Keep Your Car on the Road with Preventative Maintenance

Preventative Maintenance 

Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” In other words, it is much better to prevent problems than to try to fix them later on. Though these words were spoken long before the invention of the modern automobile, this common saying holds a lot of truth when it comes to performing preventative maintenance on your car. Preventative maintenance is the most important thing you can do to keep your car on the road, and it can save you a lot of money on future repair bills. 

When it comes to preventative maintenance, you’ve probably heard conflicting information on what does and does not need to be done. There are also plenty of myths - like needing to change the oil every 3,000 miles. So how do you sort out fact from fiction? The answer is easier than you might think. Just check out your car’s owner’s manual. It will tell you everything you need to know about what the manufacturer recommends for your specific car in terms of preventative maintenance. Your manual will tell you:

• How often to change the oil
• When belts need to be replaced
• How often to change filters
• The exact maintenance that needs to be performed at various intervals, such as 50,000 miles, 100,000 miles, etc.

Reading your manual will also provide you with valuable information that will help you maximize your car’s performance and lifespan, such as what type of oil, coolant and gasoline to use. Using the right fluids ensures that your vehicle runs at its peak performance and prevents you from voiding the warranty or causing costly damage.

Basic Maintenance Every Car Needs

Though the exact recommended maintenance details vary among vehicles, there are certain things that you should be doing regardless of what you’re driving. For starters, check your fluids regularly. Your oil, power steering fluid, coolant, transmission fluid and even wiper fluid all need to be checked from time to time to make sure you aren’t running low. There are several other things you should also do to maintain your car, such as:

• Check and clean your battery terminals if needed
• Check the air pressure in your tires, and add air if necessary
• Replace air filters
• Replace your windshield wiper blades
• Change your spark plugs
• Have your tires rotated and balanced

All of these things are relatively simple, and most are fairly easy to do on your own. Or, if you would prefer trusting all of your vehicle’s preventative maintenance to a professional mechanic, these basic tasks are pretty affordable. Whether you choose to do the maintenance yourself or hire someone else to do it, keeping up with preventative maintenance can save you a lot of money by preventing major problems that require costly repairs. In addition, the first signs of issues can often be detected during routine maintenance, allowing them to be corrected before they become major.

Simply performing regular preventative maintenance is the most important step you can take the extend the life of your car. Though a lot of maintenance is simple and can be performed in your driveway or garage, you can could also choose to entrust your car to the pros. In doing so, you can be absolutely certain that all the correct maintenance is performed, and when you let a professional work on your car, you can rest assured knowing that he will detect and fix any potential problems.

When you bring your car to Tune Tech Automotive for preventative maintenance, you can rest assured knowing that your car is in good hands. Give us a call at 303-364-3391 to schedule an appointment with one of our highly-trained and ASE-certified mechanics today!

Engine Repair Isn't Always Major

Keep Your Car On The Road With Engine Repair

When it comes to making sure your car stays in top running condition and gets you safely from point A to point B, engine repair is a necessary maintenance aspect. Your car’s engine is made up of many parts, all of which can wear down or break in time. Even the smallest problems can quickly turn into larger ones, so to keep your car running, prompt repairs are essential.

Engine Components

A car’s engine is an intricate machine made up of more than 500  parts, and in order for the vehicle to keep running perfectly, each one needs to be functioning and in good condition. While some engine components are unlikely to break, others are prone to normal wear and tear. Engine repairs are often necessary due to broken or worn out parts such as:

• Spark plugs and wires
• Head gaskets
• Intake manifolds
• Sensors
• Belts, chains, rods or pulleys

How to Tell if an Engine Needs Repairs

The most common way to know that your engine is in need of some TLC is seeing the “Check Engine” light come on. There are, however, a few other things to watch out for that could be a sign of problems. If your car is exhibiting any of the following symptoms, you should get to the garage immediately:

• Knocking or squealing sound coming from the engine compartment
• Loss of power
• Overheating
• Failure to start
• Smoke or unusual odor
• Stalling

Preventing Problems

There are several things you can do to keep your car running at peak performance. Check the fluids regularly to make sure you aren’t running low on oil, transmission fluid,coolant or brake fluid. Change your oil every 5,000 miles or as often as your vehicle’s manufacturer recommends. Drain your radiator and replace the coolant approximately every other year.

Read your owner’s manual, paying close attention to the recommended maintenance schedule for your car. It is important to perform routine maintenance as recommended by the manufacturer to prevent problems before they arise.

Engine Repair

Sometimes, even you’ve kept up with the maintenance and done everything right, engine problems pop up that require professional attention. When you bring your car to us at Tune Tech Automotive, a highly-trained and skilled mechanic will begin by performing a thorough checkup to accurately diagnose your engine repair problem. In many cases, engine problems are related to minor issues that can be repaired quickly and easily. In other situations, though, more major repairs may be needed.

Whether your car is in need of a simple fix, requires a total engine overhaul or anything in between, the professionals at Tune Tech Automotive strive to get your back on the road as quickly and affordably as possible. Give us a call at 303-364-3391 to schedule your appointment today.

Tune Up Your Car For Summer

Spring Tune Ups Keep Your Car Running Smoothly 

The snow has finally melted, and the salt has been cleared from the roadway. A long winter has probably taken its toll on your car inside and out. With warmer weather and longer days on the horizon, now is a good time to get your car ready for spring adventures and summer road trips.

Springtime vehicle maintenance is largely about undoing winter’s damage. It’s good to start with a thorough cleaning of both your car’s interior and exterior. After several months of not washing your car or vacuuming the interior because of cold weather, there is likely a lot of debris that needs dealt with. It’s important to get rid of road salt as it wreaks havoc on cars. On the outside, it breaks down paint and metal, leading to rust. Inside your car, salt trapped in the carpet causes the fibers to deteriorate.

Once your ride is sparkling clean, it’s time for some spring cleaning under the hood. Replace your air filter, and check all your fluids. If you haven’t had an oil change in a while, spring is a good time, especially if you are planning any upcoming road trips. You may also want to consider a general tune up just to make sure your car is in perfect running order.

During the winter and early spring months, the roads are full of potholes that do more damage to your car than you may realize. Rough roads commonly throw cars out of alignment. If your car is pulling to one side or the other, a professional alignment is in order. Along with cold temperatures, potholes take a toll on the components that make up your suspension system, so it’s a good idea to get your suspension checked out professionally to make sure there are no issues. If you’re hearing a clunking sound, or your car seems to be riding rougher than it was before winter, get it checked out immediately. Potholes are also rough on tires, so you may need to invest in a new set for spring and summer. If you’re using winter tires, you also need to get them changed out to all-season tires.

Getting your car ready for spring and summer doesn’t have to be difficult, and performing a bit of basic maintenance every year is a good way to avoid major expenses down the road. Take good care of your car, and it will keep running for years to come!

Aurora Oil Change Tips You Should Know

Get Your Car's Oil Changed For Best Performance

One thing that always seems to be on someone's to do list is changing the oil in their car. Changing your oil on a regular basis is one of the best things you can do to keep your at peak performance, as well as maximize the life of your car.

It is recommended that you change your car's oil every 3000-5000 miles or as recommended in your vehicle’s owner’s manual. Each vehicle is different, it is very important that you check your vehicle’s manual to see what the requirement for your make and model. If intervals are extended, you need to ensure the oil used is capable of extended mileage changes.

Waiting too long between oil changes can cause serious, costly damage to your engine. The oil lubricates all moving parts and not changing your oil can have serious consequences on your engine. Without regular oil changes internal engine damage can occur. It is very important to never exceed the mileage intervals that are recommended or your specific vehicle.

There are many different specific oil types available on the market today. Conventional oil is typically the oil that is used in bulk at dealerships and is the cheapest at auto stores. This type of oil is great for owners who adhere to their recommended oil change schedule and vehicle with low-mile engines.

Premium Conventional oil is another oil option for your vehicle. Premium is the standard new-car oil.

Full-synthetic oil is made for high-tech engines. Check your owner's manual- if it doesn't call for synthetic oil, using it will only be an additional expense that may not add anything to the performance or life of the engine. 

Synthetic-blend oil is premium conventional oil that has a dose of synthetic oil as well. These oils are popular with pick-up and SUV drivers because they offer better protection. It usually costs only a fraction more than premium conventional oils. 

Finally, if your vehicle has more than 75,000 miles, it would be best to use high-mileage oil. Seal conditioners are added to the oil to expand and increase the flexibility of internal engine seals.

Another important aspect of changing the oil in a car is the oil filter. Oil filters filter out all the solid contaminants that are in the oil that you don’t want circulating through the engine, which can cause engine damage. Over time the oil filter will build up all of the contaminants, so it’s important to be sure to change the filter every time the oil is changed.

Figuring out what the best oil for your car is, as well as trying to change and dispose of your own oil can be a hassle for car owners. Due to today’s rules and restrictions regarding the disposal of oil, it’s recommended to have a mechanic change your oil. After the mechanics at Tune Tech Automotive change your oil, they actually store it, and use it to heat their shop. The mechanics at Tune Tech Automotive in Aurora take all of the work out of auto repair and oil changes for you. Give us a call at 303-364-3391 to schedule your oil change in Aurora today!

Auto Repair Made Simple!

Welcome back everyone, Ken here. Aurora is home to literally thousands of drivers with all different types of vehicles. Aurora also has numerous auto repair shops that you can go to have your vehicle serviced, but not all of them are NAPA Auto Care Centers. 

Auto Repair Aurora

Here at Tune Tech Automotive, located at 14851 E Colfax, we pride ourselves by being a certified NAPA Auto Care Center with an incredible staff of ASE Certified mechanics servicing all models of domestic and foreign vehicles. Since 1995 we have been dedicated to being the best mechanics around and our reputation as grown right along with us. I've been featured on the local radio show "Drive Time" on KLZ 560 AM with hosts Donny Seyfur and John Rush. 




In addition my family owned shop has received countless positive reviews from satisfied customers online. Our latest review on Google puts a big smile on my face: "Small business with big performance! Ken and his guys do what they say, when they say and it's done right. I had a defective brake caliper that Ken researched and got me credit from Napa on. I would never have known and he could have just passed the fee on to me but he caught it and made it right...Thanks Ken for taking care of my car!" It doesn't make me smile simply because it's a good review. I smile because I'm proud of the work that my team and I do for our customers every single day.

We offer a vast array of services including oil changes, brake service, tune ups and scheduled car maintenance as well as automotive diagnostics, electrical repairs, suspension systems, shocks and much more. So when you want your vehicle to ride the roads as it should, give us a call at 303-354-3391 or visit our website at http://tunetechautomotive.org right away. We'll make sure your vehicle is in tiptop shape!