Strange Traffic Laws from Around the World

January 17th, 2019
If you’ve ever driven in a foreign country, you’ve probably encountered your fair share of strange traffic laws. Did you know you’ll be fined for driving a dirty car in Russia or for driving without a breathalyzer in your car in France? Some of these laws are hard to believe!
 
1. In Russia, you will be fined for driving a dirty vehicle.
 
Strange Traffic Laws Around the World
2. In Germany, it is illegal to run out of fuel on the Autobahn.
 
3. In Alabama it is legal to drive the wrong way down a one-way street, but only if you attach a lantern to the front of your vehicle.
 
4. Here’s another fun one from Alabama: It is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operatin ...[more]
  Tags: Traffic Laws
  Posted in: Auto Repair 101

The Different Types of Engine Oil

December 13th, 2018
If you’ve ever taken a car in to be serviced, you’ve probably been asked by the mechanic, “What type of oil are you getting?” If you’re like most people, you probably just say “Whatever it takes,” or “Whatever you recommend!” Depending on your vehicle, the mechanic may recommend one of four types of motor oil: full synthetic, synthetic blend, conventional, or high mileage. Each type of oil has a specific chemical makeup and purpose it is best suited for:Types on Engine Oil
 
Conventional Motor Oil: Conventional motor oil is the most commonly used type of motor oil. It is ideal for late-model, light-duty cars with low to average mileage and simple engine design.
 
Full Synthetic Motor Oil: Full synthetic motor oil differs from conve ...[more]
  Tags: oil change
  Posted in: Auto Repair 101

Something is Leaking: What Is It?

November 15th, 2018
Finding that fluid which is leaking from your car can be alarming. It is possible fluid leaking from your car could be normal, but other times leaking fluids are a symptom of a bigger problem with your vehicle. Before you panic, there are two questions you need to ask: 1) “Where is the fluid coming from?” and 2) “What does the fluid look like?”What is leaking from my car?
 
When determining where the fluid is coming from, first find out for certain whether the fluid is even coming for your vehicle and not the vehicle parked in the space before you. If you are unsure, just get down and take a good look under the car with a flashlight or your cell phone. 
 
Once you have determined that the leak is indeed coming from your vehicle, stick a piece of white paper ...[more]
  Tags: Auto Maintenance
  Posted in: Auto Repair 101

Why Your MPG Isn’t What It Used to Be

October 25th, 2018
These days, cars are getting better gas mileage than ever before. You don’t even have to buy a hybrid anymore to own a vehicle averaging 30 or 40 MPG. Many car owners notice that after a while, their MPG starts to wane. It’s easy to brush this off if you are still getting decent mileage, but this decrease in performance is often a symptom of bigger issues with your vehicle. 
 

These are the most common reasons for a decrease in gas mileage:Fuel Economy Tips

 
Bad Fuel Injectors: Fuel injectors are what puts fuel in your engine. If your fuel injectors are leaking or dirty, less fuel is making it to the engine, leading to a decrease in performance and gas mileage.
 
Using the A/C Too Often: If you live in a milder climate, consider turni ...[more]
  Tags: gas mileage
  Posted in: Auto Repair 101

Test Drive Checklist

September 13th, 2018
In the hopes of finding the perfect used vehicle, you have researched, pulled history reports, and compared a dozen different vehicle makes and models. You have put a lot of time and effort into finding the right vehicle. Don’t let your excitement cost you down the road. A used car can save you money, but only if you buy the right one.
 
Test Drive Checklist
The right used vehicle will be one which appeals to you, has a clean history report, and doesn’t need expensive repairs. It can be difficult to tell if a vehicle is in good shape. The best thing to do, is test drive your potential new car and watch for the following signs.
 
Slow acceleration is one of the first things you might notice while test driving. This can be caused by several things. The mos ...[more]
  Posted in: Auto Repair 101

Back to School Checklist

August 16th, 2018
“School days, school days. Dear old golden rule days.” Parents, teachers, and students… we know you’re excited for the start of a brand new school year! Along with buying school supplies and new clothes, car maintenance should be high on your ”back to school” to-do list. Whether you are a student driver, a teacher, or a parent dropping your kids off at school every day, a reliable car is important. We’ve gathered a few important items to jot down on your back to school checklist. 
 
Check your vehicle’s engine oil. We’ll start off with an extremely basic item to mark off your list. Keeping your oil at the correct level is vital to your engine performance, and you’ll want to have it changed regularly. There is conflicting advice on how often you should change your engine oil. We suggest always referring to your vehicle’s owner’s manual for specific recommendations. Th ...[more]
  Posted in: Auto Repair 101

What to do When Your Car Overheats

July 12th, 2018
It’s finally summer and this year it looks like it’s going to be a hot one. If you’re like me, I bet you have already planned your vacation or at least scheduled a weekend getaway. At this point, I have packed my bags and planned a few fun activities for the family. I’m a little worried about one thing… my rental car. You never know if routine maintenance has been performed. I’m driving over 1,000 miles and can only hope the engine doesn’t overheat.Engine Overheating Tips
 
I can’t control what kind of maintenance my rental car will have but we can all control what happens with our own vehicles. There are several things you can do to ensure your vehicle won’t overheat on a long road trip and since I’m nervous about my rental car, I want to know what to do if ...[more]
  Posted in: Auto Repair 101

Prepping a Summer Emergency Kit

June 14th, 2018

It’s time to gear up for road trip season! Whether you are headed to the coast, on a cross-country road trip, or you’re off to the grocery store to prepare for a “staycation” at home, it’s always a good idea to have your car prepped with an emergency kit. When it comes to your car, the unexpected is bound to happen. Good drivers know this, embrace it and are prepared for anything that’s thrown their way!

While you may not be able to prepare for all scenarios, there are a few good measures you can take to make sure if a break down occurs, you and your family are safe. A fully-stocked emergency kit is a simple way to prepare for the unexpected. While some articles recommend stocking your kit with every item under the sun, we are just going to cover a few key items which will help your situation be a bit more manageable.

Emergency Kit...[more]

  Posted in: Auto Repair 101

Car Seat Safety Tips

May 10th, 2018

Your child’s safety in the car heavily relies on them having the appropriate car seat or booster seat properly installed. Even if you are an expert driver with a clear driving history, you can’t stop other drivers from making poor decisions on the road. Correctly used child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by 71%, but half of all booster and car seats are not properly installed. To avert a tragic incident, make sure your kids are properly positioned in the appropriate seating. Follow these tips to provide your child with the safest ride.

Car Seat SafetyUse the appropriate car or booster seat. One of the most common mistakes made is upgrading a child to a forward-facing car seat before they are ready. Your child should remain rear-facing until they are age 2 or when they ...[more]

  Tags: tips
  Posted in: Auto Repair 101

Diesel vs. Gasoline - Which is Better?

April 13th, 2018
Are you in the market for a new truck and trying to decide between a diesel or a gasoline engine? When it comes down to it, it is truly a driver preference. There is no clear “winner” between the two types of engines, but there certainly are some pros and cons to each. The type of truck best suited for you will depend heavily on your budget and what you will be using your truck for. Is your truck going to be your daily driver on your 40-mile commute, or will you regularly be using it to haul heavy equipment from point A to point B? Diesel Engine or Gasoline Engine?
 
Cost: It’s no secret a diesel-powered truck is going to cost you a bit more than the gasoline version…$5,045.00 more on average according to Forbes. Al ...[more]
  Tags: Engine Facts
  Posted in: Auto Repair 101
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