Longview Auto Repair

Category Archives: Car Maintenance

The Importance of Proper Wheel Alignment

Imagine trying to walk straight with your feet pointing in one direction and your hips pointing in another. It would take a lot of effort to stay balanced and head in the right direction, not to mention the extra strain this would put on you! Just as walking with your body properly aligned is easier on you and requires less effort, the same goes for your vehicle. A wheel alignment allows your car to handle correctly, reduces wear and tear, and improves fuel economy. Here at Longview Auto, we hold alignments in high regard. Not only do they give you more control over your vehicle and increase your overall driving safety, but they're crucial to the life of your tires. Our goal from the start has been to keep our customers out on the road, heading to their next adventure. Proper alignments are crucial to achieving this goal. This is why we offer a FREE wheel alignment any time a customer of ours purchases four new tires*. During your vehicle’s life ... read more

Categories:

Car Maintenance

Why Has My Fuel Economy Dropped?

You’ve noticed that your vehicle has been getting worse gas mileage than it usually does. What happened? Why has you fuel economy suddenly dropped? Like most vehicle issues, there can be a couple different things contributing to the root cause of this problem. We’ll start with the simple fixes, and work our way up to more complicated ones. TIRES This one’s a simple fix, and hopefully the root of your problem. Under-inflated tires cause more rolling resistance on a vehicle the same way they would if you tried to ride a bike with low air pressure in the tires. Just as it would require more energy to pedal a bike with flat tires, it requires more fuel to drive a car with low tire pressure. Check your tire pressure at least once a month while your tires are cold, using a high quality tire gauge. If the tires are even a pound or two off on air pressure, this can be enough to cause you problems. AIR FILTER Your vehicle’s air filter ... read more

Categories:

Car Maintenance

Your Vehicle Fluid Leak Guide

Something’s leaking from your car. How do you tell what it is? How do you know if it’s a dangerous leak or not? Check out our vehicle fluid guide to determine what’s leaking from your car by the color of the fluid. RED FLUID: If you’ve got red fluid leaking from your car, this usually means that you’ve got a leak in your transmission or power steering system. This problem could be a result of a faulty transmission seal or a hole in the return line that feeds the fluid between systems. ORANGE FLUID: There are a few different problems that will cause an orange fluid leak. If rust gets in your radiator, this can cause an antifreeze leak or make condensation appear orange. Transmission fluid can also look orange, depending on how old it is. YELLOW FLUID: A yellow fluid leak is usually radiator coolant. This problem could be the result of a loose hose clamp or damaged o-ring. Check your vehicle manufacturer’s specificati ... read more

Categories:

Car Maintenance
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