Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

How is Your Car Cooling System Working?

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We have been having record breaking heat here in Denver and throughout our state.  There have been major wildfires and severe drought conditions and it doesn’t look like the record heat is going to be changing any time soon.  Since we usually use our air conditioning a lot more during the hot weather, it’s even more important we find out, “how is our car cooling system working?”  Is it functioning properly so it can do the job it was designed to do?

A typical car driving down the highway will produce enough heat to warm two average-sized homes! That is a lot of heat!  This is the amount of heat that needs to be diverted away from your car’s engine to keep it running the way it is suppose to run.  The job of your car cooling system is to maintain a constant engine temperature whether the  air temperature outside is 100 degrees or 5 degrees below zero.  If the temperature of the engine is too low the car’s emissions will go up and you will get lousy gas mileage.  But if the temperature of the engine gets too hot and stays that way for too long,  it will cause costly damage and great inconvenience to you.  If you would like to avoid all the inconvenience and damage that a faulty cooling system can cause or you would like to know more about how a car cooling system works, read our blog “Is It Time For a Cooling System Flush?  Then give us a call at (303) 691-2760 or come in and see us and let us know what we can do to help.

 

 

Timing Belt Service

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We all want to do our best to maintain our cars and do everything that we can to keep them running smoothly.  And one of the parts that needs to be maintained is the timing belt. The timing belt has an extremely important part in making your engine run.  The timing belt controls the camshafts in the engine.  The camshaft is the shaft that opens and closes the intake and exhaust valves that let the air in that creates combustion and also vents the exhaust created by the combustion. This opening and closing of the valves has to be perfectly synchronized with the movement of the pistons.  The instant at which the valves open and close affects the engine performance, fuel economy and emissions.  This is why the timing belts function is so important.  The timing belt is the only part that keeps the camshaft and crankshaft in sync.  In some engine designs, the timing belt may also drive other engine parts like the water pump and oil pump.

Timing belts are typically made out of rubber that has been reinforced with strands of fiberglass, this makes them nearly unstretchable and extremely strong. But after rotating around the crankshaft and camshaft  millions of times, the strands become brittle and may begin to break.  The reinforced strands crack and give way, the belt snaps, and your engine stops.  This can happen without a lot of warning.  Sometimes there might be a rattling noise from the front of the engine but that isn’t always the case.  The best way to avoid being stranded is to check your  manufacturer’s recommendation for a timing belt service and have it replaced when they recommend it.  If you drive an older car or put a lot of miles on your car, it might be a good idea to have the timing belt service sooner rather than later.   Some manufacturers may also recommend replacing other parts, such as the water pump, at the same time as the timing belt because the additional cost to replace the water pump is small compared to the cost of having to access the timing belt twice.

If you would like more information or a coupon for a timing belt service, look at our When to Replace Your Timing Belt blog.  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.

Reasons for a Car to Overheat

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In recent weeks, we have had a few customers who have gone through the  trying experience of having their car overheat.  Unfortunately, they didn’t all have the same positive outcome from their experience, but they each wanted to know the reason their car overheated and how they could avoid it in the future.  We’ll share with you the information we passed on to them.

One of the main reasons for a car to overheat is a lack of coolant in the car’s cooling system.  This happens when there is a leak somewhere in the system and the coolant is escaping or if fresh coolant hasn’t been put in the radiator. Cooling systems are often neglected.  If your coolant isn’t changed, the hoses and passages get dirt and sludge built up in them and the coolant can’t flow rapidly enough to cool the engine.  Keep your eye on your car’s temperature gauge.  If there is a possibility of your car overheating, the needle on the temperature gauge will move toward the “H” (for hot) to alert you to what is happening.

Another common reason for a car to overheat is a thermostat that is stuck.  The thermostat can freeze or stick in the closed position which blocks the coolant from flowing to your engine.

There are several other reasons for a car to overheat, such as a damaged water pump or cooling fan or possibly a clogged radiator.  These are all things that should be looked at and diagnosed by a professional mechanic and not something that you should try to figure out on your own.

But no matter what is causing your car to overheat, the most important thing to remember is don’t continue to drive the car!  Overheating can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage!  If you experience any of the signs your car is overheating, the temperature gauge is high, or there is steam and/or a burning smell coming from the engine, pull over as soon as possible and turn the car off!  Call a tow truck but don’t drive the car when it’s overheating!   By putting yourself through some slight inconvenience now, you can avoid major inconveniences and costly repairs later.

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

Check Engine Lights

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A question we often hear at our shop is “why is my check engine light flashing?”  There is not always a simple and quick answer to this question.

Check engine lights are a part of the computerized engine management system (ECM).  This system alerts us to possible problems inside the engine or transmission that have an impact on the emissions system.  Check engine lights may be a graphic of an engine or a similar icon.  It could also be words “check engine” or “service engine”.  Some vehicles use a yellow check engine light as a caution light that tells you to have your car checked soon and a red check engine light that means your vehicle needs immediate attention.  Every car’s display is different, so you should make yourself familiar with how your particular make and model works.  The check engine light is usually amber or red in color and has two stages, a steady engine light or a flashing check engine light.  A steady check engine light signals minor problems, while a flashing check engine light means there is a serious problem in the ECM.

The specific causes a check engine light flashes are different for each vehicle but these are some general causes.

  • A misfire in your engine.  A misfire can cause catalytic converter damage if you don’t resolve it quickly.  Replacing a catalytic  converter can be costly, so have the engine checked as soon as possible by a certified mechanic.
  • A failure in the emission control system.  The emission control system contains many active sensors that work to reduce the amount of pollution released into the air.  One of those sensors is an oxygen sensor that reads the air and fuel mixture.  If that mixture is out of the acceptable range the check engine light will flash.
  • Brittle, cracked or worn spark plugs.  Worn spark plug wires can lead to an electric misfire inside the engine.  If the wires are worn out, they should be changed as soon as possible.
  • A loose gas cap.  If the gas cap isn’t tight enough or twisted correctly it can cause the check engine light to flash.  Sometimes when the cap is put on correctly the check engine light will go off.  If the light stays on for more than a day or two have your mechanic run an on-board diagnostic to see if there is a code in the system indicating a more serious problem.

Check engine lights help you and your mechanic keep your vehicle running smoothly, so when they light up have your vehicle checked and don’t ignore them!

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.

Is It Time For A Cooling System Flush?

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More than the comfort and convenience of being able to control the temperature inside your vehicle, your car’s heating and cooling systems are necessary in preventing your vehicle from breaking down due to extremely high operating temperatures.  Is It Time For A Cooling System Flush?Your cooling system is what keeps your car from having a meltdown, so have it checked every time you have a routine service.   All of the parts that make up the cooling system have one goal, moving coolant around the engine so it can absorb and dissipate heat.  The system is made up of the following parts:  radiator, radiator top hose, radiator bottom hose, water pump, thermostat, thermostat housing, electric cooling fan, and a thermo-time switch.

The radiator is the most prominent part of the cooling system.   Every time you drive, your radiator uses up a coolant and water mixture to help lower the temperatures in your vehicle’s engine system.  The coolant that has traveled through the engine is pumped through the tubes of the radiator and is cooled off for another round.  Coolant, like all the other fluids used by your vehicle, has a tendency to break down over time.  This is why it is important to replace or “flush” your coolant mixture.  When the coolant breaks down there is more stress on your radiator and your engine runs hotter than normal.  Dirt and deposits also build up and reduce your vehicle’s performance.  A prolonged use of bad coolant can result in damage to your radiator that would require you to have to replace  it.  Also today’s engines are built with aluminum, the radiator and heater are also aluminum and aluminum needs much more corrosion protection to keep it in good condition.

How often you should flush your cooling system depends on the type of driving you do and the weather conditions where you live.  If you live in an area that has moderate climates, you can flush your system less often.  But if you live in an area known for its harsh winter and/or hot summers, and do a lot of driving than you might need to change your coolant twice a year, at the beginning of the summer and the beginning of winter.  A basic rule of thumb is every two years or 30,000 miles.  But no matter what, you need to ask yourself  the question, “is it time for a cooling system flush?”

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

Clutch Repairs

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If you drive a manual transmission car and the clutch is working smoothly, you have complete control over the gears.  You decide when to shift and which gears to use.  You’re in control and are always aware of which gear you’re in.  But if your clutch is in need of repairs you will most likely feel “out of control”.    The clutch in a car allows the driver to engage the engine, which is constantly spinning, with a transmission that isn’t and do it, smoothly.  This isn’t what happens if your vehicle is in need of clutch repairs.   Clutch Repair

Clutch problems can occur at almost any mileage and for a wide variety of reasons.  Stop- and- go city driving with lots of shifting is always harder on the clutch than open highway driving.  One of the most common problems is slipping.  When a clutch starts to slip, you’ll notice it more when the engine is under load, like accelerating to pass another vehicle, driving up a hill or towing a trailer.  The more the clutch slips, the hotter it gets and the more it wears.  We also need to make sure we don’t ride the clutch when we drive.  Slipping the clutch excessively when starting out or when creeping along in traffic causes the clutch to get too hot and if it isn’t given a chance to cool, it can cause damage to the clutch and other parts as well.  If the clutch is slipping, you may notice a burning smell.  This is also a sign that the clutch is getting too hot.

Another problem is chattering.  This is a jerking and grabbing action that happens when the clutch is engaged.  Chattering can also be caused by burned linings or a warped flywheel so if you have these symptoms it’s best to get your vehicle into a trusted repair shop and have it checked out.

If your vehicle needs clutch repairs you will notice problems when you’re shifting.  A damaged clutch won’t engage smoothly and might shake a little bit when you put it in gear.  But there are several other problems that can be mistaken for a clutch problem, like a bad pressure plate, slave cylinder, clutch cylinder or throw-out bearing, so your best option might be to see a trusted mechanic to help you determine your best course of action.

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

Oil Pressure Light

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Oil Pressure LightQuestion from Reader: What causes the oil pressure light to appear when I stop?  I checked the dipstick, it’s okay and I still have another thousand miles before I’m due for an oil change.

Dear Reader: The oil pressure light in your vehicle is a warning system to alert you of low oil pressure.  This can be caused by a low oil level or something more serious.  Since you’ve checked the oil level and it appears to be fine, what could be happening when you come to a stop and the engine drops to an idle is that the oil pump, which is powered by the engine, is slowing and not pumping enough oil to keep the oil pressure up.  If the oil pump is worn or  isn’t working correctly the oil pressure light will appear.

Low oil pressure may also be caused by debris that gets sucked into the oil pump.  The oil pump is the only engine component that is continually lubed with unfiltered oil.  The oil doesn’t pass through a filter until after it leaves the pump, so any abrasive debris can pass through the pump before it is trapped by the filter.  This debris can restrict the flow of oil and reduce oil pressure.

A plugged oil filter can be another cause of low oil pressure.  When the oil leaves the pump, it passes through the filter before going on to the bearings.  All filters create a certain amount of resistance to flow but if the filter becomes clogged with debris, oil flow will be blocked which will cause damage to your engine.

The oil pressure light may also appear if the engine is leaking oil from its gaskets or seals.  There are quite a few things that could be wrong when the oil light appears.  These could be simple and minor repairs or more serious repairs that could damage your engine if they are ignored.   So have a trusted mechanic or auto repair technician check it out right away.

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

Fuel System Cleaning

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We are asked quite a few questions when we recommend a fuel system cleaning.  The most frequently asked questions are:  ” I haven’t noticed any problems so why do I need this service?”  The answer to this question is that most vehicles are equipped with a “knock sensor” which decreases the engine’s performance to prevent harmful knocking conditions.  You might not notice the reduced performance and fuel economy because it happens gradually.  After the fuel system cleaning you may notice a dramatic increase in the performance and fuel economy of your car.

We are also asked, “why does my car need a fuel system cleaning?”  Our cars have fuel systems that have fuel injectors, intake ports, intake valves, combustion chambers, throttle body and an intake manifold.  Each of these areas can have deposits build up that can create problems in the engine.  If you have experienced rough idling, engine stalling or hesitation, loss of power or engine knocking, the problem might be in your fuel system. Fuel System Cleaning

Another question we get is,” what’s the difference between a fuel system cleaning and a tune-up?”  When you have the fuel system cleaned there aren’t any parts replaced.  When you have a tune-up the spark plugs are usually replaced.  The fuel system service cleans the existing parts in the engine so they run like they were new.  Since we haven’t replaced any parts we’re often asked what we actually do to the car.  What our technician will do is attach cleaning tools to the fuel system that clean deposits from the fuel injectors, intake valves and the combustion chamber.  The deposits are also removed from the air intake system.   These deposits occur as a by-product of burning gasoline and need to be removed on a regular basis.  We recommend that you have a fuel system cleaning every 36,000 miles to keep your car running at it’s best.

Brakes Service

Oil Change

Suspension

Transmision Service

Engine Service

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