Winterizing Your Vehicle

October 29, 2013/in Lastest News/by Advanced Auto Clinic

As Winter Approaches it is important to make sure your vehicle is in a condition where you are traveling as safe as possible. To help better prepare for this season of driving here are some tips and suggestions on winterizing your car:

Check Your Antifreeze

Your antifreeze (the juice that goes in your radiator) is an essential part of your car’s winter protection. Your car contains a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze. Make sure the level is full and the mixture is close to 50/50. Many auto service stations and repair centers will check this mixture free, or you can buy a tester for around $5.

Only fill with premium brand anti-freeze, make sure to check your owners manual for proper anti-freeze type

Inspect Your Tires

Tires are frequently the most neglected vehicle component but are among the most important. Check tire pressure and tread depth before winter sets in. Under- inflated and worn tires will not provide sufficient traction – especially on wet or icy roads.

Replace Your Wipers

Install good windshield wiper blades

Check Your Windshield Fluid

Fill wiper fluid reservoir with de-icing solution

Check the battery

Icy-cold temperatures can reduce a vehicle’s battery power by up to fifty percent. If the battery is barely turning the engine over now, it is likely to fail during winter. If your vehicle battery is older than three years, have it tested. Also, make sure the posts and connections are free of corrosion.

Inspect Your Spark Plug Wires

Cracked up plug wires affect performance, gas mileage and general reliability

Inspect Your Brakes

Quick visual inspection will give you peace of mind driving in cold harsh conditions

Check Your Engine Oil

Dirty oil makes it harder for the engine to turn over, especially in cold weather, resulting in premature engine wear. Check your owner’s manual for the recommended oil change frequency and replace the oil with the appropriate grade for the seasonal temperatures in your area.

Check Belts and Hoses

Modern materials have made belts and hoses very durable with relatively long lives, but they can deteriorate over time and fail without warning.

Tune up the motor

Air, Oil and Fuel filters, including new spark plugs, ignition cap, rotor and wires. Ignition system needs to be in top shape to battle the cold.

Winter Vehicle Emergency Kit Items

Blanket – wool is best, as it still warms even when wet

Empty Gas Can – in case you run out

Warning light, hazard triangle, or Road Flares -make it easier for someone to find you if things are really bad

Snacks – (durable ones) such as granola bars, jerky or dried fruit

Water – make sure you empty a little out of the tops of bottles in case they freeze

Flashlight (with batteries) – preferably waterproof

First Aid Kit

Jumper Cables or a Portable Battery Booster – cold decreases battery life

Ice Scaper/snowbrush

Car shovel

Hand Warmers

Advanced Auto Clinic is a full service, automobile repair and auto repair maintenance shop serving the Delavan and Lake Geneva area with many years of consistent and friendly service. Click here to see all of the services offered: https://www.aacdelavan.com/automotive-services/

$5 to $25 Back on NAPA Batteries at Advanced Auto Clinic

July 17, 2013/in Lastest News/by Advanced Auto Clinic

Hey Delavan, want to save some CASH?!

Now through July 31, 2013 at Advanced Auto Clinic, receive up to a $25 Rebate Visa card by mail with qualifying NAPA batteries or rotating electrical purchases.

Offer good through July 31, 2013 at participating locations.

This year you can help give back to The Fallen Heroes Fund in 3 different ways:

Donate part or all of your rebate.
Donate $10 by texting the word NAPA to 27722.
Purchase a T-Shirt and Bracelet for $15. All proceeds benefit the IFHF.

Saving Money & Transmissions

July 1, 2013/in gallery, Lastest News/by Advanced Auto Clinic

If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve noticed that WI vehicles are getting more and more powerful and at the same time are getting better and better gas mileage. Much of that’s because of better transmissions. To get a understanding of why that is, let’s turn to gear experts – Delavan bicyclists.

A cyclist’s cadence is the number of times per minute he or she pedals. Their ideal pedal speed is the zone where they can most efficiently generate power over a sustained period of time. The experienced cyclist uses his gears to keep his pedal speed in the ideal zone whether he’s climbing a steep Darien hill, cruising on a flat stretch or killing a downhill.

Look at how it works: if you have a 1-speed bike, you really have to pump hard to get up to speed. And your top speed is limited by how fast as you can pedal. And if you’ve got a hill to climb – forget about it.

Now let’s add a couple of gears: one lower and another one higher. With the lower first gear, you can get up to your ideal pedal speed quicker. When you shift to second, your pedal speed drops below ideal for a while as you work to get back to peak efficiency. Same thing happens when you shift to third, but now you can go much faster than you could with a 1-speed bike using the same effort.

Add more gears and you can see that it’s much easier to maintain ideal pedal speed. The result, quicker starts, better hill climbing, higher top speed and, most of all, a lot less fatigue for the rider.

Like a cyclist, every family car engine has an ideal engine speed called its power band. When an engine is running in that zone, it can make power very efficiently. It’s the transmission’s job to keep the engine in the power band over a wide range of operating conditions. Today 5 or 6 speed automatic transmissions are pretty much the minimum in WI, and 7 and 8 speeds are fairly common.

Obviously these sophisticated family car transmissions are very costly. In fact, next to your engine, your transmission is the most expensive component in your vehicle, so it pays to take good care of it. Modern transmissions can adversely affect family car engine performance when they aren’t working right.

All car makers have a recommended service interval for changing your old, contaminated transmission fluid. Getting transmission service on schedule at Advanced Auto Clinic in Delavan keeps it operating at its best and can prevent costly damage. Ask your knowledgeable Advanced Auto Clinic technician if it’s time for an inspection of your transmission.

Give us a call

Advanced Auto Clinic
262.728.2944
1101 Ann Streeet
Delavan, WI 53115

At Advanced Auto Clinic in Delavan WI (53115) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at (262)-728-2944.

Frequently Asked Questions about Auto Repair

February 21, 2013/in Lastest News/by Advanced Auto Clinic

Do you often ask yourself questions about your vehicle and not know the answer? Well, at Advanced Auto Clinic we have the answers for you!

What is Preventative Maintenance

Preventative Maintenance is regular maintenance of your vehicle that helps keep your engine running efficiently and eliminating potential problems that may leave you stranded.

Manufacturers know that a properly maintained car will be more dependable, safer, last longer, and increase your satisfaction with their product. Preventative maintenance includes:

Servicing Windshield Wipers
Servicing Sparkplugs
Replacing Air Filters
Oil Change
Routine Hose Inspection
Battery Service
Battery Replacement

What Maintenance Should I be doing and when?

These are generic service recommendations based solely on time or mileage not on visual appearance or measurement. Their purpose is to extend the life of your vehicle and help prevent breakdown.

Your vehicle’s requirements may differ depending on driving habits and/or owner’s manual recommendations. Check your owner’s manual and with Advanced Auto Clinic for specifics.

OIL – LUBE – FILTER: 3,000 miles to 5,000 miles
TIRE ROTATION: 3,000 to 5,000 Miles depending on tire style
PCV VALVE: Yearly, replace and service PCV system
WHOLE CAR DIAGNOSIS: Yearly and before purchase or sale
FUEL FILTER: Yearly or as needed
BATTERY SERVICE: Yearly or as needed
AIR CONDITIONING: Check every spring or as needed
RADIATOR COOLANT: Every two years, flush
BRAKE SYSTEM FLUSH: Every year
CLUTCH SYSTEM FLUSH: Every year
RADIATOR CAP: Replace every two years
ENGINE OIL FLUSH: 2 Years or 30,000 Miles
AUTOMATIC TRANS FLUSH: 2 Years or 24,000 miles
POWER STEERING FLUSH: 2 Years or 24,000 miles
EGR SYSTEM SERVICE: 2 Years or 24,000 miles
4X4 TRANSFER CASE: 15,000 to 50,000 miles
CARBON CLEANING: 2 Years or 30,000 miles or as needed
THROTTLE-BODY SERVICE: 2 Years or 30,000 miles or as needed
RADIATOR & HEATER HOSES: 4 Years or 60,000 miles
DRIVE BELTS: 4 Years or 60,000 miles
TIMING BELT: 4 Years or 60,000 miles
DIFFERENTIAL FLUID: 15,000 to 50,000 miles
MANUAL TRANS SERVICE: 15,000 to 50,000 miles
VALVES: Adjust per owner’s manual
SCAN FOR COMPUTER CODES: When amber “CHECK ENGINE” Light is on
OXYGEN SENSOR: Per owner’s manual or as needed

Should I jump-start my car if the battery is dead?

You need to be very careful when jump-starting a car that has a dead battery. Make sure that the cables are installed with positive (red) to positive, then negative (black) to negative. After cables are attached, start the car that is supplying the jump. Let the car run about 5 minutes before you try and start the car that is dead. After the car with the dead battery starts, remove the negative cables first, then the positive cables. Drive the car for about 20 minutes to charge the battery. Make sure nothing had been left on, like lights or interior lights, if nothing was left on, then have the charging system tested and the battery checked for a draw.

Should I run high octane gas in my car if the manufacturer recommends it?

If your car is a high performance car, then yes you should run a high octane gasoline in your vehicle. But, if not a high performance vehicle, you may not need a higher grade of fuel. Most all late model cars have knock sensors that listen for detonation (pinging). If a knock sensor senses this, it signals the engine control module which will change the timing or richen the fuel mixture to stop the pinging.

Prior to winter weather setting in, you should:

Check your anti freeze level and condition. Rust colored anti freeze means you may need to flush and refill the cooling system.
Check the level of you motor oil. If its been 3 months or 3000 miles since you last oil change, it should be replaced.
Check you battery. Battery that are weak can fail on cold morning and your car won’t start.
Change your wiper blades to winter wiper-blades. these prevent ice build-up that can obstruct your view during operation in snow and ice conditions.

Prior to going on a trip, you should:

Check all lights. Check your headlights (high and low-beam), brake lights turn signals, parking lamps and (if you have them) fog lights to make sure they are all operational. You should clean your headlights using glass cleaner to improve night visibility.
Check wiper blades. Inspect them for cracks or tears, and make sure they’re operational. If they’re in good shape, it’s still a good idea to clean the rubber blade with little glass cleaner.
Check all hoses. Look for any cracks or holes in hoses, and replace any that are not in good shape.
Check all belts. Inspect all belts to ensure that none are worn, loose or frayed.
Inspect the battery. If there is corrosion on the terminals, you can clean it away with a toothbrush and a pasty solution of water and baking soda.
Check all fluids. Check the reservoirs to ensure that your coolant and wiper fluids are at the proper levels. Check your oil using the dipstick. Check transmission fluid, power-steering fluid and brake fluid. Refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual for advice on checking all the fluids.

Lesson 101 on Oil Changes

February 13, 2013/in Lastest News/by Advanced Auto Clinic

Are you always wondering why you should change your oil and does it really matter if I am 200 miles overdue for an oil change? Well here are the facts you should know so you do not harm your vehicle!!

What is an Oil Change?

An oil and filter change involves draining out the old motor oil and replacing it with fresh, new motor oil. The oil filter also gets replaced at the same time.

Should I change my oil when it is recommended?

In general, yes. Changing your vehicle’s oil is one of the most important things you can do to avoid bringing large bags of money to your mechanic later on.

However, there’s a lot of controversy about exactly when engine oil gets old and how often it should be replaced with new oil. Because there are many factors at work — how you drive, the condition and age of the engine, the external environment you drive in, and stop-and-go versus highway driving — it’s an inexact science. Owner’s manual recommendations for oil and filter changes vary from 3,000 to 10,000 miles.

We recommend that you change your oil and filter every 5,000 miles. That’s our best estimate. It may be too soon for many people and too late for a few, but for the vast majority, 3,000-mile oil changes and a time interval will help your engine last to a ripe, old age.

You may want to consider changing your oil more frequently if:

You are hard on your vehicle: Ex: heavy acceleration or high-speed driving
You live where the climate is extremely hot or cold
You often drive on dirt roads
Your engine is old and burns oil
You frequently carry heavy loads

Why do I have to change my oil?

Oil undergoes thermal breakdown due to high operating temperature. When this occurs, the oil becomes less effective as a lubricant. And without a good lubricant, parts of the engine rub together and wear each other out.

Oil also contains additives that have the ability to neutralize acids. Over time, these additives get used up and stop being effective.

Finally, oil can absorb water, dust and combustion byproducts and also hold them in suspension. Eventually, the oil gets saturated with this stuff and can’t absorb any more. Then that stuff remains in the engine and can cause corrosion.

What happens if I don’t change my oil?

Your engine won’t last as long as it could. Oil serves many crucial functions, and clean oil performs those functions better than dirty oil. Oil is relatively cheap, and changing your oil every 5,000 miles is a very cheap insurance policy against major repairs down the road.

Is there any maintenance required between intervals?

Yes, you need to check the oil level every few hundred miles. With your car parked on a level surface, remove the oil dipstick, clean it on a clean, old rag. Remove it again, and check the oil level.

Ideally, it should be right at the full mark. If it’s at or below the add mark, that means you’re a quart low and should add a quart of oil to the crankcase. If it’s in between the two marks, you can add part of a quart to bring it up to the full mark (the distance between add and full represents a quart, so use that to estimate how much of a quart you need). Be aware, however, that since oil flows slowly when it is cool, the dipstick may not immediately reflect any oil you just added. So estimate the amount of oil you need based on your first dipstick reading, and then check it again later that day or the next day to be sure you’re near the full mark.

A word of caution: Be careful not to overfill your car’s crankcase with oil. If you put in too much oil, the engine’s crankshaft can actually come in contact with the oil. And because the crankshaft is turning at several thousand revolutions per minute, it can quickly whip your oil into a froth — like the steamed milk that sits on the top of a cappuccino. Why is that bad? Well, the oil pump can’t pump froth very well, and as a result, it can’t get oil to the parts of the engine that need lubrication. The result… coming to Advanced Auto Clinic to fix your vehicle.

If you are low on oil, you can add the grade of oil the manufacturer recommends. This may be indicated on the oil fill cap or in the owners manual. If in doubt you can always call us at Advanced Auto Clinic.

If you regularly run low on oil, be sure to come into Advanced Auto Clinic. You may have a leak or may be burning oil signs that you might be gearing up for a major issue.

Call today to schedule your oil change! (262) 728-2944 or CLICK HERE to schedule your appointment online!

Auto Maintenance Checklist

February 6, 2013/in Lastest News/by Advanced Auto Clinic

Winter Checklist

Winter weather can do a lot of damage to your vehicle with freezing temperatures, salted roads and wintery precipitation. Make sure that you follow this Winter Auto Maintenance Checklist so you are not stranded!

Check your antifreeze

Your antifreeze (the juice that goes in your radiator) is an essential part of your car’s winter protection. Your car contains a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze. Stop into Advanced Auto Clinic to check your antifreeze mixture.

Inspect your tires

Want to slide into a tree? I didn’t think so. Winter is not the time of year to go cheap on your tires. Take the time to check the tread depth. The National Highway Transportation Safety Board says you need at least 2/32″ of depth to be safe. The old penny test is as reliable as anything to find out whether your treads are ready for winter action. Also, be sure to check your tire pressure. Believe it or not, they lose a little pressure when it gets cold. Stop in to Advanced Auto Clinic for FREE AIR!

Replace your wipers

Your probably wondering why should I replace my wipers? Well, first of all anything falling from the sky will land on your windshield. Second, slush and muck from the roads has a lot of sand and salt that wind up on your windshield. It takes wipers that are in top shape to keep your windshield clean and safe.

Check your windshield washer fluid

You’ll be using lots of washer fluid as you try to keep your windshield sparkly.

Annual Maintenance

On top of the checks you need to perform to ensure safe winter driving, now’s a good time to do some annual maintenance.

Clean your battery posts

Starting problems are always a pain. Clean your battery regularly to insure that this does not happen to you,

Inspect your spark plug wires

Cracked up plug wires affect performance, gas mileage and general reliability. Be sure yours are in top shape.

Inspect your brakes

Brakes are not a good area to cut corners. Be sure your brakes have enough meat left to get you through the season.

Check your oil

This should go without saying and should be done at least monthly! Also, make sure you get regular oil changes.

At Advanced Auto Clinic we are professionals at maintenance checks.

Call today 262.728.2944 to schedule your maintenance appointment or schedule it online!

Advanced Auto Clinic Tips for Saving Money

January 22, 2013/in Lastest News/by Advanced Auto Clinic

Save fuel economy by keeping your wheels aligned!

Wheel alignment is preventive maintenance overlooked by most people. Poor alignment not only causes your tires to wear out more quickly, but also forces your engine to work harder than it otherwise should. Get your wheels aligned. This simple step can improve your miles per gallon up to 10%. Having the wheels in alignment also improves the safety of your vehicle.

Save Money by airing up your tires!

Tire pressure is more important than you may think. Driving on underinflated or overinflated tires compromises any or all of the following:

-Stopping distance

-Ride and handling

-Fuel economy

-Treadwear

-Load bearing

Tire pressure, including that of the spare tire, must be checked monthly. Tires lose roughly 1 pound per square inch (psi) of air pressure per month, and another 1 psi for every 10-degree Fahrenheit drop in temperature.

Road force balancing machine at Advanced Auto Clinic!

The Road Force Balancing Machine at Advanced Auto Clinic is state of the art and better than computer balancing. Balancing your tires means that there is no vibration and when the tire goes down the road there are no issues.

A computer balancing system will not pick up on the up and down fluctuation of the tire. The reason Advanced Auto Clinic uses the Road Force Balancing Machine is because it acts as a real life situation and makes sure the tire will go down the road like it should. Learn more by watching the video below.

Stop in to Advanced Auto today for FREE Air and a FREE Tire Gauge!

Enter to Win a $100 Bill from Advanced Auto Clinic in Delavan!

January 16, 2013/in Lastest News/by Advanced Auto Clinic

Want to start the New Year off a hundred dollars richer? Well Enter Advanced Auto Clinic’s Contest today and you could win a $100 bill! PLUS just for entering you receive $5.00 off any service at Advanced Auto Clinic! All you have to do is enter below!