Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

Cabin Air Filter

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Now that the weather has gotten colder and we can no longer drive around town with our windows down.  Have you noticed the air blowing around inside your car isn’t as quite as fresh smelling as it once was?  If that is the case, it might be time to change your cabin air filter.  The cabin air filter is an essential part of your car’s ventilation system.  It removes dust particles, pollutants, and unpleasant odors from the air before they can enter the passenger compartment. Cabin air filters are also called interior ventilation filters, pollen or dust filters, ACC filters, or passenger compartment filters.

A cabin air filter purifies the air ( which is especially important to those of us who suffer with allergies or respiratory problems).  And it also protects the heater and air conditioning components.  A dirty filter puts more wear on the ventilation system because when there is a higher resistance to air flow, the blower has to work much harder.  This reduces your heating and air conditioning performance over time.  So if your filter isn’t changed like it should be, you not only have unpleasant odors to deal with, but possible repairs to the ventilation system.

So when should they be changed?  Under “normal” driving conditions for a vehicle driven mainly in a city or suburb area, a cabin air filter lasts about a year.  For a vehicle in a rural area that is driven frequently on unpaved roads, the filter life may be only six months or less.  A lot depends on the vehicle and the way it is driven.

If you aren’t sure whether or not you have a cabin air filter in your vehicle, more than eighty percent of all new vehicles today have a cabin air filter.  If your car was manufactured after 2000, than it more than likely has one. But if you’re driving an older model of car and smell a strange odor, unfortunately, it might not have a thing to do with a cabin air filter!

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

Car Maintenance Tips for Winter

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I was just listening to the weather report and they tell me, snow is on its way!  It made me stop and wonder if my car is prepared to meet with the winter weather.  This is my list of car maintenance tips for winter.  Check and see how your car stacks up!

  1. Inspect windshield wipers.  Wiper blades are like squeegees.  The arms of the wiper drag a thin rubber strip across the windshield to clear away the water.  The rubber needs to be clean without any nicks or cracks in order to clean the windshield.  Replace them if needed or wipe the edge of the blade with a cloth soaked in window cleaner until all the dirt is removed, this helps the blades make a tight seal against the window and prevents streaks.  Never use your wipers to clear off the snow or ice from your windshield!  Doing this will damage your wiper motor.
  2. Clean  headlights.  Wash them with soapy water, rinse them, and then apply a nonabrasive car wax with a soft cloth.  The wax is water-repellent and leaves a barrier that keeps dirt from building up on the lights.  It’s a good idea to do this once a month especially during the winter.
  3. Preserve door and window seals.  Wipe a rubber protectant  (like Armor-All) or silicone on the window and door weatherstripping to keep it in good condition.  Don’t use an oil based product, ( WD-40) because the oil can damage the rubber.  Regular treatment of your car’s weatherstripping will lessen the likelihood of your doors sticking to the rubber seals in the cold winter weather.
  4. Maintain  car battery.  Keep your battery clean, wipe it with a damp rag.  Clean the battery posts or terminals using a brass wire brush and baking soda paste.
  5. Inspect wheel-well splashguards.  Splashguards help keep water and winter’s salty slush from splashing up into the engine compartment where it can damage sensitive electrical components.  Check these guards for damage when you wash your car and re-secure or replace them as needed.
  6. Wash your car in winter too. Washing your car is even more important in the winter than in other times of the year.  All the sand, slush and ice mixed in with the road salt is exactly what makes your car rust.  The fastest corrosion occurs when the temperature repeatedly rises and falls below freezing.  Especially during the messy months, be sure to rinse the undercarriage and hard-to-reach areas that are susceptible to rust, like the bumpers and inside the wheel wells.

And last on our list of car maintenance tips for winter is, go easy when you’re stuck.  When you get stuck in mud or snow, don’t make the problem worse by damaging an expensive component.  Gently rocking in an attempt to free the car is OK, but if it looks as if you’re really stuck, don’t keep it up.  Throwing your car from forward to reverse repeatedly, can generate a lot of heat and cause trouble for transmissions, clutches, and differentials. You’re better off calling a tow truck than risking major damage to your engine by trying to get out on your own.

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

Winterizing Your Car

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It’s that time of year again!  This is the time of the year that you need to take a little extra time winterizing your car.  Living here in Colorado, we have to be ready in a moments notice for our winter storms.  Use this list of winterizing ideas to keep your car ahead of the storm!

  • Change the oil in your car.  If it’s time for your 30,000 full service, than go ahead and do it now, make sure that the oil in your car has the proper viscosity, or thickness, for the winter weather.  Some cars need a thinner oil in the cold weather.  Oil thickens in the cold and if it gets too thick it won’t flow through the engine like it should.  A lot of the newer cars use the same grade of oil all year long but older model cars need a different grade for summer or winter.  So check your owner’s manual to be sure.
  • Check the Battery.  Your battery’s capacity is reduced by cold weather, so check your battery cables for cracks and breaks.  Make sure the terminals fit snugly and aren’t loose.  Check the battery fluid to make sure it’s full.  If you don’t know how to check the level of your battery fluid, have it checked by a professional.  It’s also a good idea to make sure that your battery has the ability to hold a charge.  This is also a service done by your repair shop.
  • Replace your antifreeze.  Your car’s coolant system not only keeps your engine from overheating but it also protects it from corrosion.  Every vehicle has a certain water to coolant ratio, check your owner’s manual to be sure, but a winter ratio of 60% coolant to 40% water works for most vehicles.
  • Examine your belts and hoses.  Cold weather can damage belts and hoses, so make sure they are checked for wear and tear.
  • Replace wiper blades and washer fluid.  Windshield wiper blades usually last about a year so replacing them each year at this time is a good idea.  Then it’s easier to keep track of when they were last replaced.  Fill your windshield washer reservoir will washer fluid.  You might also consider mixing in a de-icer with the washer fluid.  Never put plain water in the reservoir, it freezes and will crack the reservoir.
  • Check your defrosting and heating units.  When our windshield fogs up in the winter, it makes it very difficult to see.  Defroster units should be checked to make sure they are functioning properly so our vision is never impaired while we’re driving.
  • Check tire pressure and condition.   Tires need to be properly inflated as well as have good tire tread depth.  This is also a good time to consider buying a set of snow tires.  They do a better job in winter driving conditions than all-weather tires.
  • Keep your fuel tank full.  Although it’s never a good idea to let your gas tank run on fumes, the possible damage this causes is greatly increased during the winter.  Cold and shifting temperatures can cause condensation to form on the walls of an empty gas tank, if this condensation (water) finds its way into the fuel lines and freezes, you will end up with a very costly repair.  Keeping your tank full will benefit your car and your wallet

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

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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.

Transmission Problems

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As I get older I am even more aware of the small changes in my body and how they affect my abilities.  Just as our bodies give us clues that there might be something wrong, our car’s transmission will give us signs there might be problems.  I’ve listed here five clues that your car might have transmission problems. 

The easiest clue to help us spot possible transmission problems is leaking transmission fluid.  Automatic transmission fluid is essential to keep your car shifting properly.  Transmission fluid is bright red, clear and smells sweet when everything is working correctly.  Unlike motor oil, transmission oil isn’t burned up when it’s used, so if you are low on fluid, it has to be leaking somewhere.  It’s a good idea to have your transmission fluid checked at least twice a year, just to be safe.

Another clue there might be transmission problems is when you are starting your car.  A transmission in need of repair will have trouble turning over or may stutter before turning over.  If this is the case, it could be a simple problem like moisture in the electrical wires or a bigger problem in the transmission.  Have your mechanic test the electrical system and the transmission if you notice these clues.

Every car is built differently and emits different sounds while the engine is running, but usually clunking, whining or humming is a clue there might be problems.  If you notice a sound that you haven’t heard before, have your car checked out by a professional.  Just as your car shouldn’t make unusual noises it shouldn’t be grinding or shaking either!

Your car shouldn’t grind or shake when you start it or while it’s changing gears. Both are signs that your transmission needs attention.  If you notice anything besides a smooth transition between gears, then you might have transmission problems.

The check engine light is the quickest way  to alert you to any problems in your engine.  Most cars use electrical and computer systems to monitor the proper functioning of the transmission.  If the check engine light comes on, check if there are other clues to help you assess if the problems you’re having are related to your transmission.  If you’re in doubt, take your car to a trusted and qualified mechanic to determine whether or not your transmission is in need of service.

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

Fuel Injection Cleaning Service

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Maintaining our vehicles properly is the only way to ensure peak engine performance and good fuel economy.  Having a fuel injection cleaning service is sometimes overlooked but it is an important part of maintaining your car’s engine.

The fuel injector is a small engine part that injects fuel where it needs to go, at a rate that is best suited for your car.  When it’s in perfect condition, the fuel injector filters out debris that is not good for the engine and also allows the filtered fuel to be used by the engine correctly.  When fuel injectors are dirty, they can’t deliver the correct spray required for your car’s combustion, so your fuel economy and engine performance will suffer.  Fuel injectors get dirty over time because some chemicals in the gasoline don’t evaporate or get washed away and they leave deposits on the injectors. These deposits build up and if they aren’t removed they will clog the injectors.  If your car is misfiring or idles rough, it could be a sign it might need a fuel injection cleaning.

There are different ways of cleaning fuel injectors.  One is to add a fuel injector cleaner to a tank of gas every once in awhile to clean them.  Another way is to have the fuel injector removed, cleaned and serviced professionally.  This is the better method because as well as cleaning, you can also have repair work done on the injector if it’s needed.  It’s important to have your fuel injectors serviced once a year.  When you use an in-tank method of cleaning your injector you are unable to see the condition of the filters, O-rings and other parts of the injector.  All these parts wear out eventually and can cause problems if not replaced.  Also only using the in-tank method can damage parts of the injectors.  When you have a professional fuel injection cleaning service, your mechanic checks the filters, O-rings and other parts to see if they need to be replaced and then replace them if needed.  Though this method may be more expensive and time consuming, it is usually the best cleaning process.

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

Winterizing A Car

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We have all heard the saying “all good things must come to an end” and unfortunately this saying is true when it comes to the summer weather.  Summer weather is leaving and winter is on its way!  That means it is time for winterizing our car.  Because of our modern technology, winterizing a car isn’t the major hassle it once was, but it still needs to be done!  These are some simple steps to take for winterizing a car.

Have Your Car Serviced- The oil in your engine needs to be changed regularly to keep your car running smoothly, so if you haven’t had your oil changed, do it now.

Have Your Cooling System Flushed- Your car’s cooling system not only keeps the engine from overheating but also from freezing, so it’s important to flush the system and have it replaced with fresh coolant.

Have the Battery Serviced- Your battery cables, terminals, and fluid should be thoroughly inspected for any damage or wear.  It should also be checked to make sure it has the ability to hold a charge, so you are prepared for the colder weather.  If your battery is more than 4 1/2 years old, consider replacing it.

Replace the Windshield Wiper Blades– Your wiper blades should be replaced with snow blades and make sure there is windshield washer fluid in the windshield washer reservoir.  Don’t use plain water, it will freeze.

Have Your Tires Checked-Your tires should be checked to make sure they are in good condition for winter weather.  You may want to consider using snow tires during the winter months, they do a much better job than an all-weather tire in the snow.

Have Your Brakes Checked– There is nothing more frightening than trying to stop in bad weather and not having your brakes do their job.  If you haven’t had your brakes checked in the last six months, now is a great time to do it.

Those are the major steps that should be completed in winterizing a car but there are some small details you should do also.  Put together an emergency kit for your car with a blanket, gloves, ice scraper, a small snow shovel, flashlight and kitty litter ( for traction in snow).  Check the lights, heater and defroster to make sure they are working properly and have them repaired if not.  You should also keep your gas tank as full as possible to prevent moisture from freezing in the gas lines.

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

 

Car Maintenance Tips For Your Older Car

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I have an older car. ” What type of car maintenance tips can you offer to make sure my vehicle stays in top shape?” ” I’m not ready to jump into a new car, so I want to keep my older car in the best shape possible.”  We’re hearing a lot of this these days.  Instead of replacing a car every three to four years, people are pushing the window of ownership, and are choosing to keep their older cars an extra year or two.  Not only will it save  money on monthly payments, but it also can save  on insurance rates as well.

Keep a car maintenance log

Keep a small spiral notebook and pen in your glove compartment, and keep track of all of your car related maintenance.  You may also want to record your gas fill-ups and mileage, a reduction in mileage can be an early warning sign of a future problem.  Also use the same service location for all your car maintenance items-they will track your maintenance and be able to monitor potential problems along the way.  Keep your receipts from the services you have performed on your vehicle, they will help you remember what work you’ve already had done.

Buy gas at reputable service stations

Ask whether the gas you buy is filtered at the pump and if the station has a policy about changing the pump filter regularly.  Some stations don’t have pump filters, making you more vulnerable to dirty gasoline.  Other stations may not mix alcohol and fuel properly or water down their product.  Find a station you trust and stick to it.

Don’t fill up if you see the tanker

If you happen to see a gasoline tanker filling the tanks at your local gas station, come back another day or go to a different station.  As the station’s underground tanks are being filled, the turbulence can stir up sediment.  Sediment in your gas can clog fuel filters and fuel injectors, causing poor performance and possibly repairs.

Lighten up your key chain

Does your car key share a chain with a dozen or more other keys?  That’s a pretty heavy load hanging off the car key when it’s in the ignition.  The weight, combined with bouncing while you drive, can wear out the tumblers inside the ignition and eventually lead to ignition switch failure. To add years of service to your ignition switch, purchase a light weight key chain that allows you to separate your ignition key from the others.  Drive with only the ignition key in your ignition.  If your ignition key “sticks” when you try to turn on the car, it’s a warning that your ignition switch is about to fail.  Replace it before you get stranded.

Fix and fill your washer fluid tank

With Colorado’s variable weather patterns, you may notice a cracked washer fluid tank on an older car.  Fix immediately, and keep it filled with plenty of window washer fluid, especially on cold, slushy days.

Clean your car thoroughly

Clean your car inside and out.  While everyone likes a clean car on the outside, the inside is just as important.  Clean off the magnesium chloride from your wheel wells and undercarriage, which Colorado uses to keep the streets ice free in the snowy months.

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

Auto Repair Questions to Ask Your Repair Technician

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Today’s cars are more complicated than ever, using computers and sensors to run virtually everything within your car.  From navigational systems, to videos, and even WiFi connectivity, when something goes wrong, it can have a major impact on your daily life.

Your automobile is a big investment.  And with today’s increasing technology, even a small repair can be a big investment as well.  It’s important to find an auto repair technician you can trust.  Someone who will give you honest feedback on the condition of your vehicle, and what your options are.  Here are some questions to ask your repair technician before you leave your car:

  1. How safe will my car be?  Certain cars are more susceptible to theft and break-ins.  Will they keep your car safe and locked up if you have to leave it overnight?  Do they have an alarm system in place and a well lit area?
  2. How much experience do you have?  Review the credentials of your auto repair technician, as well as the qualifications of the company as a whole.  A company should stand behind their work, no matter what technician works on your car, and should guarantee the work they perform.
  3. What type of certification do you have?  Again, both the company and the technician should have certification to work on vehicle.  Find out if your auto technician is ASE certified or has comparable training.  Ask if mechanics have received updated training that supports the technological advances found in today’s cars.
  4. Is there a guarantee policy and what are the conditions under which it is implemented?  While every good mechanic strives to offer the best service possible, occasionally something may happen with the work performed.  Find out what the guarantee policy is.
  5. Do you have a web site, and do you post specials or discounts?  If there are discounts, is it necessary to clip coupons to receive the discounted price?

The better working relationship you have with your auto repair technician, the more you can rely on them to answer questions, and keep your car in top shape.  They are there as a resource for you, not simply to repair your car.  They build their business by being an expert, and sharing their expertise with you.  Just ask.

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