Clean Air for Your Engine: Engine Air Filters In Memphis
Posted August 25, 2011 9:43 AM
Every Memphis car owner who has taken their car in for an oil change has been told that their engine air filter’s dirty.
Here’s what goes into the determination of when to change the filter: First, your truck owner’s manual will have a recommendation of when to change the filter. Second, a visual inspection by your Ellendale technician may determine that your filter it is visibly dirty and needs to be changed.
So between your owner’s manual and your Ellendale technician’s inspection there’s really no guesswork involved.
Now, most air filters purchased in Cordova, Germantown, or Memphis don’t cost a lot to replace. It’s just that TN people hate getting caught with an unexpected expense. On the plus side, though, changing a dirty air filter at D & B Automotiove can often save enough on gas to pay for itself before your next oil change in Ellendale.
Think about a dirty furnace filter in your Germantown home. When it’s all clogged up, enough clean air can’t get through. In your truck, that means that your engine can’t get as much air as it needs to burn the fuel efficiently. So it makes do with less air and has to use more expensive TN gas to move your vehicle around Ellendale roads.
Your truck actually needs about 12,000 gallons of air for every gallon of gas it burns. Engine air filters don’t cost much in Memphis at D & B Automotiove. When it’s time to change yours, just get it done. You’ll save buy less expensive Ellendale fuel, have better performance and protect your engine.
Posted in the Maintenance category
Tracking True In TN: Wheel Alignment In Germantown
Posted August 19, 2011 9:51 AM
Wheel alignment is often overlooked by busy Germantown and Memphis car owners until serious tire damage has been done. One wheel can be knocked out of alignment from the rest by hitting a curb or pothole on Ellendale roads.
When a vehicle’s out of alignment, one or more of the wheels does not track true and pulls against the others. The tires will wear out very quickly and will need to be replaced prematurely. It could also lead to truck suspension damage.
But the big issue for Germantown, Memphis, and Memphis motorists is safety. When your truck wheels are out of alignment, the vehicle will pull to one side, which could lead to an accident. When you’re out of alignment, you should have it taken care of right away at D & B Automotiove in Memphis.
At D & B Automotiove, your vehicle is put on an alignment rack where the tires, steering and suspension parts are checked for damage. Then the alignment is charted and checked against the factory settings.
Adjustments are made to bring the wheels back into alignment. This gets all four wheels going in precisely the same direction.
Signs of alignment problems are: Your car pulls to one side. Also, your steering wheel may not be centered when you’re going straight. If you see the edges of one or more tires rapidly wearing down, you should have your Ellendale service center look it over. If you’ve been in an auto accident in TN that involved a wheel, you should get your alignment checked.
A big jolt can seriously knock things out of alignment, but Germantown drivers also need to understand that a series of smaller ones can add up.
That’s why your manufacturer recommends periodic alignment checks. If your truck owner’s manual doesn’t specify, once a year might be appropriate. Or check with David Starnes or your service advisor at D & B Automotiove in Memphis.
One thing’s for sure: the cost of the alignment at D & B Automotiove is cheaper than having to buy a couple of new tires because of neglect.
Posted in the Alignment category
Keep Your Cool In Ellendale: Air Conditioning Service
Posted August 12, 2011 10:48 AM
Most Ellendale drivers wait for their air conditioning to fail before they service it at D & B Automotiove. That’s because many Memphis and Germantown motorists don't really understand that automotive air conditioners need periodic service. Let me share some of the reasons why they fail.
First, like every machine, the truck air conditioner parts need lubrication. The lubricant is actually mixed in with the refrigerant (that’s the stuff that makes the air cool). So sometimes, even though the air conditioner is still making cool air, the oil that lubricates the parts has just been used up: and unlubricated parts can fail in all TN cars.
Now here’s a tip for Ellendale drivers: You should run your air conditioner every so often during TN winters. This circulates the lubricant to help keep the seals from drying out.
The air conditioner actually removes some of the moisture in the air. So if you have trouble with fogging on your windshield during TN winters or during a rain storm, running the A/C on the defrost setting should help. Now on some Ellendale cars you can’t run the A/C at the same time as the defroster. Don’t ask me why, but I suspect lawyers were involved.
Also, air and water can get into the A/C system. That can reduce the efficiency of the system and also lead to corrosion that causes damage. Ellendale drivers should periodically purge the system and replace the refrigerant to clear out the air and water.
Memphis drivers should be aware of early warning signs of trouble: One might be that the air’s not as cold as it used to be. You may hear an unusual noise when the A/C cycles on. Those are signs to get your vehicle into D & B Automotiove in Memphis before the damage gets worse.
So following the recommended service intervals in your truck owner’s manual can help prevent mechanical failure of your air conditioning system. You’re A/C system contains some expensive components like the compressor, condenser, dryer, etc. Anything Cordova and Germantown car owners can do to lengthen the life of their A/C is well worth it.
