply pressure on the belt to keep it tight.  Several years ago, manufacturers started making serpentine belts out of a new material.  It is much more durable, but it’s harder to tell when the belt needs to be replaced.  The old style belts would crack and chunks would fall off so you could easily see when you needed a new one.

On the new style belt, if the ribs wear too deep, it’s time to replace it.  Your service technician uses a simple gauge to tell when the belt is worn and you need a serpentine belt replacement.  A worn belt stresses your engine’s expensive accessories and causes them to wear out prematurely.  So change your serpentine belt and belt tensioner as recommended by your helpful Express Car Care tech and extend the life of your accessories and  prevent future breakdowns.

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

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