Tag Archive for: tips

Driving More Efficiently to Improve Fuel Economy/ Estimated Gas Savings

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The US government has a website dedicated to helping you use less fuel. It presents the cost savings in a way we can all relate to, no matter what kind of vehicle we drive. Here’s an example:
Having your engine properly tuned, can save up to 4%. If you’re paying one-fifty for a litre of gas in Delavan, you could save six cents a litre.

Dollars Per Gallon:              $3.00  $3.50  $4.00
Tune Up 4%                          0.12    0.14    0.16

Replace Oxygen Sensor

Replacing a faulty oxygen sensor can improve by up to forty percent. That’s a whooping savings per litre. Chances are that if your oxygen sensor is kaput your check engine light will come on. Now, there’s any number of things that could cause your check engine light to come on besides oxygen sensor problems. But if it’s on, it’s to get it checked out as soon as you can. Talk to your friendly and knowledgeable Advanced Auto Clinic.

Dollars Per Gallon                          $3.00   $3.50   $4.00
Faulty O2 Oxygen Sensor 40%       1.20     1.40     1.60

Inflate Your Tires

Here’s an easy one: Inflate your tires to the recommended pressure. That could save you three percent or eleven cents a gallon. Even a little drop in pressure will cost you at the pump so check your vehicle tires every week.

Your vehicle manufacturer has recommended a specific weight of motor oil. The recommendation is based on your vehicle engine design and will give you the best protection. Using a heavier weight could cost one to two percent in reduced fuel economy, or up to seven cents a gallon.

MotorWeek’s John Davis and Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Brian West discuss ways to improve your vehicle’s fuel economy. Topics include driving style, vehicle maintenance, and special tips for advanced vehicles and technologies.

How To Save On Gas

Our gas mileage tips can help you reduce the amount of gas you use. If you are already following these tips, you are probably getting the best gas mileage your car can deliver. Here are some free gas saving tips from Advanced Auto Clinic in Delavan: These can add up to quite a bit per litre.

Don’t drive aggressively
Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds and by 5% around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money. Driver feedback devices can help you drive more efficiently. A recent study suggests that they can help the average driver improve fuel economy by about 3% and that those using them to save fuel can improve gas mileage by about 10%. That’s like saving about $0.06 to $0.22 per gallon.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 5%–33%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.11–$0.71/gallon

Observe the Speed Limit
While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 50 mph. You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 50 mph is like paying an additional $0.15 per gallon for gas. Observing the speed limit is also safer.

Fuel Economy Benefit:7%–14%*
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.15–$0.30/gallon*
* Average savings, assuming drivers are willing to slow down 5 to 10 mph and fuel costs $2.15 per gallon.

Avoid Hauling Cargo on Your Roof
Hauling cargo on your roof increases aerodynamic drag (wind resistance) and lowers fuel economy. A large, blunt roof-top cargo box, for example, can reduce fuel economy by around 2% to 8% in city driving, 6% to 17% on the highway, and 10% to 25% at Interstate speeds (65 mph to 75 mph).4 Rear-mount cargo boxes or trays reduce fuel economy by much less—only 1% or 2% in city driving and 1% to 5% on the highway. If you need to use an external cargo container, removing it when it’s not in use will save fuel and money.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 2%–17%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.04–$0.37/gallon

Remove Excess Weight
Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by about 1%.5 The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle’s weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 1%/100 lbs.
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.02/gallon

Avoid Excessive Idling
Idling can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour, depending on engine size and air conditioner (AC) use. Turn off your engine when your vehicle is parked. It only takes about 10 seconds worth of fuel to restart your vehicle.

Fuel Cost Savings: $0.01-$0.02/min

Use Cruise Control
Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.

Note: Cost savings are based on an assumed fuel price of $2.15/gallon.

Find Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Alternative Fuels

Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Learn about alternative fuel vehicles:

Alternative and Advanced Fuel Locator

Visit the alternative fueling station locator to:

  • Search for alternative fueling stations near you.
  • Map a route that includes alternative fueling stations along the way.

Car Care Tips for the Cold Weather

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Car Maintenance for Winter

advanced-auto-clinic-cold                   advanced-auto-clinic-tips

It’s hard enough taking care of your car during the Summer, but the Winter months prove to be a whole different monster. The roads become more slippery, more salt on the ground, more snow, etc. Taking care of your vehicle is even more essemtial during these times. Doing things like keeping up with your tire’s maintence can make your drive more safe.

With the help of Chicago Tribune and Car Talk we have found some great tips to ensure you are prepared for these cold weather challenges.

 

Keep Your Gas Tank Full

In the summer, you can take a chance and run down to fumes. But in the winter, if you do get stuck or stranded, the engine will be your only source of heat. And you don’t want to have to worry about conserving fuel and saving the planet right at that moment…you want to stay warm. You can run the engine indefinitely at idle to stay warm-or as long as you have gas. No harm will be done to the engine.

 

Fill Your Fluids

Fill your antifreeze. If it hasn’t been flushed in a few years, then it could use it. Green-colored antifreeze is the most common; whichever color you choose, don’t mix colors. Coolant and antifreeze are interchangeable terms. Coolant is typically sold premixed, that is it is half water, half antifreeze, as it needs to be. Antifreeze can be pure and needs to be mixed. Check the bottle; it’ll tell you. Ready for winter? Your car should be Ready for winter? Your car should be Check your oil. If it’s due for a change, consider refilling it with a lower viscosity oil. On the bottle it lists two numbers, or grades, the first for low temperature viscosity, the second for high temperature. 10W-30 is a common designation. The higher the number, the more viscous, or thick it is, the less fluid it is especially in cold temps. So you might want to consider 5W-20 or-30. That ‘W’ stands for winter, according to Valvoline and other sources.

Check Your Battery

Change the battery. Mechanics recommend changing it every 3 years, though you could get away with 5 years, depending on how much you drive and how you drive. If you see a mechanic, have him or her check the battery and replace the spark plugs. How to store your car for winter How to store your car for winter Make sure the cables are not loose. With the engine off, see if the cables can slip free from the nodes. Don’t yank, but be firm. Tightening the nut is easy to do and can save you from a mid-drive battery loss that requires you to get out of the car and take off your gloves. Check for corrosion. If there is a white powder, not unlike the dead skin of dried winter hands, around the nodes or the clamps then that could be a sign of corrosion. If you can’t get a new battery, then at least clean the nodes and clamps with baking soda, water and a toothbrush. Loosen the cables, clean the nodes and clamps, then dry it and retighten.

Check Your Cooling System

Make certain the antifreeze will protect your car at the winter temperatures you’ll experience in your area. For most areas, you’ll need a 50-50 mix of coolant to water. You may think, “I’ll be extra good to my car, and give it 100% coolant.” Guess what? You’re wrong. The 50-50 mix has a lower freezing point. Not only that, but 100% coolant is less able to transfer heat away from your engine, and has been known to cause such nasty things as melted spark plugs of engine failure under the wrong circumstances.So, mix it up!

 

View more tips from Chicago Tribune and Car Talk

 

Sources:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/automotive/chi-subzero-car-care-story.html#page=1
http://www.cartalk.com/content/winter-driving-tips-7

Car Care Tips: Shocks & Struts

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Advanced Auto Clinic Car Care Tips

Shocks & Struts

 

 

 STRUTS

Struts are a structural part of the suspension system and are mounted to the chassis of the vehicle on the top, and they come down through. They give us a place to mount the coil spring, and the spring is what maintains the height of the vehicle, so we have a plate in here for the spring.

Car Struts are used on the front end of nearly every front-wheel-drive vehicle. They are more than shock absorbers and with a different name. A strut integrates numerous different suspension parts into one compact assembly. This includes:

The Coil Spring
The Spring Seats
The Shock Absorbers
The Strut Bearing
The Steering Knuckle
The shock absorber portion of the strut is the most commonly serviced part of the strut assembly.

 

Struts perform two jobs: They provide a dampening function like shock absorbers, and they provide structural support for the vehicle suspension. That means struts deliver a bit more than shock absorbers.

 

SHOCKS

A shock absorber keeps the vehicle from bouncing. It limits the rapid movement of the wheel when it hits something , like a pot hole. A shock absorber is basically an oil pump placed between the frame of the car and the wheels.

Upper & Lower Mounts
The upper mount of the shock connects to the frame & the lower mount connects to the axle, near the wheel.

Twin-tube design: the upper mount is connected to a piston rod, which is connected to a piston, which in turn sits in a tube filled with hydraulic fluid. The inner tube is known as the pressure tube, and the outer tube is known as the reserve tube. The reserve tube stores excess hydraulic fluid.

When the car wheel encounters a bump in the road and causes the spring to coil and uncoil, the energy of the spring is transferred to the shock absorber through the upper mount, down through the piston rod and into the piston. Orifices perforate the piston and allow fluid to leak through as the piston moves up and down in the pressure tube. Because the orifices are relatively tiny, only a small amount of fluid, under great pressure, passes through. This slows down the piston, which in turn slows down the spring.

In modern shock absorbers the faster the suspension moves, the more resistance the shock absorber provides. This allows shocks to adjust to road conditions and to control all things such as bounce, sway, brake dive and acceleration squat.

When To Replace Your Shocks & Struts:

  • Noticeable fluid leak
  • Shocks, struts or mounts look dented or damaged
  • Tires show unusual wear patterns

 

Because shocks and struts have so much to do with the handling of a car, they can be considered critical safety features.

 

ShocksStrutsBuy4for3Right now at Advanced Auto Clinic you can buy four qualifying NAPA Shocks and Struts for the price of three! Plus, with your purchase, receive a $50 NAPA AutoCare Center Service Card to use on a future service or repair of $75 or more! If your shocks and struts are worn, it may be time to replace them, so schedule your inspection today!

Advanced Auto Clinic
1101 Ann St., Delavan, WI 
262-728-2944

 

Offer good September 1 through October 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
http://www.pepboys.com/lp_monroe_shocks_struts_sept2012/
http://www.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_purpose_of_a_shock_absorber
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-suspension2.htm
http://news.carjunky.com/how_stuff_works/car_struts_what_are_they_abc169.shtml
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-suspension3.htm

Auto Maintenance Basics: Forced Induction

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Advanced Auto Clinic Auto Maintenance Basics: Forced Induction

 

Most Delavan motorists associate turbochargers and superchargers with hot rods and racing. However, the number of everyday cars and trucks coming to Darien from the factory with chargers is growing every year. Here’s why:

 

You need three elements for combustion: fuel, oxygen, and ignition (spark plug in gasoline engines and compression in diesels). Superchargers and turbochargers deal with the oxygen part of the formula. In the normally aspirated engines Delavan drivers are familiar with, air is just drawn in from the outside by vacuum pressure created as the engine runs. Turbochargers and superchargers compress the air that goes into the engine’s combustion chamber, forcing in more oxygen. This forced charge of air allows an engine to make more power than a similarly sized normally aspirated engine.

So today we have small 4-cylinder turbocharged engines on Delavan expressways making more power than a full-sized V8 did twenty years ago and getting far better MPG. And the power on charged six and eight cylinder engines is through the roof.

In addition to power and fuel economy, charged engines deliver essential benefits for Delavan motorists at higher altitudes. As the air thins with an increase in elevation, there is less oxygen available to burn in the engine resulting in a significant power loss. Charging forces more air and oxygen into the engine, preserving much of the power at altitude. Turbochargers use exhaust from the engine to spin an impeller that compresses the air sent to the engine. Because there is a short time between when you step on the accelerator and the time the exhaust pressure builds up enough to spin the turbo up to speed, there is a short lag in power. To combat this “turbo lagâ €, some automobile manufacturers use two turbos: a small one that quickly spins up when engine speed is low and a larger one for when the engine is running fast. Others use a variable vane technology in the impeller to accomplish the same thing.

Superchargers are driven by a belt connected to the engine’s crankshaft.

There is no lag because charging starts immediately (it doesn’t have to wait for exhaust pressure). Superchargers are less efficient for Delavan drivers because they require engine power to run the compressor whereas turbochargers are powered by an exhaust. In both types, the air heats up as it is compressed. In some engines it is necessary to cool the air before it goes into the engine. In those engines, the air passes through what is called an intercooler to bring its temperature down to the proper range. An intercooler is like a small radiator and may be cooled by air flow or by liquid coolant.

Delavan owners of superchargers and turbochargers should always use the fuel grade recommended by their vehicle manufacturer. This is important in charged engines because of the extra pressure as the fuel and air is compressed. Using fuel with too low of an octane rating could lead to premature detonation which can cause pricey damage.

Generally speaking, turbochargers and superchargers do not require regular maintenance. But they do wear like any other part in your vehicle and will eventually need repair or replacement. All of your vital regular vehicle maintenance should be done on schedule – things like oil changes and transmission service and so on. Talk with your knowledgeable Advanced Auto Clinic tech about any concerns you have and about the next services your vehicle needs.

 

Advanced Auto Clinic

1101 Ann Street, 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. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Summer Vehicle Maintenance Tips

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Summer Vehicle Maintenance Tips

We have finally reached the times of beautiful weather and road trips! However, just because Winter is finally over doesn’t mean you stop taking care of your car. In fact, you want to pay even more attention. Winter has taken a toll on the roadways, and the coming summer heat will be sure to be tough on your vehicle. Everything from the paint down to the tires is subjected to harsher than normal conditions. Gone unchecked, some issues could leave you stranded in the heat. Here are a few tips to help make sure you and your vehicle is ready to take on the summer.

Getting Your Vehicle Summer Ready!

Windshield Wipers

Winter weather can be brutal to your windshield wipers, making them almost useless if you get caught in a summer rain shower. Replace them at the beginning of the summer and you won’t have to worry.

Tires

Have your tires rotated about every 5,000 miles. Check tire pressures once a month; check them while they’re cold before driving for any distance. Don’t forget to check your spare as well and be sure the jack is in good condition. Examine tires for tread life, uneven wearing, and cupping; check the sidewalls for cuts and nicks. An alignment is warranted if there’s uneven tread wear or if your vehicle pulls to one side.

Tire pressure is also important, especially in summer months. As the outside temperature climbs, the air in your car’s tires expands, so check your tire pressure when the tires are at a normal temperature – before you set out on a road trip. Also, be sure to use the proper tire pressure for your car, not the maximum pressure listed on the tire sidewall. Check the recommended tire pressure label in the door jamb or glove compartment, or consult your owner’s manual.

Filters

Air Filter: You should replace your air filter twice a year, so now’s a good time to get that 5-minute job out of the way.

Oil Filter: Change your oil and oil filter as specified in your manual

Replace other filters (fuel, PCV, etc.) as recommended more often in dusty conditions.

Fluids

Cars need fluids during extreme heat. Engine fluids are essential to keep a vehicle running smoothly. Most fluids not only lubricate, they also serve as coolants by helping carry heat away from critical components. When fluid levels are low, this cooling effect is reduced, and the possibility of overheating increases. Drivers should check all vehicle fluids including motor oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and brake fluid to ensure they are filled to the appropriate levels. If any fluids need to be topped off, be sure to use the type of fluid specified in the owner’s manual. If you have to top off any of your vehicles fluids repeatedly, this may indicate a problem. Promptly have your vehicle inspected and repaired as necessary. Failure to do so could lead to additional repairs or an unplanned breakdown.

 

Advanced Auto Clinic Brakes

Brakes: BRAKE Out Savings

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BRAKES

Summer — and lot of extra driving — are just around the corner. It just makes sense to have your vehicle’s brakes checked today.

Signs You Need New Brakes:

Grinding or growling: This loud metallic sound means that you have worn down the pads completely, most likely beyond replacement. The grinding or growling noise is caused by the two pieces of metal (the disc and the caliper) rubbing together. This can “score,” or scratch your rotors, creating an uneven surface. If this happens, do not be surprised if your mechanic tells you that the rotors need to be “turned” (a process that evens out the rotor surface), or even replaced.

Squealing: The most obvious indicator that your vehicle’s brakes need attention is an incredibly high pitched squeal when you come to a stop.

Car is pulling: It often indicates that a driver needs new brake pads. If the car pulls to one side or another, without turning the steering wheel when a driver applies the brakes, this often indicates that the current brake pads are wearing unevenly and need replaced with new brake pads. If a car is simply pulling while a driver is accelerating, or driving at a steady speed, without applying the brakes, this pulling usually indicates a different repair issue.

Pulsating: A vibration or pulsating brake pedal is often a symptom of warped rotors (but can also indicate that your vehicle is out of alignment). The vibration can feel similar to the feedback in the brake pedal during a panic stop in a vehicle equipped with anti-lock brakes.

Advanced Auto Clinic BrakesYou should make sure you are keeping up with the maintenance of your vehicle. Even if there are no warning signs, you want to get your brakes checked to ensure that everything is in order. Not to mention the increased cost of repairs if you wait until problems occur. Better to prevent issues altogether.

If you do need new brakes, you can save big with the great “Brake Out Savings” Rebates on NAPA Brakes now at Advanced Auto Clinic. For your qualifying NAPA Brakes  purchase now through June 30, you’ll get up to a $50 Rebate Visa® Card, by mail.

Reliable stopping power. Plus, BIG Savings.

 

Tips to Get Car Spring Ready

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Wash Your Vehicle – Especially The Undercarriage

Wash your vehicle thoroughly. The Winter months have taken a toll on your vehicle, so it is important to wash away all of the salt, sand and debris that has accumulated. Road salt can cause damage to a car’s exterior, and it’s undercarriage ( That is where corrosive elements can do the most damage). Bottoms of doors can get coated with grime, so be sure to wash there as well.

Use a garden hose with as much water pressure as your system can muster to loosen winter grime and salt. Or, if you have a movable lawn sprinkler that’s low enough, set that under the vehicle to wash away what you can’t reach.

Spring is also a good time to check your entire vehicle for rust, which can worsen during the winter months.

Replace Wiper Blades

Wiper Blades go through a lot in the Winter. Check the blades to make sure the have full contact with the windshield and have not dried out. Also, refill the wiper fluid reservoir.

Check Tires

It’s important to check tire pressure after weather changes. Check your owner’s manual for the recommended pressure for your tire, and never exceed that. Higher pressure generally results in improved steering response and fuel economy, but a stiffer ride, and it wears out the tread in the center. Underinflation generally provides a smoother ride, but it causes tires to wear out at the sides. It also wastes gas because tires need more power to push the vehicle.

Also, rotate the tires. Rotating your tires extends the life of them and ensures safe driving

Check Steering, Suspension, Shocks & Struts

Your suspension system keeps your car up off the road. From there, it’s responsible for a smooth and comfortable ride. Suspensions keeps the car wheels firmly planted over bumps and through curves on roads and interstates. Your suspension system has many essential parts that do a big job. They should be inspected for damage and excessive wear at least once a year.

Worn shocks can increase the time and distance it takes you to stop your car in an emergency situation.

Advanced Auto Clinic Shocks & Struts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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. Our Mechanic Shop is a NAPA AutoCare Center that has been AAA approved and uses quality Valvoline oil. We look forward to serving you. We make your service experience hassle-free.

At Advanced Auto Clinic, we know how busy you are and want to help keep your vehicle in top condition. We offer free service reminders. Get your car a quick oil change! When it is time for maintenance, we remember for you! We are your Auto Repair Service Station.

View Our Services Here: https://www.aacdelavan.com/automotive-services/

 

Exhausts and Brakes

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EXHAUSTS

Keeping up with your vehicle’s exhaust will reduce noise, environmental pollution, and risk of engine failure. A typical exhaust system includes: the exhaust manifold, downpipe, catalytic converter, center section, and rear silence assembly. All working together to keep you safe and sound and quiet on the road.

Custom Mufflers Bending Machine Mufflers Exhaust Advanced Auto Clinic, Delavan, Wisconsin

 

BRAKES

Keeping up with brake maintenance, paying attention to the signs of brake wear and choosing the right equipment for your vehicle is very important to keep your car safe to drive.

Neglecting your braking system can lead to increased repair costs, or worse, no brakes at all.

The most obvious indicator that your vehicle’s brakes need attention is an incredibly high pitched squeal when you come to a stop. Brake pad manufacturers include a little piece of metal called an indicator on the pad itself.

Rotors are a little trickier, as they can usually last through two or three sets of brake pads before needing to be replaced. If your steering wheel wiggles in your hands when you come to a stop, it’s a good idea to get some new ones.

 

Get repairs on exhausts and brakes at Advanced Auto Clinic in Delavan, WI near Lake Geneva.

 

 

Winterizing Your Vehicle

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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/